SOUNDING OUT:
Walking by the Spirit

  Walking by the spirit is a great adventure and an awesome privilege. It is important that it not remain an elusive concept, like it was for Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, one of the seventy rulers of Israel, and he came to Jesus under the cover of darkness with questions about spiritual matters. Jesus told him about the new birth that would be available in the future and about walking by the spirit. Nicodemus’ response was, “How can these things be?” Jesus’ reply was, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” Here was one of the masters, one of the teachers of Israel, and he didn’t know anything about how to walk by the spirit. The original 70 did. They all had the spirit and prophesied. However by Nicodemus’ day things had changed.

  When the youth Samuel was learning he went to Eli, his teacher, for help. Even though Eli was having difficulty with his walk personally, he was still able to help the young Samuel because he had been successful in the past. He had walked with the Lord; he knew how to do it. However, he stopped walking because he did not want to go where God was leading. God will never violate our freewill. If and when we choose to go no further, what can God do?
Remember we are workers together with God. That’s what walking by the spirit is all about. God wants us to do His will, so He has to let us know what it is. He did so in His Word, and when we need more details to fill in the specifics for the situation in which we are involved, He will do so.

  Things were critical for the nation of Israel when Haman the enemy of God’s people initiated a plan to exterminate God’s people. However, Mordecai went to his niece Esther, whom he had raised as his own daughter, and asked her to help. He asked her to put her life on the line and intercede for her people. At a critical point in their discussion Mordecai warned her not to think that because she lived in the king's house that she would be spared. He pleaded with her to speak up to the king for her people. He knew that if she didn’t God would still bring deliverance in another manner, but she wouldn’t receive it (Esther 4:13,14). Mordecai thought that God had placed Esther where she was so she could intercede in such an occasion as this. She did intercede, and God did deliver his people. They were given the right to fight for themselves and their families. They were victorious, and the adversaries of God’s people were once again defeated.

  It still amazes me to see what a difference one person can make when that one person walks with God. You, as one person walking by the spirit can make a difference. We have been enabled by God. We just have to walk and manifest His power bringing deliverance to His people. God has made it as easy as He possibly can. We just have to walk one step at a time. I’m sure you’ve heard it said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Walking by the spirit happens one step after the other.

  Jesus went for a walk by the spirit one day on the road to Emmaus, and he spoke God’s Word to two disheartened men. Although they were initially confused and discouraged, Jesus ministered to them, and they were changed. Their report of the occasion was, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).

  When I was a sophomore in college I went to a concert in a castle along the Massachusetts seacoast. I took a young lady with me to whom I had been witnessing. It was a special performance of Handel’s Messiah. We were seated in the great hall with maybe 120 other people, and the enormous pipe organ vibrated throughout with a sacred majesty. My most vivid memory was hearing the Hallelujah Chorus. The way the organ and voices filled the hall electrified me and touched my heart in a very unique and special way. It was something I’ll never forget.

  However, my hearing the concert that day is much different than you hearing about it today. Unless you have had a similar experience you probably have no idea what went on in my heart. Similarly, what those two disciples experienced that day on the road to Emmaus when their hearts burned within them, is quite different than hearing about it today. Some of us have had a similar experience, where our hearts also burned within us as the fire of God’s Word ministered with God’s love melted our heartstrings. When that happens it makes an impression that is not easily forgotten. Having had a similar experience, our understanding is heightened, our appreciation is increased, and often reading an account like this can rekindle that fire in our hearts once again as we recall with affection God’s gracious working in us.

  I want you to have your hearts touched like these men did. I want the Word to burn within your heart, like it did for them. I want you to capture in your experiential understanding the quality of life and the depth of relationship that these men experienced. It is vitally important to me that you do more than just hear about walking by the spirit in our time together. As we read these accounts and go over these keys I want you to be able to recapture the experiential reality of God working in your heart. When we read about being led by the spirit, I want you to draw upon similar experiences in your life so that you can recapture the enthusiasm and intensity of doing the same.

  God has worked in our hearts before, and He will continue to do so as we meekly follow where He leads us. Just don’t ever give up! (II Corinthians 4:1) God will work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). It is a promise of His Word. God needs people like you and I to keep the fires burning, to continue to expect and thankfully acknowledge God’s gracious working in our hearts.

  In John 6:63 Jesus said, “The spirit quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing, the Words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” He spoke spiritual life giving words. They could receive them and cherish them in their hearts or let them fall by the wayside. At that time many of Jesus’ disciples did turn their back and quit following him. In fact, in verse 66 Jesus specifically asked the twelve, “Will ye also go away?” Peter speaking for the rest said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”

  Peter knew that the greatest fulfillment of his life would be in staying with Jesus, because he had the words of eternal life. No matter where people go or what they do, unless the Words of God continue to resound in their ears they will not be satisfied. God forbid that we ever quit. Yes, we may get hurt and confused. We may be discouraged by friends who desert us and disillusioned by organizations and churches that sour. However, God and His son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, will never abandon us. Our cry like the psalmist is, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee (Psalm 73:25).”

  Whenever Peter left and returned to fishing, or other people hesitated and were not sure whether they wanted to continue, Jesus would challenge them with “Follow me!” He didn’t say, “Follow my religion!” or “Follow my orders!” or “Follow my disciples!” He said, “Follow me!” Don’t let people or organizations or friends or situations crowd the Lord Jesus Christ out of your life. We are to follow him, and when we do we will be satisfied with an abundance of grace. How do we follow him today? I Peter 2:21 says we should follow his steps. 1 John 2:6 says we ought to walk, even as he, Jesus Christ walked. In John 14:12 Jesus made one of those “verily, verily” statements. He said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” That takes walking by the spirit. Our walk doesn’t require mental mastery, just simple obedience.