Overflow: walking in the spirit

How do we have overflow when life keeps throwing one drama after another at us?

It’s one thing to talk about overflow when everything is going well. But what about when you’re just trying to catch your breath, and then — boom — something else happens?

We are called to live in overflow, not just when things are easy, but even in the middle of challenges. And how do we do that? Walking in the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit, Not the Flesh

To have an overflowing life, we need to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

Romans 8:14 says, For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Walking in the Spirit means walking in God’s Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us.

A lot of us know the Word, but are we applying it?

Overflow happens when we apply the Word. When we trust the Word.

The devil believes in God too. He knows Jesus died on the cross. But he doesn’t trust and obey.

We are called to believe, trust, and obey. And when we do, we overflow.

A new life begins

2 Corinthians 5:16 says, “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

Too many of us still evaluate things from a human point of view.

God says we are new creations, but we keep identifying ourselves by our past.

The enemy loves to remind us of who we used to be, but God doesn’t.

How Do We Walk in the Spirit?

1. Depend on God

Galatians 5:16 – “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”

Walking in the Spirit is not about trying harder; it’s about trusting deeper.

We need Jesus.

• We need Jesus over our money.

• We need Jesus over our health.

• We need Jesus over our struggles.

How do you look at your money?

Do you see it the way Jesus sees it, or the way you see it?

Do you depend on God when you’re sick? When you’re struggling? When things aren’t going the way you planned?

Walking in the Spirit means aligning our thoughts with His thoughts.

We don’t need to hustle our way into a breakthrough. We need to surrender our way into it.

2. Overcome the Flesh

Galatians 5:17-18 – “17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

There is always a battle between what feels easy and what is right.

The flesh tells us, “You’re tired, just take the easy way out.”

The Spirit says, “Stay faithful.”

The flesh tells us, “You deserve this; go ahead and indulge.”

The Spirit says, “Not everything that feels good is good for you.”

The flesh and the Spirit will never be on the same page. So we have to choose. We don’t stumble into holiness by accident. We have to be intentional.

3. the works of the flesh

Sin doesn’t leap into your life; it creeps in.

One small compromise turns into another.

You don’t wake up one day and say, “I’m going to ruin my life today.” No, it starts with tiny steps in the wrong direction.

Stop justifying the little compromises. They add up fast.

Galatians 5:19 – “19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Sexual sins (immorality, impurity, debauchery)

Idolatry and witchcraft (replacing God with idols, engaging in occult practices)

Relational sins (hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy)

Excessive indulgence (drunkenness, orgies)

4. Live by the Fruit of the Spirit

But Paul doesn’t just give a warning. He also gives a promise.

Galatians 5:22-23 – “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"

When we walk in the Spirit, this is what overflows from our lives.

Not stress.

Not fear.

Not frustration.

But love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

5. Live Out the Call

Galatians 5:24-25 – “24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

Walking in the Spirit isn’t just a Sunday thing — it’s an everyday decision.

We need to stop making decisions based on our emotions and start making them based on the Word of God.

Obedience brings overflow.

• When we obey, we are walking in the Spirit.

• When we walk in the Spirit, we overcome the flesh.

• When we overcome the flesh, we overflow.

The choice is ours

God is calling us higher.

The Spirit is leading us forward.

The past is gone, the new life has begun.

How do we have overflow when life keeps throwing drama at us? Watch the full sermon to learn how to walk in the Spirit.