What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?

Believers have the indwelling Spirit of Christ, the Comforter who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26) “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, will bear witness about me”.

The Holy Spirit assists believers in prayer (Jude 1:20, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, and “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God). He also leads the believer into righteousness and produces His fruit in those yielded to Him.

Galatians 5:16-18 (KJV)

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.   Believers are to submit to the will of God and walk in the Spirit.  

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

A “walk” in the Bible is often a metaphor for practical daily living. The Christian life is a journey, and we are to walk it—we are to make consistent forward progress. The biblical norm for all believers is that they walk in the Spirit: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25, KJV).

Romans 8:14 (KJV)

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. In other words, the Spirit gave us life in the new birth, and we must continue to live, day by day, in the Spirit.

(John 3:6KJV), that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control, we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him.  

Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)

30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

In other words, the Spirit gave us life in the new birth and we must continue to live, day by day, in the Spirit.

 To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control, we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him

Galatians 5 examines the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer. The context is freedom from the Law of Moses (Galatians 5:1).” Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”.

Those who walk in the Spirit eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which they hope (verse 5, 5) “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” and are free from the Law.”

(Verse 5, 18), But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Also, those who walk in the Spirit “will not gratify the desires of the flesh”

 (Verse 5, 16), “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”. The flesh, our fallen nature under the power of sin, is in direct conflict with the Spirit.

(Verse5, 17), “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would”. When the flesh is in charge, the results are obvious.

(Galatians 5: 19–21 KJV) 

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God). But when the Spirit is in control, He produces godly qualities within us, apart from the strictures of the Law.  But when the Spirit is in control, He produces godly qualities within us, apart from the strictures of the Law

(Verses 22–23 KJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law). Believers “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” and now we walk in the Spirit.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 And now we walk in the Spirit.  “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit”.

Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and the bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces. Thus, those who walk in the Spirit walk in love; they live in love for God and for their fellow man. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in joy, they exhibit gladness in what God has done, is doing, and will do. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in peace; they live worry-free and refuse anxiety.

(Philippians 4:6KJV)                                                     

“Be careful for nothing; but in ever thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”.

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in patience, they are known for having a “long fuse” and do not lose their temper. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in kindness; they show tender concern for the needs of others. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in goodness, their actions reflect virtue and holiness. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in faithfulness; they are steadfast in their trust of God and His Word. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in gentleness, their lives are characterized by humility, grace, and thankfulness to God. Those who walk in the Spirit walk in self-control, they display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to the flesh.

Those who walk in the Spirit rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in thought, word, and deed.

(Romans 6:11–14 (KJV)

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

They show forth daily, moment-by-moment holiness, just as Jesus did when, “full of the Holy Spirit, [He] left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” to be tempted.

(Luke 4:1 4) And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

To walk in the Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit, and some results of the Spirit’s filling are thankfulness, singing, and joy.

(Ephesians 5:18–20 KJV) 

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Colossians 3:16 KJV), Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

The Spirit uses the Word of God “for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Those who walk in the Spirit follow the Spirit’s lead. They let the word of Christ dwell in [them] richly, and the Spirit uses the Word of God “for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV, ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness’. Their whole way of life is lived according to the rule of the gospel, as the Spirit moves them toward obedience. When we walk in the Spirit, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no more dominion over us.