Date post: | 11-May-2015 |
Category: |
Spiritual |
Upload: | mike-smith |
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Spirituality Exemplified
in the Christian Life
The Christian Is To Be A Renewed
Individual: • 1 Peter 2:5 You are = living stones, a spiritual
house… offer up spiritual sacrifices to God
• We must exemplify this renewal!
• 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even
though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man
is being renewed day by day.
• Eph. 4:23 “be renewed in the spirit of your mind”
• Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new man who is
renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him
who created him,
What Is Spirituality?
• Defined: “the state of a soul vitalized by the
Divine Spirit and made alive unto God. It covers
the entire range of man’s faculties: intellect,
feeling, will – all the attributes of personality” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia).
• “Sensitivity or commitment to religious values
and sacred matters” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible
Dictionary).
What Is Spirituality?
• Spirituality is a person that is marked by
stability and maturity in living by God’s Spirit!
– Galatians 6:1 “…who are spiritual”
– Carnality is just the opposite of “Spirituality”.
– Some Christians are carnal minded and not
spiritual minded. 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
• Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New
Testament Words on “the spiritual state”:
What Is Spirituality?
“The spiritual state is reached by diligence in the
word of God and in prayer; it is maintained by
obedience and self-judgment. Such as are led by
the Spirit are spiritual, but of course, spirituality is
not a fixed or absolute condition, it admits of
growth; indeed growth in ‘the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,’
(2 Peter 3:18), is evidence of true spirituality.”
• Spirituality is a growing process that begins
with the new birth. John 3:6; 4:24
• Spirituality is that driving force of maturing
Christians! Romans 8:2-11
– Maturing means becoming more spiritual, more
directed by God’s Spirit and more focused on
the spiritual things of life instead of the physical
things. Philippians 1:8-11
What Is Spirituality?
Three Ramifications of Spirituality
• Spirituality takes time to achieve -
1 Corinthians 14:20; Ephesians 4:13-15
• Time alone does NOT accomplish it –
unless we yield our wills to the Holy Spirit! Hebrews 5:12-14
• There are various stages of Spirituality –
no one ever reaches a plane where he
cannot grow further. Philippians 3:13-14
Characteristics of the Spiritual Man
• One recognizes they are truly “reborn,” &
doesn’t live purely in the physical, fleshly,
carnal realm but lives for his eternal spirit & life.
1 Corinthians 2:14-15
– Jesus shows Peter the difference between the
spiritual and carnal man in Matthew 16:21-23
• The spiritual man is directed by the Spirit of
God – Ephesians 5:18
• The spiritual man continues to mature.
2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Timothy 4:15
• The spiritual man will manifest Christ in his
character – Galatians 5:22-23
– Imitation of Christ is the key… Romans 8:29;
Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6
• Spirituality is reflected in one’s attitude.
– They’ve put on an attitude of preparation:
• Prepared for classes, etc. Titus 3:1-2
– Exhibit a spirit of thankfulness in their life
Ephesians 5:18-21
– As a result action will be evident in those who are
spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Characteristics of the Spiritual Man
Application:
•Church members who make problems or insist on
being catered to are not spiritual. 1 Cor. 3:1-4
•Those who care about & promote the welfare &
unity of Christ’s body the church are spiritual.
•Caring for the brethren, helping brethren & drawing
brethren back to God when they leave is the work of
mature spiritual Christians. Gal. 6:1-2
•If we were more spiritual, we would let God’s word
direct every aspect of our lives and not view
Christian service as simply a matter of, “going to
church”.
Conclusion:
• May we all commit ourselves to
becoming more spiritual people!
• 1 Peter 2:4-5 “Coming to Him as to a
living stone, rejected indeed by men, but
chosen by God and precious, you also,
as living stones, are being built up a
spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer
up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ”.
Have you heard that Jesus died for
your sins so you can have eternal life?
• To be saved you must obey the
Gospel Plan of Salvation… 1 Cor. 15:1-4
• Hear – Acts 18:8
• Believe – Acts 16:31
• Repent – Acts 3:19
• Confess – Acts 8:37
• Be baptized – Acts 2:38