CARNALITY'S CAPTIVE
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1 Corinthians 3:3
A sanctified salutation for my beloved blog audience! I pray that your Christmas was indeed merry due to Christ’s prominence and His peace that prevailed in your heads and hearts. And Happy New Year!
The New Year is only 5 days old, so for the first Blog entry for the year, I am directed to explore and examine with you what is sure to be an everyday battle for the next 360 days: “The Unrelenting Conflict of Carnality". As conquerors in Christ, my prayer is that we are more consistent in our conquest over Carnality as opposed to being Carnality’s Captive. I believe that the more we know and understand our opponent, Carnality, the more we will experience victories rather than defeats.
The term “carnal” owes its source to the Latin word carne, meaning “flesh.” In the word of God (scripture), markedly in Paul’s letters (Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 3), carnality relates to conduct consistent with the flesh (sin-soaked human condition), i.e., pride, lust, selfishness, and rebellion against God rather than the Spirit.
In addition, carnality means being governed by the desires of the sin-soaked human condition. Paul distinguishes this in his letter to the Romans.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So, then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8
When we process in the Spirit of truth, we perceive that Carnality’s objective is to keep a person dominated by the desires of the sin-soaked condition and separated from God’s will. It seeks to sabotage and suppress spiritual growth and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s look at this spiritual malady by means of an M.R.I. (Master’s Reasoning and Instruction). The M.R.I reveals the following features of Carnality:
1. Hostility to our Holy God - Carnality looks to oppose and lock out God’s authority and advance self-rule.
2. Directly Dominate with Fleshly Desires- Carnality's target is to control thoughts, actions, and priorities through lust, pride, greed, and selfish ambition.
3. Boldly build a barrier to Spiritual Life- Carnality seeks to stop spiritual maturity, keeping believers weak and useless. It also deliberately diverts the disciples of the Lord from prayer, holiness, and obedience, consequently creating a worldly-minded Christian.
4. It's Endeavor and Eventual Consequence- If unbridled and considerably confronted, Carnality will lead its captive to spiritual death.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6
In closing, Carnality’s objective is to oppose God’s Spirit, dominate the believer’s life, and ultimately disconnect, deceive, and destroy fellowship with our Lord and God.
I invite you to join me next time as we consider the Conquest of Carnality.
Not a sermon, just some thoughts
FtGG