ICS Daily Devotions
Be Spiritually Minded
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
We have seen an unprecedented number of divorce cases and abortions in the world today because men are living their lives based on the lust of the flesh and the eyes. The soul is the master of their lives and the sin nature resides within them. When unbelievers begin to allow their mood or emotions to decide over their lives, they can wake up one day and call it quits on their marriage. There is nothing to hold them back because their love is based on a feel-good factor rather than a commitment.
When it comes to Christians, their carnal man may be a new creature and has been born-again but has never developed or grown. This person is born again but never really have his or her mind renewed with the Word. They may have full knowledge of the Word but their lives are unchanged! They may remain in this condition for the rest of their lives and never outgrow the infant stage of their new birth. Their lives are governed by the body and physical senses rather than the spirit. Their thinking and behavior are just like any unbeliever on the street! There isn’t much growth in the inner man! Just like the Apostle Paul says “Are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”
Christians who do not deal with their soul or their flesh are behaving in the same manner or worse than an unbeliever. They are carnal and allow their souls to dictate their lives and acting out in their fleshly desires rather than allowing Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. This causes chaos in their lives.
When they come to the end of themselves, they may start questioning God why He allows them to be hurt deeply in their souls or be in a state of brokenness after they have chosen a lifestyle which is contrary to His word. We need to bear in mind that God will never act contrary to His word. Hence, if a Christian chooses to go against the values and principles of God, he or she will have to pay the price for their choices.
Men fail to understand the natural law that a man reaps what he sows. Even though God has forgiven the sins, it does not mean that the Christians will not reap the effect of what they have sown in their lives.
If we allow our flesh to take control in our lives, a quarrel or fight will erupt in the family. It will be easy to be offended over a remark that your husband or wife make in a conversation. If one continues to pursue the course of getting even more offended, not talking to one another or taking revenge instead, then it is inevitable that the relationship will end. It is not the will of God but reaping what we have sown in the flesh.
John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Life and peace is with the spiritually minded. Let our minds be renewed by the Word daily so that we can submit our will and emotions to the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Sermon series: Inner Man
