The Spirit led walk leads to Kingdom living. This can only be accomplished by submitting our will (along with all of its fleshly desires, pursuits, and longings), to the Lord.
Kingdom living principles are opposite of those found in the world (or the Babylonian system). Kingdom principles ask one to give and then receive, give up your life in order to find it, love and bless your enemies instead of getting even, forgive those who have offended you, let God avenge you and bring justice instead of avenging yourself, etc). This is where we find life. Not just life, but abundant life, if we are willing to give up the world's (Babylonian) system.
Then, by faith, which is propelled by love, one learns to walk by the Spirit rather than the flesh according to Romans 8:1.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. -- Romans 8:1
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:16-26
As seen by reading Galatians 5:16-26, the flesh produces fruit that leads to damnation. Those that continue to practice the lusts of the flesh "shall not inherit the kingdom of God". One cannot simply be a Christian by mental assent. As our Lord commanded:
23] Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. --Luke 9:23
To be led by the Spirit is to deny self. In Galatians 5:24 one gains insight into what Jesus meant when asking us to "take up his cross daily and follow me." It is the flesh that must be crucified in order to enter in to the place of the Spirit led life.
The Holy Spirit, when given permission, will flow using a gentle, peaceful energy to guide. Our Lord never pressures, goads, manipulates, or roughly pulls or pushes to accomplish His goals. He leads beside still waters (Psalms 24). Jesus said, "My yoke is easy," (Matthew 11:30), never demanding or burdensome like religion which is produced by the flesh. The services that He requires are easily rendered.
When feeling pressured, it is best to back off, and put off any decision or act until there is a peace. Condemnation is a tool of Satan. He wields this tool to destroy the God given image and confidence found when walking "after the Spirit rather than the flesh". Because Romans 8 informs that there is "now no condemnation to him who walks after the Spirit. . ."
If we are living, moving, and have our being in Him (Acts 17:28), the enemy cannot condemn. He may try, but when in the Spirit, one can refuse to accept those accusations and condemnations sent by the evil one. However, when one slips over into the flesh this is not the case. Satan will bring charges through the law. He will act as judge, jury, and hangman. Only by walking in the Holy Spirit can the law be overcome. Galatians 5:23 explains that against the Fruit of the Spirit there is no law.
It is very simple and easy to rectify this error of judgment if one should slip over into the flesh (which we all do). Simply repent, ask God's forgiveness, and get back into the Spirit led walk, where one no longer has to answer to Satan's oppressive accusations. It is as simple as that! The longer one stays in the flesh and allows Satan to brutally condemn, the harder it is to get back into the Spirit. This is because the flesh wants to dominate, and Satan wants to rule the flesh. However, it is Christ who gently leads by the Holy Spirit.
Aristotle said, "Wicked men obey out of fear: Good men out of of love." It could be said that evil men obey out of rebellion -- because they have to, or are made to, obey against their will.
Next time: "The Place"
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