According to the Bible, walking in the Spirit means walking in ‘love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control’ (Galatians 5:22, NKJV).
#1. Walking in the Spirit means leading a life of love.
The Bible requires every Christian to walk in love because God is love. This is according to 1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV), which says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Therefore, if you claim to be a Christian but you have no love for others, you are not a child of God because ALL God’s children love humanity.
If you claim to be a born-again Christian but you hate others, then you are not walking in the Spirit but in the flesh. If you harbor any iota of hatred for fellow human beings on the basis of their race, skin color, nationality, tongue, tribe, religion, denomination, belief, or cultural system, political affiliation or ideologies, economic status, etcetera, then know that you are not walking in the Spirit but in the flesh. Any form of prejudice against others is a clear sign that you do not understand what it means to walk in the Spirit.
If you do not walk in love, then God is very far from you. This is because 1 John 4:12 tells us that God only abides in those who love one another. Here is what it says: ‘No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.’ The same instruction is repeated in 1 John 4:16, which says, ‘And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.’
Moments before His arrest and subsequent crucifixion, Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to love one another, as this would be the ONLY sign that would prove to the world that they belonged to Him. We read this in John 13:34-35, which says, ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’ This means that if you are a Christian but you do not walk in love, then you are contradicting yourself and are not His true disciple but a liar!
#2. Walking in the Spirit means leading a life of joy.
The Bible requires every Christian to walk in joy at all times. This means that you should always remain joyful whether things are working out for you or not. We received this instruction from Philippians 4:4 that says, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, ‘Rejoice!’ Now, you will agree with me that this saying is easier said than done. This is because of the plethora of pressures that life throws at us, which more often than not end up overwhelming us to the point of giving up and quitting the race.
Despite the overwhelming challenges that always threaten to take away our joy, we must always remember that our eternity will be better compared to our earthly life. We must thus focus our attention on the reward we shall get in eternity and press on to reach the higher goal of our calling, that is, salvation of our souls. It is this mindset that kept Jesus going while He faced His tormenters during the crucifixion. It was the joy that was set before Him that fueled His resolve to press on up to the cross. We read this in Hebrews 12:1-2 that says:
‘Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’
You may be currently going through numerous hardships in your life. It may be prolonged unemployment, homelessness, wayward children, marital problems, workplace pressures, health challenges, unfulfilled goals and obligations, disappointment from friends, uncertainty, and many more! Just remember to remain joyful because life is not all about our achievements or lack of them here on earth but what is in store for us in eternity. Our focus should always be on the prize we shall receive after keeping the faith in the Lord’s Day. This is recorded for us in Revelation 2:10 that says,
‘Do not fear any of those things that you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. ’
#3. Walking in the Spirit means leading a life of peace.
Another sign of walking in the Spirit is leading a life of peace. As a Christian, God expects you to be an ambassador of peace wherever you go. When you walk in peace, the Bible calls you blessed and a son of God. We read this in Matthew 5:9 that says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.’
A true Christian is not a warmonger, nor is he or she a rabble-rouser. On the contrary, a true Christian is one who always strives to sort out misunderstandings in an amicable and peaceful manner. This is in line with what the Bible teaches in Romans 12:18, which says, ‘If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.’
In fact, one of the components of the armor of God recommended to every Christian to enable him or her to overcome Satan is the gospel of peace. This is recorded in Ephesians 6:15, which says, ‘and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.’
All over the world, everybody seems to be fighting someone, be it at the family level, at school, in the workplace, at the national level, at the global level, in politics, or even in the church; no one is spared. Unfortunately, these strifes keep worsening as days go by. For this reason, the world needs peace to bring all this chaos into order. And who is better placed to birth this peace if not true Christians who know they are the carriers of peace that the world eagerly yearns for?
Thus, strive to be at peace with yourself, your children, your spouse, your parent, your neighbor, your workmate, and everyone you come across during your daily transactions. This is according to Hebrews 12:14, which says, ‘Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.’ Similar sentiments are echoed in Romans 14:19, which says, ‘Therefore, pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.’
#4. Walking in the Spirit means leading a life of longsuffering.
This means having the capacity to endure trials and tribulations that come your way. When faced with hardships, you should always ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen and empower you to withstand them and finally overcome them. If you do not allow the Spirit to help you through hardships, the flesh will ultimately take over and cause you to begin walking in contention, jealousy, envy, hatred, murmuring, and unbelief, all of which will make you backslide.
As a believer, you must understand that longsuffering is part of the package of the gift of salvation. This means that no Christian under the sun is an exception. The Bible clearly informs us that we must all expect to suffer trials and tribulations before entering God’s kingdom, as recorded in Acts 14:21-22, which says, ‘And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’’
This tells you as a Christian to expect trouble as you journey through life while on this planet. Unfortunately, there are a significant number of believers who have been misled into thinking that the Christian life is a trouble-free enterprise with a happily ever after ending! Nothing can be further from the truth. Actually, the moment you became a Christian, you instantly declared war on Satan and his agents in the kingdom of darkness. Therefore, on a daily basis you will find yourself wrestling against deadly forces of darkness, including principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Only the Holy Spirit will help you overcome these enemies when you fully yield to Him.
Jesus Christ’s advice to you in the face of suffering is to endure and not be like the ‘stony-place Christian’ whom we read about in Matthew 13:20 that says, ‘But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.’
As a true Christian, longsuffering helps you transform into a patient person, one with good character and having a hope that will never disappoint. This is recorded in Romans 5:3-5, which says, ‘And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.’
#5. Walking in the Spirit means leading a life of kindness.
A true born-again Christian is expected to be kind. In Titus 3:4-7, God’s kindness is made manifest by the gift of salvation to mankind through Christ Jesus. The scripture says, ‘But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.’
