Some of the Smartest or Dumbest Christians Alive

“Beyond all the range of human knowledge there are many things “which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man… but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.” However, such truth is revealed by the Spirit only to spiritual Christians. To some who were truly saved the Apostle wrote: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ, I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able” (1 Cor. 3:1, 2). This is a sad disclosure of the state of some believers. Though born again and possessing the Spirit, their carnality of life precludes them from understanding, or progressing in, the “deep things of God.” He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

When fleshly Christian men gain education through the Bible, their lifestyle precludes them from understanding and even progressing in their Christian life. They never attain the knowledge of the “deeper things of God.” When they take the time to look into the Scriptures, they find themselves frustrated and exhausted in their search. But other Spirit led Christians who have no formal education within the Bible will find a life-spring of eternal water. It’s much like drinking from flowing fresh water each time they encounter the Word of God.

Here’s the problem for those who live in the fleshly realm: Those who search, find no new discovery or revelation of truth. When they search the Bible it is either through a sense of duty to read, if they ever pick it up to read. The truth here is not that there is some new pleasure each time the spiritual Christian reads, but to find some new knowledge, or ignorance; obedience or disobedience to understand and correct. It may even be the discovery of a new power, weakness; helpfulness, or hurtfulness in the life and testimony of the one who, because of the indwelling Spirit, might be coming to know and to impart to others something of the boundless truth of God (Chafer).

And the thing is no human intellect can cure this problem or defect. The root problem is the person’s carnality or fleshliness. When it is corrected, the eyes of the heart can now be opened to reveal a new sense of purpose and life which can only be imparted to the one who desires the spiritual life as opposed to a carnal or fleshly life.

Christian growth and the deeper knowledge of the truth are to be distinguished from spirituality. It is possible to be filled with the Spirit when immature in growth, experience and understanding. Christian growth is largely conditioned on the study of the Word, prayer and service; while spirituality does not wait on these things, but is conditioned upon immediate adjustments to the Spirit. Since the Spirit is always our Teacher, it is imperative that we always remain teachable. We should be willing to humbly hear His voice through any and every instrument (Chafer).

To sum it all up is this: We are spiritual when we become God’s (He comes to live in us). This is fact of the saving power of Jesus Christ. Jesus died and made us spiritual when we experienced conversion through the sacrifice on the cross. Whether we decide to grow into understanding that spiritual condition is entirely up to us turning our lives completely over to the Spirit to have His way with our lives each and every day. To do otherwise is to turn to carnality and fleshliness and experiencing frustration with our lives.

Christian, which life appeals here on earth? One with frustration and exhaustion? Or one filled with new truths and joy which can only be imparted through the relationship with Jesus Christ? It’s up to you…

Does Your Spirit Need an Upgrade?

“Yet in these last days when Satan is employing every available issue to confuse and divide the Christian body, to divert their energy and prevent their testimony, there are those who demand a return to Pentecostal manifestations as the only realization of the full ministry of the Spirit. Such professing Christians are bold to condemn the spirituality of saints of all generations who have not accepted their teachings. They are evidently lacking the knowledge and regard for those gifts which in the Scriptures are said to be of primary importance in contrast to lesser gifts. Whatever is done to revive Pentecostal manifestations should be done in view of all that is taught in First Corinthians 14. If God is calling His people to a renewal of all the early manifestations of the Spirit, why is it confined to a little sect, when there are tens of thousands outside the group who are yielded and ready to do His will but are never led into such manifestations? If Satan is using the fact of these early manifestations of the Spirit as an occasion to confuse and divide Christians, all his supernatural power will be displayed and his most subtle deceptions will be imposed to produce what might seem to be the work of God.” He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

We know from Scripture some of the gifts in the Bible no longer are present in this age; “they shall cease” (1 Cor. 13:8). This has nothing to do with the failing spirituality of Christians since the first century era though. Since there is no evidence of such failing spirituality, we must observe their purpose from the beginning. In the early church, it was necessary for God to introduce the Gospel to men and these manifestations were a part of the authentication process of God’s plan. Since that era, the church understood things which were presented through these early manifestation gifts and allowed men to understand God’s plan. Consider such things as the star which appeared over Bethlehem to lead and guide men to the baby Jesus birth site. It did not continue in the sky in the future. It disappeared shortly thereafter. God and Angel’s voices are no longer heard in this era about his conversations with Adam and Eve, the burning bush experience, God’s pleasure at Christ’s baptism, His resurrection, etc. (to name a few). These early manifestations have ceased according to the purpose of God.

When folks tell me about their special gift which is given to them which makes them more spiritual, I wonder what they are on? To take the thought that some might be more spiritual than another as a result of one gift over another is to diminish the presence of the Spirit of God. Not only that; is their version of the Holy Spirit the 2.0 Version? If this is the case, do I need an upgrade? Then if that is so, did God get it wrong from the start? These are all rhetorical questions of course and we know God doesn’t get things wrong. He is perfect; Fact!

And Christian service is not always essential to spirituality. If it is God’s will for us to rest, play, become ill, we are no less spiritual, than if we are at work. In fact every Christian is gifted by what God desires in the life of the believer. Everyone is different and the gifts imparted are such. The hinge point for all this is that the believer’s life is wholly yielded to God. That is the key. A believer who is yielded needs little exhortation because the Spirit is mighty through them and will allow all the power that comes from God to be wielded in the life of the believer. Other Christians who are un-yielded are little changed by human interaction and result in fleshly result. They end up glorifying Satan in their actions for his kingdom and divide the ones who are on God’s.

Remember this in closing today. As Chafer said; “Spirituality is not gained by service; it is unto service.”

