Summer 1990

Steps toward a Spirit lead Life
Wade E Taylor

"If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit" Gal 5:25

Many of us desire to live a Spirit led life. To do so means that we have submitted ourselves to the government of His Kingdom, giving to the Lord the unconditional right to choose for us. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in(our) earth, as it is in heaven" Matt 6:10.

Along with a committed life of being lead by His Spirit, our submission to His Kingdom rule includes our acceptance of the preparatory teachings and the practical disciplines that are laid upon us. The purpose of these is to produce within us an increasing sensitivity to hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit and enlarging our ability to cooperate with His movings.

For this relationship to work properly, it requires that we have a basic understanding of the laws that govern a Spirit led life. More difficult, it necessitates an abiding, unquestioning submission to the government of His Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is a realm in which there is much activity, but where all moves in Divine order and purpose. A toddler takes it first few steps falteringly and falls; his direction is arbitrary and casual. A small child walks but for his own enjoyment and amusement. A young man walks to attain his own goals and to fulfill his own visions. A father walks to please and satisfy the needs of his family. He has a higher purpose than his own satisfaction.

This involves spiritual perception, dedication, and sacrificial giving. These are marks of maturity. It is the same in the realm and program of the Kingdom. As babes in Christ, we must develop spiritually before we can begin to intelligently walk in the Spirit. This involves a total commitment to Him. The teacher and schoolmaster is the Holy Spirit.

To walk in the Spirit is to walk one step at a time. We are to start from where we are, acknowledging His headship and presence each step as we follow. Walking in the Spirit requires that we set our own desires aside to follow Him. He is the Christ, the Anointed of the Lord. The natural man cannot come this way, for he cannot discern the presence or the anointing that brings one up into this higher realm, for it is a matter of the heart, not of the mind.

The children of Israel were to abide under the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day. They were to move only as these moved. This was a discipline to teach them the importance of being led by His Spirit. Had they learned and obeyed, this would have brought great victories to Israel in possessing the land.

The Lord greatly desires to introduce us to His Kingdom through a Spirit lead life and walk. He cannot allow us to function in this higher governmental realm of His Kingdom until we have individually, unconditionally, submitted our lives to be governed by Him and have, in some measure, learned how to "Walk inthe Spirit."

Certain basic principles must be understood in seeking this higher realm of His Kingdom.

The term "flesh" is the name given to the natural state
and activity of man, independent of, and uncontrolled by,
the Holy Spirit.

The terms, "led by; moved by; walking in the Spirit;" are
names of the supernatural state and activity of man,
dependent upon, and controlled by, the Holy Spirit.

The above conditions are contrary to each other, yet so similar in action that most people do not recognize the transition from one realm to the other.

Man's spirit and soul are so closely allied that it takes the Living Word of God to distinguish one from the other. God has sent His Spirit to accomplish this. The purpose of God in creating Adam was to make of man a being that lived and moved in complete harmony and unity with God.

In the first test, man utterly failed and fell
into the lower realm of flesh life.

Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a way back to this higher realm in God has been established and a way of entrance set before us. In the past, our spiritual comprehension has been dull and our progress slow. A greater intervention of God is upon us in these last days to bring many up into a higher realm. Jesus called this the Kingdom of God and said it was at hand.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire was given as a means to enable us to enter. This experience has fallen into a lower realm of "blessing" rather than being the "enabling" that leads to a higher realm and purpose. Most of us are satisfied with the spiritual blessings and imparted gifts of the enabling, rather than our seeking God and paying the spiritual price that will bring us into a higher realm. We must understand this experience in the right perspective.

Paul prayed, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" Eph 1:18. There is much more that is available to us, but we are settling for less than His adequate provision.

Our Lord is challenging us to move up and onward. The present dissatisfaction and searching in the Body of Christ is His prodding. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is His means. The Kingdom of God is His goal.

For us to "Walk in the Spirit" is to become a subject of His Kingdom. He is onthe Throne, waiting. Let us move upward.