The Difference Between Living and Walking in the Spirit
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25 KJV)
Some Bible verses such as Galatians 5:25 distinguish between living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit. Though both concepts are closely related, understanding the subtle difference will help us improve our intimate daily walk with the Holy Spirit.
Living in the Spirit describes our state of being in Christ in which we have God’s life, which His Holy Spirit imparts. When we received Christ, we received the gift of eternal life and passed from death to life— We came alive in God. Imagine Lazarus being raised from the dead. When he received life again, he came back into this world; He was then alive in this world, aware of what was going on, and could relate with the surrounding things. Living in the Spirit is coming alive in God’s world, with the ability to sense and respond to Him.
While living in the Spirit is a state of being, walking in the Spirit is the manner of life controlled by the Spirit. Living is a prerequisite for walking in the Spirit. All we did to live in the Spirit( receive God’s life) was to believe in Christ. However, walking in the Spirit requires us to allow the Holy Spirit to control our minds, emotions, will, words, and actions. It is the practical outworking of living in the Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit, we bear spiritual fruit, overcome the world, reveal God’s glory and flourish like palm trees.
So as a believer, you are already in the Spirit( alive or living in the Spirit). The Lord wants you to yield to the Spirit to control every part of your life.
Read more: How to Yield to the Holy Spirit.
Watch Deshen Live Bible Study: The Difference Between Living and Walking in the Spirit.
Meditate
What is the difference between living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:25 above?
Apply the Word
God’s command is to walk in the Spirit because we are already living in the Spirit( or we are in the Spirit). Yield to the Holy Spirit. It is simple to do, and you will be glad you do.
Pray
Ask the Spirit to help you walk in the Spirit in greater dimensions.
