Walking by the Spirit: Living in Step with God's Power and Presence

May 13th, 2025

A crucial truth about the Holy Spirit is that He is not an “it,” but a “who.” He’s not an impersonal force or a vague feeling — He is a person, just like God the Father and God the Son. He has a personality, will, and emotions. He is fully God, a vital and complete member of the Trinity.

This truth is foundational to understanding the Christian life. The Holy Spirit’s role today is to be present and active in the lives of Jesus’ followers. His primary job is not to draw attention to Himself, but to glorify Jesus, point us to the Father, and empower us to live lives that honor God. The Spirit doesn’t call us to pray to Him, but through Him we have direct access to the Father — because of the cleansing work Jesus accomplished for us on the cross.

In John 14, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit our “Advocate,” our “Counselor,” and our “Helper.” The Greek word Jesus uses is paraclete, which means “the One Who Comes Alongside.” What a beautiful picture of the Spirit’s role — always present, always near, always empowering. And when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us. This indwelling marks the beginning of a transformed life.

Let’s open our Bibles to Galatians 5. Paul starts this chapter with a declaration: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” And then he tells us how to live in that freedom — how to walk by the Spirit.

Freedom Through the Spirit
Paul’s message in Galatians 5:16–25 is both practical and powerful. In verse 16, he says:
“Walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

What does it mean to “walk by the Spirit”? Paul paints a vivid contrast between two paths: walking by the flesh and walking by the Spirit.
Let’s take a closer look.

1. Walking by the Flesh Will Harm You and Others
(Galatians 5:19–21)
Paul lists the “works of the flesh,” which include things like:

Sexual immorality
Impurity
Hatred
Jealousy
Outbursts of anger
Selfish ambition
Envy
Drunkenness

There are 16 in total. And let’s be honest — every one of us has seen (or done) something on that list. These behaviors might feel instinctive, even natural, but they damage us and others.

Take this example: You’re driving, and someone cuts you off. What’s your first instinct? Do you pray for them, assuming they might be rushing to an emergency? Or is your impulse more like mine — frustration, maybe a little horn honking, or worse? That’s the flesh talking.
Or think of a relationship that began with good intentions, maybe just a desire to “cuddle,” but led to long-term consequences for everyone involved. The flesh has no long-term vision. It prioritizes gratification over wisdom and leaves us with regret.
Paul’s point is clear: the flesh leads us down paths that wound and divide.

2. Walking by the Spirit Will Enrich You and Others
(Galatians 5:22–23)
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

These are not burdens. They are blessings. Who among us wouldn’t want more joy? Or more peace? These fruits make us better friends, parents, spouses, co-workers, and human beings. When we walk by the Spirit, we elevate not only our own lives, but also the lives of those around us.

The Holy Spirit will never lead us toward harm. He will always steer us toward love, grace, and truth.

3. Walking by the Spirit Starts with a Cross
(Galatians 5:24)
Paul writes:
“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

He doesn’t say we should gently push our sinful impulses aside. He says we should crucify them — put them to death. This is a serious act of surrender.
That’s what our Celebrate Recovery friends do every week. They identify the things that are hurting them — habits, hurts, hang-ups — and they commit to letting those things die. It’s hard, and it’s courageous. But it’s the path to freedom.

4. Keep in Step with the Spirit
(Galatians 5:25)
Once we’ve surrendered our impulses, Paul invites us to actively walk with the Spirit.
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

The Spirit leads — but we must follow. Think of it like dancing. One partner leads, the other follows. When both move in harmony, the result is beautiful. But if we try to lead ourselves, things fall apart.

So how do we keep in step?

Understanding Spiritual Life
We keep in step by loving in the life of the Spirit. We can actually live our lives 3 different ways:

Life in the Flesh — Your ego (self) is on the throne. Jesus is outside your life.
Life in the Spirit — Jesus is on the throne. Your ego has submitted to Him.
The Powerless Life — Ego is on the throne, and Jesus is off to the side, not leading.

We also should strive to be living with our Life in the Spirit (#2). When you feel yourself drifting — putting yourself back in charge — what do you do?
1 John 1:9 gives the answer: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We admit our sin. We ask the Spirit to take over again. And then we walk forward in grace.

When You Feel Too Weak to Walk
But what about those times when you feel exhausted? Defeated? Spiritually dry?
Romans 8:26 tells us:
“…the Spirit helps us in our weakness… the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Even when we don’t have the strength or clarity to pray, the Holy Spirit does it for us. He prays on our behalf, perfectly in line with God’s will. And because of this, we can be confident that:

All things work together for our good (v. 28)
God is for us (v. 31)
Nothing can separate us from His love (v. 39)

You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you. The Spirit within you is stronger than whatever you face outside of you.

Looking Like Your Father
While on vacation recently, someone stopped me and said, “You look exactly like your father!” I used to resist that idea. I didn’t want to be like him. But over time, I realized — I am my father’s son. I walk like him. I resemble him.
The Bible tells us that you are made in the image of your Heavenly Father. You were designed to look like Him. The Holy Spirit is the one who helps you walk like Him — to reflect His image in the world.

Your Response: Walk by the Spirit
So what does this mean for you today?

Invite Jesus onto the throne of your life. Make Him your Lord and Savior.
Nail your destructive impulses to the cross.
Confess your sins and ask the Spirit to lead.
Remind yourself that you are loved, empowered, and never alone.

And when you fall short — because we all do — remember that the Holy Spirit is your Advocate. Your Helper. Your Counselor. He will pray for you. He will guide you. He will strengthen you.

Invitation to Follow Jesus
If you’ve never invited Jesus into your life, you can do that right now. You can say:
“Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I receive Your forgiveness. I invite You to take the throne of my life. Live through me by Your Holy Spirit. Help me walk in step with You.”