Devotional – January 18- 24, 2015
The Carnal Believer
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“For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” Are you not carnal? 1 Cor. 3:3-4
One of the words that many believers are not comfortable with is being told that they are “carnal”. A person who is carnal or fleshy is a believer in Jesus Christ yet walks and acts according to the ways of the world. The other term that is used to describe a carnal believer is “fleshy”. This means that the believer’s actions and reactions are based on his mind, will and emotions. The Apostle Paul was very clear in identifying some of the attributes of carnality. These include envy, strife and divisions.
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Based on the verse of scripture above, new believers have some form of carnality and can exhibit this at various times. However, as they grow in their walk with Christ these fleshy attributes should diminish. The Corinthian church was obviously still manifesting the works of the flesh. This kind of behaviour is usually seen in the way believers respond to everyday living, including interactions within the church.
Many can attest to the fact that there are much divisions, envy and strife that exist in the church, which have resulted in many church splits and the eventual dissolving of church bodies. There have and continue to be carnal behaviours manifesting in regards to various positions in the church and the desire of others to be in control. People want to choose who their leader should be and cause great division and strife within the church. Paul is pointing out that these behaviours are carnal.
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Paul declares that a person who is carnal behaves like a mere man. Mere men are those who are unbelievers and are of this world. It is normal for an unbeliever to operate in carnality. As believers who are called out of the world, we must choose to allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through our lives. The Holy Spirit will always lead us to Christ and not point us to man.
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The Word of God declared that if we “walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh, for the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Gal. 5:16, 17). Having the Holy Spirit guide us in our daily lives is the only effective method of overcoming the carnal desires of the flesh.
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The Holy Spirit will always cause us to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in our walk. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another (Galatians 5:22-26). These verses serve to remind us of the importance of living a Spirit-led life. Our flesh will always want to gain ascendency over our spirit-man and we need the Holy Spirit to guide us especially in difficult situations.
As believers we cannot allow our flesh to control our behaviour. We must endeavor to let the Holy Spirit be the Governor of our spirits so we can be the victorious Church that Christ intends for us to be.
Prayer:
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We thank You Lord that we can walk in righteousness and not according to the ways of the flesh. Through Your Holy Spirit we can live victoriously in Christ knowing that envy, strife and divisions are not your attributes. Help us as we continue to let Your Spirit be our guide in life in Jesus name, amen.
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