Walking in the Spirit
by
What It Means To Walk in the Spirit!
By David Wilkerson
What It Means To Walk in the Spirit!
God’s purpose for every one of His children is that we
surrender to the reign and rulership of the Holy
Spirit:
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit”(Galatians 5:25).
In other words, “If He lives in you, let Him direct
you!”
In this message, I want to show you two things:
1. What it means to walk in the Spirit; and
2. How you can obtain such a walk.
I have not yet fully arrived in this glorious walk --
but I am gaining ground!
I believe Acts 16 is one of the best examples of what
it means to walk in the Holy Spirit. We’ve heard this
expression all our lives -- to “walk in the Spirit” --
but what does it mean?
1. Walking in the Spirit Means
Incredible, Detailed Direction
and Unclouded Decisions!
The Holy Ghost provides absolute, clearly detailed
instructions to those who walk in Him. If you walk in
the Spirit, then you don’t walk in confusion -- your
decisions aren’t clouded ones.
The early Christians did not walk in confusion. They
were led by the Spirit in every decision, every move,
every action! The Spirit talked to them and directed
them in their every waking hour. No decision was made
without consulting Him. The church’s motto throughout
the New Testament was: “He who has ears to hear, let
him hear what the Spirit has to say!”
You probably have heard preachers and missionaries say,
“The need represents the call. Jesus said, ‘Go’ -- so,
go! Go into all the world, preach the gospel and make
disciples!”
Beloved, this is only half-true. We are to go into all
the world with the gospel. And the call is to the
entire church. But we are to go only when and where the
Spirit leads! The idea that we’re simply to “pack our
bags and go” has nothing at all to do with walking in
the Spirit.
I am ministering in New York City today because the
Holy Ghost told me very clearly: “Go to New York City
and help raise up a church.” And He told me when to
come. No devil or demon can move me from this --
because the Spirit gave detailed instructions. I
remember standing between Broadway and Seventh Avenue,
weeping and raising my hands. The Holy Ghost said, “In
this very area I am going to raise up a church. Obey
me, David. Start a church in New York City!” Times
Square Church is not just an accident. It is the result
of clear, detailed instructions from the Holy Ghost!
The Bible says,
“In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every
word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew
18:16).
I want to give you three witnesses for my message:
Paul, Silas and Timothy. Each of them was full of the
Holy Ghost and walked daily in the Spirit. And in
chapter 16 of Acts, these men show us what we can
expect in such a walk.
Paul had chosen Silas and Timothy to go with him
throughout the churches, to establish them:
“And so were the churches established in the faith, and
increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5).
Now, in Paul’s day there was no continent more needy
than Asia. That land was in total darkness. And, like
many zealous ministers today, Paul wanted to go where
the need was. But the Spirit forbade him to preach in
Asia on this occasion:
“...they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of
Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach
the word in Asia...” (verse 6).
They started to go, but the Lord said, “No -- you can’t
go right now!”
Paul said, “Well, let’s go to Bithynia! The people are
in darkness there, and we have been commanded to go. So
let’s go!” But again, the Spirit didn’t permit them:
“After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into
Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not” (verse 7).
No wonder so many missionaries come home from the field
after a short time. Many come back disillusioned and
despairing because they haven’t been led by the Spirit.
They went with zeal -- but without seeking the counsel
of the Holy Ghost. They were not sent out by the Holy
Ghost!
Paul and his men ended up in Troas, undecided and
wondering where to go next. That’s when Paul received a
vision:
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There
stood a man of Macedonia,
and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and
help us” (verse 9).
Please note: It’s a good thing the Spirit didn’t tell
Paul the whole story in this vision. You see, the man
calling him was a jailkeeper -- beckoning him to come
spend a night locked in a stockade within the walls of
his prison!
Beloved, you also will be tested when you begin to walk
in the Spirit. Paul surely was, along with his two
young servants. When they arrived in Philippi, a city
in Macedonia, they didn’t encounter any such man --
only women!
“And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river
side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat
down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple in
the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us:
whose heart the Lord opened.... And when she was
baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying,
If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come
into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us”
(verses 13-15).
Can you imagine what Paul must have said to his two
young associates on the way to Lydia’s house? “I
thought I saw a man calling for help. Yet there’s
nobody around here but women -- not a man in sight! I
trust I heard the Lord correctly.”
We get upset when God tells us something and it doesn’t
unfold exactly as we heard it. We want every detail to
fall into place. And if we don’t “see the man” right
away, soon we’re ready to discount everything!
In the meantime, however, God had opened Lydia’s heart.
A number of women were getting saved, God was moving --
but there wasn’t a man in sight! Indeed, God will
perform all kinds of wonderful, unexpected miracles on
the way to the vision -- and on the way of obedience!
-------------------------------
Philip and Peter Also Walked in
the Spirit -- And They Got Very
Detailed, Incredible Directions!
-------------------------------
God was using Philip powerfully to lead a revival in
Samaria. People were being saved, healed, delivered
from demons. But the Spirit directed Philip to leave
Samaria -- and to go instead to the desert of Gaza. So,
in obedience, Philip packed it in, said good-bye and
started walking to his destination.
Along came an Ethiopian eunuch in a chariot, reading
the book of Isaiah.
“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join
thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to
him...” (Acts 8:29-30).
Suddenly Philip was opening the message of Isaiah 53 to
this man, revealing Jesus. And the next thing Philip
knew, the man received Christ and was baptized. Then,
“...when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit
of the Lord caught away Philip,
that the eunuch saw him no more...” (verse 39).
Many people have a problem with this last verse: “The
Spirit caught away Philip....” But I don’t. The Spirit
had been present when the heavens and earth were
created; He was Co-Creator with the Father. So He
certainly could carry a man to his next preaching
assignment!
Peter was on the rooftop praying when God showed him a
vision. The Lord was teaching him, “Don’t call anything
unclean that I have said is clean.” As this took place,
three men stood at Peter’s gate, calling, “Is Simon
Peter in the house?”
The Spirit said to Peter,
“Go downstairs -- there are three men standing at the
gate. They’re going to ask you to go with them, and you
are to go. Don’t doubt anything -- just go!” (See Acts
10:19-22).
These were absolutely clear, detailed instructions!
Later, in Jerusalem, Peter told the brethren why he ate
with uncircumcised Gentiles:
“And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing
doubting...” (Acts 11:12).
Peter said, “The Spirit told me to do it. I ate with
them because the Holy Ghost spoke clearly to me!”
The early church never sent out workers or missionaries
unless the Holy Ghost chose and ordained them. A person
didn’t just walk up to the apostles and say, “Look,
I’ve got a call to Cyprus, to Paphos, to Perga, to
Pergamus. Please anoint me, ordain me -- send me forth
with your blessing!”
No -- the Holy Ghost spoke clearly in prayer meetings,
appointing those who were truly anointed of God:
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy
Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted
and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent
them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost,
departed...” (13:2-4).
If you ask the Holy Ghost, He will tell you everything
you need to know -- including where and when to go!
Included in these incredible directions are precise
warnings about what is coming. The Holy Spirit will
warn you in order to prepare you:
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will
guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of
himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he
speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John
16:13).
Jesus isn’t talking merely about prophecy and future
events. He’s talking about your life! Walking in the
Holy Ghost is about being led by Him in very practical,
daily living. For example, He showed the early church a
famine was coming:
“And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and
signified by the spirit that there should be great
dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in
the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every
man according to his ability, determined to send relief
unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea” (Acts 11:28).
The Holy Spirit warned them a famine was coming -- so
they began to take offerings to share with other
believers!
The Spirit also warned Paul that his trip to Jerusalem
would result in his being taken prisoner:
“...there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named
Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s
girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said,
Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at
Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and
shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles”
(21:10-11).
Paul was being warned -- told to prepare! The Holy
Spirit always warns us!
-------------------------------
2. Walking in the Spirit Means Never
Being Intimidated by Demonic Harassment!
-------------------------------
If you walk in the Spirit, you will constantly be
harassed by demonic powers. But you do not have to be
intimidated by any demon power -- anywhere, at any
time!
Paul was continually harassed by demonic powers. He was
preaching to Sergius Paulus, deputy of the isle of
Paphos, when demons attempted to interfere:
“...a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus...
withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from
the faith” (Acts 13:6-8).
Barjesus means “son of Jesus” or “angel of light.” This
was the devil standing up against Paul! But the Holy
Ghost welled up inside the apostle:
“Then Saul...filled with the Holy Ghost...said ...thou
child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness,
wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the
Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon
thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a
season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a
darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by
the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done,
believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord”
(verses 9-12).
Paul, “filled with the Holy Ghost,” brought down all
the powers of darkness!
In Acts 16, the devil again came against the ministry
of the Holy Ghost -- and again Paul responded:
“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain
damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us,
which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The
same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men
are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto
us the way of salvation. And this did she many days.
But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit,
I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out
of her. And he came out the same hour” (16:16-18).
I want to stop here and challenge every Christian who
claims to walk in the Spirit: It is not enough to “be
grieved” by the attempts of Satan to harass you! Paul
was grieved -- meaning “disturbed, troubled.” And he
allowed it for many days. But how long should you put
up with Satan’s troubling you -- putting unnecessary
grief on you, hindering you in your work?
This could have gone on with Paul for a long time. It
might have affected his physical body. But the Spirit
of God welled up in Paul, and he said, “That’s it --
that’s enough! In the name of Jesus, be gone!”
Beloved, we take too much from the devil! There comes a
time when we’ve got to stand up in the power of the
Holy Ghost and say, “Enough -- that’s it! I command you
in Jesus’ name to go!”
-------------------------------
3. Walking in the Spirit Means
Being Worry-Free -- No Matter
What Happens to You!
-------------------------------
When you take authority and command devils to flee,
Satan will come at you with everything in his arsenal.
He’ll bring down all kinds of trouble and crises on
you!
Just after Paul had cast the demons out of the
possessed girl, Satan started stirring things up. He
enflamed the crowd against Paul and Silas -- and
suddenly they were in a terrible crisis!
The city magistrates had them whipped and cast into
prison. And with every stripe on their backs, I can
hear the devil saying, “So you think you’ve won the
victory? You think you’re going to cast out my demons
and take authority over me? Take that! I’m going to
beat you, cast you into prison, lock you up hands and
feet. Then let me see how much you praise the Lord!”
The devil didn’t seem to know: The more you whip a
servant of God who walks in the Spirit, the more
praises you whip up from him! If you throw him in a
crisis, tie him up with problems and troubles, he’ll
sing, shout and worship!
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts
16:25).
If we are to walk in the Spirit, then we must believe
God for supernatural deliverance from every bondage of
Satan. It doesn’t matter if God has to create an
earthquake to do it. In fact, that is exactly what he
did for Paul:
“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the
foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately
all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were
loosed” (verse 26).
Satan will try to bring upon you the most dreadful
temptation or trial you have ever faced. He wants you
to get bogged down in guilt, condemnation,
self-examination. Dear saint, you have to arise in the
Spirit and get your eyes off your circumstances and
bondage. Don’t try to figure it all out. Start
praising, singing, trusting God -- and He will take
care of your deliverance!
-------------------------------
4. Walking in the Spirit Means
Never Again Fearing Man!
-------------------------------
When the magistrates ordered Paul and Silas out of
jail, Paul refused to leave. He said,
“They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans,
and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us
out...? nay verily; but let them come themselves and
fetch us out” (Acts 16:37).
God does not want you to sneak away from men who have
been the devil’s tool to harass you. He wants you to
experience deliverance with your head held high. He
wants to prepare a table for you in the presence of
your enemies!
“Let them come themselves and fetch us out!” This was
not Paul’s pride speaking. It was the Holy Spirit in
him, saying, “Those who walk in the Spirit don’t fear
men. And the shame they tried to put on you is going to
come down on their own head!”
God, give us Paul’s holy boldness! We know we are more
than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us. Let
the devil and his people be put to shame. But those who
walk with God will never be put to shame!
Now, for the second part of my message:
-------------------------------
How Can You Obtain Such a
Walk in the Spirit?
-------------------------------
The command to walk in the Spirit is given to all --
not just to a few super-saints! Here is how you can
obtain this walk:
1. You must go after this walk with everything in
you! First, ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide
and friend:
“...Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you” (Luke 11:9-13).
If you are saved, then the Holy Spirit has already
been given to you. Now ask Him to take over --
surrender to Him! You have to determine in your
heart that you want Him to lead and guide you.
Moses, speaking of the latter days, said,
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy
God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with
all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy
4:29).
“...he made thee to hear his voice, that he might
instruct thee...” (verse 36).
2. Focus on knowing and hearing the Spirit -- and get
your eyes off your trouble and temptation. Paul,
Silas and Timothy would have wallowed in fear and
depression if they had focused on their troubles.
Instead, they focused on God -- praising and
worshiping Him!
Most of the time when we go to prayer, we focus on
past failures. We replay our defeats time after
time, saying, “Oh, how far up the road I could be
if I hadn’t failed God and messed up in my past!”
Beloved, you’ve got to forget everything in your
past! It’s all under the blood -- and worrying
about it is a waste of time. So forget yesterday
-- forget even the last hour. And forget about the
future too, because only the Lord knows what’s
ahead. Instead, focus only on the Holy Spirit,
with your whole mind and heart. Give yourself
completely to loving Him!
3. Give much quality time to communion with the Holy
Spirit. He will not speak to anyone who is in a
hurry. All of God’s Word is about waiting on Him!
When in prayer, you dare not think the first thing that
comes to mind is the voice of the Spirit. No, your
flesh and the devil know your desire to hear His voice
-- and they will rush in and inject words that are not
right!
Wait patiently. Seek the Lord and minister praises to
Him. Take authority over every other voice that
whispers thoughts to you. Believe that the Spirit is
greater than these, and that He will not let you be
deceived or blind. Be willing to set your heart on Him
as Jacob did -- and not let go until He blesses you!
-------------------------------
Now, Let Me Show You a Higher
Meaning of Walking in the Spirit!
-------------------------------
I thank God for all the things I’ve described about
walking in the Spirit: incredibly detailed direction,
power over demonic interference, worry-free dependence
on the Lord, freedom from fearing men. But each of
these blessings should be only a by-product of a higher
walk in the Spirit. I believe the highest form of
walking in the Spirit goes beyond all these things!
Our example is found in 1 Samuel 9. In this chapter,
Saul was sent by his father to find some runaway
donkeys. Taking a servant with him, Saul searched
throughout the lands of Ephraim, Shalim, Benjamin and
Zuph. Finally, he got discouraged and was ready to give
up the hunt. But then his servant told him about
Samuel, a seer; maybe he could tell him where to find
the donkeys.
On this occasion, I see Saul as a type of believer who
seeks direction only. All he had in mind was: “Where
are my donkeys? Where should I go? I’m at my wits’
end!”
Meanwhile, God had already told Samuel a young man was
going to come to him, and that he was to anoint him.
Samuel here is a type of the Holy Spirit, who knows the
mind of God; he has more on his mind than just
direction. He knows Saul has been chosen by God to play
a part in heaven’s eternal purposes!
The first thing Samuel did when Saul arrived was to
call for a feast:
“...go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall
eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go,
and will tell thee all that is in thine heart” (1
Samuel 9:19).
This is exactly what the Holy Spirit desires of us: to
sit at the Lord’s table and minister to Him -- having
quality time alone, hearing His heart.
Samuel asked Saul to clear his mind so they could
commune together:
“And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago,
set not thy mind on them; for they are found...” (verse
20).
Samuel was saying, “Don’t focus on getting direction
now -- that’s all settled. There’s something more
important at hand. You’ve got to know God’s heart --
His eternal purposes!”
Samuel laid a whole shoulder of meat before Saul, and
they spent time communing: “And...Samuel communed with
Saul upon the top of the house” (verse 25). After that
night of communion, Samuel asked Saul to send his
servant out of the room, so they could have an
intimate, face-to-face session:
“...Bid the servant pass on before us... but stand thou
still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his
head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the
Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his
inheritance?” (9:27; 10:1).
Do you see what God is saying here? “If you really want
to walk in the Spirit -- if you really want My
anointing -- you need to seek more than direction from
Me. You need to come into My presence and get to know
My heart, My desires! You see, I want to anoint you --
to use you in My kingdom!”
Beloved, forget direction -- forget everything else for
now! Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you the deep,
hidden things of God. Stand still in His presence, and
let Him show you the very heart of the Lord. That is
the walk of the Spirit in its highest form!
When you do this, direction will come -- and you won’t
even have to ask! As Saul was leaving, Samuel said,
“By the way -- go to Rachel’s sepulchre and you’ll get
the information you need about your donkeys” (see
10:2).
Then Saul received some of the most incredibly detailed
instructions in all of God’s Word!
God has a precious oil of anointing He wants to pour on
you. He wants you to come out of His presence with the
aroma of His anointing on you. And as you’re leaving,
He will whisper “Oh, by the way -- here’s what you
wanted to know....” He promises:
“And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be
heard....” (Isaiah 30:30).
Do you want to walk in the Spirit? Then set your heart
to seek Him today. You will learn to know His voice --
with clear, detailed directions.
Amen!
---
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Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771, USA.
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August 15, 1994
__________
God’s purpose for every one of His children is that we
surrender to the reign and rulership of the Holy
Spirit:
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit”(Galatians 5:25).
In other words, “If He lives in you, let Him direct
you!”
In this message, I want to show you two things:
1. What it means to walk in the Spirit; and
2. How you can obtain such a walk.
I have not yet fully arrived in this glorious walk --
but I am gaining ground!
I believe Acts 16 is one of the best examples of what
it means to walk in the Holy Spirit. We’ve heard this
expression all our lives -- to “walk in the Spirit” --
but what does it mean?
-------------------------------
1. Walking in the Spirit Means
Incredible, Detailed Direction
and Unclouded Decisions!
-------------------------------
The Holy Ghost provides absolute, clearly detailed
instructions to those who walk in Him. If you walk in
the Spirit, then you don’t walk in confusion -- your
decisions aren’t clouded ones.
The early Christians did not walk in confusion. They
were led by the Spirit in every decision, every move,
every action! The Spirit talked to them and directed
them in their every waking hour. No decision was made
without consulting Him. The church’s motto throughout
the New Testament was: “He who has ears to hear, let
him hear what the Spirit has to say!”
You probably have heard preachers and missionaries say,
“The need represents the call. Jesus said, ‘Go’ -- so,
go! Go into all the world, preach the gospel and make
disciples!”
Beloved, this is only half-true. We are to go into all
the world with the gospel. And the call is to the
entire church. But we are to go only when and where the
Spirit leads! The idea that we’re simply to “pack our
bags and go” has nothing at all to do with walking in
the Spirit.
I am ministering in New York City today because the
Holy Ghost told me very clearly: “Go to New York City
and help raise up a church.” And He told me when to
come. No devil or demon can move me from this --
because the Spirit gave detailed instructions. I
remember standing between Broadway and Seventh Avenue,
weeping and raising my hands. The Holy Ghost said, “In
this very area I am going to raise up a church. Obey
me, David. Start a church in New York City!” Times
Square Church is not just an accident. It is the result
of clear, detailed instructions from the Holy Ghost!
The Bible says,
“In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every
word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew
18:16).
I want to give you three witnesses for my message:
Paul, Silas and Timothy. Each of them was full of the
Holy Ghost and walked daily in the Spirit. And in
chapter 16 of Acts, these men show us what we can
expect in such a walk.
Paul had chosen Silas and Timothy to go with him
throughout the churches, to establish them:
“And so were the churches established in the faith, and
increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5).
Now, in Paul’s day there was no continent more needy
than Asia. That land was in total darkness. And, like
many zealous ministers today, Paul wanted to go where
the need was. But the Spirit forbade him to preach in
Asia on this occasion:
“...they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of
Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach
the word in Asia...” (verse 6).
They started to go, but the Lord said, “No -- you can’t
go right now!”
Paul said, “Well, let’s go to Bithynia! The people are
in darkness there, and we have been commanded to go. So
let’s go!” But again, the Spirit didn’t permit them:
“After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into
Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not” (verse 7).
No wonder so many missionaries come home from the field
after a short time. Many come back disillusioned and
despairing because they haven’t been led by the Spirit.
They went with zeal -- but without seeking the counsel
of the Holy Ghost. They were not sent out by the Holy
Ghost!
Paul and his men ended up in Troas, undecided and
wondering where to go next. That’s when Paul received a
vision:
“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There
stood a man of Macedonia,
and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and
help us” (verse 9).
Please note: It’s a good thing the Spirit didn’t tell
Paul the whole story in this vision. You see, the man
calling him was a jailkeeper -- beckoning him to come
spend a night locked in a stockade within the walls of
his prison!
Beloved, you also will be tested when you begin to walk
in the Spirit. Paul surely was, along with his two
young servants. When they arrived in Philippi, a city
in Macedonia, they didn’t encounter any such man --
only women!
“And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river
side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat
down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple in
the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us:
whose heart the Lord opened.... And when she was
baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying,
If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come
into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us”
(verses 13-15).
Can you imagine what Paul must have said to his two
young associates on the way to Lydia’s house? “I
thought I saw a man calling for help. Yet there’s
nobody around here but women -- not a man in sight! I
trust I heard the Lord correctly.”
We get upset when God tells us something and it doesn’t
unfold exactly as we heard it. We want every detail to
fall into place. And if we don’t “see the man” right
away, soon we’re ready to discount everything!
