Walking in the Spirit, the Prerequisite to Avoiding the Desires of the Flesh

In the latter part of Galatians 5, Paul discusses being led by the Holy Spirit.  In fact, throughout this passage, Paul compares the "works of the flesh" with the "fruit of the Spirit." 

In verse 16, Paul tells us if we are led of the Spirit, we will not succumb to the lusts of the flesh.  In truth, Paul should have said, "#1, . . . walk in the Spirit, and #2, ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh."  Or, "(a), . . . walk in the Spirit, and (b), ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh."  Or perhaps, " . . . IF you walk in the Spirit, THEN ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh."  Spoken either way, the scripture implies that to truly avoid succumbing to the desires of the sin nature, walking in the Holy Spirit is the prerequisite.

Many people in world have been convinced that the process works the other way around.  You ask a person why he/she is not attached to a local church, and that person might respond by saying he/she has issues to resolve first.  "I'll come when I stop drinking."  "I'll come when I kick the habit."  "I'll come when I fix the problems at home."  All the while not realizing that it is that relationship with the Holy Spirit fostered by being in church that is the remedy this person seeks.  They will remain in the world bound to a fleshy desire from which they may genuinely want to be free because they limit themselves to their natural capabilities only instead of implementing strategies they can learn from the Holy Spirit.

So what does it mean to "Walk in the Spirit?"  It means you have relationship with Him.  You commune with Him.  You spend time in His presence.  You study His Word.  And understand that it has to be you to initiate the relationship as well.  James 4:8 says that if you draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to you implying that the responsibility for initializing your walk the Spirit is in your hands. 

Walking in the Spirit is a self-perpetuating thing.  Walking in the Spirit only begets more walking in the Spirit.  Before long, you have so much of the Holy Spirit in your heart, and your relationship with Him so strong, there is no more space in your heart for those fleshy desires of your past. 

Galatians 5:16 should bring new light to the phrase, "Come as you are."  Call Jesus the Savior of your life today so the relationship can be established and the purging can begin.  Walk in the Spirit, and you will feed your own Spirit-man and thereby starve the impurities out of your heart.