The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman
The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman
Every person that has ever contemplated the subject of life and death, the meaning of life, and eternal destiny and has chosen faith in Christ as the route he/she desires to walk has found him/herself in a constant struggle. On the one hand there is the deep desire to do what is right according to the will of God as we read it in the Bible and on the other hand there is that desire within us that wants to do what we want to do which often means violating God's will. We have two states of mind it seems living within us. The one is the mind of the flesh, we might say of the natural man as he exists without God in his life, while the other is that of the spiritually minded individual to whom God deeply matters.
Which mind set shall prevail? Does it matter? The Bible teaches it is a matter of life and death. Hear Paul, "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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." (Rom. 8:5-9 ESV)
To set the mind on the flesh (the things of this life and of the fleshly body) we are told is death. Now why is that so? Because, Paul says, such a minded person does not submit to God's law. But, we might ask do we not live in a fleshly body? Yes, we do, but God our creator put us here for a purpose and that purpose was not to live like the rest of the dumb animals of creation who live by instinct. We were created with a nobler purpose in mind and with the idea of living eternally with God and not just for living a brief span of years on earth like a dog. We are better than that.
When God created man he said, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness." (Gen. 1:26 NKJV) Only man was created in the image of God. Jesus said of man in John 10:34, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, 'You are gods.' ' " (NKJV) I am not going to try and tell you what Jesus meant by that statement other than to say it indicates we are not to live like animals. We are to be better than that. Then Paul says, speaking to Christians, "we shall judge angels." (1 Cor. 6:3 NKJV) That is a pretty high standing.
We were put here to glorify God. "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." (Isa. 43:7 NKJV) The sin of the world after God made man could be summed up by saying, "although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Rom. 1:21 NKJV) This led to all types of specific sins a result of the state of their minds and hearts.
Jesus said in his prayer to the Father, "I have glorified you on the earth." (John 17:4 NKJV) That is our job as well. The only way God can be given glory by man is by obedience. That would include thanksgiving, worship, praise, teaching, giving to the needy, etc. but it can all be summed up in one word obedience. Disobedience to God does not bring God glory but dishonors him as God and as the ruler of humanity. Disobedience is sin.
We might ask why God gave us fleshly bodies that desire the things of the flesh rather than spiritual things. That seems to me to be a fairly easy question to answer. Our bodies give us free will. Created as say a robot versus as a man how could God receive glory from an object that had no free will, no feelings, and no ability to think, reason, or choose? I don't think you are going to go trade your wife or husband off on a robot and say you can find the same kind of love and happiness with it as you do with your spouse. We love our spouse in part because they had free will in choosing us as a life partner. They did not have to do that. So, I think, it is with God. When we choose God it means something to him and he does care about us.
Where does the mind of the flesh lead a man if a man is fleshly minded? Paul gives a list of things that flow from such a state of mind in Gal. 5:19-21, "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." (ESV) Another list is given in 1 Cor. 6:9-10, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (ESV) Actually, any and every sin would fit into the category of being a work of the flesh for what would the alternative be as far as giving it a classification? We could not say it is a spiritually minded work.
But, the point I want to make is that every one of us is tempted by sin. "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (James 1:14-15 NKJV) Paul says, "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." (Gal. 5:17 NAS) Again he writes, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man." (1 Cor. 10:13 NKJV) So, that is the fix we find ourselves in even after becoming Christians. We begin the Christian life spiritually minded enough or else we could not have become a Christian but unless we die almost immediately thereafter here comes temptation for that is the nature of this world. How do we remain spiritually minded in order that we might have life and peace as taught in Rom. 8:6?
Before answering that I think we need to realize that we will never succeed 100 percent. John says, speaking to Christians, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9 NKJV) Remember when Peter and Barnabas refused to eat with the Gentiles in Gal. 2:11-13 thus sinning? Always remember why much of the New Testament was written to straighten out sin in the lives of Christians (1 Corinthians being the best example).
I have brought these things up for one reason to warn us all not to despair and be overcome by discouragement in our life when we sin or fall. A Christian, by the grace of God, may have to get up and dust himself off more than once or twice in his/her life. One Christian writer I admire a great deal from the late 1800's through the early 1900's made the comment that he doubted any Christian ever lived a single day without committing a sin. Whether that is true or not I cannot know (for me I pretty much think the brother got it right but for you I cannot say) but it is certainly closer to the truth than is the idea we seldom or never sin. I remind the reader Jesus taught that even evil thoughts are sin Matt. 15:19-20. Have you had any of those lately?
Nevertheless, always remember what Jesus told Peter when Peter asked how many times he should forgive his brother if his brother sinned against him. Peter I suspect thought he was being generous by saying 7 times but what did Jesus say in response? "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matt. 18:22 NKJV) Jesus was thus saying there is really no end to forgiving and was certainly implying God would likewise forgive us no matter how many times we need forgiveness just as long as we repent, confess our sins to him, and are willing to give it another full faith effort. So, never ever give up in despair. Never!
How does one maintain as state of spiritual mindedness? One Old Testament character that stands out as being deeply spiritual minded was Daniel. One of the first statements you will read about Daniel with respect to his godly character as you start the book of Daniel is found in chapter 1 verse 8 where it says, "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies." (Dan. 1:8 NKJV) The only aspect of this verse that concerns us is the phrase that "Daniel purposed in his heart." If one is going to pursue any course in life with success he/she has to first purpose in his/her heart that that is the way it is going to be. Purposing in your heart gives you direction and motivation. There is no point in starting a diet or exercise program, enrolling in college or a training program, or doing anything else unless you have first firmly purposed in heart to see the thing through.
