Have you ever seen a born again child of God live and walk according to the patterns of this world? I am sure you have. The Bible says we are in the world but we are not of it, we don’t belong to the world. We are of God.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2
The Apostle Paul is talking to the believers in Rome. He says don’t become like the people of this world – imitating the ideals and the opinions of the culture around you. One translation says don’t be shaped by this world – copying the behaviour and the customs of this world. Don’t be poured into the mould of the world’s present thinking, value systems and conduct. As believers we are not to be living accordingly to the patterns of the world. We live according to the systems and patterns of the God’s kingdom of light.
“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19
The Holy Spirit doesn’t want any believer to live according to the ways of the world. He took us out of the world system, not so that we would again live according to it. There is nothing good in the worldly systems because Satan is the god of this world and it’s end is self destruction. The Bible quite clearly tells us that the world comprises of just three things, that’s all there is in the world – that is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. This doesn’t come from the Father. The Word also says one who becomes a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Now seriously I don’t want to be an enemy of God, do you? Every believer must refuse to be worldly and make a sincere effort o become a spiritual believer.
Let me share a few reasons why a believer remains worldly?
1. Lack of spiritual perspective.
A believer who has no awareness of the spiritual realm remains carnal. He or she has only a physical natural perspective towards life. For them, life is about the five physical senses. ‘There is nothing beyond the five physical senses’ is what they say.
“while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Corinthians 4:18
The Apostle Paul says we don’t look at the things which are seen but at the things that are not seen. His focus was on the invisible spiritual realm. You must be aware of the spiritual realm. We must live in the physical realm from the spiritual realm. Think about this, you are a spirit being living in a physical human body.
“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3
The spiritual realm is more real than the physical realm in fact the physical realm came out of the spiritual realm. Therefore the spiritual realm dominates the natural physical realm. You must be very much aware of the spiritual realm and the laws that govern it.
2. Lack of desire to grow spiritually.
No one can grow spiritually unless the person has the desire to grow. Without desire, growth is not possible.
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” I Peter 2:2
Once you become born again, you must desire to grow spiritually. Pursuit is superficial if there is no burning desire. If the desire is genuine, you will face and overcome all obstacles in order to progress in your spiritual growth. Wise people make their spirit strong. Check these verses.
“So the child (John the Baptist) grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.” Luke 1:80
“And the Child (Jesus Christ) grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” Luke 2:40
“Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 9:21-22
A believer remains carnal or worldly because he has no desire for spiritual growth. Jesus, John the Baptist and Apostle Paul had burning desire to grow spiritually and therefore they made their spirit strong.
3. Taking spiritual things lightly.
Another important reason why a believer remains carnal – taking spiritual things lightly. Give weight to godly and spiritual things – it can be reading your Bible, spending time with Jesus, going to church or making yourself available to listen the teachings of the word. Never take spiritual exercises lightly.
“lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:16
Esau sold his birthright for a morsel of food. Compromising spiritual things. Choosing temporary things over spiritual eternal things. Anyone who doesn’t value spiritual things will be quick to do what Esau did. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli the High Priest took spiritual things lightly and played with the people of God and their offerings. In the New Covenant, Ananias and Sapphira lightly esteemed the Spirit of God, the man of God and the people of God.
Have great honour and reverence for the Spirit of God. Honour His servants greatly. Give great adoration to His Word. Take God and everything that is connected to Him extremely seriously. If you do, you won’t remain a worldly believer.
4. Wrong Teaching.
In order to grow, you must eat right and eat healthy. For spiritual growth, you must receive the right teaching. Wrong teaching hinders growth.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15
If the Word can be rightly divided then it also can be wrongly divided. If you are listening to the wrongly divided Word then you won’t be able to grow spiritually. There are teachings out there which are influenced by cunning and clever strategies to lead innocent believers astray. Such teachings are not for your edification rather it is to lead you astray.
“Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray.” Ephesians 4:14 GW
Test the teachings. Does it magnify Jesus? Does it bring freedom or does it result in bondage? Does it reveal word principles? Is it word based? Does it focus on sin, Satan and flesh or does it focus on finished works of Jesus Christ? Ask these questions and if you don’t find the right answers, it is time to find the right God ordained teachers. Remember unless you are taught right, you cannot grow spiritually.
5. Refusal to change their thinking.
When you receive the right teaching, you have a responsibility to write down those teachings and meditate on them.
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalms 1:2
Unless your thinking changes nothing changes. Take time to think deeply on the teachings that you have received. As you do, your thinking pattern will change and you will develop a word mindset. If you don’t do your part of thinking deeply on what you have been taught, you will remain a carnal believer.
6. Wrong associations.
The wrong company can make a believer spiritually dry. You become the company you keep. As believers we must question seriously the associations we keep. You can be an on-fire believer but if you continue to hang around with spiritual dry believers, it will just be a matter of time that you will lose all your spiritual zeal and passion.
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20
“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”” I Corinthians 15:33
Choose your close friends wisely – friends that love the Lord and honour His Word. People who love His presence and honour His anointed servants – let those be the ones you surround yourself with. Your fire and zeal for the Lord will never dry up.
7. Lack of personal fellowship with Jesus in His Word and with His presence.
Lastly one of the primary reasons a believer remains carnal is because he doesn’t give time for his personal fellowship and intimacy the lover of his soul, Jesus Christ.
“Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?” Ecclesiastes 4:11
I like the question of the author, How can one be warm alone? You cannot be spiritually warm unless you have a strong daily intimacy with the Lord. Remember He is the Source, we are the recipients of His supply. Without Him, none of us will ever have any spiritual fervour.
““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:5-6
Anyone who refuses to abide in Him will be withered. In simple words, will dry up. What does a withered branch look like? Well, there is no interest in spiritual things because worldly and fleshly things have gained ascendency. Spiritual and godly things seem boring and unproductive. Stay deeply and intimately connected to Jesus, you will glow with His glory and shine with His marvellous light.
You are victorious in Christ!
Your Victorious Life 