Urgent Message: "Let Us Also Walk by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25).

This is a message that deals with the Holy Spirit. In prior messages, we have dealt with the doctrine of the new birth. In John 3:5-8, we've seen the necessity of the new birth. We saw that human nature, with which every one of us is born, will not enter into the kingdom of God unless it has been changed! The Bible calls this change, "born again," or "born from above." Being born again means that the Holy Spirit creates something new! When describing the new birth, the Lord said, "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). In other words, the new birth is where the Holy Spirit establishes Himself as the new governing principle of our life. That which is born of the Holy Spirit has the nature of the Holy Spirit and is permeated by the character of the Holy Spirit. In our text, apostle Paul draws an inference from the new birth; "Since our new life began by the Holy Spirit, then it stands to reason that all of our subsequent life should be carried out by the Holy Spirit!" That's why we have the command, "let us also walk by the Spirit." But, practically speaking, what does "walk by the Spirit mean?" The same phrase, "walk by the Spirit" is found in verse 16 where Paul said, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." From these words, were given what the opposite of walking by the Spirit is, and that is, carrying out the desire of the flesh. Flesh is the ordinary human nature that does not enjoy the things of God! The flesh produces desires that are contrary to the things of God. Walking by the Spirit is what we do when the desires brought about by the Holy Spirit are stronger than the desires brought about by the flesh! In other words, walking by the Spirit is something the Christ follower does by the enablement of the Holy Spirit. Praise God forevermore! This is why an understanding of the new birth is so crucial. The new birth is the coming into our life of the Holy Spirit to bring about a completely new array of desires, longings, loves, and yearnings! When the desires that the Holy Spirit brings become stronger than the desires of the flesh, then we're walking by the Holy Spirit. This is because we always act according to our strongest desires! Thank God the Holy Spirit enables us to walk in step with Him by bringing about in us strong desires that accord with the will of God! Your move. Be encouraged!