Paul, in Galatians 5:16,  just used the clause “walk in the Spirit,” primarily as an antidote to one’s producing the works of the flesh.

But, must be, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do even that, to “walk in the spirit.” Or maybe I should say there is more than one “spirit” in which one can walk!

Micah 2:11 evoked that last comment. “If a man WALKING IN THE SPIRIT AND FALSEHOOD do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.” Preaching in favor of wine and strong drink is clearly the work of a false prophet, one who does not know God. That pro-drinking spirit might even be the controlling influence in that preacher’s life! He might be said to be “walking in that (evil) spirit!” The very “spirit of falsehood!”

But Paul says for us “to walk in the (Holy) Spirit!” Quite a difference!

But (furthermore) for the true Christian, “in the Spirit” one may also “groan,” occasionally at least. As our Lord did in John 11:33; “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he GROANED IN THE SPIRIT, and was troubled ….”

Groaned? The verb means “to snort with anger,” to be that upset, that grieved over sin and its tragic results! We are thus to add to our “walking” in the Spirit, “groaning” in the Spirit, when circumstances call for us to  mourn, to weep, to lament!

What about being so “led, directed, guided” by the Holy Sprit that one is “pressed!” I again give Paul as an example. “And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was PRESSED IN THE SPIRIT, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.” Acts 18:5, the Greek verb here is “sunecho,” meaning that the Holy Spirit had “taken such hold” of Paul that he felt obligated to preach the Gospel, to witness to lost Gentiles! Gripped by the Spirit! 

Then as well as (in addition to) “walking” in the Spirit, one can be “fervent in the Spirit.” Used of Apollos in Acts 18:25. “This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and BEING FERVENT IN THE SPIRIT, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.” Here “zeo” means “being on fire” for Jesus, “boiling hot!” Passionate, literally that zealous! 

Wow!

Another situation.  Acts 19:21 … “After these things were ended, Paul PURPOSED IN THE SPIRIT, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” That resolute, that determined, that steadfast! “Tithemi,” having “set one’s course!” 

Then Ephesians 6:18, “praying in the Spirit!” Parallel to Jude’s’ words: “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST.” (Verse 20 of Jude) Admirable indeed!

Philippians 3:3 even has us “WORSHIPPING IN THE SPIRIT!” The verb for “worship” here (“latreuo”) literally means “to work as a menial servant!” But do it “in the Spirit!”

1 Peter 4:6 … “LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.”

Maybe “walking in the Spirit” at times entails all these other situations too.

If so, get ready. The Believer in Jesus, the child of God, had best get used to an ever deepening relationship with God the Holy Spirit! 

And that’s exactly the “point” of today’s Lesson.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell