What is It to Walk In the Spirit?

Q: What does the Bible say about walking in the Spirit?

Walking in the Spirit means living according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than the flesh. Walking in the Spirit is a theme found in Romans 8, particularly in verses 1-14. It signifies living a life that is directed by the Holy Spirit, where one's primary concerns and inclinations are aligned with spiritual matters rather than fleshly desires. Paul emphasizes that those who walk in the Spirit are not under condemnation, as they live according to God's will and seek to fulfill His purposes in their lives. This walk is characterized by an ongoing transformation and a conscious dependence upon the Spirit for guidance and strength.

Q: How do we know that all of God's promises are in Christ?

The Bible affirms that all God's promises find their fulfillment in Christ, as stated in 2 Corinthians 1:20. The assurance that all of God's promises are in Christ is rooted in scripture, particularly in 2 Corinthians 1:20, which states that all the promises of God are 'Yes' and 'Amen' in Christ. This doctrine underscores the significance of Christ's role in our relationship with God, highlighting that spiritual blessings come only through Him. Verses like Ephesians 1:3-7 further illustrate this truth, stating that in Christ, believers have every spiritual blessing and redemption. Thus, the exclusive character of God's promises shows that they are meant for those who are united with Christ by faith.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to walk in the Spirit?

Walking in the Spirit is essential for Christians to avoid condemnation and live in accordance with God's will. For Christians, walking in the Spirit is vital because it defines the nature of their relationship with God and impacts their experience of salvation. Romans 8:1 declares that there is 'no condemnation' for those who walk in the Spirit, meaning that spiritual living ensures believers are aligning with God's purposes. This walk involves turning away from the desires of the flesh, which lead to spiritual death, and instead pursuing a life characterized by righteousness and peace. The tendency to fulfill the dictates of the Spirit brings freedom and assurance of God's love and acceptance, highlighting its significance in the believer's life.

Q: How can we differentiate between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit?

Walking in the flesh focuses on worldly desires, while walking in the Spirit prioritizes spiritual concerns. Differentiating between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit lies in understanding the underlying motivations and inclinations of one's heart. Romans 8:5-6 contrasts these two ways of living, stating that those who set their minds on the flesh will reap death, while those who set their minds on the Spirit will experience life and peace. Walking in the flesh is characterized by a focus on earthly pleasures and desires, which can lead to spiritual death, whereas walking in the Spirit involves a continual practice of seeking God, being led by the Spirit, and expressing love and obedience in daily life. This distinction emphasizes the inward attitude of the believer toward God's will and kingdom.

