Galatians 5:25, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
In John chapter 3 Jesus told the Pharisee Nicodemus he had to be born again by the Holy Spirit to see the kingdom of God. Read John 3:3.
In order to be in God's kingdom and have a relationship with God we must be born again by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. We call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. We believe that Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 10:9-13). We call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, we are born again; we are saved.
As believers we have the life of the Spirit abiding in us now. This is clearly outlined for us in Romans chapter 8 that the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Romans 8:16.
Our relationship with the Lord is maintained and kept alive by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not kept by knowing systematic theology. It is not kept by bible doctrines. It is kept by a living relationship with God through the Son of God Jesus Christ.
Now that we are alive in the Spirit we must also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Notice that is not enough to just be alive spiritually. Your spirit is alive in Jesus.
Now Jesus wants to save your soul (your mind, will, and emotions). We have to walk out our salvation with fear and trembling. Read Philippians 2:12-13.
Man is triune: spirit, and soul, and body. Total salvation is given to us through the gospel. God saves our spirit, and soul, and body.
1 Thessalonians 5:23, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Also Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
You were made alive in your spirit when you were born again.
From this beginning point of life you grow and your soul is expanded so that you can function correctly in the kingdom of God. If you do not yield to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to sanctify you then your soul will be diminished.
Jesus warned us about losing our soul. Mark 8:36, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Your soul can be so shriveled up and weak that you cannot function in the kingdom of God.
Read also 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. Your life is like a house that is being built. It is a spiritual house that will be how you function in the kingdom of God.
At the judgment seat of Christ you find out if you have a reward. In other words, you find out how fit your soul really is for the kingdom of God. If you invested your soul into this present world then your small soul will be too weak to be useful in the kingdom.
Your spirit will be saved through the fire at the judgment seat of Christ, but your soul will be unable to function. You have no reward, no inheritance, no ability or responsibility in the kingdom.
It is important that you not only live in the Spirit, but also WALK in the spirit. Walking in the Spirit is our daily holiness, walking in righteousness, and purity. We learn how to overcome the world, and the flesh, and the devil.
Who is he that overcomes the world? The Bible gives us the answer to this question of how to overcome.
1 John 5:4-5, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5, Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" You must exercise your faith every day. Exercise your spirit like these fanatics who go into the gym everyday building their muscles.
Those who are born of God overcome the world. Our victory over the world is by faith. We must continue in the word of Jesus Christ. Jesus told those who believed in him that if they continued in his word then they would be his disciples indeed and they would know the truth and the truth would set them free.
John 8:31-32, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
It is very plain in the scripture that if a Christian continues to live like an unbeliever he will lose his inheritance in the kingdom of Christ.
Do not be deceived by people who teach that you can be saved by faith and still live just like the world. Read Romans chapter 6.
You must deal with these lying evil spirits that will deceive you with abstract religious ideas.
You must overcome sin in your life. You must learn spiritual power and authority to cast out evil spirits from your life. Read James 4:7 again.
Christians are taught in the scriptures to submit to God and to resist the devil. This teaching is not for unbelievers. It is for believers to learn how to submit to God and resist the devil.
James calls believers in that chapter "adulterers". If you are living in adultery you will not inherit the kingdom of Christ.
You will not be able to function in his kingdom, even if your spirit is born again and you have spiritual life. It is not enough for you to only have spiritual life through the Spirit.
You MUST also walk in the Spirit.
Read this scripture again:
Galatians 5:25, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
If you do not walk in the Spirit the fruit of your life will be the lusts of the flesh. Read Galatians 5:19-21.
If you walk in the Spirit you will bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
This is not a difficult concept for people to understand, but it is startling when you see how it applies to you personally.
Do you as a Christian really want to miss out on what God has planned for you in his kingdom?
Humble yourself today, repent of every known sin in your life, and exercise the authority and the power of the Holy Spirit to get rid of all that is of the flesh and the devil. Greater is HE that is in you than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4.
Here is a scriptural guideline for you to read in casting the devil out of your life:
Ephesians 5:3-5, "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4, Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5, For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
Colossians 3:5-8, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"
Galatians 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Keep in mind that Paul, writing this letter by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is not writing to unbelievers or to people in the world. He is speaking to believers! He is preaching this message to Christians, telling them if they live like this then they will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Let the fear of God and the reality of the judgment seat of Christ grip your heart. Determine right now that you will not rest until you have driven out every devil and unclean thing out of your life. Don't give up, don't give in, don't lose faith, but stand upon God's promise that as a born again Christian you have the power of God to overcome and live in complete victory over the world, over the flesh, and over the devil. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Mike Kines
July 21, 2025