The Difference Between a Talent and a Gift Part 2

“It is the Spirit of God doing something, and using the believer to accomplish it; rather than the believer doing something and calling on God for help in the task. It is the ‘work of the Lord’ in which we are to ‘abound.’ According to the Word of God, the Spirit produces Christian service as He produces the graces of Christ in and through the believer. Every faculty of the human instrument will be employed in the work. That human instrument will know what it is to be weary and worn in service. Human energy, however, could never produce the divine results which are anticipated, and the Scriptures jealously contend that true Christian service is a direct ‘manifestation of the Spirit.’” He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

As we arrive upon the celebration of Easter, we celebrate the victory over death that Christ has wrought in us and the resurrection that gives the eternal life of our hope. And as we celebrate this Easter, we should take the time to recognize the great gift of God (His Son Jesus) which purchased a great cost of salvation and the continuing gift left here for us on earth today.

When we come to faith in Christ, we are drawn to salvation through the Word of God. As Paul so eloquently said; “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). This Word of God draws us to salvation, but it also does so much more. The Word of God also produces our Christian service for His kingdom. Did you know that our marching orders are listed with the Bible? Guess where it came from? The Will of God and by the Word of God is it. Each produces supernatural power because it emanates from the presence of God. We must stop and think about this for a minute; if the saving grace of God is enough to secure us heavenly power to overcome death through our salvation in Christ-Jesus, then why doesn’t the grace and power to serve Him produce effective Christian service for many? You see, I think that many Christians live in the realm of the saving power through salvation, but never experience the Christian service that is available to them to tap into effective Christian service. They are happy just knowing they have “fire insurance.” The problem with this style of thinking is the average Christian might as well be raptured as soon as they accept Christ, because they aren’t any good from that point on to the kingdom of God. This is not the plan set out by our Heavenly Father for His children while here on earth. Read the Book. In fact, I’ll take one step further and be so bold as to say that many who act in this behavior prove by their very deeds that that experience of genuine conversion never even occurred.

And the counterfeits are all over the church today. They claim to serve with zeal and over time their energy fails, passion fades, and there attitude about ministry changes to the point where they flat quit or completely disappear. They say, “Well I’m just tired.” I would have to ask this question then; “Where is the source of your energy?” Because the God I know and serve doesn’t get tired and say “I’m done.” He is the ever-present source of help and energy.

Today take a moment and look at your life and see if it is a life which is fueled by the presence of God or by something otherwise. You might be surprised at what you see if you’re honest with yourself and with God. Then we can to begin a life worth living which produces power and genuine Christian service.

The Difference Between a Talent and a God Given Gift

“THE SPIRIT PRODUCES CHRISTIAN SERVICE- Here again, turning from human reason to Bible doctrine, we discover Christian service to be a direct exercise of the energy of the Spirit through the believer. ‘From within him shall flow rivers of flowing water. But this spake he of the Spirit’ (John 7:38, 39, Revised Version). Human energy could never produce ‘living waters,’ and certainly not in ‘rivers.’ This statement is keyed to the Infinite. The human, at best, could be no more than the channel, or instrument, for the divine outflow.” He That is Spiritual, L. S. Chafer.

Our service as Christians depends upon the manifestation of the Spirit’s presence. This is where the outflow of the eternal meets the temporal. When one becomes a Christian, he taps into the eternal presence where not only one day will he/she not only spend an eternity, but power from the eternal here on earth while he/she remains. God has given every born-again believer “works” that each of us are use while we are in here on planet earth. These are determined by the Divine.

The problem here on earth today is there is confusion in the church between what is “man-made talent” and “God-given gifts” which are both employed in the church today. The Bible tells us when a “work” is done here on earth it cannot be called a “good work” until it was foreordained for the individual by the heavenly presence and will of God. Chafer says this, “The discovery of and realization of ‘good works’ is not experienced by all believers, but those who have presented their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God; who are not ‘conformed to this world,’ but are ‘transformed’ (transfigured) by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:1,2).” So, Christian service is the exercise of that “good gift.”

But the Bible’s use of the word “gift” should not be confused with the world’s conception of a “gifted or talented person.” The “gifted person” is someone who is earthly born and can accomplish some things that not everyone can or will through their own power. But this is by their will not that of the indwelling Spirit of God. The Christian who employs his God-given gift utilizes God’s power using the believer to accomplish God’s will. This also means the Christian is calling upon God to help them accomplish that certain task along the way.

When God uses that “good gift” within the believer, it unlocks an endless amount of energy because of the presence of God and who is fueling it. He is the source, not us. Remember what Chafer said above, Human energy could never produce ‘living waters,’ and certainly not in ‘rivers.’ This power we have when fueled by God is not from our earthly efforts, but derived from the source of the “living river.” To do otherwise is to continue to use something downstream which has already been contaminated. I don’t know about you, but I would rather drink from the original source of a river, than from something which has been contaminated along the way. This is where many Christians also are today; they are trying to re-engineer something they have seen in the life of another believer and trying to experience the power as if it were to come from the original source of the supply (the presence of God’s power and gifting).

I leave you with one story: In 2008, my family and I took a trip to Germany along with other family members. As we traveled through Switzerland one day, we ended up staying in a campground at the base of the Alps. One afternoon my wife, daughter, and several other family members took a trip up to the top of the mountain nearby. My son and I took a walk along the valley floor because we all couldn’t afford the trip. After a few hours we came upon a stream coming down the side of the mountain which had cut a hole through the rock all the way to the valley floor. At the base of that valley floor we saw water coming out in to a new stream. We were hot from the walk and began to dip our feet in the water to cool down. The water was just above freezing and hurt our feet so that didn’t take long. We took a small sip of water out of the stream. It was the freshest water I have ever drank in my life. After a few minutes, we filled our water bottles up and continued our walk; but what a refreshing drink. It’s kind of like that when we go to the source; what a refreshing experience!