By Leo Sekoere
This is the heart of our loving father concerning His
children. This is the reason He sent Jesus who then sent The Holy Spirit. I
would like us to start off with a prayer, just to invite the spirit of understanding.
Proverbs 8:1 says that understanding calls out with a loud voice. She is
available to us let us answer the call:
Father God,
This is your word
and it’s true! Open my understanding and prepare my spirit to understand the
spiritual things of God. I yield myself to your Holy Spirit who gives
understanding.
Amen
In John chapter 3 we are introduced to a bible character
named Nicodemus; a teacher of the law and a man of God. This man was a Pharisee
and he lived to meet the lawful requirements of God, even if this meant living
according to a strict regime. Nicodemus was seemingly content with his
acquisition of knowledge and righteousness in the sight of God. He was probably
convinced that he was on the right path--until he met Jesus! Now, Jesus was
also a man of God and a teacher BUT Nicodemus saw something in Him that interrupted
his understanding. This made him sneak out to Jesus at night so he could find
out if he was really doing this whole “seeking the Kingdom of God” thing right.
Jesus already had Nicodemus figured out. In the last two
verses of John 2 we are told that Jesus already knew all men, that’s why He
answered a question that Nicodemus didn’t even ask. Nicodemus was over there
busy asserting Jesus as the son of God and I can imagine Jesus in His mind saying
“yeah, yeah cut through the toadiness I know what you’re really here for…”.
Then BAAM!!- Jesus hits him straight in the face with a spiritual concept. He
tells Nicodemus that he needs to be born-again so that he can see the kingdom
of God. Can you imagine how confused Nicodemus must’ve felt? 1 Corinthians 2:14
tells us that it is impossible for a carnal mind to grasp spiritual principles.
Hol’ up Jesus! Are you telling a brother that he must go back to his mother’s
womb? I mean, How?
“5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again…“ (NKJV)
Lol! Jesus stop it you’re killing this guy! At this point Nicodemus was lost in translation. I like verse nine: “But how?...”, that was the last thing Nicodemus said-poor guy!
BORN OF THE SPIRIT-A rebirth into Spiritual existance
The term “Born- Again” has been used so loosely that it has lost its original intent. We now use it to describe someone who believes in God, goes to church, prays and fasts, reads the bible…everything but what Jesus said to Nicodemus.
John 4:24 says that God is spirit and he is only pleased through spiritual acts of worship. Hebrews 11:6 also tells us that without the spiritual act of faith, we cannot please God. So,being Spiritual is God’s way of helping us relate to him. It is when we receive the fullness of supernatural life from His “Life-giving Spirit”. It is a new life all together and much deeper than merely being familiar with Christian ideology and attending church.
Nicodemus was an avid reader of the word, he prayed, fasted and discipled but that was not enough! We too are living in a time where it has become a norm to casually acquaint oneself with biblical literacy and we have also conformed to a ritualistic approach to seeking God but that too is not enough. God knew that religion would never be enough to keep us going when things got rough that is why he sent us his Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:15). He knew that we needed His complete understanding and wisdom in order for us to be able to resist the devil, so he offered us His own mind (1 Corinthians 2:16); to lead and fortify us.
Being spiritual is allowing Christ to live in us so that we are never myopic in our perception of reality instead we always see the bigger picture. The biggest enemy to our relationship with God has always been our flesh. Even Jesus said so himself in Matthew 26:41- There’s a willingness in our spirits to do the will of God but the flesh is always weak. Listen to what Paul says “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells: for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” (Romans 7:18-NKJV). When we become spiritual, the power of the flesh is put to death-we automatically are enabled to do the will of God and enjoy it.
Why you need to get spiritual:
- You do not belong to God if you are not spiritual-Romans 8:9, 14.
- You can never be able to please God in the flesh –Romans 8:8
- It is the only key by which you will know the things that God has freely given you-1Corinthians 2:12
- You will no longer be led by the constant urges of the flesh! This is power against ungodly addictions- Galatians 6:8
- The Spirit of God will help you in your weakness- Romans 8:26
There are more reasons but I found these to be sufficient encouragement. When you become spiritual you will start to experience the persona of God and the sweet communion of His Holy Spirit. This is enjoyable life. While in the natural, bad things might happen but in the Spirit you will always receive strength to overcome. Things around you can be discouraging and depressing but in the spirit you will gain inner peace to trust in God. Don’t get me wrong you will feel the impact of disaster as it happens in the natural but deep inside you will know what to do next. Allow God to come alive in you, become a “son”-GET SPIRITUAL!!
Coming up next….”Stay Spiritual”