Every promise of God is in Christ
Jesus, our Lord. That's where the promises of
God are. God has nothing spiritual, eternal, for anyone out of Christ. He that hath the Son of God hath
life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians,
for all the promises of God are in Christ, and all the promises of God in
him are yes, and in him, amen, unto the glory
of God. That's established, isn't it?
Ephesians 1 verse 4 says, God hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings, where? 1 Corinthians 1.30, of God are
you in Christ, who of God is made unto us all things, wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Ephesians 1.7,
in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins according to the riches of his grace. We are accepted
in the Beloved. All right, the second statement. Now remember that one. Don't
forget that. Don't ever forget that. All of
the promises of God are in Christ. Out of Christ, our God is a consuming
fire. All right, the second statement.
But these promises and blessings are not unto all men. These promises are not upon the
whole human race. They are not extended to all
the sons of Adam. But with each promise, the Lord
identifies those to whom it's given. For example, and we know
that all things work together for good. To whom? No way. We know that all things
work together for good to them who love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose. And no one has a right to claim
that promise except those who love God and those who are the
called of Christ Jesus. Acts 2.39, Peter declared this,
for the promise For the promise is unto you and your children,
and to all that are far off, out of every tribe, kindred,
nation, tongue unto heaven, the promise is extended, even to
as many as the Lord our God shall call. The promise is to you whom
he calls, and to your children whom he calls, and to them who
are far off whom he calls. For whom he called, he justified,
and whom he justified, he glorified. 1 John 1.7. Now, if we walk in
the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
that is, with God. And the blood of Jesus Christ
cleanseth us from all sin. Who is cleansed by the blood
of Christ? Those who walk in the light. Suppose that a man
has died, a very wealthy, wealthy man has died, and they're having
the reading of the will. And the brothers and sisters
and sons and daughters and grandchildren and nieces and nephews and aunts
and uncles and in-laws have all come from all over the country
and assembled in this great hall for the reading of the will.
Very wealthy man. And so a fellow walks in off
the street, and he interrupts the procedure, and he said, now
what did he leave me? And the lawyer looks up and says,
who are you? Oh, he gave his name. He said,
I just saw this reading of the will going on here, and I thought
I'd drop in and see what he left me. Well, the lawyer says, he
didn't leave you anything. You're not of this family. You
do not wear this name. There's nothing in it for you.
But I knew the man's name, and I rented one of his houses. I
know, but you're not of his family." You see, the covenant and the
testament is for the covenant family. The promises of God are
in Christ, and those promises are to those who are in his Son. That's right. Now, having said
that, let's turn to the text. Romans 8. I'm going to try to
be true to the text. In Romans 8, I'll tell you, you
talk about a chapter of promises. You talk about a chapter of riches
and treasures. Riches of grace and treasures
of mercy, all the way through this chapter. In verse 1, you've
got this declaration, no condemnation. What is condemnation? No judgment.
No judgment. Never be called to judgment.
In verse 4, you have the righteousness of the law. Perfection before the law. Fulfilled
in us. Actually fulfilled. Verse 14,
you have this declaration, sons of God. Think about John thought
about it and said, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called sons of God? People
take that lightly. Son of God? Verse 17 talks about being heirs
of God, joint heirs with Christ. That's one who stands to inherit
from this testament. Verse 28 talks about all things,
good and bad, past, present and future. Father, Son and Holy
Spirit working together for the eternal good of somebody. Wouldn't
you like to know that everything in your life and in your daddy's
life and in your mama's life and in your children's life was
working together for your good? That's the promise. He says, who can be against us?
God is for us. God is for me? If God is for
me, who can be against me? Verse 33, we are the elect of
God, justified. And verse 35, loved of God, loved
of God like he loves Christ. Now, brother, I'll tell you frankly
and honestly, and very sincerely and plainly, I won't end on that
chapter. I won't end on those promises.
Well, is there some word given here that would identify those
to whom these promises are made? All of these promises. That is
used twice, I hear in the opening verses. It says in verse 1, There
is therefore now no condemnation, no judgment, to them who are
in Christ Jesus. That's where I said Is that what
I said the promise was in Christ Jesus? No judgment, no wrath,
no condemnation in Christ Jesus? Now watch. To those who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. That's who it's for. There's no condemnation to those
who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. And no one
else has a right to claim that promise. strengthens it. In verse 2, for the law of the
Spirit, that is the gospel, the gospel of Christ, that's the
law of the Spirit, the gospel of Christ, has set us free, free
from that curse and condemnation of the law of sin and death.
