Spiritually Minded

2 Corinthians 4:8-18

Let’s look first back at 1 Corinthians 2:9–15 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” ...........

John 4:19–26 “The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”

What is the Spirit or Spiritual.......God is invisible....Colossians 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” .......

This is pretty pointed......God is invisible to the physical and material nature of man.....John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” ..........John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (born again or born from above)........What does this all mean?.........If we are seeking God from an earthly perspective then we will not find Him.......Only inwardly, from the heart, that God can see! What God sees cannot be hidden. In the heart is where the relationship is real/genuine or not. You can fake outward stuff (good works), you can mimic gifts........1 Corinthians 13:1–3 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

It is the inward, not the outward that matters! We can do good to try and makes us right, ultimately that is not heartfelt! It is more about us than it is the one we are helping.....I can do all those things and if there is not love, then it profits nothing!

To understand, to see Jesus, to worship God, is not a outward effort it is an inward faith, it is the knowledge that it is in spirit and in truth......

We then go back to 2 Corinthians 4 and we see Paul writing that the outward is dying, but the inward is renewed, by the Holy Spirit!

If you read God’s Word and you are looking into God, materially or physically, you will never get the truth! You will be stuck!

God does tell us to pray and I believe that He calls for us to pray for our spiritual well-being more than the outward. Calling on God for the outward help is not ineffectual, but if that is the only reason you are seeking Him, then you have a wrong view of God!

Nothing is impossible with God, that is true and I believe it with all my heart, but the physical situation is not our ultimate desire, it is God through Christ is our ultimate!......John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” ......I believe that is dealing with anything, but the heart of the matter is in His Name, this is being devoted to His Will! That is where the crux of the matter is, “in My Name” that is that God is the desire of our hearts!

Now, let’s look at the issues.......4 different issues of life Paul uses to show that his weakness did not cripple him, but actually strengthened him

The attacks against Paul was actually against Jesus and they were endless......John Macarthur said that Through Paul’s weakness, Christ was put in display.......Paul’s suffering was a badge of his loyalty to Christ.

We are always delivered unto to death for Jesus sake....so that death (physical) works in us, but life works in you (Spiritual)

We know that we will be raised to everlasting life, because of the work of Christ......therefore we do not lose heart!

Do Not Lose Heart!!!!!!