In the meantime, however, God had opened Lydia’s heart.
A number of women were getting saved, God was moving --
but there wasn’t a man in sight! Indeed, God will
perform all kinds of wonderful, unexpected miracles on
the way to the vision -- and on the way of obedience!
-------------------------------
Philip and Peter Also Walked in
the Spirit -- And They Got Very
Detailed, Incredible Directions!
-------------------------------
God was using Philip powerfully to lead a revival in
Samaria. People were being saved, healed, delivered
from demons. But the Spirit directed Philip to leave
Samaria -- and to go instead to the desert of Gaza. So,
in obedience, Philip packed it in, said good-bye and
started walking to his destination.
Along came an Ethiopian eunuch in a chariot, reading
the book of Isaiah.
“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join
thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to
him...” (Acts 8:29-30).
Suddenly Philip was opening the message of Isaiah 53 to
this man, revealing Jesus. And the next thing Philip
knew, the man received Christ and was baptized. Then,
“...when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit
of the Lord caught away Philip,
that the eunuch saw him no more...” (verse 39).
Many people have a problem with this last verse: “The
Spirit caught away Philip....” But I don’t. The Spirit
had been present when the heavens and earth were
created; He was Co-Creator with the Father. So He
certainly could carry a man to his next preaching
assignment!
Peter was on the rooftop praying when God showed him a
vision. The Lord was teaching him, “Don’t call anything
unclean that I have said is clean.” As this took place,
three men stood at Peter’s gate, calling, “Is Simon
Peter in the house?”
The Spirit said to Peter,
“Go downstairs -- there are three men standing at the
gate. They’re going to ask you to go with them, and you
are to go. Don’t doubt anything -- just go!” (See Acts
10:19-22).
These were absolutely clear, detailed instructions!
Later, in Jerusalem, Peter told the brethren why he ate
with uncircumcised Gentiles:
“And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing
doubting...” (Acts 11:12).
Peter said, “The Spirit told me to do it. I ate with
them because the Holy Ghost spoke clearly to me!”
The early church never sent out workers or missionaries
unless the Holy Ghost chose and ordained them. A person
didn’t just walk up to the apostles and say, “Look,
I’ve got a call to Cyprus, to Paphos, to Perga, to
Pergamus. Please anoint me, ordain me -- send me forth
with your blessing!”
No -- the Holy Ghost spoke clearly in prayer meetings,
appointing those who were truly anointed of God:
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy
Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted
and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent
them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost,
departed...” (13:2-4).
If you ask the Holy Ghost, He will tell you everything
you need to know -- including where and when to go!
Included in these incredible directions are precise
warnings about what is coming. The Holy Spirit will
warn you in order to prepare you:
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will
guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of
himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he
speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John
16:13).
Jesus isn’t talking merely about prophecy and future
events. He’s talking about your life! Walking in the
Holy Ghost is about being led by Him in very practical,
daily living. For example, He showed the early church a
famine was coming:
“And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and
signified by the spirit that there should be great
dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in
the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every
man according to his ability, determined to send relief
unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea” (Acts 11:28).
The Holy Spirit warned them a famine was coming -- so
they began to take offerings to share with other
believers!
The Spirit also warned Paul that his trip to Jerusalem
would result in his being taken prisoner:
“...there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named
Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s
girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said,
Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at
Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and
shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles”
(21:10-11).
Paul was being warned -- told to prepare! The Holy
Spirit always warns us!
-------------------------------
2. Walking in the Spirit Means Never
Being Intimidated by Demonic Harassment!
-------------------------------
If you walk in the Spirit, you will constantly be
harassed by demonic powers. But you do not have to be
intimidated by any demon power -- anywhere, at any
time!
Paul was continually harassed by demonic powers. He was
preaching to Sergius Paulus, deputy of the isle of
Paphos, when demons attempted to interfere:
“...a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus...
withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from
the faith” (Acts 13:6-8).
Barjesus means “son of Jesus” or “angel of light.” This
was the devil standing up against Paul! But the Holy
Ghost welled up inside the apostle:
“Then Saul...filled with the Holy Ghost...said ...thou
child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness,
wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the
Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon
thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a
season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a
darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by
the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done,
believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord”
(verses 9-12).
Paul, “filled with the Holy Ghost,” brought down all
the powers of darkness!
