Walking In The Spirit Part 2

Walking in the Spirit – Part 2

Last week we learned that when we were saved, something supernatural happened in our lives. We were disconnected from the sinful nature of Adam and connected to Christ, who is the true Vine. In that divine exchange, we received a new life — not improved or repaired, but completely new. This new connection means that we now bear fruit, not by our own power or effort, but by the life of Christ flowing through us. As Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” Our ability to live righteously and walk in the ways of God no longer depends on human strength or willpower; it depends on our union with Christ through the Holy Spirit.

The life of the Spirit

Now that we are in Christ, we live the life of the Spirit — the very quality of life that comes from God Himself. Romans 8:4 tells us that “the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” The life of the Spirit is not a distant ideal; it is the everyday experience of the believer who has been born again. The grace of God makes this possible. Grace is not just unmerited favour; it is divine empowerment — God’s provision for His children to live the new life. Because of grace, we are able to do what we could never do before. We can walk in holiness, love others genuinely, forgive those who hurt us, and produce the fruit of the Spirit.

When a person is born again, he becomes a new creature in Christ. The old life passes away, and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means the believer does not have a past in the eyes of God. The former things — sin, guilt, shame, and condemnation — no longer define us. We no longer live from the memory of who we used to be but from the reality of who we are now in Christ. This new life has wonderful benefits, including our heavenly inheritance. It also comes with responsibilities: to live in alignment with the Spirit, to bear His fruit, and to walk in love and truth.

New Creation Realities

Let us look at three powerful new-creation realities that every believer must understand in order to truly walk in the Spirit. The first is that Christ was made poor so that through His poverty we might become rich. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul writes, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” This verse describes one of the greatest exchanges in history. Jesus, who was rich in glory, power, and majesty, chose to humble Himself and become poor — not only materially but also by taking on human flesh and becoming subject to pain, rejection, and death. He did this so that we might be made rich in every sense of the word.

These riches are not merely material, though God does bless His people in practical ways. The deeper meaning is spiritual. Through Christ, we have been made rich in righteousness, grace, peace, joy, wisdom, and the knowledge of God. We have access to the riches of His glory and to every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). This is the believer’s reality — we are no longer poor in spirit or limited by sin. We have divine resources within us through the Holy Spirit. When you understand this, you stop living with a mindset of lack or defeat. You realise that Christ’s abundance flows through you, enabling you to face every challenge, supply every need, and fulfil every purpose that God has called you to.

The second reality is that God has given us His Spirit as our personal teacher. When we received salvation, we did not just receive forgiveness; we received the very presence of God living inside us. The Holy Spirit is not a passive force but an active helper, guide, and teacher. Jesus promised in John 14:26 that “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” The Spirit teaches us truth, reminds us of God’s promises, reveals the will of God, and gives us the wisdom to apply His Word in daily life.

Many Christians struggle because they try to live the Christian life in their own strength. They rely on self-discipline, emotion, or knowledge, but walking in the Spirit requires dependence on the Holy Spirit. When you recognise that the Spirit of God is your teacher, you begin to live differently. You pray before making decisions, you listen before reacting, and you lean on His inner witness. He convicts us when we are wrong, comforts us when we are hurting, and strengthens us when we feel weak. Through the Spirit, we can discern truth from error, light from darkness, and God’s will from human opinion. Walking in the Spirit means consulting the Spirit daily and yielding to His leading rather than following our fleshly desires.

The third new-creation reality is that God has poured out His love in our hearts so that we can love like He does. Romans 5:5 declares that “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” This divine love transforms our hearts and renews our relationships. It enables us to love God wholeheartedly and to love others selflessly. In our old nature, love was often conditional, self-centred, or easily broken. But now, because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we can love the way God loves — faithfully, sacrificially, and unconditionally.

This love empowers us to forgive when forgiveness feels impossible. It allows us to extend grace when others least deserve it. It moves us to serve, to give, and to show kindness even when no one notices. Loving like God means seeing people the way He sees them — as souls worth redeeming. When we forgive, we are not excusing sin; we are expressing the heart of God. This love is not just a command but a natural outflow of the Spirit’s work in us. As we walk in the Spirit, love becomes the atmosphere we live in — the motivation behind everything we do and say.

So, what does it truly mean to walk in the Spirit? To walk means to live, move, and conduct ourselves. It implies progress, step by step, day by day. Walking in the Spirit means allowing the Holy Spirit to govern our actions, attitudes, and decisions. It is living under His control rather than under the control of our old sinful nature. Paul contrasts the two ways of living in Galatians 5:16–17, saying, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit.” This shows that the Christian life is a continual choice — will we follow the leading of the Spirit or the cravings of the flesh?

