Walk in the Spirit
Our direct access to the genius of God
Lord, You want to partner with us! Our prayers – Your answers! Our works – Your grace! Our possessions – Your blessing! Our obedience – Your call! Our weakness – Your strength!
This is a great mystery. We pray help us to make this sacred partnership more seamless and flowing, reciprocal, intimate, and natural.
Have you experienced moments where you write the perfect sentence in a reply to a friend, or explain something so uniquely that you want to record your own words? Or you feel prompted to call someone and they’re expecting your call? I believe these are the fruits of righteousness and godliness that He works in us all the time! We just need to focus more on the Spirit. He is the well of living water! (John 7:37).
Being “in the Spirit” can also be compared to a certain divine frequency of Truth, Love and Faith. When you resonate this frequency, you’ve found the path to God’s Genius and Wisdom.
Jesus Depended on The Holy Spirit
In the same way Jesus could do nothing without the Father; we can do nothing without the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus could do nothing without seeing the Father do it first (John 5:19-20, 30).
- He was only doing the Father’s will (John 6:38).
- He only did what the Father taught (John 8:28)
- According to what the Father commanded (John 12:49).
In order for us to live and move by the way of the Spirit, or as Paul put it: “walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16) we must learn to be holy devoted and depended on the Holy Spirit. We literally can do nothing without Him!
In the OT, people lived by the Law, in the NT believers live by the Holy Spirit.
It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (Zech 4:6)
All Life in the NT is By The Spirit
Know God by the Spirit:
No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. (1 Cor 2:11)
Walk according to the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. It is the power of the Spirit-life, that frees you from the gravitational downward pull of the flesh and sin. (Rom 8:2-4; Gal 5:16)
A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. The Message: (Rom 8:2).
Set your mind on the things of the Spirit (Rom 8:5-8).
Put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit (Rom 8:13).
The main characteristic of being a child of God is being led by the Spirit. (Rom 8:14):
- Know the Fatherhood of God and subsequent sonship by the Spirit (Rom 8:15-17).
- Hope in the Spirit (Rom 8:23-25).
- Pray in the Spirit (Rom 8:26-27). In other passages Paul mentions — (Jude 20)
- Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).
- Serve in the Spirit (Rom 7:6; 15:16).
- Love by the Spirit (Rom 15:30; Gal 5:22-23; Col 1:8).
- Know one-another by the spirit.
The way of the spirit is more accurate and also quicker!
Jesus knew the heart of Nathaniel even before he had met him (John 1:47). Similarly, the Lord revealed to Ananias not only the change in Saul (Paul) but also his destiny before he met him (Acts 9:10). Philip was divinely led to meet the servant of the court of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26). Jesus knew what was in the Pharisees’ hearts. He knew the woman at the well in the Spirit (John 4).
Imagine a church where people know each other in the Spirit: where everyone knows their place and function; and naturally work together without complaining and strife because they do not feel threatened by one another.
- We are taught by that what the Holy Spirit teaches (1 John 2:27; 1 Cor 1:13).
- People err, in interpreting the Bible without the Spirit (2 Cor 3:6).
- We can only know God, by the Spirit, because He is Spirit. 1 Cor 2:10-12)
- We cannot be regenerated and born again without the work of the Spirit. (Tit 3:5)
- The Eternal spirit through the Blood of Christ, cleanse you from an evil conscience. (Heb 9:14)
Ordinary, Daily Living By The Spirit
- Be Quickened:“It is the spirit that quickeneth” (Joh 6:63). Afr.: verlewendig; versnel; aanspoor; opwek; besiel; nuwe lewe gee; aanwakker.
Strongs 2227: ζωοποιέω zōopoiéō; contracted zōopoiṓ, fut. zōopoiḗsō, from zōós (n.f., see zōgréō [2221]), alive, and poiéō (4160), to make. To make alive, vivify (John 6:63; 1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 3:6).
2. To Groan: used primarily in the NT: “he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled” (Joh 11:33). Afr. gekreun, versugting, gekerm, gesteun, sug.
1690. ἐμβριμάομαι embrimáomai; contracted embrimṓmai, fut. embrimḗsomai, from en (1722), in or on account of, and brimáomai, to roar, storm with anger. In the mid., used as a deponent verb, to be enraged, indignant, to express indignation against someone. Followed by the dat., to murmur against, blame (Mark 14:5), and by implication to admonish sternly, charge strictly, threaten indignantly for disobedience (Matt. 9:30; Mark 1:43; Isa 17:13). Also spoken of any agitation of the mind as grief, to be greatly moved or agitated.
