Our Triune Being (Part 3)
Our Triune Being (Part 3)
Introduction: A few weeks ago we began as series of lessons dealing with the importance of learning to following the lead of the Holy Spirit in our life. We discussed the fact that we are a triune being: you are a spirit, you have a soul, and at present you live in this body of flesh.
And the last time we talked a little about each part; about….
– How the body of flesh has a strong influence up us, always seeking comfort, pleasure, wanting to be pleased and pampered, never wanting to experience pain or discomfort, wanting what it wants when it wants it, even if what it wants is not necessarily the best thing for it in the long run.
– In essence our soul is WHO we are; our identity, our personality, the seat our emotions. It determines what we want, and what we think and what we feel, and ultimately makes the decision as to what we do and don’t do.
– We have a soul, but we are a spirit. Our spirit is not who we are, but rather it is what we are. Just like God is a spirit, in essence, we too are a spirit created in His image and likeness with our own individual soul.
And as a Christian, after we were cleansed in the waters of baptism, we read that God’s own Spirit, which is totally Holy, came into us. He not only helps us and teaches us, He also kinda put a seal on us or branded us claiming us as His own. (2 Cor. 1:21-22 & 5:5, Eph. 1:13, 4:30)
God’s own Spirit teaches us and gives us revelation (or reveals thing to us) or gives us intuition concerning things that we may not otherwise understand, know or perceive in our mind of flesh. (Eph 3:16)
The flesh is selfish and only thinks of itself which can effect decisions we make, whereas the spirit is more in tune with God and His will for our life.
Initially most of us listen to or go along with what our flesh wants. But then as we learn to listen to our spirit, which is influenced by the Spirit of God, we’ll choose to deny self and do God’s will even though the flesh and our mind of flesh may seek to do something completely different. It is a issue of maturity.
Think of a young child. They want what they want when they want it. And if they don’t get what they want they scream and cry and pout. Why? Because young children are very selfish and self centered and want to be comforted and pampered, and humored, and treated like they are the only one that matters.
Unfortunately some never grow out of this stage. But those who are mature realize that living life is not meant to be all about what they want all the time. The more we mature in Christ, we begin to realize that God has a unique mission and plan for us as individuals. And the more we learn to listen to God and the more we obey His will and do the things He wants us to do, the more we find our self walking in the spirit, which give us more peace in our life.
But I’m here to tell you today that you are never going to walk in the spirit if we don’t start listening to the Spirit.
As Christians most of us know that God speaks to us through His word which can be read in the Bible. We read that the word of God in the Bible is not only directly inspirited by God’s Spirit, but those words are also active and alive. They can change lives and can fully equip us for every good work. Why? How? Because the words are ‘Spirit filled’ and when they come in contact with our spirit, our spirit perks up its ears and comes to life, & they convict us.
But that’s not true of our flesh. More likely than not, our flesh cringes at what God’s word tells us and it does not want to follow God’s word, because it may involve change, denying self, or doing something uncomfortable and or new, or it may even involve persecution in some form.
How many you know that your flesh has a mind of its own? It doesn’t always agree with what God wants you to do, does it? As a matter of fact it rarely if ever agrees with what God want it to do. (Romans 8:1-17)
God not only uses His written word to teach, convict, and guide us, God also teaches, convicts, counsels, and guides our spirit directly. He speaks to our conscious; He gives us intuition or revelation into some things. There are some wonderful things that will happen if we begin to live intuitively (or more by that inward witness or that small voice we hear deep inside us).
How many people would have a happier life if they would stop doing things that they don’t have peace about? I believe we intuitively know what to do and what not to do. I believe we just know inside more than we’d like to admit.
How often do you get solutions to your problems or advice on what to do because you just have this feeling deep down in your gut. We just seem to know things about people we never met. Sometimes we know who we should stay away from, or when to buy something or when not to, or when to say something to someone or when not to.
And the more we mature in the Lord, and begin to grow up in God, the more we begin to know what is right, and what will please Him. We begin to recognize the difference between God’s will and what is simply a selfish desire of our own flesh.
