How can we learn to walk with God and not walk in the flesh?
The Walk
[1]How can we learn to walk with God and not walk in the flesh? When we are walking in obedience to God’s Word, we’re walking in the Spirit or in the Holy Spirit’s will. Walking with God could be described as: Living in as much obedience as possible every day in life and the application of God’s laws to that life. This walk includes having a close, personal relationship, sharing, conversing, closeness, and having a loving response to God.
Walking with God
To walk can mean: the way you live, act, speak, work, serve & react every day to God and people – It is a consistent way of life. Enoch had a close, personal and obedient relationship with God. The Old Testament says that “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen 5:24). In Genesis 6:9 it says, “These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.”
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The Deadly Walk
The Apostle Paul wrote, “So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds” (Eph 4:17). Futility means, meaningless…it leads to nowhere. Ephesians 2:1-2 states, “And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” You and I were dead men and dead women walking.
An Example Walk
[3]Philippians 3:17-18 was a challenge to the church then and even now, as Paul wrote, “Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil 3:17-18). For those who have rejected Christ, Paul says, “it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth” (Col 3:6-7).
The Fleshly Walk
Rom 8:3-5 describes our walk in the flesh or in the Spirit, as Paul writes, “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Don’t demand your rights, but rather, give no cause for offense, “For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer walking in accordance with love. Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died” (Rom 14:15).
[4]The Talk in the Walk
Ephesians 4:29 is clear about our walk but also our talk, as Paul says, “Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph 5:1-2).
The Fruitful Walk
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Colossians 1:9-11 says a lot about our walk with God, like “For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all perseverance and patience; joyously.” Just as you and I “have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude” (Col 2:6-7). The fruit is that we “may walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4c).
The Worthy Walk
First Thessalonians 2:11-12 has Paul stating, “just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” The great Apostle Paul called himself, “the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Eph 4:1-2). This is why Paul made this a “request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel even more” (1 Thess 3:1).
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Walking in the Light
First John 1:6-7 the Apostle John states that “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” You can go into a hardware store and ask to buy a flashlight, but you can’t buy a flashdark! Why? Light always wins…light always overcomes darkness. This is why John “was overjoyed when brothers came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth and walking with God” (1 John 1:3-4). And “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7).
Conclusion
God urges all believers to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). Most of all, I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.
Here is some related reading for you: What Does it Mean to Walk With God? [7]
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.