Walking by the Spirit is a Partnership

As believers, we serve God in partnership with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9). This partnership requires that each party fulfill their role in order for our service to be effective. In this divine collaboration, believers are called to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey His guidance (Galatians 5:16). It is the Holy Spirit who inspires and empowers us (Philippians 2:13), leading us into the good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Let every follower of Christ take time to reflect deeply on the meaning of the word “partnership” and seek from God a clear understanding of it, that they may walk more closely with Him and bring glory to His name.

If a follower of Christ is to be fruitful and multiply, he must be a faithful and reliable partner. The Holy Spirit, who is God, is always faithful and consistently fulfills His role. The question, then, is this: are believers doing the same?

For believers, prayer is essential in this partnership. One must earnestly pray that God would enable them to become a true and faithful partner in His work (Matthew 7:7–8). On one hand, a vital prayer is to ask God for a pure heart—a heart wholly surrendered to Him—as well as for unwavering faith and obedience, which must go hand in hand. The importance of prayer in sustaining and strengthening this partnership cannot be overstated.

On the other hand, followers of Christ ought to pray that God Almighty would deliver them from every distraction and hindrance, that He would grant them spiritual sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and that they would hear His voice clearly—and respond with joyful and immediate obedience, by His grace.

Furthermore, it must be emphasized that if a believer is not walking by the Holy Spirit—that is, not living in partnership with Him—then such a person is not truly serving God, but rather engaging in dead works (Hebrews 9:14; Philippians 3:9). Indeed, there is no good work apart from abiding in Christ and walking in the Spirit (John 15:5). One may be very active in religious or moral endeavors, yet bear no lasting fruit.

May God grant each of His children the grace to walk faithfully and fruitfully in partnership with His Holy Spirit.