Failing to Prioritize God

 

Failing to Prioritize God

GEN. 13:8-13

 

SUBJECT: Carnality/Emotional Orientation

THEME: the Believer persisting in carnality ignoring the leadership of our Lord is destined for spiritual failure.

RELEVANCE: So many people rely on their feelings, thoughts, intuition, families, and experiences far more than God, His Spirit, or Word for guidance and decisions. No doubt we all want to be spiritually successful like Abraham and avoid the miserable catastrophes of Lot’s failures! Consider the elements that make spiritual failure; they must be avoided to be successful in fulfilling God’s plan for our lives!

INTRODUCTION:

Lot was a failure because of his carnality…he remained a feeling dominated person and never became a Spirit and Word obedient person! 

Erroneous standards, priorities, and decisions are the third major factor in Lot’s wrong choice to move closer to Sodom and his ultimate failure in life.

THE EVIDENCE OF BAD PRIORITIES AND DECISIONS

Gen 13:11-13, Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12, Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13, But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

A Believer who is weak in his devotions, worldly in his desires, will also be wrong in his decisions. Lot chose all the plain of Jordan and separated himself from his godly uncle Abraham. Before long he had his tent pitched toward Sodom and the Bible tells us that the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked sinners before the LORD!

a)     Lot’s Decision Was Wrong Because of His Enduring Carnality!

Again, to be “carnal” or “carnally minded” refers our thoughts, desires, and behaviors governed by our fallen human nature and worldly appetites rather than by the Holy Spirit. Enduring or remaining in a state of carnality carries severe spiritual dangers!  

1. Carnality Directly Leads to Spiritual Death. The most immediate and severe consequence of unyielding carnality is total spiritual separation from the life of God. Romans 8:6, For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Two different ways of living and thinking are contrasted here:

·       The Carnal Mind (Death): If our life and thoughts are centered purely on worldly appetites, self-gratification, or sin, it results in spiritual death. As believers, it is cut off from fellowship with God. Not sonship, but fellowship or close spiritual communion with God.

·       The Spiritual Mind (Life and Peace): If a believer allows the Holy Spirit to direct their heart and mind—focusing on Christ, Scripture, and God’s grace—it leads to spiritual vitality, freedom, and deep inner peace. Clearly, Lot was carnally minded in this decision!  

2. Carnality Places us in Direct Opposition to God. A carnal mindset creates a heart that is hostile toward God and cannot submit to His law. Romans 8:7, Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Paul contrasts life motivated by the flesh (leading to spiritual death and separation) with life lived in the Spirit (bringing peace, life, and security in Christ).  

·         Hostility Towards God: When our lifestyle or mindset centered purely on the flesh, it is fundamentally opposed to God’s character, will, and law.

·        Moral/Spiritual Inability: Left to itself, the unrenewed human mind cannot naturally obey or please God. Transformation requires the intervention and regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.

The carnal mind is not subject to the law of God. There are countless examples of this enmity and contrariness in people in the Scriptures. Think of Abraham marrying Hagar; Lot choosing Sodom; Moses smiting the Egyptian; Joshua making a deal with the Gibeonites; Saul sparing king Agage and the Amalekite Cattle; Solomon’s political marriages; Jonah fleeing to Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh as God said to. All of these illustrate this principle of rebellion that characterize the “carnal mind.” What we Christians want is the mind of Christ, that is yielding our minds to the Spirit’s control. —Unknown

3. Carnality Makes It Impossible to Please God. Operating from a state of carnality means one cannot please God. Romans 8:8, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

·        “In the flesh”: Refers to an unregenerate person—someone whose life is governed and controlled by their sinful, self-reliant human nature rather than the guidance of God’s Spirit. It is not a reference to simply having a physical human body, but to a spiritual state of living independently from God—living in rebellion.

·        “Cannot please God”: A person living entirely under the sway of the sinful nature lacks the spiritual life, faith, and alignment with God’s will needed to offer anything acceptable to Him. Human effort, morality, or religion detached from God cannot bridge this serious gorge!

William Evans stated, “The entire nature of man, mentally, morally, spiritually, physically, is sadly affected by sin. The understanding is darkened (Eph. 4:18; 1 Cor. 2:14); the heart is deceitful and wicked (Jer. 17:9,10); the mind and conscience are defiled (Gen. 6:5; Titus 1:15); the flesh and spirit are defiled (2Cor. 7:5); the Will is enfeebled (Rom. 7:18; and we are utterly destitute of any Godlike qualities which meet the requirements of God’s holiness (Rom. 7:18).”

