Walking in the Spirit

Walking in the Spirit

In this episode of Standing in Defense of the Gospel, Chris Meador opens the podcast by sharing the journey behind its beginning and the clarity God has given him for this new season. From there, he turns to Galatians 5:16–17 to explore what it truly means to walk in the Spirit.

Chris explains that walking in the Spirit is not about living under a constant pressure of religious performance or reducing Christianity to a list of do’s and don’ts. Instead, it is about being fully submitted to the Spirit of Christ, seeking God’s direction, and continuing in the path He has spoken—even when circumstances, desires, or frustrations pull in another direction.

Through personal reflection, practical examples, and scriptural encouragement, this episode challenges listeners to move beyond legalism and into true liberty in Christ. Walking in the Spirit means surrendering our desires to God, allowing Him to transform us, and being conformed to the image of Christ by His Spirit.

Transcript

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SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello and welcome to the first episode of the Standing in Defense of the Gospel podcast. My name is Chris Metter. I am the host and creator of this podcast. And I am thankful to be able to, you know, do this episode today. So, truth be told, I actually started this podcast a couple of years ago. I did an episode then. I just felt like I needed to do something. And if I rewind back even further, so we'll go back a little further for a second. So the Lord has been talking to me and dealing with me about doing a podcast for uh about three years, um, maybe four. He started talking to me in 2022, 2023 time frame. And um, I haven't intentionally tried to resist him. I've really been trying to figure out uh what it was he would have me to do. And he really was talking to me in a couple of different paths, and that's why I had such a hard time kind of figuring out what this podcast should be. Um, you know, he had me um he talked to me about you know this this podcast standing in defense of the gospel, right, which I'll I'll talk about the name uh maybe another day. Uh, but then he also talked to me about a different podcast, which I'm not gonna talk about right now, but just coming at it from a different angle, right? And this this podcast is mainly focused on uh what God talks to me about and um and and different things that he puts in my spirit that I feel uh are are needful uh for people, things that I feel like he has quickened in my spirit, right? Made alive inside of me uh that I can share with with everyone else. Um and so that's what this podcast will be. And then, like I said, he dealt with me about another podcast and what where my issue was is I was trying to reconcile both of those podcasts into one. And so the other one, just to give a brief highlight, was is more about my personal experiences, right? What how God walks me through experiences in my life, and um, and you know, that podcast will come later, and I'll and when that happens, I'll I'll probably share the name of it here. But um, that is really where I was struggling, is I was trying to reconcile both of those uh topics, both of those uh projects or podcasts or whatever you want to call it, right? Both of those avenues into one single podcast. And so I was really struggling because and that's what basically was the result of the episode I did a couple of years ago, is I was trying to mix both things into one, and it just really didn't go very well. Um, I mean, it was okay, I guess, but it it I just knew it wasn't right. And so, like I said, when I did that one a couple years ago, I was like, oh man, I really need to I've if I don't ever start, I'm not gonna start. Um, and so that's why I did that episode. And then I I think very soon after I did that episode, uh a lot of different things happened in my life. And um, you know, here we are two years later, and now I really feel the clarity of the Lord. Um, and I feel like it's the timing of the Lord to be able to do this. So uh a little bit of an intro there. Um won't do this in every episode, right? But I wanted to explain. Um, you know, this, yeah, this is a new podcast, uh, but it has been in the works for a while and really trying to um, you know, just find the mind of God. And so that really transitions well into what I want to talk about today. Um, and so what I'm gonna talk about today is walking in the spirit. And um, I'm gonna go to the scriptures here and then I again I'm gonna explain kind of how the Lord started talking to me about this. I think it was earlier uh in the week, the Lord began speaking to me about this topic and just giving me an understanding that I didn't previously have. Uh so this comes from Galatians 5, chapter 5, verses 16 and 17. Um, and I'm gonna read King James Version. You are welcome to use whatever version you are comfortable with. Um, I that doesn't matter to me. Um, I usually stick with KJV and ESV. Um, I like those two, and then occasionally there's also one called God's Word that I that I like to read sometimes. Um so I I I kind of bounce around those three and and different things, but for the most part, I'm you'll probably hear me read out of King James um or the ESV. Uh so today is King James, is where I'm starting, Galatians five, verses sixteen and seventeen. This I say then, walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you would. Alright, so um the scriptures that the Lord brought to me, uh or the specific part of these verses that the Lord brought to me is in verse sixteen where it says, Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Um I'm gonna kinda talk to you about how the Lord dealt with me about this, and then also uh kind of the circumstances I guess that led to this. Um so first I'll kind of talk with uh talk about how he began to talk to me. So um I don't remember, I really don't remember exactly uh you know what prompted this, or I think it was really just more his spirit just talking to me, and he brought these scriptures to me. Um But the way that I used to look at the phrase walk in the spirit, um, you know, for me, the way that I've I've been taught this and heard it is that basically I always had to have the spirit of God in my mind at all times. I couldn't think about anything else, right? I couldn't, I couldn't think about anything natural, I couldn't