In the previous article in this series, I compared walking in the Spirit to flying a plane. This article provides another analogy to walking on water that may help us better understand how to “walk” in the Spirit. To review, walking in the Spirit describes what it is like for the Holy Spirit to manifest through us his supernatural ability to live above the downward pull of the “flesh” (our body’s connection to Adam’s sin) and sin in general and to experience God’s indwelling guidance, life, and empowerment, which allows us to be effective representatives of the kingdom of God and fulfilled as people.
Because most people are only familiar with living out of their own strength and resources, the idea of living above the downward pull of sin seems strange and unfamiliar, maybe even impossible.
Although I no longer jog, I did for years. I was in pretty good shape and could run for miles without much problem. However, the idea that a human being could run a marathon at a sub-five-minute-per-mile pace seems physically impossible. I could not run even one mile at that pace! It was not in the realm of possibility for me, but because I saw people do it on TV, I knew it was possible. Walking in the Spirit is something like that. It may not seem possible because we have yet to experience it, but it is. We know because the Bible tells us we can do it, and perhaps you even know someone who lives that way on a regular basis.
When we try live out of our own strength and ability, we are doomed to failure. God never intended or designed us to be able to do that.
We fail because God did not design us to live that way. From the beginning He planned for people to draw on his life and ability, but Adam and Eve chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil over the tree of life. The tree of life represents living out of God’s resources in the Spirit. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents living out of our own resources as our own boss or lord.
Sin is rooted in our stubborn desire to be independent from God. Our pride is the reason why we try to be our own boss and life source. Even well-intentioned people with “good morals” sin against God by refusing to surrender to Jesus’ lordship.
Doing it “my way” made for a good Sinatra song, but it is a path that leads straight to hell.
All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)
Therefore, a prerequisite to learning how to walk in the Spirit is to admit we cannot do life on our own. This is the essence of repentance. Instead, God wants us to surrender ourselves to the rule of the Lord Jesus by placing our complete faith – allegiance in him. (Romans 10:9-10) When we do this, He sends his Spirit into our lives to be our Helper, the One called alongside us and who dwells inside us. Then we begin the lifelong process of learning to “lean not on our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5-6), but to lean on the Spirit of God.
How to Walk on Water
Jesus walked on water, and we may not realize that he set an example for us. The fact that Peter also walked on water confronts our logical reasoning ability, as do the marathon racers. If he could do it, so could we, right? How did he do that? Was it difficult or was it easy? What does it have to do with walking in the Spirit?
If God had required Peter to support himself on the surface of the water, then he would have failed. It was beyond the realm of human ability. We all know that when it comes to heavy objects gravity overcomes the surface tension of the water, causing people to sink every time. But if God is the One who held him up, by supernaturally overcoming natural physics with his power, Peter could walk on water, and he actually did it. The most difficult thing for Peter was getting up the nerve to step out of the boat onto the water, which is exactly what Jesus invited him to do.
Walking on water (and in the Spirit) requires us to have faith that God will hold us up.
Faith must be demonstrated at a time when we have no outward “proof,” apart from his promise, that God will do his expected part. Some call this a “leap of faith.” However, Peter’s walk was not based on what we might call “blind” faith. Peter fixed his eyes and hope on Jesus and took his steps in obedience to Jesus’ clear command. That makes all the difference.
Faith is never blind. It always has God and his promises in view.
In Peter’s case, the only “proof” that he could walk on water was that Jesus was doing it and told him to join him, and that was enough. So, Peter climbed up on the gunwale of the boat and then slipped or jumped onto the surface of the water. What an adventure! What a bold step!
Our part is to take “steps of faith” in obedience to God. (Romans 4:12) God’s promise is to support us when we do. When Peter did his part, taking that first step, God did his part by holding him up.
Standing on Grace
Walking in the Spirit is very much like walking on water in the sense that we cannot do it on our own. However, if we launch out in faith, God will empower us to do it. God’s grace supports us and keeps us from being sucked under by the waves of doubt, temptation, adverse circumstances, and the downward pull of “the flesh” and sin.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 (NASB) We stand by faith in God’s grace. Perhaps you have seen cars apparently floating on water at some televised golf tournaments. Someone had to build a platform just under the surface of the water to hold the car up.
God builds a platform of grace under us when we put our faith and allegiance in Christ, his finished work, and the power of the indwelling Spirit.
Walking erect requires our being able to stand first. The enemy seeks to knock us down, but God’s grace gives us the victory, if we do our part in the process.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13 (NASB)
Peter had to keep his eyes on Jesus to stay on the surface of the deep. As soon as he allowed fear, doubt, and circumstances to distract him, he began to sink. The same thing can happen to us, if we do not keep our focus and devotion on Jesus and the grace he provides. Peter, learned this lesson well and wrote the following.
Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 1 Peter 5:12 (NASB)
It took faith for Peter to walk on water, and it takes faith to stand in grace and walk in the Spirit.
The Difference between Trying Hard and “Faithing” It
Jesus did not tell Peter to try really hard to walk on water. He merely commanded him to do it. Whatever Jesus commands us to do is possible for us, if we learn how to lean on him to perform it.
God loves to command us to do things that are beyond our natural abilities so that we can learn to live by faith in the power of the Spirit.
Trying hard to live the Christian life is called “legalism.” It always ends poorly. We get frustrated, angry, and discouraged. Our inner turmoil gets transferred to those around us, too. Legalists push people away from the gospel. Why would anyone want to live like that? Many conclude that the Christian life is impossible and give up, falling away from following the Lord. God, in fact, does want us to give up, but only so we can allow him to live through us. He wants to bring us to the same place he brought the apostle Paul, who wrote so magnificently in Romans Chapters 7 and 8.
For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:22-25 (NASB)
The following chapter begins with the glorious proclamation:
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 (NASB) Meditate on these two passages until the Spirit gives you understanding.
Until we realize that Jesus has removed us from being under the Law’s power to condemn us, we will never live in freedom.
Until we learn to lean on the Spirit’s life and power within, we will never live the Christian life effectively. It’s like walking on water. God gives us the ability to do what seems impossible, but we must take steps of faith.