Believers are rescued from this state not by their own fleshly performance, but through faith in Jesus Christ and the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:1–9).

4. Carnality Breeds Strife, Envy, and Division. Enduring carnality disrupts church unity, leading individuals to act like worldly people rather than spiritual believers. 1 Corinthians 3:3, For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

They were “babes in Christ” and feed on spiritual “milk” instead of “meat” (deep doctrine) because they were not mature enough to handle it (1 Corinthians 3:1–2).

·        “Ye are yet carnal”: They were still controlled or heavily influenced by the “flesh” (carnal). They are saved believers, but they live according to human, sinful impulses rather than yielding to the Holy Spirit.

·        “Envying, and strife, and divisions”: We have concrete proof of their carnality. Being jealous of one another’s spiritual gifts, arguing over favorite church leaders (such as Paul or Apollos), and splitting into hostile factions—is carnality. Lot through conflict separated from holy influences in his life.

·        “Walk as men”: Is to conduct your daily lifestyle acting like ‘mere humans’ behaving no differently than people of the unregenerate world who do not know God, rather than acting like transformed followers of Christ.

Human Christian leaders are just servants! We must stop boasting in men, leaders, or officials and recognize that God is the one who brings spiritual growth (1 Cor. 3:4-8). We are to unite around the central figure of the Lord!

It is not difficult to determine a believer's spiritual maturity, or immaturity, if you discover what kind of “diet” he enjoys. The immature believer knows little about the present ministry of Christ in heaven. He knows the facts about our Lord's life and ministry on earth, but not the truths about His present ministry in heaven. He lives on "Bible stories" and not Bible doctrines. He has no understanding of 1 Cor 2:6-7. –W. W. Wiesrbe

5. Carnality Reaps Corruption and God’s Judgment. Persisting in the flesh yields a destructive harvest rather than eternal life. The principle of carnality reaping corruption is most famously articulated in Galatians 6:7–8: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

To “sow to the flesh” is carnality—it is living according to selfish, sensual, or sinful desires rather than God’s will. Such a lifestyle leads to “corruption” (decay, ruin, moral and spiritual degradation) and finally God’s judgment.

b)    Lot’s Decision Was Wrong Because of the Wickedness of Sodom

Gen. 13:13, But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Among many other sins, Sodom WAS A CESSPOOL OF HOMOSEXUALITY! Rom.1:24-28 gives us God’s current perspective on this type of sin! The key is redemption through Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:9-11)! Not hating the person but certainly rejecting this carnal lifestyle. Consider verse 13:13 carefully:

·        “But the men of Sodom...”: Interrupts the narrative about Abram and Lot to expose the true moral condition of the place Lot chose to approach.

·        “...were wicked and sinners...”: They lived in deep moral corruption, characterized by pride, violence, and flagrant social decay.

·        “...before the LORD...”: Their sins were not hidden from God; they occurred in direct, open defiance of His presence and authority.

·        “...exceedingly”: Their degeneracy had reached an extreme, unrestrained level.

After Abram and Lot split, Lot chose the fertile Jordan Valley ‘toward Sodom’ because it looked rich and prosperous, prioritizing physical comfort over spiritual safety. A dramatic warning to us all that living close to severe corruption is never neutral. Pitching a tent near Sodom eventually led Lot to dwell inside the city itself (Genesis 19), exposing his family and himself to its destructive culture.

c)     Lot’s Decision Was Wrong Because of God’s Wrath Against Sodom

Gen 13:10, And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

The Spiritual Conditions were Right for God’s Judgment to Fall! That is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah…God’s judgment was a direct response to a deeply rooted and unrepented evil.

Gen 19:24-25, Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;  25,  And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Gen 19:27-29, And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: 28,  And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.  29, And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that....

This is not evidence for God accepting sin, greed, manipulation, selfishness, or homosexuality as legitimate lifestyles; He condemns them all as gross sin! 