Christ has come, that's the reason there's no condemnation, because
he took our condemnation The Bible doesn't say there's no
condemnation for a sinner. It's no condemnation for a sinner
in Christ, because Christ has borne the condemnation. He's
paid the debt. He took all our sins in his body
on the tree and paid for them. Therefore, payment of God's justice
cannot twice demand, first at the bleeding shirt, his hand,
then again at mine. That's not right. If he paid
it, it's paid. But what the law, verse 3, look,
what the law could not do, I couldn't do it, the law couldn't do it
because the law was weak, not weak in its own self, but weak
in me. I'm the one that made the law
weak. God said do this and live. Nothing wrong with that statement,
is it? Do this and live? That's not weak. That's strong. Has a horse in it. But the guy
he gave it to messed up. Adam and then all the rest of
us. So it couldn't do it. But I'll tell you who couldn't
do it, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.
God said to him, do this and live, and he did it. See that? He sent Christ in the likeness
of sinful flesh for sin and condemned sin in the flesh. Christ kept
God's law, obeyed him perfectly. And then, boy, our sins and he
bought it on the tree. So God did it in Christ. And
therefore, verse 4, here is another promise, and he did it that the
very righteousness of God, the very perfection and holiness
and sanctification of God himself, of his holy law, might be fulfilled
in us. In other words, if we are in
Christ, we stand today before the law of God perfectly holy.
the righteousness of God literally fulfilled in us. Who's it for? Read on. It's for those who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit. So you see, you run into that
twice in these first four verses. And there's no reason to shy
away from it. I want the promise, don't you? So I'm not going to
back off the condition. I don't want just half a message,
I don't want you giving me the message and then not telling
me the rest of it. No condemnation to those who walk not after the
flesh, but after the spirit. The righteousness of the law
fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the
spirit. In the next ten verses, Paul
sheds some light on what it means to walk not after the flesh.
but after the Spirit." Notice that word, after, he didn't say
walk not in the flesh, he said after the flesh and after the
Spirit, that's important. And the Amplified version states
it this way, these people who have no condemnation, these people
who are in Christ, these people who are declared righteous by
Christ, obedient, they live and they walk not according to the
dictates of the flesh. not according to the dictates
of the flesh. They're not controlled by the
flesh, but they live and walk after the dictates of the Spirit,
and they're controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. That's what
that's saying. Now, verse 5. We're going straight
into it. Verse 5 says, "...they that are
after the flesh." They that are after the flesh. do mind the
things of the flesh." Now, there are two important words here.
They walk not after the flesh, they walk not after the flesh,
and they mind not the things of the flesh, God's people. Unbelievers,
they walk after the flesh and they mind the things of the flesh. Now, there are two words, very
important. What does the word walk here mean? It means the
tenor of a man's It means the direction of his life. His walk
is his life. His walk is his direction. It's
his primary interest. In other words, a man may be
walking upright and walking this way. He may stumble and fall.
But as you see him lying there, you say, well, that's not his
walk. That's for the moment. He fell right then. He gets back
up and he goes this way. What's the direction of the Mississippi
River? It flows south, doesn't it? Do
you know there are places where it flows west and east? And there are some places where
it flows north. But the general direction of that river is south.
The general direction of that river, it's flowing south. It's
going to wind up south. And what this walk is, this is
a man's general direction. It's the tenor of his life. It's
the bend of his will. It's his primary interest. He
walks and minds the things of the flesh. Verse 5, they that
are after the flesh, they mind the things of the flesh. Now,
what does the word mind mean? Well, it means several things.
Number one, that's what he's concerned with. They that are
after the flesh, that's their walk, that's their tenor of their
life, that's their flesh as their primary interest. They're concerned,
they're inclined toward those things. They're occupied with
the flesh, with the world, with the things of the flesh. All
these things that come under flesh, they're interested primarily
in these things. They mind these things. They're
pursuing these things. That's what the word mind means.
It means they're concerned, they're inclined, they're occupied, they're
interested primarily in these things, and therefore they pursue
these things. They walk in the flesh. Now once
in a while they may step over here and appear to be walking
in the spirit. A man who is walking in the spirit may occasionally
appear to be walking in the flesh. But he has general direction
in the spirit. But a man who is walking in the flesh may act
spiritual once in a while. You see what I'm saying? But
his general condition and his general concern and his general
occupation and his general inclination and the general pursuit of his
life is fresh. That's what he's interested in.
Now look at the next line. But they that are after the Spirit,
