Some believers at their time of belief are immediately transformed. An instant change transpires once filled with the Holy Spirit and that believer transforms to a spiritual giant as in Acts 9:17-18). However, for many, there is still a soul struggle at belief. Bondage and addictions still tie them in knots. Perhaps, for many, pure faith is tough. People still struggle in their old ideologies or refuse to let go and let God. That is why in the upcoming Revival in 2020 will start with the children. Their purity in receiving Truth without conflict is their power! The children have also been sufferers of adult perpetrators over years, so God has His hand on them this season and the one to come.
People who hold on to the flesh can never grow spiritually. They have not died to themselves to live unto God. Paul said to them, “I was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshy, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it. But neither yet now are you able, for you are still fleshly. For if there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and do you not walk according to the manner of man?” (1 Cor. 3:1-3).
This is where we have to demarcate between the fleshy believer and the spiritual one in order to know what needs what. There was a recent argument that there is no fleshy believer and that they are not saved if they are still carnal. But the Bible clearly defines them as believers. God gives people time and grace to grow. He doesn’t stand with a hammer on our heads demanding us to change instantly, cannot happen for everyone, though it has for many.
In order to live a spiritual life, we have to discern between emotions and the spirit. Sometimes, we passionately love the Lord in our flesh, but still do whatever we want in direct disregard to the Bible. When a carnal believer is tested by fire, they quickly turn away in the trial of fire. Our question is, were they ever saved? To this, God know the answer, perhaps they will repent and turn to Him in the last moments in their lives.
Fleshy Christians will also carve the Bible to their own desires, rather than being carved by the Bible. They often get very aggressive if anyone speaks the Truth from the Word.
In Corinthians, they were already Christians, but they were not spiritual but of the flesh. Three times in this Book, they were called fleshly.
Thus, as a new believer, when the spirit which lies in our inner most being is renewed and indwelt by the Spirit of God, we are born again. However, this new life in us has to grow outward to greater proportions. A newborn Christian needs a lot more grace and we have to give them that space and time to grow. Condemning them quickly at every turn would only discourage them and some fall down very badly with constant rebuke. This does not mean we aid and abet their weaknesses, but we give them time to learn, grow and finally fly. We never clip their wings in spiritual control, for they will surely be like caged birds, broken in spirit.
The other side of the coin is the old believers can crash fall into the dust if they start operating in the flesh, emotions, mind more than the spirit. Things get stale to them. They stopped receiving the fresh wind, fresh fire, fresh wine and living waters of the Holy Spirit daily. Familiarity is their downfall. We have never arrived and we keep learning. Ours is a daily humble transaction with God, Yeshua, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Rita F. Kurian
These series will be continued…
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