3. Be Troubled: “he was troubled in spirit” (Joh 13:21). Afr. gepla; gestoor, verontrus; gekwel; onrustig.
5015. ταράσσω tarássō; As agitating water in a pool (John 5:4, 7; Sep Figuratively used of the mind, to stir up, trouble, disturb with various emotions such as fear, put in trepidation. In the pass., to be in trepidation (Matt. 2:3; 14:26; Mark 6:50; Luke 1:12; 24:38; 1 Pet. 3:14). In Acts 17:8 in the act. and with the acl. 1:7; 5:10]).
Deriv.: diatarássō (1298), to disturb greatly; ektarássō (1613), to stir up; tarachḗ (5016), agitation; tárachos (5017), a disturbance.
Syn.: diegeírō (1326), to arouse, stir up; thlíbō (2346), to afflict; enochléō (1776), to vex; parenochléō (3926), to harass; skúllō (4660), to annoy; anastatóō (387), to stir up; thorubéō (2350), to make an uproar; throéō (2360), to clamor; thorubéō (2350), to disturb.
Ant.: hēsucházō (2270), to be still; katastéllō (2687), to quiet; eirēneúō (1514), to bring peace; eirēnopoiéō (1517), to make peace.
4. To Be Signified (compelled): “And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting (Acts 11:12) Bade (me to go). Afr: aanbied; beveel, gebied; versoek, nooi, uitnooi
2036. ἔπω épō followed with an adṓs (2531), as (Matt. 28:6); kalṓs eípas (kalṓs [2573], well; eípas, “Thou hast well said,” i.e., rightly, correctly [Luke 20:39]); used in an absolute sense with kalṓs, well, implied (Matt. 26:25, 64); sú eípas (sú [4771], you), you said; hence with an acc. of person kalṓs eípen (kalṓs, well; eípen, he said), he spoke well of (Luke 6:26); of speaking in parables, using the dat. (Matt. 22:1)
“one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth.” (Acts 11:28). Signified – Afr: aandui; beteken; beduie, te kenne gee
4591. σημαίνω sēmaínō; fuṓ, aor. esḗmana, from sḗma (n.f., see ásēmos [767]), a mark, sign. To give a public sign or signal
Syn.: dēlóō (1213), to declare; emphanízō (1718), to manifest; diaggéllō (1229), to declare, announce; gnōrízō (1107), to make known.
5. To Permit (loose): “but the Spirit suffered them not.” (Acts 16:7). Suffered (them not). Afr: verduur; toelaatbaar, duldbaar; toelating, met vergunning.
1439. ἐάω eáō; contracted eṓ, imperf. eíōn, fut. eásō, aor. eíasa. To permit, to let be.
(I) To permit, allow, not to hinder; with the ac
(II) To let alone, to leave, followed by the ac
(III) To leave to, commit to: as spoken of persons, to leave in charge (Acts 23:32); of things (Acts 27:40) meaning they committed the ship to sea, i.e., “let her sail”.
Deriv.: proseáō (4330), to permit or allow further.
Syn.: epitrépō (2010), to allow; aphíēmi (863), to permit.
6. To Constrain (bind): “was pressed in the spirit” (Acts 18:5). Pressed – Afr. gedruk, benoud; in die knyp
4912. συνέχω sunéchō; fut. sunéxō, from sún (4862), an intens., and échō (2192), to have. To hold fast, to press together; trans.:
(I) Particularly, to plug one’s ears (Acts 7:57); the mouth (Sept.: Is. 52:15); of a city besieged (Luke 19:43; Sept.: 1 Sam. 23:8); of a crowd, to press together (Luke 8:45); of persons having a prisoner in custody, to hold fast (Luke 22:63).
(II) Figuratively, to constrain, compel, press on, with the acc. (2 Cor. 5:14); in the TR, pass. sunéchomai, to be in constraint, distressed, perplexed, used in an absolute sense (Luke 12:50; Phil. 1:23). With the meaning of to be seized, affected, afflicted, with the dat.; with fear (Luke 8:37); with diseases (Matt. 4:24; Luke 4:38; Acts 28:8; Sept. Job 3:24; 31:23). Pass., spoken also of a person held fast, pressed, occupied or the like (Acts 18:5, Paul was compelled or constrained to preach “Jesus Christ, and him crucified”).
7. Be Fervent: “being fervent in the spirit” (Acts 18:25). Fervent – to desire. Afr. vurig, warm; ywerig; innig, sielsverlange; brandend, hartstogtelik; ywerend; innig; drif; ywer.
2204. ζέω zéō; Deriv.: zestós (2200), fervent, hot; zḗlos (2205), zeal. Syn: kaíō (2545), to burn.
8. To Purpose. “Paul purposed in the spirit (Acts 19:21). Purposed – Afr. voorneme, plan, doel, oogmerk, bedoeling.
5087. τίθημι títhēmi; imperḗsō, aor. éthēka, perf. tétheika. To set, put, place, lay.