Critics and theological readers question the fairness of destroying an entire city—which would have included children, infants, and potentially marginalized or coerced individuals—rather than singling out guilty actors. —Randy Duncan

Biblical historians and scholars estimate—based on the time Lot lived in the region—that Sodom was morally corrupt or ungodly for at least 15 to 25 years, though the text itself does not mark a formal countdown for their repentance.—Bible Tools  

In Genesis 18:23–32, Abraham intercedes for the city, asking if God would spare it if fifty, forty, thirty, twenty, or even ten righteous people could be found. God agrees to spare the entire city for the sake of just ten righteous individuals. However, this society had fallen into total, unrepentant corruption without even a tiny core of righteousness.—Got Questions  

2 Peter 2:6, warns that this destruction serves as a moral lesson to those who would live ungodly in the future to demonstrate that persistent and unchecked wickedness has severe consequences.

                     4. WHAT IS THE POINT?

Now, the point is … if we are weak in our devotions, worldly in our desires then we will certainly be wrong in our decisions! As a result, we will consistently miss the WILL OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES! 

Galatians 5:16, This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

·        Primary Instruction to Us: “Walk in the Spirit”— living, acting, and being guided day-by-day under the influence and power of the Holy Spirit.

·        The Promise/Consequence to Take to Heart: “ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” — yielding to the Spirit naturally breaks the power and completion of sinful or selfish desires.

·        Immediately Focus: In Galatians 5:17–18, the sinful nature (“the flesh”) and the Spirit oppose one another, and that those who are led by the Spirit are not under the bondage of the law.

It does not matter how sincerely you and I try to do what is right; we will continue to fail in spiritual things until we are ready to allow God by His Spirt and Word to order our lives! Direct fellowship with God and treating relationship with Him as the highest treasure is anchored in several key scriptures:

• Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” — What you value most claims your time, devotion, and affection.
• Matthew 6:19–20: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...” — Shifting focus from temporary things to eternal communion with God. Beloved, we must treasure fellowship with the Most High God above all else!

  Our Prayer is, “Lord Lead Me by Your Precious Word!”  “May God’s statements be my plan, my compass, my guide, my leader to spiritual success, and my restrainer from all evil!”     

Ps 119:133, Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Ps 37:23-24, The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.  24,  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Are you persisting in carnality as opposed to growing in the Lord? Who leads your life? Who or what influences most of your decisions? How often do you study the Bible? How regularly do you attend church? In what specifically have you disobeyed God? What or who are your eyes focused on? Isn’t it time to build an ‘alter’ to the Most High God?

 

When Our Desires Go Wild

When Our Desires Go Wild

GEN. 13:8-13

 

SUBJECT: Carnality/Emotional Orientation

THEME: the Believer persisting in carnality ignoring the leadership of our Lord is destined for spiritual failure.

RELEVANCE: So many people rely on their feelings, thoughts, intuition, families, and experiences far more than God, His Spirit, or Word for guidance and decisions. Consider the elements that make spiritual failure; they must be avoided to be successful in fulfilling God’s plan for our lives!

INTRODUCTION:

Lot was a failure because of his carnality…he remained a feeling dominated person and never became a Spirit and Word obedient person!  

Worldly oriented desires or motivations are the second major factor in Lot’s Wrong Choice to move closer to Sodom and his ultimate failure in life. This area has been more recently described as ‘getting what we feel we deserve’ or what we feel entitled to given the fact that we have been spoiled, brough up being over shielded and protected, or as a defense against neglect to compensate for our need for attention. So, whether overindulgence, helicopter parenting, or childhood or spousal neglect, people often resort to an overinflated or distorted perception of their value and worth. They often justify their warp actions by such failures consequently they don’t see life correctly.

Not only is this approach flawed because it is essentially self-centered, but Lot never stop to ask God or gain His direction in this matter. He has fallaciously sown the seeds of corruption, and He will face the unfortunate consequences of His desires. God’s truth has a way of correcting our misconceptions and correcting wrong motives and feelings. But we must faithfully consult it to enjoy this benefit. I know this dynamic far too well!

MESSAGE:

 THE EVIDENCE OF WORLDLY-WISE DESIRES

Gen 13:10, And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

Because Lot was Weak in his Devotions, he was consequently Worldly in his Desires. He did not ask: “Is this a great place to raise children?”  He asked instead, “Is this a good place to raise cattle?”  He had two basic reasons from choosing Sodom and the well-watered Jordan Valley.

                    a) The Religious Reason for Lot’s Desires.

