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Living in the Spirit vs. Walking in the Spirit

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sonofone:
I think Romans the 8th chapter is a good place to look at Gregor it is where my mind went to when I considered your second post.I hear obedience and following when I consider these verses. It seems that there are only two choices,walk or obey your flesh or carnal nature,or walk or obey the spirit of Jesus Vs 12 -13 says Therefore,brethern,we are debtors,not to the flesh,to live after the flesh.For if if ye live after the flesh,ye shall die: but if ye,through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body,ye shall live.I think that Paul in this chapter was illustrating the difference that Jesus makes in the life of believers in regards to our carnal nature.Through focusing on him we are able to walk after the spirit or obey the spirit while simultaneously mortifying or putting to death the carnal nature. In the larger scope of things I sense a rest as well that Paul is talking about here. Hebrew 4vs 3, 9-11 For we who have believed do enter into rest,as he said or as God has said. There remaineth,therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest,he also hath ceased from his own works,as God did from his.Let us labor,therefore to enter into that rest.The rest my dear friend is the end of works or trying to do what you could not do in and of yourself,the law.Now through Jesus,the spirit we can kill the deeds of the flesh by resting in him.All we have to do is like Peter keep our focus on Jesus by following his lead.Then before you realize it your'e knocking down walls,and leaping over buildings,heck even walking on water!The best part is we are doing all of this while resting.The hard part has already been done.We just follow Jesus lead,which I guess one could argue is easier said than done.But I heard Jesus say Take my yolk upon you and learn of me,for I am meek and lowly in heart,and you shall find REST unto your souls.For my yolk is easy and my burden is light! Matthew 11 29-30What do you think Brother.

Kat:

Hi Gregor,


--- Quote ---Lately I've been pondering what the difference is between just living in the spirit, and walking in the spirit.
--- End quote ---

Living and walking in the spirit, that is what I think of as bearing the fruit of the spirit.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
v. 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

When the Holy Spirit is indwelling it will lead us to resist the pulls of the flesh and in so doing the fruits of the spirit become apparent in the way we live our lives.

Titus 3:14  And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

Luke 6:43  "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
v. 44  For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
v. 45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

It is the Holy Spirit which will guide us by the grace of God (divine influence on the heart) to serve and obey Him.

John 16:13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

So living and walking in the spirit, is bearing the fruit of good works, by the way we think, how we treat others.  But most importantly knowing that God is in control of all things and will do the works He so desire in us.

Eph 3:20  Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Eph 1:11  in whom also we have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will,

mercy, peace and love
Kat

Gregor:
Greetings Sonofone and Kat,

Sonofone,
I like what you've presented. Most of my questions here have originated from Rom.7 & 8. The 'rest' you speak of sounds more like living in the spirit, but walking in the spirit sounds more like the way we labour to enter that rest? To me, being yoked to Jesus implies working in the field and the (light) burden being the cart full of the harvested crop - unlike the heavy plow needed to till the ground. I'm sure the yoked animals didn't run, but probably did a lot of walking together. Spiritually paints a nice picture :)

Kat,
Thanks for the reply. From your response, it sounds like you make no distinction between the two - both mean bearing the fruit of the spirit. I believe the two are symbiotic, but I just have a nagging feeling that God is trying to show me something more in the distinction. Something that did strike me was the phrase you used, "When the Holy Spirit is indwelling it will lead us to resist the pulls of the flesh and in so doing the fruits of the spirit become apparent in the way we live our lives." - apparent to me, to others. Perhaps this relates to the way we reap the harvest: Working together with Jesus, being a light to the world, and persevering till the job's done. It's all coming together.

Rev.12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Wow, there's a really cool relationship developing here (pun intended  ;D ).
Thanks again all.
Your Brother in Christ,
G.

DuluthGA:
Well then G, there's always this:

Rev 20: 4   And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

 ;D

If it weren't for being responsible for my father now, I would long for this honor....  and you?

Best to keep to family matters for the moment too?  I pray for your young, growing family, may God bless.

Whatever He gives us, dear brother in Christ, we do.

 ;)

sonofone:
Gregor,in regards to the yolk that Jesus spoke of have you considered Acts 15 vs 10 in particular.There  were certain men,of the sect of the Pharisees who tested the liberty of the Gentile Christians supposing that they should have to keep the law of Moses.Peter in vs 10 says Now therefore,why put God to the test,to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples,which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? This yoke refers to the law and mans vain attempt to keep it. The contrast is the burden of the Pharisee Jesus spoke of in Matthew 23 vs 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne,and lay them on men's shoulders.This he said in regards to there works.vs 3 he says do not after there works.Jesus yolk is the complete opposite.He makes it doable through him,or his spirit.

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