Gospel of John [Joh 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 54. Gal 5:16; Php 2:12-18; Heb 13:15-16.

Title: Gospel of John [JOH 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 54. GAL 5:16; Php 2:12-18; HEB 13:15-16.

 

Announcements/opening prayer: 

 

The positive command to "walk by means of the Spirit."

 

It is not “in the Spirit” as the KJV has it. There is no preposition in the original Greek. We simply have the dative of the noun pneuma, which should be rendered “by the Spirit,” or “by means of the Spirit.” In the Spirit would seem to impose that there is something the believer can do alone, without the Spirit and by his own responsibility, while it is the Spirit that enables the believer to walk in a manner in balance with his new creation.  

 

GAL 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

 

The believer is to be led in a path of God’s own choosing and to be empowered by the Spirit unto every good work.

 

The immediate promise to the believer is that when walking by means of the Spirit the lust of the flesh will not be fulfilled. In the same context (GAL 5:16-23) it is declared at verse 18 that they who are led by the Spirit are not under the law.

 

GAL 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

 

GAL 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

 

Verse 18 is a declaration that the believer when led by the Spirit is free from the Mosaic system of merit.

 

The Spirit opens an entirely different field of responsibility, incorporating the whole will of God, vastly more extended than conformity to standards and rules.

 

The Spirit leads in every phase of individual, daily life. To walk by the Spirit is to depend upon Him for every divine good thought, word, and work.

 

Walking is a perfect literary figure for the ministry of the indwelling Spirit in the positive believer's life. In this supernatural life we are to glorify God in everything we do. Every step in the process of walking is an incipient fall. The person trusts the next foot fall to maintain balance.

 

In each step the body is thrown out of balance and onward without physical support, depending upon a step of the foot forward to recover balance and support.

 

Thus the walk by the Spirit is a constant casting of one's self upon the Spirit with the confidence and anticipation that He will support.

 

Like walking, as we mature this will become second nature. There is a moment by moment faith in Him as well as commitment to His way, His ability, and His goodness unto us.

 

All of this suggests personal intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

 

One must pass beyond the range of theories and theology and enter into the vital test of a commitment of even one step in a walk by means of the Spirit and trust His gracious person to accomplish that step and the next. Only then does the walk become a real, personal journey rather than one that is just read about.

 

Rules are of little aid. The walk by the Spirit must be the outworking of personal experience, not imitating another, but the result of one's own trial of faith.

 

It's personal experience because I alone see the fruit in myself and I alone determine that it is from God in accordance with His will as revealed in the word of God. It is a marvellous excitement to see that fruit first begin in my soul.

 

Without this outworking of personal experience with Him, and the walk by Him as the believer faces his own trials of faith, the desire to perform God's will will never outpace our own self-will.

 

Luk 17:1He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!    

 

Luk17:2"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.   

 

Luk17:3"Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.    

 

Luk17:4"And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him."   

 

Luk17:5The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"    

 

Luk17:6And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.    

 

Luk17:7"Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down to eat'?    

 

Luk17:8"But will he not say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink'?    

 

Luk17:9"He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?    

 

Luk17:10"So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'

 

Without facing the trials of faith head on and experiencing the outworking of divine fruit, the desire to perform God's will will never outpace our own self-will.

 

We must each see it for ourselves. It begins with learning it, reading it, hearing it, but it must not just remain on paper or on the ears, but it must become a personal experience of the most joyful and astonishing kind. How could it not be for a fallen creature to reap the fruit of infinite God in his own life?

 

Practically speaking, there should be a definite commitment in the morning to walk by means of the Spirit in that day. Too often in our busy lifestyles we rush into the days tasks without even giving the Spirit of God a thought, when it is He who desires to lead, teach, and empower throughout that day, no matter what may come. Pray without ceasing.

 

This is a commitment on the part of the believer. A commitment in faith of what the Spirit will do in all that is required of Him.

 

It is not merely asking for help, but it is more of an entering into a definite covenant understanding with God in which natural ability and resources are laid aside and renounced and confidence is exercised toward the Spirit that He will Himself actuate and motivate the entire life, one day at a time.

 

This entails a very real expectation or hope as well as an attitude of thanksgiving as well as time to time evaluation.

 

Again, there is no indication, manifestation, or identification of either the presence or the activity of the Spirit beyond the noticeable results that He achieves.

 

/The Spirit is producing in us that which is pleasing to God. \

 

Php 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation [deliverance] with fear and trembling;

 

Php 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

 

Php 2:14 Do all things without grumbling [complaining] or disputing [questioning or doubting];

 

Php 2:15 that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

 

Php 2:16 holding fast [hold to firmly] the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

 

Php 2:17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

 

Php 2:18 And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

 

The source of Paul's joy was his ability to serve and sacrifice through the power of the indwelling Spirit. No matter what happened to him in his personal life, this was his true source of joy and he urges us to rejoice in the same way, for it has eternal results and is pleasing to the Lord [vs. 13].