WALKING AFTER THE SPIRIT

By Jay Pearson

 

In this world we live in we are required to make adjustments to maintain a walking relationship with the Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ, and God Almighty as our guide. What is the makeup of walking after the spirit and minding the spirit?

Romans 8:4-5:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

The common denominator to this walk is to fear God and keep his commandments.

Ecclesiastes 12:13:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The whole duty of man sounds simple. Fear God and keep his commandments. It is simple but not easy. Easy tends to make people complacent and God doesn't want a cold or a luke warm heart.  What makes it not easy is an opposing force against our duty and relationship with the spirit. It is a "dead man walking" syndrome.

Romans 7:23-25:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

This opposing force comes against our walking with the spirit. When something leans against something it causes it to lose its erect balance. The thing leaned against must be stronger than the thing leaning against it to maintain its balance. To be stronger than any opposing force we must be standing in the Lord's strength and not or own.  Like in the natural world, things in the spiritual world require strength to maintain balance.

Ephesians 6:10:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

To walk after the spirit you must mind the spirit. This minding of the spirit is more of a DOING process than a THINKING process. We are keeping his commandments when we are doing his commandments. Thinking them is incomplete.

Matthew 26:41:
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

James 1:25:
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

You know, I am sure I fell down quite a few times learning to walk as a child, and I'm sure you experienced this too. I don't remember this of course but the experience is easy to observe in other children. You can expect the same in your spiritual walk, but just as you did in your younger days, get up and keep walking perfecting your balance. We are on his way to perfection in the Lord. It's a walk it requires adjustment when we find ourselves off balance. So let us manifest our duty and fear God and keep his commandments. Let us continue walking after the spirit. Let us be spiritually minded and abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus gave us the perfect example of this. He did not walk after or according to his own will.

John 15:9-11:
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Going back to when I was young, I do remember Dad saying, "Now mind your mother." I also remember Mom saying, " Mind your Dad." To mind is to obey. It is not finished when you here the command. It is finished when you do the command.

Many expressions mean the same thing. They are only said in different ways for different purposes. To abide in Christ, to be in the spirit, to walk after the spirit, the minding of the spirit – these all mean to be in subjection to rule or be in compliance with. The mind of Christ Jesus was not only thinking God's thoughts. Jesus was always doing the Father's will. We have that mind or "minding ability" in us through the gift of Christ in you.

Philippians 2:5-8:
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(Are your thoughts always in Christ, mostly, or even 1/2 the time?)

1 Corinthians 2:16:
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Knowing the mind of Christ (his thought process), we have the mind of Christ (minding ability).

We have the minding ability, the God-given ability to obey the Lord's will as he obeyed God's will. Fear God and keep his commandments, this is walking after the spirit. God takes care of the rest. God gives us the abilities and desires to obey him. We just need to do it. Walking after the spirit is to Fear God and keep his commandments.

Romans 8:4:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Amen! Let's go, let us walk after the spirit.

 

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"Walking After the Spirit" by Rev Jay Pearson