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Let Us Walk In The Spirit Introduction: Galatians 5:25 tells us to, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. The word “walk” here comes from the Greek Word, “stoicheo.” This word means to arrange in a line or to march in military rank. Now, I was in the Air Force and when you marched, you had to be in step. This was important to keep unity and discipline. If you were out of step, you would look silly like you were bouncing. You would stand out . ( to direct one's life, to live, with a dative of the rule (Buttmann, as above), ei pneumati ... stoichoomen, if the Holy Spirit animates us (see zaoo, I. 3 under the end), let us exhibit that control of the Spirit in our life, Gal 5:25. The fighting power of the hoplite phalanx depended on the individual soldier "being [firmly] in line I. Thinking in the Spirit A. Doctor Luke tells us to be ready because Jesus will come back at an unexpected time. (Luke 12:40) ? 2 Peter 1:13-14; Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. - KJV (tabernacle = body, a tent is not very sturdy - but God will give us a new one -2 Cor. 5:1-2) B. The beloved Apostle John tells us search the scriptures because that is where we find out about eternal life and how we may have it. (John 5:39) ? 1 Cor 14:37; If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. - KJV ? We are to think on the Word of God C. Paul the Apostle tells us that God is not made by mans hands, that we are the offspring of God; therefore, He is the creator and that everybody everywhere should change the way they think so that they may change their will to have it in accordance with God’s will. (Acts 17:29-31) ? Rom 12:3; For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think ; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. - KJV II. Praying in the Spirit A. The inspired Apostle Paul tells us to Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. (Eph 6:18 - KJV) B. In the Spirit; for true prayer is spiritual, and it is not true prayer unless by the Holy Spirit the heart is filled with heavenward longings and aspirations, changing our prayer from cold form to heartfelt realities (from The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2001, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) C. The soldier must maintain contact with his commanding officer. Prayer helps keep one in tune with the Lord and his purposes. Perhaps prayer should even be considered a part of the “full armor,” because a consistent prayer life is a defense against attacks of Satan and prayer strengthens against temptation. Prayer is said to be “in the Spirit,” since it is the Spirit who helps us pray, interceding “with groans that words cannot express” (Rom 8:26). To pray “in the Spirit” in 1 Cor 14:15 is to pray under the influence of the Spirit. {College Press on the New Testament} III. Living in the Spirit A. You have to first think and pray in the Spirit ? You cannot live in the Spirit, if you walk through life without doing that. ? Am I made alive by God's Spirit? Would I be hopelessly dead without him? Is the Spirit my source of being, the very ground of my existence? If so, then shouldn't I stay close to my “life-support system”? Shouldn't I keep in step with (literally, “get in line with”) the Spirit, so that his direction becomes my direction and his ways become my ways? As Calvin wrote, “The death of the flesh is the life of the Spirit. If God's Spirit lives in us, let Him govern all our actions.” Our outward actions should match our inward power. That is what it really means to be “spiritual.”
B. Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. - KJV ? If you have all the attributes of the fruit, you are living in the Spirit. C. Made Alive In The Spirit & Live In The Spirit According to God’s Will
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1 Peter
3:18 (NASB95)
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Peter 4:6 (NASB95) IV. Walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16 & 5:25) A. Conduct & Behavior ? [Ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.] If the Spirit of God dwell in and rule your heart, the whole carnal mind will be destroyed; and then, not only carnal ordinances will be abandoned, but also the works and propensities of the flesh. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) ? Romans 8:1 tells us that “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” B. The Spirit of God, as an indwelling presence, must increasingly guide our lives, “because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom 8:14). …The will of the Spirit is disclosed in Scripture. ..The Spirit was sent by God into our hearts, not onto our library shelves. His coming into their community was accompanied by miracles (3:5) and changed lives (5:16-18).
C. He who is guided by the Spirit will not obey the lusts of the flesh.
? Walk in the Spirit. If we are born again, and have a spiritual life, let us show it by walking in obedience to the Spirit. Conclusion: Hopefully, we have our hearts in the right place, that is, in align with God’s will. After all, He love us so much that (John 3:16) sent His only begotten Son into the world to save. So let us… 1. Think in the Spirit 2. Pray in the Spirit 3. Live in the Spirit 4. Walk in the Spirit
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