they that walk after the Spirit, they demand the things of the
Spirit and take the same definition. This man of God, this believer,
what's he concerned with? Oh, that I may win Christ and
be found in him. That's his primary concern. That's
what he's interested in. Cut into his heart and you'll
find a desire for Christ. Cut into his mind and you'll
find a pursuit of Christ. Cut into his will and you'll
find a willingness to be made like Christ. That's right, that's
his concern, that's his occupation. That's his interest, his affection
is set on things above. He reads, he talks, he discusses
it, he worships, he seeks the Lord, he pursues the things of
God. Like our Lord Jesus Christ said,
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Now
do you see that? He said no condemnation. Righteousness
fulfilled is to those who walk not after the flesh. Their concern
and occupation and inclination and interest is not primarily
the flesh. Their primary inclination and
concern and occupation and pursuit is the things of God. Primarily. That's the tenor of their lives.
That's the bent of their will. There, he said, verse 6, to be
carnally minded, to be carnally minded, fleshly minded. He keeps
using this word mind, and that's the reason I wanted to define
the word. The word to be minded is to be
occupied, is to be concerned, is to be inclined. You look it
up yourself. That's his primary interest. And for that to be your primary
interest is death. Let me show you that. Turn to
Luke chapter 12. To be primarily concerned with,
occupied with, inclined toward, and pursuing the things of the
flesh and the things of this world, is death. Because these
things are perishing things. What should have prompted a man
to begin the old world? The world's going to perish,
and he'll perish with it. You remember when the apostles
were baptized and laying hands on people and a fellow named
Simon Magus came running up and said, offered him money, said,
give me that power. And Peter turned to him and what's
the first thing he said? Your money perish with you. Money
is a perishable thing. Your heart's not right with God.
You're pursuing the wrong things. You're occupied with the wrong
things. Look at Luke 12. Verse 15. He said to them, Now take heed,
and beware of covetousness. Beware of covetousness. A man's
life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses,
because they are all going to perish. Perish. And he spake a parable
of them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth
plentifully. And he thought within himself,
Listen, this is his mind. This is the state of his mind.
Now what am I going to do? I have no room where to bestow
all my fruits. Oh, he said, this is what I'll
do. I'll pull down my barns. I'll build greater barns. And
there I'll bestow all my fruits and my goods and I'll say to
my soul, soul, you have many goods laid up for many years.
Now just take your ease and drink and be merry. You're in good
shape because you're fixed up physically, materially, you're
alright. And he said, God said to him,
thy fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee, and
then who shall these things be that you have provided?" Turn
with me to 1 Corinthians 7. To be carnally minded, to be
primarily occupied, concerned with, inclined toward the things
of this world, is death. Because the things of this world
are dying things. Everything connected with this
world is dying. In 1 Corinthians 7, look at verse
29. Now this I say, brethren, this
I say, the time is short, for some of us it's shorter and shorter.
It remaineth that they that have wives as though they had none,
someday you're not going to And they that weep as though they
wept not, someday these eyes won't cry or smile again. They're going to be hollering.
And they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not, one day will
soon be over. And they that buy as though they
possess not, God will burn it all. And they that use this world
as not abusing it for the fashion of this world, fadeth away. So
to be carnally minded is death. That's the end of it all, is
death. Our affections set on the things of this earth, our
occupation, our concern. But, back to the text, Romans
8, stay with it. Verse 6, for to be carnally minded
is death, to be spiritually minded. to be occupied with God, with
his word, with his gospel, with his kingdom, with his son, with
his church, with his people, with his word, to be taken up
with it and occupied with it and care about it, that's life. Because God lives, the world
doesn't live, it's dying, it's dead, because his kingdom lives,
because his possessions live, because his people live. And
they not only live, but they live in a state of peace and
joy. And I tell you, the more of this
world you accumulate and become responsible for, the more headaches
you've got. While you hold that passage,
turn to 1 Timothy chapter 6. 1 Timothy chapter 6. Listen to this. 1 Timothy 6. Beginning with verse 6. But godliness, and this is not
a superficial piety, this is not a superficial, this is just
plain godliness, this is faith in God, rest in God, trust in
God, concern for the things of God. Godliness with contentment
is great gain. We brought nothing into this
world, and it's dead certain we're not going to carry anything
So having food and raiment, let's be content. But they that will
be rich in this world, they that are carnally minded now, they
that have had their affections on the things of this earth,
they fall into temptation, and they fall into a snare, and into
many foolish and hurtful lusts. They get taken up with the wrong
crowd, with the wrong people, with the wrong goals, with the