Walking in the Spirit is not about trying harder to be good; it is about surrendering more fully to God. When we depend on the Spirit, we find freedom from the constant battle of willpower. The Spirit enables us to “put off” the old ways of thinking and behaving, and to “put on” the new way of life. The result is transformation, not mere behaviour modification. The fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — becomes evident in our character. These fruits are not produced by human effort but by abiding in Christ and yielding to His Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit also means walking in community. The Christian life is not a solitary journey. God designed us to grow and bear fruit together as members of one body. The fruit of the Spirit is best displayed in relationships. Love, patience, forgiveness, and kindness all require others to practice them with. As we walk together in the Spirit, we encourage one another, correct one another in love, and help one another remain rooted in Christ.

Living this way is not always easy. We still battle old habits and face moments of weakness. But when we stumble, the Spirit reminds us of who we are in Christ. Instead of condemnation, He brings conviction that leads to repentance and restoration. When we fall, we rise again — not in our strength but in His. The more we depend on the Spirit, the stronger we become in faith and obedience.

Practically speaking, walking in the Spirit means starting each day with the awareness of who you are in Christ. You are not the old person trying to act holy; you are a new creation living from the holiness of Christ within you. Begin your day by acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s presence and asking for His guidance. Say, “Holy Spirit, teach me today, lead me, and help me to walk in love.” Throughout the day, remain sensitive to His voice. When you face temptation, ask for His strength. When you feel weak, rely on His comfort. When you are uncertain, seek His direction through prayer and the Word.

Let the love of God that has been poured into your heart govern your relationships. Choose to forgive quickly, even when it hurts. Speak kindly, even when others do not. Serve others with humility and joy. These are not natural responses; they are supernatural ones that flow from a Spirit-led life. When you walk in the Spirit, you will find that your thoughts, words, and actions begin to align more and more with the character of Christ.

Another key to walking in the Spirit is rejecting the old patterns of the flesh. The flesh represents the sinful tendencies we inherited from Adam — selfishness, pride, fear, lust, anger, and unbelief. These patterns no longer have power over us, but they can still try to influence us. We overcome them by renewing our minds with the Word of God and by choosing obedience through the power of the Spirit. When old temptations arise, do not give them room to grow. Recognise them, resist them, and turn to the Spirit for help. You are no longer a slave to sin; you are a child of God, filled with His Spirit.

Our Heavenly Inheritance

Walking in the Spirit also means keeping our eyes on our heavenly inheritance. The new life in Christ comes with both present blessings and future hope. Because we are children of God, we are heirs of His kingdom. This truth should shape how we live. We no longer chase after worldly pleasures or temporary success; we live with an eternal perspective. Our time, resources, and priorities reflect our citizenship in heaven. The more we focus on eternity, the more our earthly walk will reflect the nature of the Spirit.

Many believers still wrestle with questions such as, “If I am a new creation, why do I still struggle with sin?” or “How can I know if I am really walking in the Spirit?” The answer lies in understanding that the Christian life is a process of growth. Though the power of sin is broken, the presence of the flesh remains until Christ returns. The Spirit continually renews us and conforms us to the image of Christ. When you fall, do not be discouraged. Confess, repent, and rise again in His strength. You are not defined by your failures but by your identity in Christ.

You can tell you are walking in the Spirit when you begin to see the fruit of the Spirit growing in your life. You may not be perfect, but you are changing. You find yourself loving more deeply, forgiving more easily, and trusting God more completely. You begin to sense His guidance in daily matters and peace even in trials. Your desires start to align with God’s will. These are signs that you are walking in step with the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit is vital because it honours what Jesus accomplished on the cross. It also honours the promise of God, who gave us His Spirit so that we might live in victory. It transforms our communities, our families, and our churches. When believers walk in the Spirit, the world sees Christ in action — not just in words, but in lives marked by grace, humility, and love. It glorifies God and draws others to Him.

Let us close this teaching with a prayer. Father, thank You that in Christ we are new creations. Thank You that Jesus became poor so that we might become rich in every good thing. Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit as our teacher, comforter, and guide. Thank You for pouring out Your love in our hearts so that we can love You and others as You do. Today we surrender afresh to You. Help us to walk by Your Spirit, to bear Your fruit, and to live in the freedom You purchased for us. Teach us to depend on You in every situation. May our lives bring glory to Your name and reflect the beauty of Christ to the world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.