How to Get People to Understand "Walking in the Spirit"
Understanding how to walk in the spirit takes an understanding of who the spirit is. The "spirit" refers to the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost. He came upon the disciples on a day known as the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came to give the disciples power to be witnesses for Jesus Christ. That power included boldness to preach the gospel to every nation. There are many references in the New Testament Bible concerning the Holy Spirit. Check a concordance for scripture reference and take notes that will come in handy when explaining what "walking in the spirit" means. Before you begin instruction on the subject, know your audience. Your approach will be different for a youth group as compared to an adult group or even a one-on-one conversation.
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Instructions
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Use an analogy such as, asking if anyone has heard the Indian proverb, "Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins." Discuss the meaning of the proverb and how it relates to every day life. Walking in another person's shoes means to experience the same things in life no matter how hard they are. Discuss how that can relate to walking with Christ which is the foundation of the Christian faith. The point is to relate a person's relationship with Christ; walking with, spending time with, as you would another person in order to get to know them. Eventually, the relationship is so close that you know what it is like to walk in their shoes.
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Compare a blood transfusion to receiving the Holy Spirit. Once a person receives a complete blood transfusion, it is the blood of someone else keeping them alive, not their own. The Holy Spirit keeps the spirit alive within us and directs us to the Holy Trinity which is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives us a link to the spiritual realm. "Walk in the Spirit", and He will change your attitude and desires. He will show you the things of God.
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Describe what it takes to accept the belief and learn to "walk in the Spirit" through faith. Campus Crusade for Christ International outlines steps that make it clear how to "walk in the Spirit". Spending time with the Lord through bible study and prayer in fellowship with Him, will give a person insight to knowing who God is. Have faith, believing in God and trusting Him to guide your life. Know that God gives the Holy Spirit to help us live a Christian life. Discuss what faith is and read scripture that talk about it for clarification.
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Discuss the concept of being born again. This will help people to understand how the Spirit of God can dwell in us. Refer to the story of Adam and Eve and how they died in the garden because of sin. Adam and Eve died spiritually and were cast out of the garden. Man, through the ages, is born into that same spiritual death and it is only through the acceptance of Christ that the spirit lives. Once we are born-again, we receive the spirit of God in us that teaches us all things and give us power to then walk each day in the spirit of God.
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Read the passage that explains the evidence of walking in the spirit found in Galatians 5:22 to 23, in the New Testament of the Bible. It says that the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. These are things the Spirit gives to a person willing to walk with him.
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Tips & Warnings
Pray about what to say before you say it.
Do not argue.
References
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