(Gal 5:16) “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
The Holy Spirit inspired Scripture and leads us in agreement with it. Walking in the Spirit means receiving His
truth, yielding to His direction, and obeying through the strength He supplies.
- The Holy Spirit has a part in writing the word
All Scripture is “given by inspiration of God”—God breathed. The Spirit moved holy men to speak, and the
apostles communicated the things of God through the Spirit. Scripture equips us for every good work.
Read: 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2:9–16
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. - Led by the Spirit is being led by the word
Jesus promised His apostles that the Spirit would teach, remind, and guide them into truth. To remember and obey scripture, we must first put it into our minds and hearts.
Read: John 14:23-26; 16:13; Romans 8:14 - Filled with the Spirit is being filled with the word
Compare “be filled with the Spirit” with “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Both passages describe
worship, thanksgiving, and relationships shaped by Christ. Both also reveal the life relationships that result.
Read: Ephesians 5:18–6:9; Colossians 3:16–4:1
“The Spirit-filled life is not demonstrated merely by what happens in a worship service, but by what happens in our relationships when we leave the worship service.” - The fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of the word
The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. As we abide in Christ and His words abide in us, our lives bear fruit.
Read: Galatians 5:13–23; John 15:7, 11; Psalm 1:1–3
Jhn 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. - Protection of the Spirit is protection by the word
The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. It exposes the thoughts and intentions of our hearts and helps us fight against the wiles of the devil. When the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, Jesus answered temptation with Scripture.
Read: Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12–16; Matthew 4:1–11 - Praying in the Spirit is praying according to the word
Pray in dependence on the Spirit, allowing Scripture to shape your desires and requests. Abiding in Christ and His words teach us to pray properly. Selfish motives can distort our prayers.
Read: Jude 20; James 4:2–3; John 15:7. See prayer subjects on the reverse.
Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. - Changed by the Spirit is being changed by the word
The Spirit changes us into the likeness of Christ. God’s Word is a mirror: we must look, continue in it, and do what it says. As our minds are renewed, our lives are transformed.
Read: 2 Corinthians 3:17–18; James 1:22–25; Romans 12:2
How We Walk in the Spirit
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” — Galatians 5:25 (KJV)
1 Read
Get the word into you. Before we can be reminded of and obey biblical truth, we must become well acquainted
with it. Let the word of Christ dwell- have a settled, substantial place in your life. Read carefully and in context.
Colossians 3:16
2 Ruminate
Return to what you read and think it over. Like chewing and digesting food, meditation helps us take in the truth
for spiritual strength. Reading introduces us to truth; meditation makes it part of how we think.
Ask: What does this passage teach? What does it reveal about God? What should change in my thinking or
conduct?
Psalm 1:1–3
3 Recognize
Recognize the ongoing conflict between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit. Daily circumstances may tempt us
to respond in anger, gossip, deceive, or become jealous of someone else’s success. This will be an ongoing conflict that must be dealt with on a daily basis.
Galatians 5:16–17
4 Respond
Walking in the Spirit is the Spirit doing the leading and me doing the following. When Scripture comes to mind,
respond: yield to the truth He reveals and rely on the power He gives to obey and bear His fruit.
He leads → I follow. He reveals → I respond. He convicts → I submit.
He empowers → I obey. He produces → I bear the fruit.
Let Scripture Shape Your Prayers
- For your enemies — Matthew 5:44
- For laborers to be sent into the harvest — Luke 10:2
- For watchfulness so you do not enter temptation — Matthew 26:41
- For open doors and the spread of the word — Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1
- For government authorities — 1 Timothy 2:1–3
- In times of affliction — James 5:13
- For one another, with confession and healing — James 5:16
Put It into Practice
The Spirit’s leading agrees with the Word He inspired. Be careful what you listen to and what you teach. Read the
passage in context, receive its truth, and put it into practice.