In Acts 16, the devil again came against the ministry
of the Holy Ghost -- and again Paul responded:
“And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain
damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us,
which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The
same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men
are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto
us the way of salvation. And this did she many days.
But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit,
I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out
of her. And he came out the same hour” (16:16-18).
I want to stop here and challenge every Christian who
claims to walk in the Spirit: It is not enough to “be
grieved” by the attempts of Satan to harass you! Paul
was grieved -- meaning “disturbed, troubled.” And he
allowed it for many days. But how long should you put
up with Satan’s troubling you -- putting unnecessary
grief on you, hindering you in your work?
This could have gone on with Paul for a long time. It
might have affected his physical body. But the Spirit
of God welled up in Paul, and he said, “That’s it --
that’s enough! In the name of Jesus, be gone!”
Beloved, we take too much from the devil! There comes a
time when we’ve got to stand up in the power of the
Holy Ghost and say, “Enough -- that’s it! I command you
in Jesus’ name to go!”
-------------------------------
3. Walking in the Spirit Means
Being Worry-Free -- No Matter
What Happens to You!
-------------------------------
When you take authority and command devils to flee,
Satan will come at you with everything in his arsenal.
He’ll bring down all kinds of trouble and crises on
you!
Just after Paul had cast the demons out of the
possessed girl, Satan started stirring things up. He
enflamed the crowd against Paul and Silas -- and
suddenly they were in a terrible crisis!
The city magistrates had them whipped and cast into
prison. And with every stripe on their backs, I can
hear the devil saying, “So you think you’ve won the
victory? You think you’re going to cast out my demons
and take authority over me? Take that! I’m going to
beat you, cast you into prison, lock you up hands and
feet. Then let me see how much you praise the Lord!”
The devil didn’t seem to know: The more you whip a
servant of God who walks in the Spirit, the more
praises you whip up from him! If you throw him in a
crisis, tie him up with problems and troubles, he’ll
sing, shout and worship!
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts
16:25).
If we are to walk in the Spirit, then we must believe
God for supernatural deliverance from every bondage of
Satan. It doesn’t matter if God has to create an
earthquake to do it. In fact, that is exactly what he
did for Paul:
“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the
foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately
all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were
loosed” (verse 26).
Satan will try to bring upon you the most dreadful
temptation or trial you have ever faced. He wants you
to get bogged down in guilt, condemnation,
self-examination. Dear saint, you have to arise in the
Spirit and get your eyes off your circumstances and
bondage. Don’t try to figure it all out. Start
praising, singing, trusting God -- and He will take
care of your deliverance!
-------------------------------
4. Walking in the Spirit Means
Never Again Fearing Man!
-------------------------------
When the magistrates ordered Paul and Silas out of
jail, Paul refused to leave. He said,
“They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans,
and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us
out...? nay verily; but let them come themselves and
fetch us out” (Acts 16:37).
God does not want you to sneak away from men who have
been the devil’s tool to harass you. He wants you to
experience deliverance with your head held high. He
wants to prepare a table for you in the presence of
your enemies!
“Let them come themselves and fetch us out!” This was
not Paul’s pride speaking. It was the Holy Spirit in
him, saying, “Those who walk in the Spirit don’t fear
men. And the shame they tried to put on you is going to
come down on their own head!”
God, give us Paul’s holy boldness! We know we are more
than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us. Let
the devil and his people be put to shame. But those who
walk with God will never be put to shame!
Now, for the second part of my message:
-------------------------------
How Can You Obtain Such a
Walk in the Spirit?
-------------------------------
The command to walk in the Spirit is given to all --
not just to a few super-saints! Here is how you can
obtain this walk:
1. You must go after this walk with everything in
you! First, ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide
and friend:
“...Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you” (Luke 11:9-13).
If you are saved, then the Holy Spirit has already
been given to you. Now ask Him to take over --
surrender to Him! You have to determine in your
heart that you want Him to lead and guide you.
Moses, speaking of the latter days, said,
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy
God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with
all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy
4:29).
“...he made thee to hear his voice, that he might
instruct thee...” (verse 36).
2. Focus on knowing and hearing the Spirit -- and get
your eyes off your trouble and temptation. Paul,
Silas and Timothy would have wallowed in fear and
depression if they had focused on their troubles.
Instead, they focused on God -- praising and
worshiping Him!
Most of the time when we go to prayer, we focus on
past failures. We replay our defeats time after
time, saying, “Oh, how far up the road I could be
if I hadn’t failed God and messed up in my past!”