In other words, man does not qualify for the gift of salvation by works but by putting his trust in the finished works of our Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through His kindness, God has gifted man with the Holy Spirit as a key helper in the journey of faith.
What we learn from the kindness of God is that we also ought to be kind to one another. That means being caring and committed to the welfare of others. Kind people are always driven by love to go an extra mile and assist fellow brethren whenever the need arises. This is recorded in Romans 12:10, which says, ‘Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.’
God’s kindness to His people despite their unfaithfulness is reflected in Isaiah 54:8, which says, ‘With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the LORD, your Redeemer.’
#6. Walking in the Spirit means leading a life of goodness.
A born-again Christian is obligated to be good to others at all times. In other words, you should be good to others even when they do not like you or what you represent. God sets this example for us by being good to both the evil people and those who are good. We read this in Matthew 5:44-45, which says, ‘But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven: for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.’
A similar instruction is carried in Proverbs 25:21-22 as follows: ‘If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.’
We all agree that the world is full of treacherous people keen on using others to get things done. You actually may have been a victim of such people in the past and therefore decided to shut everyone out of your life. Well, that may have been appealing to you, but it goes against scripture. The Bible teaches that you should treat your enemies well despite the evil they may have committed against you. It is not that easy, but you must strive to do it so that God can be expressed through you.
#7. Walking in the Spirit means leading a life of faithfulness.
A true Christian is expected to be faithful in all areas of his or her life. As a true believer, you must be faithful to your spouse to sustain a successful marriage. This instruction is found in Hebrews 13:4, which says, ‘Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.’ Therefore, if you are a Christian who is cheating on your spouse, God’s judgment awaits you in the afterlife. Again, if you are caught doing so, divorce could be the likely outcome, which may mark the end of your marriage.
As a true Christian, you are expected to be faithful at the workplace in order for God to bless you in this life and in eternity. This is recorded in Matthew 25:21-22, which says, ’“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’”
You must be faithful to your friends at all times in order to receive their help when trouble comes knocking at your doorstep. We read this in Proverbs 18:24, which says, ‘A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.’ When you are loyal to your friends, they will always reciprocate the gesture and come to your aid whenever you need it.
The Bible also teaches that those who remain faithful to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ in their life on earth will receive the crown of life in the coming age. This is recorded in Revelation 2:10, which says, ‘Do not fear any of those things that you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.’
Many Christians have failed the test of faithfulness, choosing instead to walk the path of unfaithfulness with disastrous outcomes. There are many Christians who cannot even be entrusted with any serious task at their workplace due to their unfaithfulness. There are those who have even been caught engaging in shady deals that have led to their dismissal from the place of work. Other born-again Christians have been entangled in a web of sex scandals that have ended up ruining their marriages and completely destroying their families. As a believer, you can avoid all this by walking in faithfulness.
#8. Walking in the Spirit means leading a life of gentleness.
A true Christian must be gentle, following in the example that Jesus Christ set for us in 1 Peter 2:21-23, which says, ‘For this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who when reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.’
A similar instruction is echoed in Ephesians 4:1-2, which says, ‘I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing one another in love.’
A gentle person is meek, always ready to admit his or her mistakes and ask for forgiveness accordingly. This is one trait that made Moses succeed in managing the children of Israel as they journeyed to the Promised Land (Numbers 12:3). It is through gentleness that one can successfully endure everything that life brings his or her way.
#9. Walking in the Spirit means leading a life of self-control.
A Christian who is able to exercise self-control over the flesh is said to be better than a person who conquers a city. This is according to Proverbs 16:32, which says, ‘He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.’
If you can put the appetites of your flesh under subjection, then you have become invincible, and there is no enticement the devil can use to bring you down. In spite of being hungry, Jesus Christ refused to turn stones into bread under the instruction of Satan. When Satan tried to lure Him by offering the kingdoms of this world, Jesus maintained His stand and refused to bow to the devil.
As a Christian, you are faced with three major enemies of your faith. They include the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). It is through the lust of the eye and the lust of the flesh that one falls into the sin of sexual immorality. It is through the lust of the eye that one falls into the trap of covetousness. It is through the pride of life that one falls into the sin of pride, which puts one at loggerheads with God.
All these can be avoided when a Christian chooses to walk in the Spirit, who helps him or her to exercise self-control in the face of worldly enticements. So choose to yield to the Spirit of God, and victory over flesh will be your portion.
I hope this is helpful. Thank you, and God bless you.
Related article: Fruit of the Spirit-Bible study-download pdf
Dear friend,
Life without Jesus Christ is difficult, if not impossible. That is why it is important to receive Him as your personal savior so that He can help you navigate through life’s challenges successfully.
If right now you are willing to receive Jesus Christ as your savior, that is, to be born again, pray sincerely as follows:
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and hereby ask for your forgiveness.
I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are the only begotten Son of the living God.
I believe that you were sent by your Father to the earth to save sinners like me.
I believe that you died and resurrected in order for me to receive eternal life.
I now accept you as my personal Lord and Savior.
Come into my heart and baptize me with the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for saving me.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen!”
Congratulations friend! You are now a born-again Christian!
Welcome to the family of God!
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My name is Nicodemus. I'm a Kenyan by birth. I got saved over 30 years ago while in high school.
I love studying scriptures in order to enhance my comprehension of God and His plan for mankind.
I have an MBA degree in strategic management and a BSc degree in botany and zoology.
I’m married to a loving lady called Leah. God has gifted us three sons: Wayne, Salem, and Michael.
(cellphone no.: +254 723 753820 or email: nolilo76@gmail.com)
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