Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the desires of the flesh. – Galatians 5:16

This is such an empowering promise that God gave us. If X, then Y; no ambiguities of any sort. If you walk in the Spirit, you simply will no longer fulfil the desires of the flesh.

When the bible uses the word ‘walk’, it is referring to lifestyle. And so, what is being said to us in Galatians 5:16 is this: choose the spiritual lifestyle and the carnal lifestyle will naturally die off.

Anyone who has been a believer for longer than a few minutes should easily attest to what the bible says about the ongoing contest between the Spirit and our flesh. It can be a real struggle. “For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the Holy Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do” (Galatians 5:17).

Thank God we are not condemned to a life of struggling with the flesh. God actually desires for us to be victorious in our struggle with the flesh. He has predestined us to be conformed to the image of his son (Romans 8:29), and has, in full assurance that it can be so, commanded us to “be perfect as your father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). This is however only possible if we choose the spiritual lifestyle. To choose the spiritual lifestyle is to yield control of your life – its impulses, and decisions to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When this happens, the bible is clear about what the outcome will be: “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23, TLB).

To choose the spiritual lifestyle is to yield control of your life – its impulses, and decisions to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Critically, it is important to note that to walk in the Spirit or to live the spiritual lifestyle is simply to live by the word of God. The Spirit in reality will not lead us outside of what the word of God already teaches us. Believer, be wary of the false dichotomy that is created when we speak of ‘word-based’ as a separate thing from ‘spirit-led’. There is no such separation, for the Lord said,

Believer, be wary of the false dichotomy that is created when we speak of ‘word-based’ as a separate thing from ‘spirit-led’. There is no such separation…

“But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the father, He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will honour and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is mine and reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you” (John 16:13-14, AMP).

The spiritual life is nurtured by the word. “As new born babes”, Peter writes, “desire the unadulterated milk of the Word of God so that you can grow” (1 Peter 2:2). If we will gain victory over the desires of the flesh, there is but only one way – choose the Spiritual lifestyle. Grow into Him.