Beloved, you’ve got to forget everything in your
past! It’s all under the blood -- and worrying
about it is a waste of time. So forget yesterday
-- forget even the last hour. And forget about the
future too, because only the Lord knows what’s
ahead. Instead, focus only on the Holy Spirit,
with your whole mind and heart. Give yourself
completely to loving Him!
3. Give much quality time to communion with the Holy
Spirit. He will not speak to anyone who is in a
hurry. All of God’s Word is about waiting on Him!
When in prayer, you dare not think the first thing that
comes to mind is the voice of the Spirit. No, your
flesh and the devil know your desire to hear His voice
-- and they will rush in and inject words that are not
right!
Wait patiently. Seek the Lord and minister praises to
Him. Take authority over every other voice that
whispers thoughts to you. Believe that the Spirit is
greater than these, and that He will not let you be
deceived or blind. Be willing to set your heart on Him
as Jacob did -- and not let go until He blesses you!
-------------------------------
Now, Let Me Show You a Higher
Meaning of Walking in the Spirit!
-------------------------------
I thank God for all the things I’ve described about
walking in the Spirit: incredibly detailed direction,
power over demonic interference, worry-free dependence
on the Lord, freedom from fearing men. But each of
these blessings should be only a by-product of a higher
walk in the Spirit. I believe the highest form of
walking in the Spirit goes beyond all these things!
Our example is found in 1 Samuel 9. In this chapter,
Saul was sent by his father to find some runaway
donkeys. Taking a servant with him, Saul searched
throughout the lands of Ephraim, Shalim, Benjamin and
Zuph. Finally, he got discouraged and was ready to give
up the hunt. But then his servant told him about
Samuel, a seer; maybe he could tell him where to find
the donkeys.
On this occasion, I see Saul as a type of believer who
seeks direction only. All he had in mind was: “Where
are my donkeys? Where should I go? I’m at my wits’
end!”
Meanwhile, God had already told Samuel a young man was
going to come to him, and that he was to anoint him.
Samuel here is a type of the Holy Spirit, who knows the
mind of God; he has more on his mind than just
direction. He knows Saul has been chosen by God to play
a part in heaven’s eternal purposes!
The first thing Samuel did when Saul arrived was to
call for a feast:
“...go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall
eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go,
and will tell thee all that is in thine heart” (1
Samuel 9:19).
This is exactly what the Holy Spirit desires of us: to
sit at the Lord’s table and minister to Him -- having
quality time alone, hearing His heart.
Samuel asked Saul to clear his mind so they could
commune together:
“And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago,
set not thy mind on them; for they are found...” (verse
20).
Samuel was saying, “Don’t focus on getting direction
now -- that’s all settled. There’s something more
important at hand. You’ve got to know God’s heart --
His eternal purposes!”
Samuel laid a whole shoulder of meat before Saul, and
they spent time communing: “And...Samuel communed with
Saul upon the top of the house” (verse 25). After that
night of communion, Samuel asked Saul to send his
servant out of the room, so they could have an
intimate, face-to-face session:
“...Bid the servant pass on before us... but stand thou
still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his
head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the
Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his
inheritance?” (9:27; 10:1).
Do you see what God is saying here? “If you really want
to walk in the Spirit -- if you really want My
anointing -- you need to seek more than direction from
Me. You need to come into My presence and get to know
My heart, My desires! You see, I want to anoint you --
to use you in My kingdom!”
Beloved, forget direction -- forget everything else for
now! Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you the deep,
hidden things of God. Stand still in His presence, and
let Him show you the very heart of the Lord. That is
the walk of the Spirit in its highest form!
When you do this, direction will come -- and you won’t
even have to ask! As Saul was leaving, Samuel said,
“By the way -- go to Rachel’s sepulchre and you’ll get
the information you need about your donkeys” (see
10:2).
Then Saul received some of the most incredibly detailed
instructions in all of God’s Word!
God has a precious oil of anointing He wants to pour on
you. He wants you to come out of His presence with the
aroma of His anointing on you. And as you’re leaving,
He will whisper “Oh, by the way -- here’s what you
wanted to know....” He promises:
“And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be
heard....” (Isaiah 30:30).
Do you want to walk in the Spirit? Then set your heart
to seek Him today. You will learn to know His voice --
with clear, detailed directions.
Amen!
---
Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O.
Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771, USA.
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