The Daily Battle: Walking in Step with the Spirit
There's a war going on inside every believer. It's not a war we can see with our eyes or fight with physical weapons. It's a battle between two opposing forces—the flesh and the Spirit—and it rages every single day in the heart of every Christian.
Understanding this conflict is essential to living the abundant life Jesus promised. When we try to live the Christian life through sheer willpower and determination, we inevitably find ourselves frustrated, defeated, and caught in an exhausting cycle of failure and repentance. But there's another way—a way of walking in step with the Holy Spirit that brings genuine transformation and freedom.
The Conflict Within
The apostle Paul described this internal struggle with remarkable honesty in his letter to the Galatians. He wrote, "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want" (Galatians 5:16-17).
When Paul speaks of "the flesh," he's not merely referring to our physical bodies. He's talking about our fallen, sinful nature—that self-centered part of us that constantly wants to be in control, to satisfy our own desires, and to put ourselves on the throne of our lives.
Even after we come to faith in Christ, the flesh doesn't disappear. It remains present, creating an ongoing tension between our old nature and the new life the Spirit has created in us. This is why Paul could write in Romans 7, "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."
It's a sentiment every honest believer can relate to. We genuinely want to do what's right, but we continually find ourselves doing what's wrong. When we try not to do the wrong thing, we end up doing it anyway.
The Consequences of Living by the Flesh
Living under the control of the flesh isn't a neutral choice—it carries real consequences. When we surrender to fleshly desires, we experience spiritual drift. Our affections become misaligned. Prayer becomes sporadic, Scripture reading feels dull, and obedience becomes selective.
We also develop spiritual dullness. Repeated surrender to the flesh weakens our conviction and blurs our discernment. What once troubled our conscience starts to feel manageable.
Perhaps most painful of all, we experience broken fellowship with God. While we don't lose our salvation, we do lose our joy, our assurance, and our intimacy with Him. Sin disrupts our communion even when it doesn't undo our union.
Over time, internal strongholds form. Patterns harden. Habits take root. What felt like a choice begins to feel like control. Giving in to the flesh doesn't bring freedom—it brings enslavement.
What the Flesh Produces
Paul provides a sobering list of what life looks like when the flesh is in control: "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like" (Galatians 5:19-21).
These works of the flesh fall into four broad categories: sexual sins that misuse God's gift of sexuality; religious sins that replace trust in God with false sources of power; relational sins that fracture unity and destroy community; and sins of excess that reflect a lack of self-control.
The warning that follows is stark: "Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." This isn't about losing salvation when we sin—it's about the direction of a person's life. Where the flesh rules without repentance or resistance, there's reason to question whether genuine faith exists at all.
The Beautiful Alternative: Fruit of the Spirit
But Paul doesn't leave us with only a warning. He points to the evidence of true freedom: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Notice the contrast. The flesh produces works—striving, effort, exhausting labor. But the Spirit produces fruit—natural growth that happens when we're properly rooted.
Just as an apple tree doesn't strain to produce apples but bears fruit naturally when rooted in healthy soil with proper sun and water, when we abide in Christ and walk in His Spirit, our lives naturally produce spiritual fruit.
These qualities aren't about becoming nicer people—they're about becoming more like Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit shows us what Jesus looks like and what we can become as His life is formed in us.
Keeping in Step with the Spirit
So how do we actually walk in the Spirit? Paul gives us the key: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25).
That phrase "keep in step" is remarkable. It translates a Greek word meaning to walk in line or march in orderly rows. It carries the idea of staying in rhythm—like soldiers marching together, each foot hitting the ground at the same time.
It means we don't run ahead of the Spirit, and we don't fall behind. Like a child learning to walk by holding a parent's hand, the parent sets the direction, but the child must keep in step by holding on.
Walking in step with the Spirit isn't about mastering a checklist. It's about a daily relationship. It means yielding daily control to Him, responding quickly to His conviction, and putting sinful actions to death by His power rather than our willpower alone.
It means setting our minds on what the Spirit desires—allowing our thoughts, values, and focus to be shaped by God's truth rather than the pull of the flesh. It means depending on God through prayer, walking in obedience to His Word, and allowing the Spirit to shape our character over time.
The Daily Choice
The Christian life is not about trying harder—it's about trusting deeper and walking closer with the Holy Spirit. Because of Christ, the power of sin has been broken. The flesh is no longer our master.
But this freedom doesn't run on autopilot. Every day—often every moment—we face a choice. Will we follow the pull of our old nature, or will we keep in step with the Spirit who now lives within us?
The Spirit doesn't force obedience. He leads. He invites. He convicts. And we must choose to walk in step with Him, one faithful step at a time.
