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“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25 NKJV)
When you became born again through faith in the person and finished the work of Jesus, you ceased to be or live in the flesh. The Scripture teaches that a born-again believer is no longer “in the flesh” but “in the Spirit.”
Romans 8:9 – NKJV
9 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.
Therefore, you are not expected to struggle or strive to be or live in the Spirit daily, for you are naturally living in the Spirit daily. However, being in the Spirit or living in the Spirit is different from walking in the Spirit or walking by the Spirit.
This is why Paul admonishes, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:25 NKJV).
The power for a victorious Christian living is only activated and appropriated when you walk in or by 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 or by the flesh instead of walking in or by the Spirit.
When you think, imagine, perceive, speak, judge, act, react, or conduct yourself as the unregenerate people in the flesh do, your experiences in life will be the same as theirs.
Romans 8:13 – AMP
13 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.
Daily victory over the flesh, the world, sin, or Satan is beyond any mortal man’s natural power, effort, wisdom, or strength. Therefore, striving to live a victorious life is useless in your knowledge, might, or strength.
That is why the Lord Jesus has sent you a suitable Helper, the Holy Spirit, to abide in and with you forever, teaching, empowering, and helping you to do the will of God and walk in perpetual victory every day of your life.
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. However, He is in no way inferior to God the Father and God the Son.
God dwells in you by His Spirit to preserve, seal, help, enable, anoint, strengthen, empower, comfort, teach, instruct, transform, direct, guide, and guard you in this life (John 14:16-26, 15-26-27).
Before leaving this world, the Lord Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit and His mission to His disciples.
John 16:12-15 – NKJV
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
15 “All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
Although you may have the Holy Spirit (the great divine Helper) dwelling in you and abiding with you, 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 instructions, corrections, and promptings which are always consistent with the written Word of God.
The Holy Spirit is not a mere divine power or force to invoke, wield, employ, or use whenever or wherever you wish. He is a Divine Person to fellowship with, honor, listen to, obey, and follow.
You cannot enjoy the Holy Spirit’s divine power, help, or ministry by just having the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit must have you.
What does it imply to walk in the Spirit?
Carefully consider these scriptures (Gal. 5:16, 25) in the following various translations:
Galatians 5:16 – AMP
16 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).
Galatians 5:25 – AMP
25 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.]
Galatians 5:16 – GNT
16 What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.
Galatians 5:25 – GNT
25 The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives.
Galatians 5:16 – NLT
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Galatians 5:25 – NLT
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Galatians 5:16 – MNT
16 This is my meaning: Let your steps be guided by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:25 – MNT
25 If we are living by the Spirit, let us also keep step in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 – WNT
16 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 5:25 – WNT
25 If we are living by the Spirit’s power, let our conduct also be governed by the Spirit’s power.
In summary, looking at these scriptures (Gal. 5:16, 25) in different translations, we can deduce that walking in the Spirit implies the following:
Being responsive to the Holy Spirit;
Being 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 the Holy Spirit guide our steps;
Keeping steps with the Holy Spirit;
Allowing the Holy Spirit to govern our conduct.
Beloved, it is not living in the Spirit but walking in the Spirit (that is, being responsive to, controlled, guided, governed, directed, or ruled by the Holy Spirit) that releases to you the supernatural power to live a victorious, overcoming, prosperous, or successful Christian life in this evil world.
You were born again of the Holy Spirit and 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 continuously appropriate, experience, and enjoy all the blessings that Jesus Christ has purchased for you through His death on the cross.
Therefore, arise today and begin to walk in the Spirit—allowing the Holy Spirit to direct, guide, govern, or control your life.
Prayer:
I choose to be controlled, directed, and guided by the Holy Spirit. So, help me, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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