think about any natural obligation. I always had to have God in my mind. If there was something natural in my mind, like a responsibility, like you know, I work a job, I have a family, um, you know, I have a house, these different things, like if these things were in my mind, then I wasn't walking in the spirit. Right. That's that's been the probably the the um that's that's how it was taught to me in a lot of ways, and then also just in in immaturity spiritually, um, very early on in my walk with God. I've been serving God 17 years now. Um and so, you know, but that that was the original mindset that I had is that I always had to be doing something pertaining to the spirit of God, right? I could never do anything else, I couldn't spend time with family, all these other things. And it's not that I didn't, you know, do all these other responsibilities or things that I had to do. It's just I thought that when I was doing those things, I wasn't walking in the spirit. Um, and so the other day when the Lord started talking to me, um, he really began to show me that walking in the spirit, uh, it's not always about having a mind that is um 100% on God. Now, there's a there is a there's a facet of that that's true, so I don't want you to feel like you can just have your mind on anything and everything. There is definitely a discipline and a mindset that is needed to walk in the spirit, and there is a discipline and mindset that is needed to serve God and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But if you can hear what I'm saying today, the way the Lord showed me is that walking in the spirit means that you are totally submitted unto the Spirit of Christ. I'm gonna say that again. Walking in the Spirit means that you are totally submitted unto the Spirit of Christ. It means that you have prayed, you have studied, you have sought God, looking for his direction and his will for your life, and you have submitted to what God wants to do in your life. You have you have found the path that he has you to walk, and you are walking that path to the best of your ability. And the way the Lord showed me this is that you know, life has a lot of different circumstances that come up. Um, you know, sometimes if you if you work a job or if you're in school or wherever your situation is, right, you're you will always come in contact with people that maybe you know what you just don't agree with or get along with very well, or there's you know, there's just friction, right? And um, you know, sometimes that can be distracting, or maybe you encounter negative circumstances or circumstances that are uh contrary to you, right? Contrary to what you would want in any area of your life. And the way the Lord showed me this is when you are walking in the spirit and you are submitted to the spirit of Christ, it doesn't matter what circumstance you face, if you are walking in the spirit, then you are not going to be drawn away to do what you want. Um to give you an example, again, I don't have one specifically that comes to mind for me at this moment, but you know, let's say, well, I oh no, I can give you one. Okay, so let's say, you know, you're working a job, right? And you are a hard worker, you're diligent, and you are trying to excel, right? Get a promotion or get recognition, um, you know, whatever whatever the case may be, right? You're trying to do that, and then you find out, well, you don't get a promotion, or you don't get the recognition that you want. Um, it could be very easy to say, you know what, I'm just gonna see you later. I'm not happy with this, I'm gonna go somewhere else because this isn't what I want. I mean, I actually did have this kind of scenario happen a little bit. Um, you know, but not not quite in that sense. But I did have that scenario happen where, you know, I was I just really wasn't satisfied with my job. Um, I just I wasn't happy with it. I wanted something new, I wanted something different, and so I did start pursuing other opportunities. Um, and I had applied for a different opportunity. And uh one day as I was getting ready to go to work, I was walking through my kitchen and the Lord spoke to me, and he said, Did I tell you to leave? And I just, I mean, I kept doing what I was doing. I said, Well, no, sir, you didn't. And so I knew that you know what, the what I was doing was not the mind of the spirit. I wasn't walking in the spirit, I wasn't submitted to what the spirit of Christ wanted to work in my life. Instead, I was pursuing something else. I was pursuing a desire of my flesh, and that's not the will of God because the flesh and the spirit, as these scriptures say, they are contrary one to the other. Each one has its own desire. And I had my desire, which was, you know what, I'm tired of this job. I want something new, I want to do something different. It's mundane, it's boring, I'm I'm tired of it. I work really hard. Sometimes I feel like I don't get the recognition. And so I was trying to, you know, kind of broaden my horizons and go somewhere else. And the Lord just spoke to me right there and said, Did I tell you to leave? And as soon as He spoke that to me, I said, Well, I am going to have to withdraw my application for that job. And I did. Um, now, you know, that situation hasn't resolved. There's still some things that I would like to see done at my job, but you know, that is what it is, right? That's that's what it is. But to focus in on the word, I want you to hear that it is all about walking in the spirit. It's not about a list of do's and don'ts. And I think that when I think that is the biggest uh hurdle for a lot of people when you talk about the lust of the flesh, right? Because you go on in these scriptures in Galatians and it does list out all these different works of the flesh. I believe it says that the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, and it lists out like 20 17 or 22, or um, I don't have it in front of me right now, but something along those lines, it it has all of these different works of the flesh. Well, yes, those things are wrong and they are the works of the flesh, but a lot of times those works of the flesh, it's not just um you just have a desire to do those things. A lot of times it can be you are trying to serve God, you are not seeing maybe what you want in a part of your life, and so therefore you walk away from what God has already spoken to you, right? And that's what walking in the spirit