Walking by the Spirit: A Life Shaped by God’s Word
Walking by the Spirit: A Life Shaped by God’s WordShow: Anchored in the Word with Dave JenkinsAuthor: Dave JenkinsWebsite: Servants of Grace (servantsofgrace.org)Show SummaryOne of the most misunderstood ideas in the Christian life is what it means to walk by the Spirit. Many peopleassociate spiritual maturity with mystical impressions, inner voices, or new revelation. But when Scripture speaks of walking by the Spirit, it describes a daily life shaped, empowered, and governed by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.In this episode, Dave Jenkins explains what it means to walk by the Spirit in everyday Christian living beginning with regeneration, continuing through Scripture-saturated obedience, opposing the flesh by Spirit-enabled power, producing the fruit of Christlike character, and keeping our focus on Jesus Christ.Audio PlayerVideo PlayerKey ScripturesGalatians 5:16–17Romans 8:5–6John 16:13–14Galatians 5:25Romans 8:13–14Episode NotesWalking by the Spirit begins with a new heart. Regeneration comes first—then transformation follows.Walking by the Spirit means living under the Word He inspired. The Spirit leads us into Scripture, not away from it.Walking by the Spirit means saying no to the flesh. The Christian life is lived in battle, not neutral.Walking by the Spirit produces Christlike fruit. Spiritual maturity is measured by likeness to Christ, not flashiness.Walking by the Spirit means keeping in step with His leading. Daily reliance on grace, a tender conscience, and steady obedience.Walking by the Spirit keeps us focused on Christ. Where the Spirit works, Christ becomes greater and sin is put to death.Full ArticleOne of the most misunderstood ideas in the Christian life—especially in the church today—is what it means to walk by the Spirit. You’ll hear all kinds of things: “Let the Spirit speak new revelation into your heart,” “Wait for an impression before obeying God,” or “Surrender to a mystical experience.”But when Paul talks about walking by the Spirit, he’s not describing mystical feelings or subjective impressions. He is describing a daily life shaped, empowered, and governed by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.Galatians 5:16–17 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh…”Romans 8:5–6 says, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”John 16:13–14 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth… He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”1) Walking by the Spirit begins with a new heartBefore you can begin to walk by the power of the Holy Spirit, you must be born of the Spirit. Regeneration comes first, and then transformation follows. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to Christ, makes us alive to Christ, and joins us to Christ. He gives us new desires, writes the law on our hearts, and unites us to Christ alone.Walking by the Spirit is not something we do to become Christians. It is something we do because we are Christians—united to Christ by faith and indwelt by the Spirit.2) Walking by the Spirit means living under the Word He inspiredThe Holy Spirit never leads us away from the Word of God. Instead, He leads us into the Word of God. Jesus said the Spirit will guide us into all truth, and John 17 teaches that God’s Word is truth.So walking by the Spirit means submitting to the Word of God, obeying the Word of God, delighting in the Word of God, and depending on the Word of God. The Spirit-filled Christian is a Scripture-filled Christian.3) Walking by the Spirit means saying no to the fleshPaul teaches that the flesh and the Spirit are at war. To walk by the Spirit is to ac