Spiritual ManSpiritual ManUnderstanding the Spirit within the BelieverUnderstanding the Spirit within the Believer

Dr. Kenneth Jones

Why is this Important?Why is this Important?• Understanding Who you are, How you were created, and

Why Impacts your Choices, Your Decisions, and Your Environment

• Many times, I realize that I am ‘Out of Nature” when I observe the environment I have placed myself in

“God placed man in the Garden because of who he was, but expelled man because of what he became”

• You were fearfully and wonderfully made for a godly purpose and eternal destiny

There is no more wonderful work of God in the whole universe than a human being.

Refer to the Owner’s ManualRefer to the Owner’s Manual• Much of what Man is experiencing today is because he is

constantly in search of who he is

• Evolution Teaches that Man and the Universe “Evolves” and is constantly “Evolving: on its own negating the need for a Creator

• However, this does not explain the intricate nature of man as compared with all other living beings

• To truly Understand Who You are, Your Purpose, Your Destiny, you must refer to the Owner and the Owner’s Manual

Three States of ManThree States of Man• Natural – 1st Corinthians 2:4 – Receiveth not the things

of God– Natural man - the sensuous nature with its subjection to appetite and passionNatural man - the sensuous nature with its subjection to appetite and passion– The natural man is unregenerate man, unsaved man.The natural man is unregenerate man, unsaved man.

• Carnal – 1st Corinthians 3:1-4: “Are you not carnal and walk as men (disconnected from God’s Spirit)

– Carnal - governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God Carnal - governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God – Carnal - the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from Carnal - the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from

divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God

• Spiritual - one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God

– relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ and serves as his instrument or organ

A Matter of GovernanceA Matter of GovernanceEach state of man is governed by Each state of man is governed by somethingsomething

•The Natural Man is governed by Rebellion The Natural Man is governed by Rebellion (Proverbs 17:11)(Proverbs 17:11)

– The Things of God are foolishness to him because he has no desire to do them

– He rejects God (Romans 1:23,24)– Rebellion fueled by Pride– On Evil Continually

An Evil Man Seeks Only An Evil Man Seeks Only RebellionRebellion

For he seeks nothing but what is evil; and all sin is For he seeks nothing but what is evil; and all sin is rebellion against God, a contempt of his laws, and a rebellion against God, a contempt of his laws, and a

transgression of them; a trampling upon his transgression of them; a trampling upon his legislative power and authority; an act of hostility legislative power and authority; an act of hostility against him, and a casting off allegiance to him.against him, and a casting off allegiance to him.

Sounds a lot like what we are seeing todaySounds a lot like what we are seeing today

Not Struggling with Sin Not Struggling with Sin • In this age of radical tolerance, we extend so much

tolerance to those who are unsaved

• Most people are not “Struggling with Sin” – They are in Most people are not “Struggling with Sin” – They are in “Active Rebellion” against God “Active Rebellion” against God

• Nimrod, who tried to build the tower of Babel to launch an attack against heaven and founded Baal Worship was in active rebellion against God

• The natural man is not merely “disconnected” from The natural man is not merely “disconnected” from God, but he has “pulled the plug” completely himselfGod, but he has “pulled the plug” completely himself

Carnal ManCarnal ManGoverned by His Fleshly Desires that requires time to die to Governed by His Fleshly Desires that requires time to die to

Christ (Romans 8:8; 1 Cor 3:1)Christ (Romans 8:8; 1 Cor 3:1)

•The Carnal Mind “struggles” with God concerning God’s will The Carnal Mind “struggles” with God concerning God’s will and man’s desiresand man’s desires

– Self Centered and not God Centered: “Unspiritual”– Sometimes, doesn’t find things “Appalling that is Appealing”– Flesh ruled: a life ruled by the standards set up by the

dictates] of the flesh. – Devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual

life. (Jude 1:19)

Unbalanced ChristianityUnbalanced Christianity• The Carnal Christian may have a The Carnal Christian may have a

love for God, but his fleshly love for God, but his fleshly desires out weigh his heart’s desires out weigh his heart’s desiredesire

• Doesn’t mean that your mind is Doesn’t mean that your mind is against God, but that you keep against God, but that you keep “minding the flesh” “minding the flesh”

• The Carnal mind has its own The Carnal mind has its own “Opinion” of what is good for “Opinion” of what is good for man and not what God considers man and not what God considers good for himgood for him

““I Could Not Speak to You in Your I Could Not Speak to You in Your

Current State”Current State”• Paul speaks to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:1 saying

that he could not communicate biblical doctrine to the in the state they were in – Carnal

• The proof that this was so, was found in the fact that they had been distracted with disputes and strifes, which demonstrated that they were not prepared for the higher doctrines of Christianity.

• Sad to say, Most Christians spend their whole lives on the Milk of God’s Word, refusing to grow in the things of God and let go of the “Petty” ways of the flesh

Was Man Designed to be Was Man Designed to be This Way?This Way?