is it is when God has spoken something to you, right? A direction for your life, a leadership for your life, a dedication, maybe. Um, when he has spoken something to you, you stick with it no matter what goes on in your life. Because if you don't stick with it, then you have allowed the flesh, uh, the desires of the flesh to be fulfilled. You are not walking in the spirit. And so walking in the spirit is again, um, it's not the do's and the don'ts, it's not the legalism, it is finding the spirit of Christ and submitting to it. Um, you know, I want to tie in a another uh thing that I have seen uh recently. Um I think it was um a reel or something on social media, and um I think it was a young lady was sharing a scripture, and it was the scripture that says, flee youthful lusts. Um and you know, when people talk about lust, and this is what she was insinuating as well, you know, and I didn't listen to the whole thing, but she kind of started talking about it, and she was focusing on lust, right? When people use that word lust, they really get focused on sexual lusts, right? Sexual desires. Well, the word lust simply just means desires. Um, I think the reason that we look at the word lust in that way, um, and again, I have not studied this part out, uh, but I would I would encourage you to do so, and maybe I'll take some time and look at it as well. But I really think the reason that we look at the word lust in that way is because probably the most common teaching we hear about lust is what Jesus said. He said, if you lust after a woman in your heart, then you have committed adultery already with that woman in your heart. I don't know that lust, that Jesus really teaches about lust in any other way. Not not using that word lust, at least in the King James Version, right? Now, he definitely teaches you have to lose your life, right? You have to take up your cross, you have to deny yourself. So he definitely teaches about desires and learning to submit and deny yourself, submit to God and deny yourself of your desires. But in terms of the word lust, I really believe, and again, and don't quote me on this, but something to study out. I think that is where people associate lust with sexual desires, because that's the one time that Jesus actually said that, or not he is not the time he said that word, that's the way it's written in the King James Version, where he deals with lust, is about lusting after a woman from a man's perspective, right? So, um, so, anyways, but lust itself is just desire, and that is what it's talking about here. It says, if you will walk in the spirit, you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. For the flesh has a desire that is against the spirit, and the spirit has a desire that is against the flesh, they are contrary one to the other. And so, you know, Christianity is not just a list of do's and don'ts. If you are trying to walk in your relationship with God by fulfilling just a bunch of do's and don'ts, you will never succeed. You will always come up short. Um, and and maybe, you know, maybe legalistically, maybe you do all of the things that you've set out. Maybe let's just say that you do, right? Paul the apostle said he was according to the righteousness of the law, he was blameless. Let's say you do um walk perfectly according to those legalistic commandments, you will be in bondage and you will not be free. Um, it will just be legalism. It will be, and if you ever fail, if it ever by one any minute, if you ever fail to do any of those things, then you will come under condemnation. Right? And that is not what Christ has done. It says in Romans 8 and 1 that therefore there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk what? Not after the flesh, but after the spirit. So it's not about achieving what we can do in this natural body, it's not about following carnal commandments or legalism, but it is about finding what Christ desires for you and submitting to it. And it is by submitting to the Spirit of Christ that we are transformed by the Spirit. Um, and there is a scripture that I want to share with you real quick because I think it really ties into this, and it's in Galatians. I believe it's Galatians 3, so let me try to find that real quick. Um, because I to me it it makes sense. Um and it's Galatians 3 and 24. All right, and this is how Galatians 3 and 24 reads. It says, Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith. So when we first are coming to Christ, that those um legalistic guardrails, if you will, are necessary because we have to change and develop good habits, good behaviors, right? We have to we have to begin putting those good behaviors in practice. But once you have uh put those behaviors into practice, somewhere if you are submitted to Christ, again, if you're seeking him and you are asking for him to change you and show you uh how to be conformed to his spirit, then somewhere you will change and those legalistic behaviors will no longer be required. But instead you can walk in the spirit. You can walk submitted to Christ, you can walk in liberty and in peace and in joy. And so the law was necessary, right? This this legalism for a period of time is necessary, but to walk in the true liberty and freedom in Christ, we have to learn how to walk in the spirit. We have to have that um that goal of being conformed to Christ. Um, because that that really is the goal of Christianity. It's not to check off some do's and don'ts every single day, but it is Lord, let me submit my life unto you so that you can change me into your image. Um I want to be changed. I want to be transformed by the Spirit of Christ. I want to be transformed or conformed to your image. That is truly what Christianity is about, right? Is being conformed to the image of Christ. And that's only something that can be done by the Spirit. Um so I think, you know, probably there is probably where I'm going to leave it today. Um, but again, I pray, my prayer is that this is a strength to you. Um and again, I'm gonna I'm gonna be I'm not gonna promise that I'm gonna be releasing episodes all the time, but um I can tell you that I I feel like this time, this is the mind of God. He's giving me a clear understanding of of what he wants to do in my life, how he wants me to do this. And so I look forward to continuing to be able to do this and share with you what God has put in my spirit, and again, pray that it is a strength to you. May God bless.