Vs 10, “...even as the garden of the LORD….

Lot looks out over the Jordan River plain after deciding to separate from Abraham to end a dispute between their herdsmen. He compares the lush, well-watered condition of the plain surrounding Sodom and Gomorrah…yes, the fertility and abundance to both “the garden of the LORD” (Eden) and “the land of Egypt”.

This little phrase discloses Lot’s awareness of the Garden of Eden and its majestic beauty before the Fall of man into sin. To Lot, the Jordan Valley reminded him of what he had heard about the Garden of Eden. So then, the ‘Garden of the Jehovah’ expresses a place of supreme divine beauty, life, abundance, and fellowship with God. Lot could point back to this earthly paradise where God placed Adam and Eve. A place designed as a sacred sanctuary to live in harmony with God, tend creation, and experience complete provision before the Fall.

Today it’s a metaphor for a life growing in the Holy Spirit—a protected, fruitful, and inviting place of spiritual growth and rest in Christ. 

Perhaps Lot also rationalized to himself, “I could be a good witness for the Lord there! After all, who is going to tell them about God?” while at the same time taking advantage of the opportunities availed there. Maybe he said, “God could really use me over there...”

Beware, often religious reasons afford us enough justification to operate in the flesh eventually!

This is a profound and honest observation about our human nature…our carnal behaviors. It highlights a common puzzle: we often use high-minded religious or moral frameworks to justify purely self-serving, ego-driven, self-worth perspectives, or harmful behaviors. —see Got Questions

When we wrap our personal desires, anger, or biases in religious language, it becomes easy to bypass our own conscience. This dynamic shows up in several plain behaviors:

• The “Righteous Anger” Trap: Believing that God or a higher law is on our side can make us feel entitled to mistreat, judge, or attack others while feeling entirely justified.
• External Rituals vs. Internal Change: It is much easier to follow outward rules, rituals, or doctrines than it is to do the hard, internal work of managing our ego, pride, and impulses.
• Weaponizing Grace or Freedom: Sometimes, knowing there is a mechanism for forgiveness can subtly become a license to slip back into destructive habits, rationalizing that we can just make amends later.

Essentially, when our ego or personality wears a religious mask, it becomes extremely difficult to identify. The Bible uses terms like pride, high-mindedness, double-mindedness, the flesh, or the old man to remove the disguise and warn us. Because the ego is inherently deceptive, it often disguises itself behind a mask of righteousness, false humility, or religious devotion.

• Luke 18:11 – “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” Notice the phrase “prayed thus with himself.”  The ego is talking to itself, using God as a prop to validate its superiority over the “publican” (tax collector).
• Colossians 2:18 & 23 – “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a “voluntary humility”... Which things have indeed a “shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” God calls this “will worship” and “voluntary humility.” It looks spiritual from the outside, but it actually feeds our ego (“satisfying of the flesh”) by making the person feel superior because of their strict self-denial.
• 1 Samuel 15:15 – “And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” King Saul disobeyed God’s direct command to destroy everything. When caught, his ego blamed “the people” and reframed the disobedience as a noble, religious act (“to sacrifice unto the Lord”).
• James 3:14-15 – “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not... This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” Sometimes the ego disguises itself as wisdom, strategy, or "looking out for your best interests," when it is actually driven by envy or bitter rivalry. This person is creating division or conflict under the guise of speaking the truth.
• God links “strife” (factionalism/ambition) with a false wisdom. If the advice leaves a trail of broken relationships and self-exaltation (“glory not”), such actions are driven by the ego.

To spot a disguised carnal orientation in yourself or another, look for the “I” disease of self-centeredness. The ultimate example is Isaiah 14:13-14, which records the fall of Lucifer!

                    b) The Real Reason for Lot’s Desires

Vs 10, “...like the land of Egypt, ...”

Lot looks out across the Jordan Valley, sees its lush and well-watered fields, and chooses it for himself—a decision driven by material wealth and sight rather than spiritual discernment. Abram allows Lot to choose first out of generosity and trust in God’s promise. This highlights a worldly perspective: Eden represents ideal earthly comfort, while “Egypt” symbolizes material abundance (though also a place of spiritual compromise).