As this relates to becoming spiritually minded on a daily basis this means you have to determine in your heart that that is the way it is going to be. Things do not happen by accident. If you want to be a spiritually minded person you must prepare to be one and work toward that end. Unfortunately, many Christians never develop spiritually beyond what they were on the day of their conversion. They were as spiritually minded as they would ever become on that day. They gradually grow lukewarm and indifferent. What happened?
One likely thing was that they died or became stunted due to spiritual starvation. Peter says of a new born Christian, "desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:2 NKJV) It is impossible to maintain spiritual mindedness in the absence of spiritual food. Tuck your Bible away for 6 months (an arbitrary number to make a point) and do not use it and I promise you spiritual mindedness will be fleeing away from you. You can forget spiritual growth. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63 NKJV) The words of God are spirit. Paul said, "These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches." (1 Cor. 2:13 NKJV)
Spiritual mindedness does not come in the work place, the fitness club, the golf course, in attendance at school activities, on family outings, etc. It comes with reading and studying and contemplating on the words of the Spirit the words of the Bible with the thoughts developed therein.
This takes us back to the first point made you have to purpose in your heart you are going to be faithful in reading the word of God and not just do it in the spare moments you have. Just as in exercise or fitness training there is no such thing as reaching your goal without a commitment to do it so it is with becoming a regular reader and student of God's word. A growing knowledge and understanding of God's word is essential to a growing spiritual mindedness in our lives.
But, back to Daniel a spiritually minded man. The Bible teaches that Daniel was a praying man. "And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days." (Dan. 6:10 NKJV) It is impossible to be a spiritually minded person if one does not have a prayer life. Quit praying or only give it a few seconds to a very few minutes a day and again you are destroying spiritual mindedness rather than building it. One cannot pray to God without thinking about God (spiritual mindedness).
Daniel kept good company. The apostle Paul said, "Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." (1 Cor. 15:33 ESV) The Good New Bible puts it this way, "Do not be fooled. "Bad companions ruin good character." (GNB) Daniel had 3 good friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego who like Daniel were godly men. These men refused to worship the golden image set up by Nebuchadnezzar and as a consequence were cast into the furnace of fire from which God miraculously rescued them (Dan. 3). If one desires to be a godly person and develop spiritual mindedness in his/her life he or she needs the companionship of like minded people. "Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." (Heb. 10:24-25 NKJV)
There is an old saying to the affect that we ought to choose our friends wisely and there is much truth in that adage. Become close friends with the wrong kind of people and you will destroy spiritual mindedness. Parents are always concerned about their children's friends having the right kind of friends. We ought to be as concerned as adults about who we choose as close friends.
These are just some of the things that have come to mind as I have thought on this subject for some time. I am sure you could probably add to this short list I have given in the last few paragraphs. But I want to make a very important point in closing actually the reason for writing the article itself. It scares me to death to see so many Christians just taking spiritual growth and spiritual mindedness for granted.
Many it seems take spiritual growth and the development of spiritual mindedness like they do physical growth and development. Physical growth and development will occur whether you do anything or not but it is not that way in the spiritual realm of life. You have to make a commitment and an ongoing effort or else you will do nothing more than grow old and die like the rest of mankind who live for the flesh, for the things of this life and this physical body. How will you differ from the mass of humanity unless you commit to the development of the spiritual side of your life? Paul says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Rom. 12:2 NKJV)
It is certain the development of spiritual mindedness is not like turning on a light. You cannot just flip a switch. So many think they can turn everything around in their life in a moment of time, just as soon as they will to do so. The trouble is finding "the will to do so." That will is no light switch and is far harder to turn on. Live with a fleshly mind long enough and you may find it personally impossible to turn your life around lacking the will to do it.
"To be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Rom. 8:6 NKJV) "To set the mind on the flesh is death." (Rom. 8:6 ESV) I think we all know whether or not we are spiritually minded. It is not a hard thing to know. Do thoughts of God and his word enter your mind frequently or not? Do you have a strong desire to know and do God's will? Spiritual mindedness is a pretty easy thing for the individual to measure within himself. The free will God has given us means we can become the kind of man or woman we desire to be. I hope we will all strive for spiritual mindedness. It really is a matter of pure choice.
http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/the-struggle-to-be-a-spiritually-minded-man-or-woman-2790767.html
Looking For Single Black Women And Men At Black Dating Web-sites The Good Man Jesus And The Scoundrel Christ Please My Wife - Discover The Secrets Every Man Should Know! Should I Take Back The Man Who Cheated On Me? Here's Some Insights To Help You Decide Review Of The Company Men Movie 2011 Part 8 Online Watch The Company Men Movie 2011 Part 3 Watch Online Free The Company Men Movie Part 4 Watch The Company Men Online Free Movie Part 5 Online Free The Company Men Movie Part 6 Watch The Company Men Movie 2011 Review Online Part 7 Tale coming from a Man with Herpes Why Letting a Man Go May Be the Key to Getting Him Back - How To Save Your Relationship! Steal Your Man Back From The Woman Who Stole Him From You