Tag Archives: spiritual walk

Why It’s Important to Walk by the Spirit

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In the day and hour in which we live, with so many voices and opposing viewpoints, it is extremely critical for all of us as believers to “walk by the Spirit”. For many (most) people in the world today, that’s a totally foreign concept. I can relate. Growing up I wasn’t raised to walk by the Spirit. Nor did my education as an engineer lend itself to that. And after I became a believer, it still didn’t change much, probably because I never heard a lot of teaching on the subject within the Body of Messiah. But in recent years I’ve come to realize the absolute importance of walking by the Spirit.

Walk by the Spirit

What Does It Mean to Walk by the Spirit?

For most, it’s a scary concept. Anything new or foreign to our way of thinking usually is. But what does it really mean to “walk by the Spirit?” To put it simply, walking by the Spirit means walking the way Yahshua walked – not just keeping a set of commandments but actually discerning the Father’s will and purpose on a consistent basis; in other words, hearing and obeying His voice. Every day of His life Yahshua was led by the Spirit; His actions (works) were governed by the Spirit; His Words flowed from the Spirit. He never went anywhere, said anything, or did anything outside the will of Yahweh.

John 5:19-20 Yahshua therefore answered them, “Most assuredly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father doing. For whatever things He does, these the Son also does likewise.  For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does. He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

John 14:10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in Me does His works.

His Words Are Spirit and Life

John 6:63 It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and are life.

When the words we speak are Spirit and life – when we hear and convey the voice of Yahweh just like Messiah did – people will want to hear what we have to say. When the works we do are the works we see our Father in heaven doing – when it is actually Messiah doing His works in and through us – that’s when we’ll see results and see lives radically transformed. To minister the way Yahshua ministered, as a true minister of the Gospel, you’ve got to hear the voice and see the works by the Spirit. It’s not optional or even desired; it’s required!

Man Gazing Up Into HeavenHearing His voice isn’t nearly as difficult or esoteric as we sometimes seem to think; Yahshua stated very clearly that “My sheep hear My voice” (John 10:27). However, to learn to discern that voice does take time and dedication. It’s a lifestyle that must be cultivated. Like anything else, the more time and effort you put in, the greater the results you’ll see.

Why is it so important? Because His Words are Spirit and they are life. This doesn’t just mean those words He spoke 2000 years ago – it also means that which He is speaking today… to you and to me. Are we willing to take the time to listen? Are we willing to hear and obey His voice? And are we willing to walk by the Spirit? It’s only when we walk by the Spirit that we won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25).

Taking Charge of Your Spiritual Walk

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Each of us has a unique spiritual walk because we are all unique individuals. Therefore, it is up to each of us to “walk it out” for ourselves. What you must realize is that no one can do it for you – not your mother or father, your husband or wife, your pastor or congregation leader. While others can encourage you, exhort you, inspire you, teach you, and set the example for you, only YOU can actually do the walking… because it’s YOUR walk! Neither can you walk it out for someone else… because it’s his or her walk!

Watch the entire teaching here

Psa 86:11 Teach me Your way, O Yahweh; I will walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear Your Name.

This is a key point: it’s Yahweh’s way. But it’s still up to us to walk in it. We have the responsibility – and we have the authority – to take control of our own spiritual lives. We have to make a quality decision to do that.  And then we need to follow that up daily with consistent action.

Gen 18:19 For I have known him (Abraham), that he will command his sons and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the intent that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which He has spoken of him.

Can we honestly say that our heavenly Father knows this about us, that we will keep His ways and pursue Him with everything that we’ve got?  And that we will leave a spiritual legacy behind us?

Deut. 13:4 You shall walk after Yahweh your Elohim, and you shall fear Him. And you shall keep His commandments, and you shall hear His voice, and you shall serve Him, and you shall cleave to Him.

In order to walk in His way, it requires that we hear His voice. It’s not enough just to read His Word – we’ve got to know and obey His promptings and be led by His Spirit.

Isa 30:21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you go right, or when you go left.

Jer 6:16 So says Yahweh, Stand by the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it.

Yahweh wants to reveal His ways to us.  But that requires us to seek and to ask.

2 Pet. 1:2-13 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of Elohim and of Yahshua our Master, seeing that His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and virtue; whereby He has granted to us His precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness; and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.

For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Master Yahshua Messiah. For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For thus will be richly supplied to you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Yahshua Messiah. Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth.

Keys to Overcoming Spiritual Inertia

Inertia is defined as “inertness, especially with regard to effort, motion, action, and the like; inactivity; sluggishness.”  As believers we have all probably faced this at some point in our walk. To break free from it and move forward, there are some key things that we must do.

1) Recognize the Issue and Identify the Cause

First, you have to recognize spiritual inertia and desire to overcome it.  Some causes include:

  • Spiritual laziness: “Complacency is the bane of spiritual growth.”
  • Spiritual opposition
  • Obstacles
  • Distractions
  • Lack of vision, focus, consistency, passion, commitment

2) Use the Word to Identify the Remedy

How do you stoke a hunger for the Word, for the things of the Spirit?  How do you increase your ZEAL?  There are several vital things we can and should do.

First, commit to INVESTING more time in the Word, in prayer, in praise & worship, and in fellowship.

Second, study examples of “giants of the faith” in Scripture. What was their lifestyle?  For example, Moses was never satisfied with where he was at in his relationship with the Father. He always wanted more.  It was he who said “Show me Your glory…” (Exodus 33:18).  And David, even in the midst of adversity – in the face of those who wanted to kill him – “encouraged himself in Yahweh” (1 Sam. 30:6).

3) PRAY & BELIEVE for greater zeal, focus, and consistency.

Mrk 11:24 “Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them”

4) Feed Your Spirit

Watch and listen to good, solid biblical teaching and preaching. This is absolutely vital.  Why? Because “faith comes by HEARING and hearing by the Word of Yahweh”.  Something powerful happens whenever the Word is preached.

Col. 3:1-3 If then you were raised together with Messiah, seek the things that are above, where Messiah is, seated on the right hand of Yahweh. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in Yahweh.

This speaks to a deliberate, willful, purposeful act. We have free will and we have to WILL ourselves to seek the things that are above and set our mind on them. It is obvious that it won’t happen by accident.

5) Walk It Out By Faith

The final step is for us to diligently and consistently apply the remedy to our situations – BY FAITH!  If we do these things, we will move forward in our spiritual walk.