Don
Clowers, in his book, Spiritual Growth,
says the following:
"The
fact that a Christian is carnal does not mean he or she is not born again. The
carnal Christian may be a new convert who is just beginning to grow. Or it
could be someone who has been saved for many years but is still a baby in the
things of God. He accepted Jesus years ago but made no effort to develop and
mature in spiritual matters. That person chooses to be fed with milk instead of
meat. The flesh rules and there is no indication of a daily trusting in
God."
Truly
Mr. Clowers hit the nail on the head when he says that carnal a Christian
chooses to be fed with milk instead of meat, and their flesh is in control of
their life. The apostle Paul shows us the difference between the mature and
carnal believer. Read what he says about the difference between the carnal and
mature believers in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (NIV)
"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. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready
for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there
is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting
like mere humans? For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow
Apollos,' are you not mere human beings?"
Allow
me to outline a few differences between the carnal and mature believers.
Carnal
believers live by the flesh, in other words their flesh and its desire control
them. The mature believer is controlled
by the Spirit and lives by the Holy Spirit. Notice I said control. To control
something is have dominion over that thing.
So, if your flesh controls you, it has dominion over you. If the Holy Spirit controls you, He controls
your life. Again Paul writes "So
I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is
contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are
not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not
under the law." Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)
How
do you know if you are controlled by the Spirit or by the flesh? Your behavior
will reveal who is controlling your life. What kind of behavior is being
manifested in your life, what is growing out of your life? Paul also said: "The
acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish
ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I
warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the
kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law."
Galatians 5:19-23 (NIV)
Are
you controlled by the acts of the flesh? Then you are carnal. Is the fruit of
the Spirit growing in your life? Then you are a mature believer. Mature believers live by the Spirit; mature
believers live by the Word of God; mature believers are not jealous and don't
argue and quarrel with one another; and finally, mature believers don't choose
sides.
If
you are a carnal believer, it's time to put away your carnality and begin to
grow in Christ. It's time to stop
drinking the milk of the Word and eat the meat of the Word of God.
Be
Blessed!
Bishop
Jemmott
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