Flow in the Spirit

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. —Galatians 5:25

What does flowing in the Spirit mean? It is moving along with Him, keeping in step with Him, and missing nothing He may be wanting to do through us. There is such a thrill in flowing in the Spirit. You feel what you are doing is worthwhile; you feel authenticated, you feel loved; you feel you are part of something very important—the kingdom of God. You feel this when visiting a sick person or resisting temptation, when you walk to work or do work in the office. It is a twenty-four-hour-a-day possibility.

This is what Peter and John were doing when they were walking toward the temple one afternoon but were unexpectedly stopped—only to see the healing of a forty-year-old man who had never walked. (See Acts 3:1-10.) There are two questions that emerge: (1) Why were these disciples led at this particular time to administer healing to this man? (2) How did they know this man would suddenly be healed?

The Holy Spirit was sovereignly at work, carrying out the Father’s will, when Peter and John came upon this man at the temple gate. That is the only explanation for the healing right then and not before.

But the question still remains: how did they know that God was going to heal this man? It was because they were walking in the ungrieved Spirit; the heavenly Dove was remaining on them. The easiest thing in the world to do is to grieve the Spirit, and the extent of His sensitivity cannot be exaggerated. But Peter and John were enjoying sweet fellowship with the Spirit and with each other, so they did not miss out on what God was prepared to do. It gave them great joy to be involved in this miracle. Since we live in the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Excerpted from Pure Joy (Charisma House, 2006).