"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." The desires of the flesh mean not just bodily cravings but all the ordinary desires of fallen human nature including sexual immorality, jealousy, and anger (see vs. 19-20 for a complete list). The fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, and self-control (see vs. 22-23 for a complete list).
The only way to conquer the flesh is to yield to the Spirit. Jerry and Marilyn Fine call this the principle of displacement. When you walk by the Spirit, it displaces your natural tendency to gratify the desires of the flesh. Walking by the Spirit refers to a pattern of conduct governing of all of one's life. Walking by the Spirit includes both direction and empowerment--making decisions and choices according to the Holy Spirit's guidance and acting with the power the Spirit supplies to execute these decisions and choices and to live righteously. You walk by the Spirit when you cultivate your relationship and fellowship with God so that the fruit of the Spirit displaces the desires of the flesh.
