Keeping step with the spirit III

We have been talking about being led by the Spirit.

Spiritual, what does that mean? Is that something strange and abnormal? Absolutely not! The Bible is clear on this subject that the spiritual world is more real than the natural one that we see.

John 3: 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

1 Corinthians 2: 9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

V:14 /(Message translation) The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics.

1 Corinthians 3: 1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men (men without the spirit)?

There are three types of people in the world today.

Natural = people with out the spirit
Worldly = people who act like natural people
Spiritual = People led by the spirit of God

Only the Spiritual man can meet with God! There are things about the spirit and about God that you can only know through the spirit. Things that ONLY born again people can understand and receive.

There are people all over the world, in Prague and the Czech Republic that are searching for the real thing, a real God. I don’t believe that people are atheists; I believe that is a good excuse to keep the religious fakers away till they find the real thing.
What about other ways to God than Christianity.

There are many ways, but not to God.

There are concepts of discipline, serving, spirituality, prayer, meditation, selflessness, etc…in most religions.
But Jesus said…

John 6: 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 10: 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 14: 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 17: 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

All other religions are about going to God. Christianity is about God coming to us.

Natural = people with out the spirit

Get born again! #. Get to know who God is. Come to and through Christ.
Experience a new beginning

Worldly = people who act like natural people

Are you not acting like mere men (men without the spirit)?

i. Not ready for adult things (food, blessing, responsibilities)

ii. Time to grow up

Hebrews 5: 11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Spiritual = People led by the spirit of God

John 16: 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

a. Time in his word

b. Time in prayer

c. Obedience to the Love command