wrong end, with the wrong objectives. and drown men in destruction
and perdition. One of the old Puritans got before
his congregation one day, and he said, Before I bring my message
tonight, I wish to request prayer for Brother John Smith. I don't remember
his name. And he saw the expression change
on the people's face. What's wrong with John? They
didn't know anything was wrong with John. Oh, he said, nothing's
wrong. But John just inherited a large
sum of money. His father died and he inherited
a large sum of money. And he's going to need a lot
of grace. He's going to need a lot of grace.
Spurgeon said, for every man, a woman that I've seen fall away
from the gospel through poverty, and trial, I've seen fifty fall
away because of prosperity." That's what he said. And that's
what he's saying here. When these things, when we get
encumbered and ensnared, carnally minded, we get our minds on these
things. He says it's hurtful lust, it
drowns men in destruction and perdition, verse 10, for the
love of money. It's not money itself, it's the
love of it, is the root of all evil, which
while some coveted after, they've erred from the faith and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows. Thou, O man of God,
flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, meekness, patience. To be carnally minded is death. Back to the text. This is what this is saying.
Verse 6, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Life and peace. That's what our
Lord said, if your right hand offends you, cut it off. Now,
our Lord never taught self-mutilation. I knew a girl in Chattanooga
that did that. literally cut her arm off. That's not what he's saying.
He said if your right eye offends you, pluck it out. He better
go through life with one arm or one eye than to perish in
hell. And what he's saying, if you've
got a hold of something, job, possessions, money, companionship,
anything that keeps you from being spiritually minded and
pursuing the things of God, No matter how, like a right arm
to me, cut it off. It's like a right eye to me,
pluck it out. That's what he's saying. That's
what that's teaching. Because it's not worth the damnation
of your soul. It's just not worth it. Not worth
it. You see verse 7, because the
carnal mind is enmity against God. What does that mean, the
carnal mind is enmity against God? It says two things. It says
the carnal mind, this man that's a woman, that's got the carnal
mind. See, we're always on this mind business. So many people
talk about walking after the spirit, walking after the flesh.
It's an outward thing, and that's where the Pharisees missed it.
It's exactly where they missed it. It's an inward attitude and mindedness
that determines the walk. And he says here, the carnal
mind is enmity against God, and secondly, it's not subject to
the law of God. That is, the law of God is the
way of God, the will of God, the desire of God. The carnal
mind is not subject to God. It's enmity. In what way? All
right, let me show you. The carnal mind murmurs against
God. I'm not going to take the time
to read all about Israel, but over there I've got three references
here where the people out in the wilderness murmured against
Moses and murmured against God and said, why did you bring us
out of Egypt? We had plenty to eat, we had plenty to wear, we
had a good place to live, we had garlic and onions and all
these things down in Egypt, and you brought us out here in the
wilderness to starve. What are they doing in the wilderness?
And over in Numbers 21, it says they murmured against God and
they murmured against Moses and said, we hate this light bread,
and we're tired of this way, and God sent fiery serpents and
ate them up, killed them. That's enmity, you see, murmuring,
murmuring against God. And then the carnal mind not
only murmurs against God, but it questions God's providence.
Well, what shall we eat? What shall we drink? What shall
we wear? See, the carnal mind not only
murmurs against God and questions God's providence, but the carnal
mind reasons against God. Instead of bowing to his providence
and bowing to his doctrine and bowing to his word and bowing
to his truth, we begin to reason. I don't think that's fair. I
don't think that's the way it ought to be. This is what I've
always thought. That's reasoning against God.
That's enmity. And then the carnal mind is not
submissive to God. Eli that came to him, you know,
Samuel came to Eli and said, God's going to judge your household.
God's going to judge your sons. Your sons have brought great
shame upon the nation Israel, and God's going to judge them.
How did Eli respond to that? He didn't reason against God.
He didn't murmur against God. He didn't question God's law
or God's providence or purpose. He said, well, it's the Lord.
Let him do what he will. That's submission. Old Job, they
kept bringing him bad news, bad news, bad news, and finally he
arose and rent his mantle and poured sackcloth, put on sackcloth
and put ashes on his head and worshiped God. And he said, well,
the Lord gave and the Lord taken away. That should be the name
of the Lord. That's not enmity. That's submission. And the carnal mind will not
wait on God. It just won't do it. The Apostle
Paul said, I know how to be abased, I know how to be in poverty,
I know how to do without, and I know how to abound, but I've
learned whether I'm there or there to be content. I've learned
whether I have or have not to be content, because I'm God's
prisoner and God's bond slave. I've learned that. Now, that's
subjection, and the carnal mind can't do it. The carnal mind
is enmity. It questions, it reasons, it
quarrels, and it won't wait. Old David kept saying, wait on