                           1) Lot Had Fallen in Love with the World “Egypt” (1Jn 2:15-17)

Lot left his heart in Egypt; he had acquired a taste for Egypt. At the very least, he had heard about life in the city of Sodom. He had heard fiery stories about this city of gross immorality and found them more intriguing. Today’s live-sex shows, adult live streaming, X-rated videos and movies, and other forms of pornography are mild compared with what was taking place in Sodom. The sins of these people arose like a stench in the nostrils of God. Cruelty, lack of kindness, violent extreme inhospitality, and same-sex intercourse were the dark sins of Sodom.

                           2) Lot Had Fallen in Love with Wealth Gen. 13:10-11 (Greed)

Lot chooses based purely on physical appearance and economic potential for his large flocks.

1 Tim 6:8-11, And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9, But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  11, But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (Prov. 23:1-8; 28:20; Jn 6:27)

We are encouraged to be content, warned of the dangers of the love of money, and we are to explore devout qualities! God views our basic needs (food and clothing/raiment) as enough. The desire for wealth and the love of money leads to temptation, ruin, and spiritual wandering. As Believers we are urged to flee these traps and pursue spiritual virtues like righteousness, faith, and love.  

“A DOLLAR SPEAKS”

“Money talks, we have been told since childhood.  Listen to this dollar bill speak: “You hold me in your hand and call me yours. Yet may I not as well call you mine. See how easily I rule you?  To gain me you would all but die.  I am invaluable as rain, essential as water.  Without me men and institutions would die.  Yet I do not hold the power of life for them; I am futile without the stamp of  your desire.  I go nowhere unless you send me, I keep strange company.  For me, men mock, love, and scorn character.  Yet I am appointed to the service of saints, to give education to the growing mind and food to the starving bodies of the poor.  My power is terrific.  Handle me carefully and wisely, lest you become my servant, rather than I yours.”—Ray O. Jones

                           3) Lot Had Fallen in Love with Number One (Selfishness) Gen. 13:11

                                   a) He Obviously Did Not Consider His Family’s Welfare

He did not wonder, “Is this a good place to raise my family?”  He did not say, “What are the Schools like in those cities of the plains.” No, he wondered, “Is it a good place for raising cattle?” Maybe he even felt that his children were just too sheltered, “I want my children to be able to live in the real world, they really need broader exposure to the world.”  He didn’t learn a thing about what Abraham’s selfishness cost him down in Egypt! Lot could not live in Jesus Name because he was too busy making a name for himself in this world.  His heart was set on personal distinction, and personal significance, he wanted to be a self-made man!

                                    b) He Obviously Did Not Consider His Kind Uncle Abraham

At some point Lot must have rationalized his decision. “Uncle Abe has more than I have anyway, so this move in my favor will make us even.” Or maybe he thought, “Ol’ Uncle Abe is kind of naive, he doesn’t really care. After all he did give me the choice.” Whatever Lot’s rational it was based on his own selfish desires. He certainly didn’t consult with God about it!

                        4) Why Are Desires So Important?

Desires are important because what you desire you will do!  It all originates with what you See, continues with what you Think is important, and escalates with what you Desire, and finally culminates with what you Do! If Satan can influence you to desire wrongly, he can get you to Doing Wrong! What you SEE will affect what you THINK, what you think will affect what you DESIRE, and what you desire will affect what you DO!

DAVID COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH BATHSHEBA BECAUSE HE FIRST SAW HER FROM HIS ROOF TOP.  Standing on the flat roof of his palace in Jerusalem one evening, David saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing on the roof of a nearby house. With his passion aroused, David committed adultery with Bathsheba. Out of that union Bathsheba conceived a child. (2Sam. 11 & 12)

EVE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN WAS INVITED BY SATAN TO LOOK AT THE FRUIT; SHE SINNED AND ATE THE FRUIT AFTER SHE CONCLUDED IT WAS “PLEASANT TO THE EYES.” Gen 3:4-7, And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  5, For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.  6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.  7, And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

CONCLUSION: 

Scripture expressly states this very real dynamic repeatedly to warn us against this miscalculation!

Lam 3:51, Mine eye affecteth mine heart (intellect, emotions, and will) because of all the daughters of my city.

