What Happens if You Are Just Watching Instead of Walking in the Holy Spirit?
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I’ve often asked myself, “Am I truly walking in the Spirit, or am I just standing on the sidelines, observing?” The difference between watching and walking in the Holy Spirit is like the difference between hearing a great piece of music and dancing to it. There’s a distinct call in Scripture for believers to be actively engaged in their spiritual journey, not merely passive observers. But what happens when we are just watching? What consequences arise when we aren’t fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s leading in our daily lives?
Being a Spectator in the Spiritual Life
Watching without walking often looks like knowing about God but not truly experiencing Him. We may read our Bibles, go to church, and even pray regularly, but if we are not filled with the Holy Spirit and walking in His power, our faith becomes shallow. Jesus warns against this in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
It is possible to know about God but not be in tune with the Spirit. This creates a faith that’s distant, theoretical, and powerless. James 1:22 urges us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Just listening to God’s Word without acting on it doesn’t lead to transformation. In essence, we are called not to be spiritual spectators but to actively participate in God’s work.
The Importance of Walking in the Spirit
Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” When we walk in the Holy Spirit, we invite Him to guide our decisions, shape our thoughts, and produce fruit in our lives. Walking is a continuous action—meaning it’s an ongoing process, not something we do once and forget. If we’re only watching, we risk being controlled by our flesh, which leads us into sin, as Paul explains in Romans 8:5-6: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”
The evidence of walking in the Spirit is seen in the fruit we bear—“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). These are characteristics that can only be cultivated through an active, intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Watching from the sidelines, on the other hand, produces little to no fruit because it lacks real engagement.
The Dangers of Spiritual Apathy
When we settle into just watching, we become spiritually apathetic. Jesus cautioned against this in Revelation 3:15-16, speaking to the church in Laodicea: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Lukewarmness is a dangerous place to be. It represents a life where we know what God desires from us, but we’re not willing to step into that fully.
Spiritual apathy can creep in when we become content with doing the bare minimum—going through the motions of faith without truly living it. We can be busy doing religious things but miss out on the fullness of life in the Spirit. A passive Christian life leads to stagnation and spiritual dryness.
God’s Desire for Active Faith
God desires for us to have a faith that is alive and active. James 2:17 reminds us that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” This doesn’t mean that we earn our salvation through works, but it does mean that a true, Spirit-filled life will naturally produce action. Jesus Himself modeled this kind of active faith. He was constantly moving, healing, teaching, and ministering, led by the Spirit. We are called to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6).
What Walking in the Spirit Looks Like
To walk in the Spirit is to live in a constant state of reliance on God. It means surrendering our plans, thoughts, and actions to His will. Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us this instruction: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Walking in the Spirit requires a few key disciplines:
Prayer: Regular and earnest prayer opens our hearts to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.”
Bible Study: The Word of God is a guide for our walk. Psalm 119:105 tells us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Obedience: When we hear the Spirit’s prompting, we must act on it. John 14:15 says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
Fellowship: Walking in the Spirit often happens in community with other believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 urges us to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”
The Blessings of Walking in the Spirit
The rewards of walking in the Holy Spirit are many. As we walk with Him, we experience deep peace, joy, and contentment. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Not only does walking in the Spirit bring personal blessing, but it also allows us to be vessels of God’s love to others. When we are actively walking in the Spirit, we become instruments of God’s grace, love, and power. We can fulfill the Great Commission and bring the light of Christ into a dark world.
Moving from Watching to Walking
If you’ve found yourself just watching instead of walking, it’s not too late to start. God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), and He invites us daily to walk with Him. Let’s not be content to merely watch others grow in their faith while we stay stagnant. Instead, let’s pursue an active, Spirit-filled life, trusting that as we walk in the Spirit, we will bear much fruit and experience the fullness of God’s presence.
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