“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
Romans 8:6-7 KJV
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
James 1:19, 21 KJV
Healing begins with honesty. As already established Beloved, acknowledging the need sets us on the road to redemption. So long we dwell in strife let us not deceive ourselves in thinking we can walk in the Spirit. Today we continue on the reasons we need to heal.
As the bible says the heart of man is desperately wicked who can perceive it(Jeremiah 17:9), already indicating the weakness in man to commit hurtful and most atrocious offense. But God Almighty created both the wicked and good, therefore there is a purpose each has to fulfill(proverbs 16:4, Isaiah 45:7). The realization of this helps us to get wisdom on the purpose of every affliction. What are the more reasons we should be intentional concerning our healing journey?
–To discern the Spiritual from the carnal. The spiritual life is built with intent, discipline, and commitment. However, it can be easily broken through offense. Apostle Paul gave us a clear understanding in I Corinthians 3:3, that we are still carnal if there is still envying, strife, and divisions amongst us as believers. We are called to walk in the apex of spirituality, we remain babes and consumed by immaturity so long we dwell on offense. One of the ways the Lord communes with His people is through the inspiration of His Spirit (Job 32:8), if offense, hurt, pain, and bitterness, hence dwell in the heart we cannot discern the inspiration of the Spirit from the will of the flesh. Deep calls unto deep(Psalm 42:7), how can you ascend into the depths of God if you remain on the surface of sensuality due to anger in the heart?
–To discern the purpose of our affliction and reap the harvest of our victory. For God to make us a fortified people, He first takes us through the furnace so that we may come out pure as gold. “But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. For God made my heart soft, And the Almighty troubled me:” Job 23:10, 16 KJV. The man Job is an example we can always look up to as believers, no matter the affliction, rejection, and accusations he suffered, he had his heart set on God. David through conspiracy, threats, and maliciousness, found still the purpose of his affliction, which drew him even closer to the precepts of God(“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes.”(Psalm 119:71 KJV). The end of these men was glorious, for they realized the true essence of all they had to endure because the condition of their hearts was not affected by what they suffered but rather made them strong and pure.
–To reveal our true nature after the image of God. Humility exalts grace, if you cannot be humbled you cannot be exalted. Jesus our pattern man, suffered many, but nevertheless, His Godly character remained unchanged. As the bible says in Philippians 2:5-9 KJV; “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” What Jesus had to suffer, caused him to be humbled and he remained humble until he prevailed. Our true character unfolds by the things we overcome. If we do not come to this realization, we will allow the hate, hurt, bitterness, and every difficult season hinder us from building our true self which is in person of Christ.
As we take on this journey, open up and allow every wound be assessed from the lense of the Holy Spirit to receive true freedom and healing. There are realms of glory that awaits us if we can come to the place where we can become a people truly humble, to discern the will of God in every trail,and possess the character of Christ. Good morning Beloved.