BrTom - Almighty Father Yahweh, we come before you in Yahshua's name. . . Father, we praise you and bless you Holy name! We honor your lovingkindness.
BrTom - We praise you for all your wonderful works!
BrTom - HalleluYAH ! !
BrTom - Father Yahweh we are here as your children.
BrTom - We ask you to teach us from your word and to give a special portion of your spirit to those who teach this Sabbath
BrTom - in all your congregations.
BrTom - Give your people love and joy and your SHALOM.
BrTom - Thank you father for the way we can come together here.
BrTom - Let all be done in peace and according to your will
BrTom - Bless each one who joins us either tonight or later on the web site.
BrTom - Thank you Father for sending your son Yahshua to teach us the ways of life.
BrTom - Thank you also for providing the gift of salvatio through him.
BrTom - In his name we pray and bless you.
BrTom - HalleluYAH ! ! !
Tonight's study is an expanded and revised version of a study I shared a in this chat room about a year ago.
Tonight I would like to talk about what it means to be "Walking in the Spirit."
There are some who believe walking in the Spirit is something completely different walking in obedience to the law of Yahweh.
Indeed, those who believe in keeping the law of Yahweh often hear something like "I don't have to keep the law, I walk in the Spirit." Others say "We walk in the Spirit now, not LAW".
But what does it really mean to be walking in the Spirit?
Let's begin by looking at a few scriptures that deal with this:
Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in the Messiah Yahushua, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.Taking an objective point of view, we see that whatever it means to walk according to the Spirit, it sure sounds wonderful! There is no condemnation to them as long as they are in the Messiah Yahushua.
We know it certainly does not mean to walk in our own spirit:
Ezekiel 13:2 - Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of YAHWEH;
Ezekiel 13:3 - Thus saith the Master YAHWEH; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!I am convinced that there may be a multitude of people who follow their own spirit but claim it is Yahweh's Spirit. We should beware of this also.
Here is a promise to those who do walk in the Spirit:
Galatians 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.A beautiful promise! We need only to walk in the Spirit and we will not obey or fulfill the temptations and desires that our flesh causes us to endure
So one thing is certain, walking in the Spirit can't be fulfilling the lusts of the flesh
What types of things would be fulfilling the lusts of the flesh?
Could there be some who claim to know Yahushua but are really walking in the lusts of the flesh?
2Peter 2:1 - But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Redeemer who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2Peter 2:2 - And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
2Peter 2:3 - By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
2Peter 2:4 - For if YAHWEH did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
2Peter 2:5 - and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the wicked;
2Peter 2:6 - and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live wickedly;
2Peter 2:7 - and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
2Peter 2:8 - (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)--
2Peter 2:9 - then YAHWEH knows how to deliver the righteous out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
2Peter 2:10 - and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,So here we are reading about those who walk according to the flesh.. not the Spirit
2Peter 2:11 - whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before YAHWEH.
2Peter 2:12 - But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,
2Peter 2:13 - and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,
2Peter 2:14 - having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and [are] accursed children.
2Peter 2:15 - They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Peter 2:16 - but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
2Peter 2:17 - These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
2Peter 2:18 - For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.
2Peter 2:19 - While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
2Peter 2:20 - For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Savior Yahushua the Messiah, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.So it is demonstrated very clearly, "Liberty" does NOT mean we should sin!
Liberty is freedom from the penalty of sin, not freedom from having to refrain from sin
James 1:25 - But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.It is sin that corrupts and puts us into bondage
1Peter 2 is a powerful condemnation against the doctrine of accepting Yahushua as the Messiah but turning away from the ways of righteousness and rejecting the "holy commandment" of Yahweh
2Peter 2:20 - For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Savior Yahushua the Messiah, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
2Peter 2:21 - For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
2Peter 2:22 - But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."Beware of any who would turn away from the holy commandments
What other scriptures reveal what walking in the lusts of the flesh would be?
Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:9 - For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Romans 13:10 - Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 13:11 - And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Romans 13:12 - The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Romans 13:13 - Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Romans 13:14 - But put ye on Yahushua the Messiah, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.So third witness confirms that walking in the lusts of the flesh is disobedience
How about a fourth?
1Peter 4:1 - Therefore, since the Messiah suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
1Peter 4:2 - that he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of YAHWEH.
