
Walking after the Spirit of God is explained in Romans 8 (also see Galatians 5).
Romans 8:1, 4-8, 12-14 King James Version (KJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Important points:
- There is no condemnation only for those that are in Christ Jesus who walk after the Spirit.
- The righteousness of God’s law is fulfilled when we walk after the Spirit.
- The flesh and the Spirit are opposite. You can walk after one or the other, not both.
- Those walking after the flesh cannot please God.
- Walking in the flesh causes us to die, whereas those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.
What does that all mean?
- If we walk after the flesh, the law still applies to us because the righteousness of God’s law is not being fulfilled.
- If we walk after the flesh, we shall die, as in we shall be destroyed physically and spiritually.
- The concept of “Once Saved Always Saved” cannot be correct. Why? See verses 13 and 14 above. It is possible for brethrens to walk after the flesh and die.
Walking after the Spirit of God
1 John 2:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Distrust our carnal senses – our eyes, ears, nose, taste, touch and brain. See things from the point of view of the Spirit of God.
For example, when we see a beautiful person – a young woman or a young man; our eyes say they are beautiful, our brain emits chemicals and our body gets excited, whether we want our bodies to do that or not. This is the work of the flesh.
The Spirit of God does not care about outward appearances and physical things. God sees a person’s heart: Are they loving, kind, gentle, respectful and worshipful towards God? Observe their manner and speech. Is it in accordance with the word of God?
Another example: have we got the urge to look through shopping catalogues to see what we “need”. That is the work of the flesh. It is never satisfied. It always wants more.
God is the opposite. If we are constantly pursuing the Spirit of God , anything simple is sufficient. We have no other needs that require fulfilment. We are naturally content with whatever we have.
Philippians 4:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
This is the meaning of learning to be content. Whether we have nothing or we have a lot, we are always content. Whether we are full or hungry, we are always content. Because our spirit is walking after the Spirit of God to do the things of the Spirit, which is to save souls.
Eat the words of God |
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If we walk after the flesh, we will fail every time. We must abandon the carnal flesh and walk after the Spirit of God: See everything from God’s perspective. Discover God’s perspective by reading the word of God, which strengthens your spirit person: Jeremiah 15:16 King James Version (KJV) 16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. Eat the word of God. Feed and strengthen your spirit person and completely distrust your carnal senses. Let the word of God be your guide, not your flesh nor the reasonings of your mind: Psalm 119:105 King James Version (KJV) 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. This is the meaning of walking after the Spirit of God. If you pursue God, who is a Spirit, then you will do the things the Spirit of God wants you to do and not what your physical carnal senses are telling you do. |
Things that helped me walk after the Spirit of God |
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I found doing the below things helped draw me closer to the Spirit of God: - Be thankful. Thank God for the air, light, movement, sky, successes, failures, health, illnesses, food, life itself and everything else. Why give thanks for illnesses and failures? Because God chastises those whom he loves. Therefore, pray to God meekly, to teach us the lessons and then to heal us and break the bonds of failure.
- Say sorry to God daily. Ask God to forgive every stray thought, every action and every word that caused harm to others.
- Forgive everyone. Let God know we forgive everyone that harmed us, so that God can forgive us of our sins.
- Pray for God’s will to be done in your life. This is a very powerful prayer because it releases God’s authority over our lives and God will show up one day to transform us. He will create situations to break us down and to remold us into the people he wants us to be.
- Attack sin. Personify sin and treat it as a person. Then bind all the strong demons in Jesus’ name and rebuke the sin in Jesus’ name. Attack it relentlessly, whenever the sin tries to crop up. Speak in tongues if possible. Take this task very seriously. Failure to rebuke sin connects us to the kingdom of darkness and gives it a foothold to launch attacks on us and our family members.
- Pray ceaselessly. You are already doing this if you are doing the above. If you have the gift of tongues, pray in tongues. If you don’t, sing hymns to God.
- Find good teaching. Read the Bible, especially the new testament. Understand the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. Listen to teaching from real men of God who have power to cast out demons. Don’t listen to anyone who can’t cast out demons (see Mark 16:17). There are many false teachers that will lead you astray. Here are some good teachers that do cast out demons: Derek Prince, Chris Lasala, David Middleton.
- Abandon our carnal senses. Learn to distrust our eyes, ears, nose, taste, touch and brain. Always go back to the word of God, the Bible, for guidance on what we should do. If you are born again, consult the Holy Spirit and ask God for his opinion: What to buy, eat, say, write. When to do these things and how.