(I) Particularly, to set, put, or place a person or thing. In the act. it means to place; under a bushel (módion [3426], Matt. 5:15; Mark 4:21) or under a bed (klínē [2825], Luke 8:16); in a secret place (kruptḗn [2926], Luke 11:33). Of a title on the cross (John 19:19); of one’s foot upon the sea (Rev. 10:2).
9. To Bind: “I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem” (Acts 20:22). Bound in – Afr. beperk; die maat hou; dit binne perke hou; op verbode grond.
1210. δέω déō; fuḗsō, aor. édēsa, perf. dédeka, perf. pass. dédemai. To bind,
(I) Of things, to bind together or to anything, to bind around, fasten (Matt. 13:30; 21:2; Mark 11:2, 4; Luke 19:30; Acts 10:11; Sepíēmi (863), to forgive, in relation to John 20:23.
10. To Serve: “serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” (Rom 7:6). Newness – Afr. onlangs; opnuut; wedergeboorte; pasgebore; vars brood; herbou, vernuwe.
2538. καινότης kainótēs. Syn.: neótēs (3503), newness, youthfulness; anakaínōsis (342), renewing. Ant.: palaiótēs (3821), oldness; in the moral sense: the old man, ho palaiós ánthrōpos (palaiós [3820]; ánthrōpos [444]).
11. To be Led: “led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Rom 8:14). Led (by) – Afr. leiding; aanvoering; voorbeeld; voorsprong.
71. ἄγω ágō; impeḗchthēn, 2d aor. ḗgagon. To lead, lead along, bring, carry, remove.
“the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Rom 8:26).
4878. συναντιλαμβάνομαι sunantilambánomai; fuḗpsomai, from sún (4862), together, and antilambánō (482), to support, help. Ex. 18:22; Ps. 89:22).
Syn.: boēthéō (997), to come to the aid of someone; sunergéō (4903), to help in work, cooperate.
Ant.: kōlúō (2967), to hinder.
Prayer: Help me to walk, live and have my being in the Spirit alone. Let me be able to say like Jesus, “I do nothing unless the Spirit…, I say nothing unless the Spirit…”
Abiding In the Spirit
It is only in the Spirit that we are safe. It is only in the Spirit, that we cannot be deceived and misled (1 John 4:1; John 16:13).
Words and deeds done in the Spirit, (1 Cor 2:13) He will defend. In the Spirit we are accurate.
In the Spirit we are holy and perfect (John 17:17). In the Spirit we are righteous. In the Spirit we will know the way into the Holy of holies. (Heb 9:8).
In the Spirit there is liberty (2 Cor 3:17). In the Spirit we are whole, and able to speak the whole gospel.
In the Spirit we have access to all things, gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:7-10). We have the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:21-22).
In the Spirit we are seated in heavenly places and will have authority (Eph 2:6).
In the Spirit we know all things, and intentions of the heart (1 Cor 2:10). In the Spirit we will know how to rightly divide and speak the truth.
In the Spirit, the dead are made alive!
It is by the Spirit that we are unified and become one like the Godhead.
It is by the Spirit that we are convicted, regenerated, filled, sanctified, justified and glorified.
We have no life, existence or substance outside of the Spirit. All spiritual life is by definition in the Spirit.
A Partnership, Not A Possession
Life in the Spirit is a:
- Decided, conscious, intentional, aware, and awakening partnership, not a possession.
- A yielding, not an overpowering control.
- An awakening, not an unconscious, senseless, paralyzed, cold, inert, insensate, insensible, lethargic, numb, passed out, stupefied, tranced state of being (these are characteristics of being possessed by demons. Satan makes you like a zombie!)
The Spirit gives life and unlocks supernatural inert abilities that God has already birthed in us. By the Spirit, we are united in the divine!
We Miss Out on Spirit-Life Because:
Self: Ego, pride, insecurities, flesh. The way of the carnality and fleshly thinking is enmity to the Spirit (Rom 8:5). There is no middle ground, no compromise in the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is Jesus who walks in our streets today is a person. He does the same work today as Jesus came to do then (Joh 14:15). The people treat Him today the same as they treated Jesus then. Who crucified Jesus? – the religious and so-called clergy of that time.
The Holy Spirit wants to work through us:
- He wants to use us and let His gifts work through us and lead us to the Father.
- He wants to reveal Christ to us so that He will become a reality in our lives.
- He wants to make us His disciples.
- He wants to lead us into deeper dimensions in the Spirit.
Ways We Resist the Spirit
- Grieve: But they rebelled, and grieved his Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10)
Asab: A verb meaning to hurt, to pain, grieve, to shape to fashion.
