Keeping step with the spirit IV

Matthew 23 last week we talked about seeing in the spirit. If we only looked at the outside of things we were really blind to the things of God.

What are some of the things or ways that we make ourselves spiritually blind?

• Only looking at the outside or the natural things.
• Having the wrong view point like the men on the road to Emmaus. A natural view point vs. God’s view point through the Word.
• Sin? Walking in the darkness?
• 1 John 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

Luke 14: 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

Luke 17: 20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

Ephesians 1: 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

• the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
• You have to see it on the inside before you will experience it on the outside. Faith in the unseen brings reality on the outside.

| know him better John 17:2-3*

• know the hope
• know inheritance in the saints
• know great power for us who believe
• know the far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given (God)

| NO *knowledge of God (an emptiness, a disconnectedness from your creator, purpose and reason to exist)

• NO Hope, (can’t see anything good in the future)
• NO Inheritance (maybe wealth here but nothing later.)
• NO Power (power of knowledge, power of soul, power of spirit, power of God)
• NO Far above God (afraid that everything is bigger than God)

|

• Know God

• Know the Hope

Devil’s Best Tool, The devil, according to legend, once advertised his tools for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one oddly-shaped tool which was labeled “Not for sale.” Asked to explain why this was, the devil answered, “I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. When I get this tool into a man’s heart, the way is open to plant anything there I may desire.”

• Know the inheritance

What Money Can Buy

A bed BUT NOT sleep. Books BUT NOT brains. Food BUT NOT appetite.

Finery BUT NOT beauty. A house BUT NOT a home. Medicine BUT NOT health.

Luxuries BUT NOT culture. Amusement BUT NOT happiness. A crucifix BUT NOT a Saviour.

A church-pew BUT NOT heaven.

• Know the power of God

The Pope And The Angelic Doctor

The story is often told of how Thomas Aquinas the “Angelic Doctor” once visited Pope. The pope showed him the rich treasures of the Roman church and boasted that “the time has gone when the church was saying, “Silver and gold have I none.” ”

“Yes,” replied the saintly doctor, “and the time has gone when the church could say to the lame man at the temple gate, “Rise up and walk.””

1. Natural = people with out the spirit (Cannot see the kingdom)
1. Get born again!
2. Get to know who God is. Come to and through Christ.
3. Experience a new beginning

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)?

1. Worldly = people who act like natural people
1. 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.

1. 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.

• Know the far above God

One Thing God Can’t Do

A Sunday school teacher was examining her pupils after a series of lessons on God’s omnipotence. She asked, “Is there anything God can’t do?”

There was silence. Finally, one lad held up his hand. The teacher, disappointed that the lesson’s point had been missed, asked resignedly, “Well, just what is it that God can’t do?”

“Well,” replied the boy, “He can’t please everybody.”