Note: The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Bible. If the Spirit is telling us something contrary to the Bible, either we read the Bible incorrectly or the spirit we have is not from God, in which case, cast it out with impunity. As a guide: The Spirit of God is constantly making us meeker, humbler, lowlier and he will always try to save souls through loving acts of kindness. Occasionally, the Spirit of God will give us righteous anger against the demons that are inside people. (See Acts 13:8-10; Paul rebuking the spirit within Elymas the sorcerer.) Sometimes the Spirit of God will move us to correct a fellow brother or sister by bringing their attention to the word of God. If you haven’t been through the born again experience, no matter. Continue on. Give thanks daily, say sorry daily, forgive daily, pray for God’s will in your life daily, attack sin daily and do all this ceaselessly. God’s Holy Spirit will come to you. Without the Holy Spirit, abandoning our carnal senses will be more difficult if not impossible because without the true conviction of sins by the Holy Spirit, it’s virtually impossible to turn from the things of the world. |
Why don’t more Christians walk after the Spirit? |
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Some of us very much want to put on the righteousness of Christ but fail to do so either because we have not received our “born from above” experience or the things of the world has choked the seed of God and we continue to live according to fleshly desires. The flesh desires the things we see and hear with our physical eyes and ears (such as sports cars, golf, sports programs, TV generally, mainstream music, delicate food, nice clothes, beautiful friends etc). Are these things wrong of themselves? Not really: 1 Corinthians 8:4-9 King James Version (KJV) 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. All things are permissible because we are not under law: 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 King James Version (KJV) 12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. The things of the world do not affect the man of God, even if we eat, listen, do or see the things of the world (note: fornication is expressly forbidden, this includes masturbation). However, the person who likes to partake of these things is not walking after the Spirit of God because the Spirit of God has one purpose: to save souls, that none shall perish and suffer eternal damnation. John 3:16 King James Version (KJV) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. If we remain in Christ and pursue the things of the Spirit, we bear godly fruit. The evidence of abiding in Christ is our labour for God, people coming to the Lord through us and that we ourselves are changing to be Christ-like: gentle and meek, displaying the fruits of the spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 King James Version (KJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. The fruits of the spirit are critically important to servants of Christ because these things demonstrate the light of Christ to the world, so that when people see the light of Christ in us, they will find everlasting life through Jesus Christ. Before putting on the righteousness of Christ and walking after the Spirit, check to see if you are born again. |
Are you being led by the Spirit of God? Apply these tests |
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The flesh can never please God. We worship God in spirit and in truth through our conduct and attitude towards God and others: - If you want to watch TV, you are not walking in the Spirit of God.
- If you like to look at beautiful people, you are not walking in the Spirit of God.
- If you desire to eat nice foods, you are not walking in the Spirit of God.
- If you seek the security of money, you are not walking in the Spirit of God.
- If you enjoy listening to mainstream music, you are not walking in the Spirit of God.
- If you look forward to entertainment, you are not walking in the Spirit of God.
- If you take pleasure in living in your nice pretty home, which is your sanctuary, you are not walking in the Spirit of God.
- If God is not the actual, real, genuine number one LORD of your life, you are not walking in the Spirit of God.
If you are walking in the Spirit of God these things are true of you: - People say you are relentless in talking about God.
- You are immersed in the word of God daily.
- You repent to the Lord daily in your life.
- You sing hymns to God all day long.
- You cry when you think of what Jesus did for you.
- You love others enough to humble yourself to do anything to save their souls.
- You constantly ask God for his opinion.
- You are always labouring to bring the truth of God to people.
I realise that many Christians reading the above will ask this question: WHO IS GOING TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN? Between 2.5% to as low as 0.1%: The answer is here. |
Those links at the bottom of this page in red go to blank pages- just thought I would let you know 🙂
Eat the words of God
Things that helped me walk after the Spirit of God
Why don’t more Christians walk after the Spirit?
Are you being led by the Spirit of God? Apply these tests
Utterly amazing find! My wife sent this to my email. I go by “B”. Backed by the understanding written too, that I have been writing to others about as well on my own site! Just wanted to say, thanks for the confirmation. We all need it sometimes, whether we been walking awhile or brand new! May the Lord bless you and keep you, in Jesus’ Name….
Dear B, thanks for your comment and words of encouragement. May the Lord keep you and guide you too. Godbless, Lloyd.
Dear B, thanks for your comment and words of encouragement. May the Lord keep you and guide you too. Godbless, Lloyd.