the Lord. Now again, I said, wait on the Lord. Now wait on
the Lord, you're going to run ahead. If you run ahead, it gets
awful dark out there. Wait till he shines the light.
Wait till he opens the door. There's a whole lot of us had
our heads busted opening doors. It's a whole lot easier to wait
till he opens it and then walk through. Just wait. But the carnal
mind just won't wait, it won't be subject. That's the carnal
mind. So then, verse 8, they that are
in the flesh, and this has to do with mindedness, are you with
me? It has to do with attitude and
spirit. I've preached that here ever
since I've been here. More important is not what you
do, it's why you do it. I tell you, that's the thing,
God looks not on the outward countenance, he looks on the
heart. He measures attitude, he measures motive, he measures
reason. That's right. And they, they're
in the flesh, partly minded, occupied, concerned, inclined,
with nothing, and God knows, he reads us. He knows what we're
occupied with. Like I said, I'm not talking
about a man who never stumbles and never fumbles and never falls.
The greatest home run hitter of all time struck out more than
he knocked home runs. Babe Ruth, isn't that right?
He led the whole country in strikeouts for three years, but it wasn't
until he hit one. I'm talking about the tenor of
life. I'm talking about the direction. I'm talking about what you're
occupied with. Here and here. That's what that says. All right,
verse 9, but you're not in the flesh. You're not in the flesh. I'm not? Now hang on here just
a minute. Let's stop a minute. Am I not
still human? Yes, I am. I'm in. That's what
this is right here. That's what that is, too. Come
on, we're human, aren't we? Yeah, we know that. Do we not
still have passions? Appetites? Desires? Oh yeah. Do we not still have trouble
with anger? Pride? Don't we? Never? Oh yeah. Envy? Jealousy? Do we not really enjoy
comfortable things? I'd hold us rather be comfortable
than uncomfortable, hadn't you? Do we not enjoy things of the
flesh? Do we not enjoy ease? I don't
want to be in jail even for the gospel's sake. I like it better
out here. That's just truth. We're still
in the flesh. What's he saying here? What's
this? But you're not after the flesh, but you are in the spirit. You're not controlled by the
flesh and dominated by the flesh and obsessed by the flesh. You
have a new nature. You have the spirit of God in
you. You have a new heart and a new nature. You have a spiritual
nature that's not dominated. Yes, you have fleshly motions, but you have spiritual
motions. That's right. Sure, you have
trouble with anger, but you've got a new love that overcomes
anger. Is that not right? Let not the sun go down on your
wrath. That must mean somebody got mad. But he didn't keep it. Understand? Sure you have pride,
but God will show you before the night's over what you are
and knock it out of you. You've got a humility that overcomes
the pride. Is that not right, John? Sure.
I'm telling the truth. I'd a whole lot rather preach
a good sermon than fall on my face, hadn't you, Ronnie, when
you get up here, Tom, next Wednesday night. That's the pride about
us, isn't it? Huh? I don't want to strike a
house. I think I'd be willing to for
God's glory. I'll sit down and reason it out. I'll be awful
upset for a little while, and then I'll realize, well, it was
all in his will. Sure, we have trouble with envy,
but we've got a gratitude that overcomes it. Sure, we have trouble
with fear. Everybody here has trouble with
some kind of doubt and fear, but we've got a faith that overcomes
it. Isn't that right? And that's what I'm saying. He
says, but you're not in the flesh, you're not dominated by the flesh,
you're not controlled by the flesh, you're not obsessed with
the flesh, you're in the Spirit of God. That is if the Spirit
of God dwells in you. I don't believe he'd dwell somewhere
and folks not know it, would you? We had Gary and Betty Shepard
with us for a few days last week, and I knew they were there. They
were beautiful houseguests. And I believe if the Holy Spirit
dwells in a man's heart, it's going to be very obvious. He'll
shed abroad the love of God in that heart. He'll give victory.
But now, verse 9 says, if any man doesn't have that Spirit
of Christ, he doesn't have that love, he doesn't have that humility,
he doesn't have that gratitude, he doesn't have that faith, then
he's not the unborn of Christ. He's just flat none of his. He's none of his. God's people
have a new nature, a spiritual nature. They have spiritual passions
and spiritual appetites and spiritual desires. They enjoy the fellowship
of Christ. They enjoy the fellowship of
his people more than they enjoy this world. I say more, more. If they had keep ruther, be in
fellowship with Christ, and to fulfill any carnal desire that
may come to their mind. They hate to be out of fellowship
with him. David was, oh, he said, in my
heart's grief, Lord, don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Don't
do it. Now, verse 10, look. If Christ be in you, now this
is interesting, watch this verse, now don't leave me. And I'll
tell you another thing, don't reason against this either. That's
what the carnal mind does. This is truth, this is what God
said. This ain't what Brother Mann said. Now if Christ be in
you, the body is dead. What body? The body of this flesh.
The body of this death is dead because of sin. Look over at
Romans 7, 24. Paul says, O wretched man that
I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? He talks
like he's two people. Doesn't he? You know why he talks
like he's two people? He is two people. That's what that verse 10 is
