HOW TO WALK AFTER THE SPIRIT…

NUMBERS 9:21-23: “Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning; when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out. Or if it remained a day and a night, they moved out when the cloud lifted. [22] Whether it was two days, a month, or longer,  the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out. [23] They camped at the Lord’s command, and they set out at the Lord’s command. They carried out the Lord’s requirement according to his command through Moses.” CSB

OBSERVATION: How do we walk “after the Spirit?” Learning to walk after the Spirit is the difference between a life of victory and one of continual defeat. It is the difference between a life filled with adventure and one that constantly deals with boredom and a lack of purpose. It is the difference between a life that senses the presence of God and one that never gets out of the desert valley. Paul put it this way,

Romans 8:3-6: “For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh,  God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, [4] in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [5] For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh,  but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. [6] Now the mindset of the flesh  is death,  but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace.” CSB

Here is a recap of the difference between learning to walk after the Spirit rather than walking after the flesh (our own understanding or desires).

• We are empowered to fulfill God’s will.

• We place our thoughts on heavenly things rather than earthly.

• We are delivered from sin and guilt and enter into God’s life and peace.

Imagine if our day was filled with moments of doing the will of God, thinking upon His thoughts, and experiencing His presence and peace. How would that change our day? What impact would that make in our lives? What impact would that have on those we encounter in life each day? What sense of purpose and fulfillment would we discover? What new adventures would we experience?

The Book of Acts is really a book on the Acts of the Holy Spirit. We see it as the Acts of the New Testament Church. Rather, it is the chronicle of the Holy Spirit leading the lives of the church. It is filled with miracles, excitement, and persecution. We would gladly take the first two. However, the disciples welcomed all of it! When they were persecuted, they rejoiced because they were counted worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus Christ. Needless to say, their life was never boring, and they experienced the presence of God in ways we long for while sitting in the bleachers! Listen to the adventure that Philip had as he walked after the Spirit.

Acts 8:36, 38-40: “As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized? ” [38] So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. [39] When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing. [40] Philip appeared in  Azotus,  and he was traveling and preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” CSB

The Holy Spirit led Philip to talk with the Ethiopian Eunuch. As Philip proclaimed Jesus to him from the Scriptures the Eunuch was reading, they came to a place with some water. The Eunuch was excited, embracing Jesus Christ in his heart, and wanted to be baptized. Immediately after being baptized, the Holy Spirit, before any episode of Star Trek, transported Philip miraculously to another location where he began preaching the Gospel.

Now – that is some excitement!

How can I live like the Apostles? How can I live like Philip? How can I walk after the Holy Spirit’s direction each and every day? The verses at the close of Numbers, chapter 9, give us a wonderful picture and answer to this question.

“Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning; when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out. Or if it remained a day and a night, they moved out when the cloud lifted. [22] Whether it was two days, a month, or longer,  the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out. [23] They camped at the Lord’s command, and they set out at the Lord’s command. They carried out the Lord’s requirement according to his command through Moses.”

The Children of Israel and Moses had a wonderful picture of the presence of God before them. It was the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. They looked at this external vision of God’s presence and followed it wherever it went. When it stayed in one place, they stayed. When it moved, they moved.

“They camped at the Lord’s command, and they set out at the Lord’s command. They carried out the Lord’s requirement according to his command through Moses.”

I know what you are thinking. I am thinking the same thing. Wow! If only I had a physical sign to follow, then I would be all set. If you keep reading, the Children of Israel begin mumbling and complaining just a short time after this! The physical sign of God’s presence was an external sign that provided no internal change.

We have something much better than a physical sign of God’s presence. We have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have been filled with the Spirit and given a new life. We have a new direction and a new purpose in life. And, we have the full counsel of God’s Word as revealed in both the Old and New Testament. Now, each day, we can begin by looking into the counsel of God’s Word and through prayer hearing the still small voice of the Holy Spirit saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”

Then, why do we struggle so much in walking after the Holy Spirit? Walking after the Spirit is not automatic. We need to learn how to hear the Spirit’s voice and discern His leading. The Israelites would wake up each morning, come out of their tent, and look to see if the cloud was standing over the Tabernacle or if it had raised up and was beginning to move. We start each day by getting out of bed, jumping in the shower, and then rushing off to begin our tasks or head to work.

We need to learn how to look for the cloud!

We need to be like Mary, who learned how to sit at Jesus’s feet. The most important thing we can do each day is begin our day in God’s Word and in prayer. Then, we need to continue in a spirit of prayer as we go through the day. In other words, we need to keep checking the cloud. As we do this, we will feel gentle promptings in our heart. How do we know if this is the Holy Spirit? One very practical rule of thumb I apply is – if it is something good, it probably is the Spirit. If I miss the Holy Spirit’s leading – my only error is doing something good. If it is more complex than this, I need to commit it to a time of seeking God’s Word and prayer until He confirms His direction.

I am challenged this morning to begin walking after the leading of the Holy Spirit with a new fervor. I am challenged by the life of the early disciples as I compare it to my life. I want to find myself doing the will of God, walking in His presence, and experiencing His life and peace. When I do not sense His presence, when I no longer am walking in life and peace, I need to recalibrate.

I need to see if the cloud has moved and move accordingly.

Lord, help this wonderful picture of Your external presence move me to seek Your internal presence! As I abide in Your Word, as I pray, as I seek Your face – help me to be led and directed by Your Holy Spirit each day! Give me ears to hear so that I can walk in Your life and peace.

In Jesus’ Name!