Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home1/heartof6/public_html/blog/wp-content/themes/responsive-mobile/includes/functions-extentions.php on line 35

Finding Your Spiritual Identity

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Jared Meredith

Click To Play

I Corinthians 2:14-16

[14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
[15] But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
[16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

This was Paul’s message to the natural person. It was the type of person that Paul was most concerned over.

A Natural person

– Has not been born again

– Cannot understand spiritual things

– Thinks the spiritual things are foolish

– Turns away from the bible with thoughts and imaginations

The destiny of the natural human being without Jesus Christ is destruction. The need that all mankind has is salvation.

Romans 3:23

[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

All people are naturally lost

John 6:37

[37] All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

All people can be saved

Once we are saved we are no longer without hope. Something amazing happens!

I Corinthians 2:11-13

[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
[12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
[13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

The Spiritual person

– Was once a natural person

– Salvation through faith in Christ has transformed them

– Was once doomed, now delivered

– Was once lost, now found

– Was once bound for hell, now bound for Heaven

– The spirit teaches the spiritual person

– The spirit discerns (understands) all things

– Sees the work of God in the world and in their personal lives

– Spiritual things are not easily understood by others

Jesus warned of these things: John 15:18-20

[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
[20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

V 16 – As we become spiritual we put on the mind of Christ

I Corinthians 3:1-4

[1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
[2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
[3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
[4] For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

The Carnal person

– Is confused

– Knows what is right but does not do it

– Knows the world is lost but clings to it

– Is like Lot lingering in Sodom

– Needs full commitment to Christ

The natural person lives for the moment. The spiritual person lays up treasures in Heaven. The carnal person tries looking in both directions. Finding the balance in your life is done successfully when the spiritual part of you leads.

Who’s In My Circle Of Friends?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Jared Meredith

THE WORD

Psalms 55:14 – We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

I Corinthians 5:11 – But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There are many people that we have in our lives that we say are in our inner circle. These are the people that you communicate and reach out to when you are in trouble. When you have a flat tire on the road you may think of one of these people to call first before you even think of a towing company. Even though a towing company is more than able to help you it identifies the preference of trust that we have for others. Trust me, I love having people that I can count on. It is nice to have people in your life that will lend you a helping hand along the way!

One life lesson I have learned the hard way is that the power of people can only go so far. That person you try to call might not be available. Then, what? You feel alone without anyone. Let us go beyond the spare tire and consider our spiritual person. You could have a million contacts on your phone, thousands of friends on Facebook, and even roommates that live within feet of you! When it comes to your time of need people may (and will) eventually let you down. God should be first above our people, objects, and ideals. I encourage you to put God as the one you count on the most every day! If he is in your circle and the top priority in your life, anything that you ask in His name you can receive (bearing in mind that it is not something that is outside the will of God for us)! A friendship with God is the most important one! Remember that!

PUT INTO PRACTICE

Perform this task no matter where you are in a situation: simply close your eyes and pray for God to help you. It is a simple gateway into more humble prayers that will definitely draw you into the right-now spiritual blessing that will help you through!

Keep Your Eyes Wide Open

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Jared Meredith

Revelation 3:2 – Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 – Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

– – – –

When I go to lay my head down at night, there is a moment that takes place right before I go to sleep: I begin to relax my mind and my body, shut my eyes, and finally let my body give in to the weariness of the day because it simply has to. Every person must enter into rest at some point for many reasons, with one of the main ones being to obtain strength for another day. In considering how this happens for the body, we have to realize that this wants to happen naturally for us in our trials as well: we get discouraged and tired with the way things are for so long and eventually just want to close our eyes and give up. Doing this lets the outcome go in a direction that perhaps that it wasn’t meant to.

What do I mean? If we are continually praying to God each day over the things that bother us, we will never grow tired in our spiritual person. In fact, we will begin to grow stronger and start to revive the parts of us that have already fallen asleep. The church needs a strong awakening in such a way that they do not even realize! It starts with us! Don’t fall asleep on God!

– – – –

Put Into Practice:

I would ask that this next exercise be a controlled one, so have at least one or two persons are very close by if you are going to try this in an area that has a lot of objects around. Find yourself something that you can have as a blindfold and hold it up to your eyes with the lights on (do not tie it on yet!) to make sure that no light can get into your vision. After you have found something that works, think of something safe to do that you think you could do “in your sleep” or “with your hands tied behind your back”. For example purposes, I would use trying to make a sandwich or brushing your teeth.

To me, it is amazing how it is so easy to get off track without having the simple leisure of light illuminating the way for you. People take it for granted each and every day! Now, simply remember this concept as you go about your life and remember how easy we can get off track without allowing the light (witness and spirit of God) to shine and lead us through all of the things we need help with, no matter how silly they are.