TOPIC: LIVE AND WALK IN THE SPIRIT “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) When you became born again, you ceased to be or live in the flesh. The Scripture clearly teaches that a born again believer is no longer “in the flesh” but “in the Spirit.” The Scripture plainly states: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Rom. 8:9 NKJV). You are therefore not expected to strive to be in the Spirit daily, for you are naturally living in the Spirit daily. However, living in the Spirit is totally different from walking in the Spirit. That is why the Scripture admonishes: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:25). The power for a victorious Christian living is only activated and appropriated when you walk in the Spirit. Sadly, many believers today are only living in the Spirit but not walking in the Spirit. The primary cause of the daily defeat that many born-again believers are experiencing today in their lives is walking in/after the flesh instead of walking in/after the Spirit. When you think, imagine, perceive, speak, judge, act, react, or conduct yourself as the unregenerate people who are in the flesh; your experience in life will be exactly the same as theirs. The Scripture warns: “For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.” (Rom. 8:13 AMP). While as a born again believer you are constantly and consistently living in the Spirit without any personal effort because when you became born again you were divinely translated from the flesh into the Spirit, however, walking in the Spirit will require your conscious and constant cooperation, obedience, and submission to the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. Daily victory over the flesh, the world, sin, or Satan is beyond the natural power, effort, wisdom or strength of any mortal man. It is therefore useless striving to live a victorious life in your own wisdom, might or strength. This is why the Lord Jesus has sent you a suitable Helper, the Holy Spirit, to live in you and thus help and enable you to walk in perpetual victory in life and also empower you to do the will of God. The Holy Spirit is not a mere influence, power or force of God. The Holy Spirit is a living and divine personality. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead. He is in no way inferior to God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit has been sent by the Father and the Son to indwell, preserve, help, enable, anoint, strengthen, empower, comfort, teach, instruct, transform, direct, guide and guard believers in this life. Before leaving this world, the Lord Jesus said of the Holy Spirit: And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” (John 14:16). But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26). Although you may have the Holy Spirit, the great divine Helper, dwelling in you, yet you may not enjoy or experience His divine wisdom, help and power for a victorious Christian living if you choose not to cooperate with Him, submit to Him, listen to Him, obey and follow His instruction, guidance, and prompting which are always consistent with the written Word of God. The Holy Spirit is not a mere divine power or force to invoke, wield, or use whenever you need it. He is divine person to fellowship with, honour, listen to, obey and follow. You cannot enjoy the divine power, the help or ministry of the Holy Spirit by just having the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit must have you. This is the reason why many believers today who have the Holy Spirit and speak in great tongues are still living in confusion, defeat, sin, poverty, sickness, failure, etc. What does it imply to walk in the Spirit? Carefully consider the scriptures (Gal. 5:16, 25) in the following various translations: “But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).” (Gal. 5:16 AMP). “If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]” (Gal. 5:25 AMP). “What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.” (Gal. 5:16 GNT). “The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives.” (Gal. 5:25 GNT). “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (Gal. 5:16 NLT). “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Gal. 5:25 NLT). “This is my meaning: Let your steps be guided by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16 MNT). “If we are living by the Spirit, let us also keep step in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25 MNT). “This then is what I mean. Let your lives be guided by the Spirit, and then you will certainly not indulge the cravings of your lower natures.” (Galatians 5:16 WNT). “If we are living by the Spirits power, let our conduct also be governed by the Spirits power.” (Gal. 5:25 WNT). In a summary, looking at the scriptures (Gal. 5:16, 25) in different translations, we can deduce that walking in the Spirit implies the following: “Being responsive to, controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit; Walking in line with the Holy Spirit; Allowing our conduct to be controlled by the Holy Spirit; Letting the Holy Spirit control our lives; Allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our lives; Letting the Holy Spirit guide our lives; Following the leading of the Holy Spirit; Letting our steps be guided by the Holy Spirit; Keeping steps with the Holy Spirit; Letting our conduct be governed by the Holy Spirit.” Beloved, it is not living in the Spirit but walking in the Spirit - being responsive to, controlled, guided, governed, directed or ruled by the Holy Spirit that actually releases to you the supernatural power to live a victorious, overcoming, prosperous or successful Christian life. You were born again of the Holy Spirit and of the Word (John 3:5). Similarly, it is also by obeying, yielding or submitting to the Holy Spirit and God’s Word constantly that you can constantly enjoy and experience all the blessings that Jesus Christ has purchased for you through His death on the Cross. Therefore, don’t just live in the Spirit, also ensure you are walking in the Spirit.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 19:29:05 +0000
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