1Peter 4:3 - For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
1Peter 4:4 - In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
1Peter 4:5 - They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.So it is very crystal clear that walking in the lusts of the flesh is the same as walking in disobedience
Could we not then conclude that walking in the Spirit would be... "Obedience"?
Yes
Yahweh prophesied through Ezekiel that in the end times He would put His Spirit in His people and a wonderful outward transformation would take place:
Ezekiel 36:25 - Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Ezekiel 36:26 - A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:27 - And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.HalleluYah! Indeed we can see that walking in the Spirit would be walking in obedience! It is His Spirit that guides us into walking in His will..walking according to the holy commandment given to us..walking in righteousness and keeping His law..
Now let's look into some of Paul's writings:
Galatians 5:13 - For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:14 - For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:15 - But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Galatians 5:16 - I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.Now based on what we have learned thusfar, we cannot possibly conclude that walking in the Spirit of Yahweh has anything to do with disobedience to Yahweh's law
Rather, to the contrary! So let us with this in mind examine the following verses:
Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.Now if we were to take the conclusion that many would love to take in this verse, we would be saying "If we are led by the Spirit, we don't have to be obedient to Yahweh's law"
But how can this possibly be? Every verse we have examined thusfar has said just the opposite.
Let's examine the meaning of this phrase "Under the law".
Clearly a person who is NOT under the law is set free from sin.
For sin is disobedience to or transgression of the law
1John 3:4 - Whoever commits sin trangresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.Indeed even the following verses in this chapter prove that one who is walking in the Spirit is NOT free to be flagrantly disobedient to His law again
Galatians 5:19 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
Galatians 5:20 - idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
Galatians 5:21 - envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of YAHWEH.Does this sound like a person who is obedient to Yahweh's law? Of course, no
All these things are condemned in the law of Yahweh. So not being under the law must clearly mean something else
But what does it mean?
One who is "Under the law" cannot mean "one who has sinned" because we know that Yahushua did not sin, yet He was under the law:
Galatians 4:4 - But when the fullness of the time had come, YAHWEH sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,It is clear that those who are NOT under the law (but walk in the Spirit) are set free from its penalties:
Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under favor.Those who are NOT under the law are set free from the penalty of transgression of that law (sin). So, based on what we have seen thusfar we could say
"Sin (Transgressions of the law) will not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace"
Those who are under grace are forgiven for their transgressions.
They are set free from the power that sin has over us! That power is eternal death and damnation.
Therefore, we can conclude that one who is under the law is one who has to live up to its standards perfectly. Those who are under the law must be keeping the law perfectly to prevent sin (transgression of the law) from having dominion over them.
Yahushua was born under the law and lived up to its standards...
..but we? We've all failed!
Indeed, this is why we need Him so! He is our only hope!
Yahweh's standard is perfection. We have failed to live up to it.
Therefore we cannot be saved or receive justification (be declared righteous) by the law. How can we? We have not kept it!
The law cannot justify us or make us free from its penalty of eternal death and damnation.
The reason why?
We have not kept it
It can only show us 'what sin is'
I believe that this is an important key to understanding the writings of Paul and what He was dealing with in those days.
He was dealing with those who believed that they could be saved apart from Yahushua because they have kept the law. But he explained to them that NO MAN has ever kept it.
We need Yahushua and His righteousness (for He was born under the law and KEPT it) to be saved.
The normal conclusion made from this today is that we no longer need to be concerned about transgressing the law of Yahweh because Yahushua saved us from the law. Let's examine this concept.
First, let's examine the scriptures that speak of the definition of sin:
1John 3:4 - Whoever commits sin trangresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.
Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 4:15 - Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression."By the law is the knowledge of sin", "sin is transgression of the law" and "where no law is, there is no transgression" all make it crystal clear that sin is disobedience to Yahweh's law.
Therefore, those who say today that we don't need to be concerned about transgressing the law of Yahweh are also saying that we don't need to be concerned about sinning!
Now let's look again at the previous verse we examined:
Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under favor.
Romans 6:15 - What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under favor? By no means!!How clear!
Should we sin (transgress the law again) because we are not under the law, but under grace/favor? Of course not! Whose slave or servant do we want to be, anyway?
Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?Sin (transgression of the law) leads us on the road to death, but obedience to righteousness
Do you want to be a servant of sin unto death? Then blatantly break Yahweh's law and teaching men so!
