WALKING BY THE SPIRIT - Pastor Ed Calderon

WALKING BY THE SPIRIT..ARE WE??

Galatians 5:16-26

Not long ago, a seasoned marathoner had just crossed the finish line with an

impressive time when he suffered a heart attack and died. From the outside, he

looked to be the picture of health, but a fatal condition was hiding on the inside.

Every one of us needs an occasional visit to the doctor for a checkup to make sure

everything is working alright and that we don’t have an unknown serious internal

The same is true with our spiritual lives. As creatures of habit, we tend to go

through life on autopilot. We often miss clues that indicate that our spirit is not

enjoying the good health that God created it for.

In the same way that the doctor puts us through a battery of tests to diagnose

potential physical problems, God has given us a process of evaluating spiritual

problems in our lives:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

“Walking in the Spirit” produces all nine qualities listed above. When we follow

the Spirit’s lead instead of being led by our self-focused desires, He produces the

But even when we don’t walk by the Spirit, He is the very one who convicts us that

things are not in proper order in our lives.

God promises that if we are willing to admit that we have been walking our own

way and ask for His forgiveness and cleansing, He will empower us through His

Spirit to live above ourselves and live the abundant life for which He has created

Question: Am I actively depending on the Holy Spirit to guide me in God’s ways so I

don’t get wrapped up in myself? If not, am I willing to confess to God that His ways

are better than mine, and that I need the Spirit’s guidance to live above the fray?