Living by the spirit is a life that is being controlled and influenced by the spirit each day.
Genesis:1.26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule...
This is the begining of man; made in the image and likeness of God, a spirit man with a body. It’s safe to say living by the spirit is a natural habitat for man hence the best place to thrive is to live by the spirit. The word of God says; “If indeed the spirit of God lives in you then you are in the realm of the spirit”( Romans 8:9). Therefore for sake of who we are , we must live according to the spirit and not the flesh( Romans 8:12-13).
Those that live by the spirit have their minds set on things of the spirit and their desires are in tune with that of the spirit( Romans 8:5). What are the desires of the spirit?
Now, the desires of the spirit are opposite that of the flesh. The bible says in Galatians 5:17 ‘ for the flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit’. This means that the desires of the spirit are everything but that of the flesh. Galatians 5:19 gives us a number of things that are against the spirit; all of which are together called “sin”, which means the desires of the flesh does not submit to God. Therefore the desires of the spirit is to submit to God and please him. The one who lives by the spirit pleases God and submits to him; that is life. Living outside the spirit is death.
Son of man, say this to the Isrealites, this is what you are saying; our offences and sins weigh us down and we are wasting away because of them. How can we live? Ezekiel 33:10