Understanding this conflict is essential to living the abundant life Jesus promised. When we try to live the Christian life through sheer willpower and determination, we inevitably find ourselves frustrated, defeated, and caught in an exhausting cycle of failure and repentance. But there's another way—a way of walking in step with the Holy Spirit that brings genuine transformation and freedom.
The Conflict Within
The apostle Paul described this internal struggle with remarkable honesty in his letter to the Galatians. He wrote, "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want" (Galatians 5:16-17).
When Paul speaks of "the flesh," he's not merely referring to our physical bodies. He's talking about our fallen, sinful nature—that self-centered part of us that constantly wants to be in control, to satisfy our own desires, and to put ourselves on the throne of our lives.
Even after we come to faith in Christ, the flesh doesn't disappear. It remains present, creating an ongoing tension between our old nature and the new life the Spirit has created in us. This is why Paul could write in Romans 7, "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."
It's a sentiment every honest believer can relate to. We genuinely want to do what's right, but we continually find ourselves doing what's wrong. When we try not to do the wrong thing, we end up doing it anyway.
The Consequences of Living by the Flesh
Living under the control of the flesh isn't a neutral choice—it carries real consequences. When we surrender to fleshly desires, we experience spiritual drift. Our affections become misaligned. Prayer becomes sporadic, Scripture reading feels dull, and obedience becomes selective.
We also develop spiritual dullness. Repeated surrender to the flesh weakens our conviction and blurs our discernment. What once troubled our conscience starts to feel manageable.
Perhaps most painful of all, we experience broken fellowship with God. While we don't lose our salvation, we do lose our joy, our assurance, and our intimacy with Him. Sin disrupts our communion even when it doesn't undo our union.
Over time, internal strongholds form. Patterns harden. Habits take root. What felt like a choice begins to feel like control. Giving in to the flesh doesn't bring freedom—it brings enslavement.
What the Flesh Produces
Paul provides a sobering list of what life looks like when the flesh is in control: "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like" (Galatians 5:19-21).
These works of the flesh fall into four broad categories: sexual sins that misuse God's gift of sexuality; religious sins that replace trust in God with false sources of power; relational sins that fracture unity and destroy community; and sins of excess that reflect a lack of self-control.
The warning that follows is stark: "Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." This isn't about losing salvation when we sin—it's about the direction of a person's life. Where the flesh rules without repentance or resistance, there's reason to question whether genuine faith exists at all.
The Beautiful Alternative: Fruit of the Spirit
But Paul doesn't leave us with only a warning. He points to the evidence of true freedom: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Notice the contrast. The flesh produces works—striving, effort, exhausting labor. But the Spirit produces fruit—natural growth that happens when we're properly rooted.
Just as an apple tree doesn't strain to produce apples but bears fruit naturally when rooted in healthy soil with proper sun and water, when we abide in Christ and walk in His Spirit, our lives naturally produce spiritual fruit.
These qualities aren't about becoming nicer people—they're about becoming more like Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit shows us what Jesus looks like and what we can become as His life is formed in us.
Keeping in Step with the Spirit
So how do we actually walk in the Spirit? Paul gives us the key: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25).
That phrase "keep in step" is remarkable. It translates a Greek word meaning to walk in line or march in orderly rows. It carries the idea of staying in rhythm—like soldiers marching together, each foot hitting the ground at the same time.
It means we don't run ahead of the Spirit, and we don't fall behind. Like a child learning to walk by holding a parent's hand, the parent sets the direction, but the child must keep in step by holding on.
Walking in step with the Spirit isn't about mastering a checklist. It's about a daily relationship. It means yielding daily control to Him, responding quickly to His conviction, and putting sinful actions to death by His power rather than our willpower alone.
It means setting our minds on what the Spirit desires—allowing our thoughts, values, and focus to be shaped by God's truth rather than the pull of the flesh. It means depending on God through prayer, walking in obedience to His Word, and allowing the Spirit to shape our character over time.
The Daily Choice
The Christian life is not about trying harder—it's about trusting deeper and walking closer with the Holy Spirit. Because of Christ, the power of sin has been broken. The flesh is no longer our master.
But this freedom doesn't run on autopilot. Every day—often every moment—we face a choice. Will we follow the pull of our old nature, or will we keep in step with the Spirit who now lives within us?
The Spirit doesn't force obedience. He leads. He invites. He convicts. And we must choose to walk in step with Him, one faithful step at a time.
Posted in Sermon Blogs
Posted in abide, spirit, obedience, spiritual warfare, fruits of the spirit, walk with the spirit, true freedom
Posted in abide, spirit, obedience, spiritual warfare, fruits of the spirit, walk with the spirit, true freedom
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