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.
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!
Hearing 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).