In the Garden of Eden we see aspects of the nature of Man at the Fall

Man was created as a total being of spirit, soul, and body – As One – Not operating in three separate entities

Adam “walked with God” representing in the light, in agreement, in union with God

o Man has the capacity to commune with God through the Spirit of Life that was breathed into him

The Nature of ManThe Nature of ManGenesis 3: 6, 7 - Challenged in the Garden

In the Garden we see other aspects of Man’s nature as he is confronted with evil and choices

•When Eve saw that the food was good to eat… It appealed to her fleshly nature•A delight to the eyes….Something appealed to her senses and desires•To make one wise…”Carnal side.” Eve began to deem what she considered what was best for her (Pride and Selfishness)•She gave to her husband and he did eat…Adam responded in rebellion thinking “Who is God to tell me what to do?”

The Nature of ManThe Nature of ManThe Idea that Man was perfect and was deluded or misled into sin is not as accurate as we have been taught.

God created Man with a nature that could commune with Him and have the ability to reason and choose with his mental faculties as well as enjoy life through his senses and desires.

“After the Fall” Man began to operate more in the “Sense” realm being removed from the Divine Influence of God

Being “Naturally minded” took some time after the fall but eventually his thoughts were on evil continually

The Fall of Man created a need for Man to be “Reborn” “Reconnected,” or “Regenerated” in his spirit which was

accomplished through Christ

Teaching God’s Word to those who Teaching God’s Word to those who defy itdefy it

• We spend so much time trying to “Woo” the natural man who is willingly in his rebellion and also trying to teach the Carnal man who is committed to his flesh

• Jesus speaks of this in the Parable of the Sower:• Mark 4:14: "The sower sows the word. "The sower sows the word.

o The Ground represents the heart of the Receivero The Desire of God is that the Word should be

planted in our heart so that it will bear fruito With all of our programs, media, special ministries,

and tactics, it is still the Word of God, quickened by the Spirit of God that converts men and women

It Must Be Good SeedIt Must Be Good SeedBut if the seed is the word, then every preacher

must make sure he uses good seed. "It is a high offence against God to change the

Master's seed, to mix it, or to sow bad seed in the place of it." (Clarke)

The Seed Must Be SownThe Seed Must Be Sown

It is by preaching or teaching that the seed is sown. You can study the seed,

categorize the seed, analyze the seed, know the seed, or even love the seed. But

if you don't sow it, nothing will grow.

You Also Sow the Word by Applying it in you’re the fields of your life

Sowing and ReapingSowing and Reaping• Thrown on the Wayside: The Natural Man: Rocky Heart

o There are some that hear the word, but never meditate upon it, never lay it to their hearts, never cover it with second thoughts." (Poole)

o They are Hardened to God’s Word, even though it is revealed to them (Romans 1:23,24)

• Stony Ground: No Root in Themselveso They receive the seed of the word with a flash of enthusiasm that

quickly burns out.o Must be held and kept by enthusiastic surroundings: Parents,

Church programs, excitement

• Thrown Among the Thorns: Choked Out: Carnal Mentalityo They receive the word but allow the interests and cares of this world

choke it out.

Spiritual ManSpiritual Man• The Word sown in the heart of the Spiritual Man yields

Godly Fruito The Word of God is seen and benefitted from in their lives

1st Corinthians 2:15: But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

• The Spiritual Man is able to judge and properly discern the Word for himself and in otherso Judge: to judge of, estimate, determine (the excellence or

defects of any person or thing

Spirituality versus SpiritualSpirituality versus Spiritual• I can’t make you “Spiritual” no more than I can make

you “Faithful”

• You don’t have to be Spiritual, you are Spiritual

• Many regenerated believers seem “unconscious” of possessing a spirit. Though they do have one, the simply are not conscious of it (Watchman Nee)

Spirit and ConscienceSpirit and Conscience

• The Spirit of Man is where God communicates:

Proverbs 20:27: The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

• The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord God has given to every man a mind, which he so enlightens by his own Spirit, that the man knows how to distinguish good from evil; and conscience, which springs from this, searches the inmost recesses of the soul.

You are a Total BeingYou are a Total Being• Much of the teaching today we see on “Walking in the

Spirit” tends to separate our other faculties rather than incorporate them. The Fact is, God created a total being, who employs spirit, soul, and body for the purposes of God.

• “Nepesh” - life sustaining soul - also associated with prayer. Man is the being that prays. He is designed to sustain himself through relationship with God. The systems of the world is designed to remove you from a relationship with the Creator. Whatever is self driven leads to inhuman behavior (Dr. Skip Moen, “Spiritual Restoration” p. 34)

Poet and Dictionary writer Samuel Johnson observed:

“He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own

disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts and multiply the grief which he purposes to remove.” Most people want to change the world to improve their lives, but the world they need to change first is the one inside

themselves. That is a choice - one that some are not willing to make

(John Maxwell: The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player)(John Maxwell: The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player)

Change Begins with YouChange Begins with You