How
is one able to live the life through or by the Spirit! Is there a law, a
stipulated code by which this is accomplished, or is it a vague, nebulous
ideology with no stipulated guidelines?
Living
and walking in the Spirit, is not something one does haphazardly, or without
any guidelines and stipulations. One can be assured that, it is a well-defined
and stipulated way of life, for we have been instructed saying; “If we live in
the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
Living
and walking in the Spirit therefore, is as practical and realistic as living
and walking in the flesh. And for this reason we have been admonished saying;
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who
do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and
death” (Romans
8:1-2).
To
show how literal and practical it is to live and walk in the Spirit, let us compare
seven of the most integral and essential things that sustain good physical life
to that of the spiritual life which are in contrast to each other.
1. Air
In
like manner, life in the Spirit is sustained by Jesus Christ in whom we all
live and move and have our existence. 'For
we are also His offspring, and most significantly, He living in us and His divine
power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the
knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to
us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these we may be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust, is the most significant aspect of the life in the Spirit
(Acts 17: 28; 2 Peter 1:3-4).
2. Water
Water
is the second most essential ingredient that supports and sustains physical
life, and in like manner, the blood of Jesus Christ in the form of wine, is the
second most important ingredient that supports and sustains the life which is
in accordance to the Spirit. For this is what Jesus Christ in whom we live and
move and have our existence said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat
the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever
eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at
the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who
eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:53-56).
The
early disciples understood the significance of this aspect of the life in the
Spirit, for we are have been instructed saying; “And they continued steadfastly
in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in
prayers.” This was later clarified by the apostle Paul who wrote: “I speak as to
wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless,
is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it
not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and
one body; for we all partake of that one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:15-17).
3. Food
Food
is the third most significant contributor in sustaining and supporting the
physical life, and in like manner, the body of Jesus Christ represented by the
unleavened bread is synonymous to food in the life which is in accordance to
the Spirit. For thus says the Lord, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did
not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from
heaven: For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to
the world…. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the
wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, which
one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from
heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that
I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." (John 6:32-33,
48-51).
4. Sleep/rest
Sleep
and rest is the fourth most significant aspect in sustaining and supporting this
physical life, in like manner, prayer and fasting is the fourth most integral
part of the life which is in accordance to the Spirit. Recall Jesus’ prayer in the
garden called Gethsemane, when He said to the disciples, "Sit here while I
go and pray over there." Later, He came to the disciples and found them
sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch
and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak" (Matthew
26:36, 40-41).
While
in the physical life the body requires rest and sleep to rejuvenate the body,
in the life in the Spirit, one requires prayer and fasting to rejuvenate it.
5. Exercise
The
fifth most essential element in sustaining the physical life is exercise, which implies repeated use of mental or
physical powers to develop strength, health and energy, doing it regularly develops
skills or gain perfection. In like manner, bible study is the fifth most
significant aspect of the life which is in accordance to the Spirit. And so, we
have been admonished to “Study to present yourself approved to God, a worker
who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
In
addition to this, the growth and development of the new man is through the
knowledge according to the image of Him who created us.
To
this end, the life which is in accordance to the Spirit is as literal and
practical as the life which is in accordance to the flesh and both utilize the
same instrument or medium to accomplish their purpose which is our human body.
To be continued.
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