2. Blasphemy: Mat 12: 31-32: “Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall men be forgiven; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven of men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him in this age, nor in the coming.“
blasphēmía: Blasphemy, verbal abuse against someone which denotes the very worst type of slander mentioned in Matt. 15:19 with false witnesses; wounding someone’s reputation by evil reports, evil speaking.
3. Lies: Acts 5: 3,9: “Then Peter said, Ananias, why did Satan fulfill your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep the price of the land? Then Peter said to her, Why did you agree to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who bury your man are at the door, and they will carry you out.“
pseúdomai; fut. pseúsomai, mid. deponent of pseúdō (n.f.), to cheat, defraud, falsify. To lie, to speak falsely or deceitfully.
4. Resist: Acts 7:51: “You stubborn and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit; just as your fathers, so also you.“
antipíptō; fut. antipesoúmai, from antí (G0473), against, and píptō (G4098), to fall. To fall or rush against or upon in a hostile manner, assault, resist by force and violence, fall or strive against (Acts 7:51).
5. Bribery: Acts 8:18-22: “And when Simon saw that by the laying of the apostles the Holy Ghost was given, he offered their money and said, ‘Give me this power also, that whosoever shall lay my hands upon the Holy Ghost can receive’. But Peter said to him, ‘Let your money go away with you, because you thought to receive the gift of God through money. You have no part or fate in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this evil from you, and pray to God, whether the mind of your heart may be forgiven you.'”
6. Quench: 1 Thess 5:19: “Do not quench the Spirit…”
Sbénnumi: To quench, extinguish
Eph 4:30: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
lupéṓ̄: to grieve, afflict with sorrow; to be grieved, sad, sorrowful, to offend.
“In The Spirit” Is NOT Isolation
Being most connected and in tune, in the Spirit, enables you to connect on a higher level with people, and being really present in their deep hidden needs, wants, desires, and motives.
Being connected in the Spirit first, then He will connect you with man, but on a higher level, so that you can elevate them, and not be pulled down by man’s devices.
People are mostly carnal, and do not understand the ways of the Spirit. It is foolishness and strange to them. There are very few people who live and abide in the Spirit. Life in the Spirit is living like by the “natural law of helium”, where the way of carnality cannot escape the natural law of gravity. So people not living in the Spirit, will always pull you down. They do not even realise it, but they do.
The Spirit and the Word
“The WORD and the Spirit is one.” The Sword of the Spirit is the Word (Eph 6:17).
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (Joh 6:63).
The language of the Spirit is the Word of God. Every single word we speak in the Spirit is based and founded on scripture. It is like someone who has memorized all of scripture and has the understanding and insight into the whole of scripture. Your spiritual vocabulary is Word-based. They only speak from the Word (Josh 1:8). The Spirit gives life to the Word. The Word becomes flesh in us by the Spirit.
You cannot be like Jesus without the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who resurrects, reveals, and manifests Christ in us. Only the Spirit reveals Jesus in us.
The opposition: It is simply not in man, to be like Christ, and any attempt is of the spirit of the anti-christ.
The way of the Spirit is holy and sacred. Life in the spirit is holy, consecrated, sanctified, precise, accurate, on the mark – Jesus.
In the spirit is the only way to sin-less. It is He who works it in us; and draw us closer, into a more holy consecrated lifestyle.
We Can Even Work In the Spirit
Prayer: Oh God! may we walk in the Spirit continually! Help us to remain and abide in the spirit. Help us to find our complete habitation in the Holy Spirit.
Work done in the Spirit is worship and glorifies God:
- Work can be done in the Spirit, for daily labour is not ungodly, secular, or sinful (Exo 31:3,5; 35:31).
- Work is part of our creational purpose to subdue and multiply (Gen 1:28).
- When we work by the Spirit it will not be laborious, it will be innovative, precise and intentional.
- In the Spirit, you will be able to focus and accomplish. Your work will be a blessing!
- Your work will be a sermon, an extension of His grace and character in you.
- You work will reveal God, the same way His creation reveals Him. Your work will be excellent, and spectacular, rich in precise detail, order and creative. Believers being in the spirit has done many new inventions.
- Work in the Spirit makes this world better because it resonates heaven! (Mat 6:10).
When living in the Spirit, our constant focus and attention is on His ability, not ours. His strength, power, fruit, gifts, testimony, and riches. We are dead to our capabilities, efforts, methods, trying, and achievements. Our confidence is in Him. Our default is Christ. We have died to self, our dreams and ambitions. We have died to our mistakes, failures, inabilities and incompetence. The life we now live we live in the Son.
Activities of the Spirit
- Pray in the Spirit.
- Operate in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Pray without ceasing.
- Sing a new song.
- Meditate on the Word.
- Listen to the Body of Christ.
- Journal what God is revealing to you.