saying. If Christ be in you, the body of death, the body of
sin is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of
his righteousness. Oh, look at here. Look at here.
I've got two natures. If you look at Romans 7, Paul
clearly, it sounds like he's talking to himself, and he is.
Romans 7, 15, listen. Do you ever talk to yourself?
Well, I do. What did you say that for? That's right. Well, I shouldn't
have said it. Well, I didn't say it, you said
it. That's what Paul is saying here. For that which I do, I
don't approve of it, I allow not. And what I would, that I
don't do. And what I hate, that I do. Just
two I's. Now if I, then I'll do that which
I would not. I consent to God's law that it's
good. Now then, it's no more I that do it. I'm not doing this.
It's sin that dwelleth in me. Didn't I tell you that a while
ago? When God gave me a new nature, when his spirit came in to dwell,
I still got this old flesh. But we are not dominated by the
flesh or controlled by the flesh. That's right, obsessed with it. Verse 18, Romans 7, I know that
in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. In my spirit dwelleth
a good thing, so is the spirit of God. He clarifies that, doesn't
he? For I know that in me that is
in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. To will is present with
me, how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good
that I would, I do not. I want to be perfect. I have
a hard time being perfect. I don't want to do evil, the
evil which I would not do. I don't want to think evil. He's
not talking about dragging through the gutter here now. He's talking
about just thinking evil. That's not what I want, he said.
He's spiritually minded. That's not what I want. Now,
verse 20, if I do that, I would not. It's not I that do it, it's
this nature, this body of death that dwelleth in me. And this
body of death is dead because of sin. It's crucified with Christ.
It's headed for the grave. Don't take sides with this flesh.
Be against it. Be against your own flesh. Condemn
yourself. Deny yourself. Declare war on
your flesh, crucify your flesh. Somebody said to me one time,
you can't apply that crucify to a human being because a man
can't crucify himself. Oh, yes, he can if he's too mean
he can't. Why, he certainly can. He can
crucify that old man. And you'll have to do it every
day. Might have to do it about every hour. Verse 22 says, I delight in the law of God after
the inward man, the new nature, the spiritual man. I delight
in it. I'm obsessed with it. I'm dedicated to it. I'm consumed
with it. But I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind. I'm spiritually minded
and trying to bring me into captivity to the law of sin which is in
my members. Oh, wretched man that I am. Who's going to deliver
me from the body of this death or this body of death? I thank
God. through Jesus Christ the Lord.
So then, with the mind, I myself serve the law of God, spiritually
minded. I tell you, you can't get away
from this word, M-I-N-D, can you? That's where it is. That's
what it is to walk after the Spirit. It's an attitude, it's
a spirit, it's the indwelling Spirit of God. Back to our text
now, verse 10. So if Christ is in you, this
old flesh, this old body is dead. count it dead, despise it, be
against it, it's corrupted, it's headed for the grave. But you've
got a spirit of life because of Christ's righteousness. Now,
wait a minute. What's God going to do with this body? But if
the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells
in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken
your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwells in you. God saved
me soul and body, and someday he's going to raise even this
body. It's going to the grave. It's
going to rot and go back to the dust. But God's going to bring
forth a new body. That's right. New flesh. There are several kinds of flesh.
You say, well, are we going to be flesh in heaven? Yeah. You
mean like this? No. Glorified flesh. Perfect
flesh. There are several kinds of flesh.
Birds have flesh. Animals have flesh, fish have
flesh, and man has flesh. See, that's different kinds of
flesh. But when my Lord rose from the dead, he told his disciples,
touch me, a spirit hath not what? Flesh and bones. So one day, he said, don't count
this thing out, because God, by the power of Christ, is going
to make it new. Right now, I despise it, don't
you? I want God to purify it. All right, I'll quit. Therefore,
Bradman, we're in debt. Not to the flesh. I don't owe
this body anything. No, I do not. I don't owe it
anything. It's headed for one place. They're
going to shovel a shovel full of dirt. Someday folks are going
to let you know what they think about this flesh. They're going
to cover it with dirt. And when the grave grass cutters
come by, they'll spit on it and walk over it. So I don't owe
his flesh anything, but I tell you who I do owe something. What
is it, Bridget, how much I owe him?

What is It to Walk In the Spirit?

What does the Bible say about walking in the Spirit?

How do we know that all of God's promises are in Christ?

Why is it important for Christians to walk in the Spirit?

How can we differentiate between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit?

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What is It to Walk In the Spirit?

What does the Bible say about walking in the Spirit?

How do we know that all of God's promises are in Christ?

Why is it important for Christians to walk in the Spirit?

How can we differentiate between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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