Galatians 5:16
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Application: 

What’s the fundamental principle for spiritual victory, for maximizing your spiritual life in Christ, and for bringing the most benefit to other believers? Walk by the Spirit (i.e., pleasing God rather than self), and you will certainly not carry out the desires of the flesh (i.e., pleasing self independently of God). The flesh and the Spirit are two different spheres. Just as you can’t turn fat into muscle in the human body, you cannot use the flesh to live spiritually.

When Scripture speaks of our “walk,” it refers to the conduct of our lives. To “carry out the desire of the flesh” is to live by a sinful human viewpoint. To “walk by the Spirit” is to discern God’s view on a matter, act on that divine perspective, and depend on the Holy Spirit to empower your obedience. 

Notice that walking by the Spirit doesn’t mean resting while the Spirit does all the work. We’re not to be passive but active. We’re called to walk while trusting in the Spirit’s empowerment. Walking by the Spirit means obeying the Holy Spirit’s leading by the power of the life of Christ, which he infuses into his people as they trust him to overcome the trials and temptations of life. It’s much like walking on a moving sidewalk at the airport. You’re walking in dependence on a power at work beneath you.

It’s also important to note that Paul doesn’t say we won’t have desires of the flesh. It’s just that walking by the Spirit keeps us from yielding to those desires. Notice that you don’t seek to address the sinful desires of the flesh first. You focus on walking by the Spirit first, and he overrides—not necessarily cancels—the desires of the flesh. 

To flip that order is either to lose the battle or to settle for flesh management rather than true spiritual transformation. The Spirit grants the one living by faith the ability to overcome the flesh. This ability supersedes his natural capacity to respond to the situation.

Reference: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1211-1212.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write articles glorifying God. I invite you to view this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, I encourage you to search the Scriptures to determine whether what I have written is true. Always consult with your church ministers regarding biblical matters. I am not a professional writer, so there may be some grammatical or spelling errors present. I strive to write as clearly and efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo.

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