Romans 8:6 makes reference to that fact that our mind can focus on what carnal (or of the flesh), or it can focus on what the spirit wants. What do you find yourself listen to more, your flesh or your spirit?
It was a problem that the Apostle Paul had to deal with as he wrote to the early churches. Listen to what he writes to the 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still 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 humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?”
Col. 1:9-10 “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives”
I cannot over emphasize the importance of listening to that small voice that keeps whispering to you from your spirit to do what is right and good and what would be pleasing to God. I know how hard this can be at times.
Examples: There are quite literally thousands of examples of this I could share with you. They question is, who or what are you going to listen to?
-Maybe when you start to get in a heated discussion something inside tells you to button your lip when you think about saying something harsh or mean. But your flesh wants to blast them with both guns! Who do you listen to?
– Or when you see somebody drop something and something inside tells you that you should probably help that person and pick it up. (the flesh says no..)
– Or maybe someone pulls in front of you on the road or makes some other kind of mistake and mouths ‘sorry’ and something inside tells you forgive them and just brush it off. (But your flesh says wave you fist and curse them out)
– Or when the cashier at a store gives you too much change back, or forgets to charge you for an item and that voice tells you to speak up and let them know. (but your flesh say no, just smile and walk out the door.. you deserve it)
– Or when that small voice tells you that you should spend more quality time with your spouse, your parent or even with your kids. (but you flesh makes up excuses about how busy or tired you are)
– Or maybe you are responsible for being someplace at a certain time; maybe an appointment, maybe at work, maybe even at church and that little voice lets you know that you should do your best to get there a few minutes early rather than a get there late so you won’t be a distraction to others or get some upset. (but you flesh always has a reason or will justify why its ok for you to be late)
– Or maybe a small voice is telling you that maybe it’s time to start putting a little more in the collection plate because God has bless you more.
– Or maybe a little voice tells you that you should not be hanging around certain people or watching certain TV shows, or going to certain events, or maybe even that you should get a new job because it’s not where you are meant to be. – Or maybe that little voice tells you that you need to start exercising, and watching what you eat because you are not only getting older but you are getting fat.
– Or that little voice let you know that you really should start reading your Bible a little more each day and pray more….
And the list of things can go on and on and it will be as unique as we are individuals. Your flesh is going to say, ‘No, I don’t feel like doing those things. I’m tired! That’s not what I want to do, it’s such an inconvenience, such a bother. I want to do what I want to do!’
Actually this is a list of some things that I have had to deal with. But maybe I mentioned something here in my list that ruffled your feathers, maybe hit a little too close to home because maybe it not the first time you’ve heard it. Maybe the spirit has brought this to your attention a few times already in the past and so now you are sensitive to the spirits counsel and feel the pains of Him trying to convict you to do what is right. Who are you going to listen to?
In I Thessalonians 5 the Apostle Paul warned those early Christians by saying, “Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies (or teaching) with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.”
How do you know or test what you hear, what is coming up from deep down inside. How do you know whether it is God’s will for you or it’s coming from your own selfish desires or even if it’s from the devil himself?
The only way I know is to compare it to what you know from God’s word. Something from God will never have you do something sinful, evil, mean or hurtful to others. Paul said to reject anything evil but to hold on to what is good.
My advice to you today is this: When you hear that small voice coming into your head from somewhere, don’t be quick to brush it aside. It may be trying to save you from a lot of heart ache and pain. It may be helping you do the right thing, the best thing, even what God wants you to do so that you can have peace.
Usually the sooner you do what God tells you to do the more peace you have in your spirit. Keep putting it off and you just don’t feel right.
But also, be wise. If that voice tells you do something evil, or bad, reject it immediately and ask God what you should do. I am convinced He will let you know.
I’d like to close by reading again what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian Church in Galatians 5:16-26 (NLT)
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. (NLT)
(Sermon series based on material produced by J. Myers)
For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566
All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com
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