Romans 6:17 - But YAHWEH be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 6:18 - Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.With this understanding, O how Paul's writings become so much clearer!
And now we can understand why Paul said:
Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:18 - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.So here is a contrast between the concept of being led by the Spirit or by the flesh.
Based on the attitude of many, one would think that those who walk according to the flesh are the Sabbath keeping, feast keeping, tassel (tzit tziyot) wearing believers in Yahweh. But let's read:
Galatians 5:19 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
Galatians 5:20 - idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
Galatians 5:21 - envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of YAHWEH.These are all very clear transgressions of Yahweh's law (sins). Now how about those who walk in the Spirit? Are they disobedient to Yahweh's law?
Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23 - gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.Clearly, those who walk in the Spirit are obedient, righteous individuals! It is our flesh (and mainstream teachers of error) that want us to be disobedient! Paul even points out there is no law against these things
Romans 7:24 - O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Romans 7:25 - Thanks be to YAHWEH through Yahushua the Messiah our Saviour. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of YAHWEH; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in the Messiah Yahushua, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.and now the explanation why
Romans 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yahushua hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:3 - For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, YAHWEH sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:The law was weak in that it could only show us righteousness. It could not make us righteous. We need Yahushua for that.
We need Him to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law where we have failed.
But now that we have been delivered, we must walk in the Spirit!
We need to walk in obedience if we hope to have the righteous requirements fulfilled for us by Yahushua!
Romans 8:3 - For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, YAHWEH sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans 8:4 - That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.Think about that!
Through Yahshua the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us..
who is 'us'?
those who "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
Now, Paul begins to clearly define the differences
Romans 8:5 - For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.two opposites
Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.And what is the difference between one who is carnally minded and one who is spiritually minded?
Romans 8:7 - Because the carnal mind is enmity against YAHWEH: for it is not subject to the law of YAHWEH, neither indeed can be.So if we are spiritually minded, we will be subject to the law of Yahweh! We must walk in the Spirit!
Remember:
Ezekiel 36:27 - And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.A blessing how it all lines up, is it not?
Walking according to the flesh cannot be referring to those who observe the law of Yahweh.
According to Romans 8, to be walking according to the flesh is equal to being carnally minded
AND to be carnally minded is equal to not being subject to the law of Yahweh!
Therefore, those who are in Yahushua are walking in the Spirit are subject to keeping the law of Yahweh.
We can not continue to blatantly sin (break the law of Yahweh) so that grace may abound.
May we all walk in Yahweh's Spirit. For Yahweh's word IS Spirit!
John 6:63 - It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.In Yahushua was this Spirit..and no disobedience was found in Him
Yahushua is the Word!
Therefore He is the manifestation of the law to us, He kept it blamelessly
And we are commanded to walk as He walked
1John 2:4 - He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1John 2:5 - But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of YAHWEH is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
1John 2:6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.We can look at His life as our example because He kept ALL of Yahweh's commandments perfectly.
And it is through the blood of Yahushua that we can be cleansed from all sin.
1John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahushua the Messiah His Son cleanses us from all sin.He is in the light! The word is a light
Psalms 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Proverbs 6:23 - For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Proverbs 4:18 - But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.This thing we have in common, we have all been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, HalleluYah! Now let's have this thing in common.. let's have the light of Yahushua shine through us every day
getting brighter and brighter as we learn more and more of His life through His example and through the Word of Yahweh
But concerning the past, we are all free from our sins and we all are free to leave behind our old ways where we had ignored and broken Yahweh's perfect law
Psalms 19:7 - The law of YAHWEH is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YAHWEH is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalms 19:8 - The statutes of YAHWEH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YAHWEH is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalms 19:9 - The fear of YAHWEH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YAHWEH are true and righteous altogether.
Psalms 19:10 - More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psalms 19:11 - Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.Do we believe His word? Then believe that in keeping Yahweh's law there is great reward. Look at where Yahushua is! Therefore, let us overcome sin and consider where we can be:
Revelation 3:21 - "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.What a reward!
Therefore, In all things let's seek the will of Yahweh in our lives as outlined in His word..ALL of His word...whether it be written 2000 years ago or 3000
In all things let's praise Yahweh for in Yahushua we have the righteousness and strength we need to walk a path that is narrow, pure and new...
walking in the Spirit!
May Yahweh bless you all!!
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