Summer 2000
Walking in The Spirit
Wade E Taylor

Christianity is a way of life that is both mystical and practical in it's outworking. The Scripture expresses both aspects of this truth in Galatians 5:25.

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit".

"Living in the Spirit" lifts us into a realm of revelation and fellowship with our Lord. But these experiences in heavenly realities must find expression in, and give direction to, our daily walk in temporal reality. Therefore, we are exhorted to "walk in the Spirit".

Thus, "walking in the Spirit" relates our spiritual experiences to our everyday life. As we walk out these experiences in practical ways, our spiritual lives will be transformed.

"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." John 1:24a.

The manifestation of God in Jesus Christ was not limited to an intellectual concept or rational understanding. The Eternal Word that created the universe came down to a manger and lived out a human pattern of life and experience, through which He gained total victory and brought Salvation to mankind. He maintained an intimate fellowship and communion with His Father (living in the Spirit), yet He lived among men (walking in the Spirit).

There is a practical "working out" of our salvation through the experiences of life. Jesus taught and ministered in very practical ways. He related Eternal Truth to the things of His day, which the people were familiar with and could easily understand. Then He said, "Let him that hath an ear hear." He was not speaking of our physical ear, but rather was saying, "there is a deeper vein of truth available to each one whose heart has been prepared to understand and receive."

Jesus hung openly visible upon a cross for all to gaze upon. Yet of this same Jesus, the Scripture says: "In whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge" Col 2:3. There is a basic level of Truth in the Word of God that can be seen and understood by all who have a desire to know the Lord.

But, parallel with this is the mystical aspect of the Gospel, the unfolding of spiritual truth that pertains to God's eternal Kingdom. Type and shadow fade as the "Light of His Presence" ushers us behind the veil of printer's ink into the glorious revelation of His being.

In the Lord's dealings with His Bride in the Song of Solomon, there is a beautiful progression that leads her from desiring "the things of God" to a desire for "the Lord Himself;" until finally, all of her self-desire is lost and merged into "His desire for her."

She had come to the place where she was "living in the Spirit." Now, He could say to her,

"Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field;
let us lodge in the villages." SS 7:11.

The time had come for her to begin "walking in the Spirit" with Him.

A beautiful Scripture in the Psalms expresses the outworking of this process as the Lord draws us to Himself.

"Deep calleth unto deep. At the noise of Your waterspouts,
all Your waves and Your billows are gone over me." Psalm 42:7.

"Deep calleth unto deep". The desire of the Lord for our fellowship is calling out to the "potential” within us for fellowship with Him. Our Lord sees this capacity, and longs to fill it with Himself.

"At the noise of Your waterspouts." This speaks of the Lord "zeroing” in on us. That is, giving His full attention to bringing us into this personal relationship with Himself. This waterspout is as a whirlpool that sweeps all temporal things away and leaves us with God alone.

"All Your waves and billows are gone over me." Now, my feet can no longer touch bottom, where I once was in control and walked as I pleased, but are committed to the "depths" in total trust. I am no longer in control of my circumstances; all control has passed to Him. Jesus has become Lord of my life and has brought me into the realm of spiritual life and fellowship that He so desires to share with me.

"And He entered into one of the ships which was Simon's
and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from
the land. And He sat down, and taught the people out
of the ship. Now when He had left speaking, He said
to Simon, launch out into the deep" Luke 5:3-4.

There are two different realms represented here, the "land" and the "deep." The land represents my "self life" where I once walked as I pleased. The ship that He entered represents my life set apart for His purposes. The deep represents life in the Spirit where I can begin to "walk in the Spirit".

As I begin to respond to His desire for me, "Deep calling unto Deep," Jesus will enter my life's "ship" and push me a short distance from the land. Here, He will teach me the principles of "living in the Spirit". As soon as these principles are established in my life, the Lord will be able to say to me, "now, you are ready, it is time for you to begin “walking in the Spirit.” “Launch out into the deep and let your nets down for a draught".

First, say "yes" to this desire of the Lord for you. Then, invite Him into your "ship" and allow it to be pushed away from the shore line of shallow Christian experience and launch out into the deep with Him.

Here, as you begin to "Walk in the Spirit" with Him, you will receive all that He has for you.