The urge to gratify the desires of the flesh is strong. We know this, not only by personal experience, but because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The “flesh” in Scripture usually refers to human nature that has been corrupted by sin. To be a faithful child of God, one must crucify the flesh. This was the key to Paul’s success as a Christian.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Once we crucify the flesh, we then can walk by the Spirit, for we cannot fulfill the lust of the flesh and follow the Spirit simultaneously. That would be like walking in two different directions at the same time, something we all know is impossible. It is just as impossible spiritually as it is physically because the flesh and the Spirit are opposed to each other.
Galatians 5:17 (ESV)
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Are you following the flesh or the Spirit? Our aim as Christians must be to keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25 (ESV)
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
How do we do this? We must first understand that the Spirit is the Revelator of the Word of God. That is the primary part the Spirit plays in the redemption of man. The Father sacrificed His Son so that we could have eternal life (John 3:16). The Son, Jesus the Christ, died on the cross as a ransom for our sins (1 Timothy 2:6). The Holy Spirit has revealed all this to us by guiding the apostles unto all truth (John 16:13).
So, we keep in step with the Spirit by following the Word that He has revealed to us. It is in this way that we are sanctified by the Spirit (1 Peter 1:2). It is interesting that while Peter speaks of the sanctification of the Spirit, Jesus prayed that we might be sanctified by the truth, which is the Word of God (John 17:17). When we live by the truth of God’s Word, we are living by, and keeping in step with, the Spirit.
What is the evidence that we are keeping in step with the Spirit? Paul tells us.
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
If this is not the fruit of our lives, we are not walking by the Spirit. There is nothing to guess about here. There is no mystery to it. Either we are producing the fruit of the Spirit, or we are not. Once we are set apart by our obedience to the gospel (Romans 1:16), these characteristics must be cultivated by daily living. Only then are we keeping in step with the Spirit.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.