Prov 4:23, Keep (guard) thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Deut 4:8-9, And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?  9, Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Ps 139:23-24,  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  24, And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

How do TV commercials boost sales? Why are magazine sales, and internet shopping effective?  Why is it that the commercial build boards us a beautiful young woman or a handsome young man to sell their products? Why is it so difficult to get out of debt and stay out? Because you are being bombarded every day with products, and gadgets! When you see it or hear about it the Eyes-Thoughts-Desires-Action process takes over and you’re spending more money you don’t even have.

This human audio-visual principle can work in a very positive way as well.  If you and I set our Spiritual EYES on Jesus daily, then before long we will begin to THINK about Him, then we will DESIRE to know Him and become more like Him.  Then finally we are DOING what He would do and living for God’s Will like He did! If you and I truly desire to be spiritual, we will become spiritual just keep your focus on Spiritual Characters in the Bible. Like Paul, Joseph, Moses, Abraham, the Lord Jesus, Daniel ect.

Thinking for Myself

Thinking for Myself

 

1 Corinthians 3:3–4, 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?

Paul chastised these believers for being “carnal.” They were behaving like ordinary, worldly individuals instead of like Christians guided by God's reign in their experiences! These young believers were dividing themselves into competing supporter groups over Christian leaders like Paul and Apollos.

The believers were still in a carnal or fleshly state of soul. This was evidenced by the fact that there was envy and strife among them. Such behavior is characteristic of the men of this world, but not of those who are led by the Spirit of God.^[1]

“they were acting on a purely human level.”^[2]

“Carnal” means belonging to the flesh or governed by ordinary human impulses (selfishness, ego, and pride) rather than being transformed by the Spirit of God. Paul is not saying they are not saved, but that they are acting like spiritual infants (“babes in Christ”) who haven't grown up.

Instead of mature behavior characterized by humility and concern for others—obedience to God—the Corinthians were infantile, self-centered, and therefore divisive (v. 4; cf. 1:12). They wanted lives of exaltation (4:8) without lives of humiliation (4:9–13) because they did not understand that “Christ … crucified” was a message concerned not only with justification but also with sanctification (cf. Phil. 2:1–8). This misunderstanding was at the root of their disunity (cf. 1 Cor. 1:10; 3:4), which error Paul wanted to correct.^[3]

A sectarian disposition believes a person has been especially called and appointed by God to guard the true faith against false notions. Usually, pastors are responsible for this before God. Sectarianism encompasses belief that one is incumbently obligated to preserve certain ancient ideas while rejecting novelty, contemporary concepts, or new approaches. This is a little tricky because people have different preferences, opinions, and values. Certainly, unity around central doctrines is a fundamental responsibility of each NT Church, but certain values should characterize each ‘Christian’ congregation as well.

The kingdom of God centers on core moral and ethical values that shape how disciples live. These values, known as the Beatitudes, represent “the norms of the kingdom.” Rather than abstract principles, they define a radically different way of being in the world.

The Bible teaches us about the values and principles of the Kingdom of God. These values shape how believers are called to live and interact with each other and the world around us. Again, these values should govern all of God’s people. For instance, righteousness, love, justice, mercy, integrity, humility, compassion, forgiveness, peace, and joy should mark every kingdom subject.

In Romans 14:17 states: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” The emphasis is on the essence of God’s kingdom transcending dietary laws and focusing more on spiritual qualities like righteousness, peace, and joy, because these are given power by the Holy Spirit.

Once more Matthew 6:33 states: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Jesus emphasizes the importance of prioritizing spiritual pursuits and aligning our life with God’s plan, indicating that material needs will be met incidentally.

“This kingdom is not a physical place, but rather a spiritual reality where God’s will is fully done. Jesus taught his followers to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. The idea of the kingdom also includes the future establishment of a new heaven and earth where God’s kingdom will be fully realized and visible to all.”—Bible Wisdom Hub

Many people will speak or post on a matter referencing their research mostly, others strictly from their opinion, and yet others will merely regurgitate what they learned in the university. There will be a few who dare to say what God said in the Bible on the matter at hand!

Critically, what matters most to Jesus is how followers practice kingdom values rather than merely understanding them—they must actively embody the kingdom’s message to usher it in. The kingdom welcomes all people regardless of social status or ethnicity, blesses the meek and poor, and creates a community where the humble are exalted, the poor are dignified, and justice, hospitality, and solidarity define relationships. When God’s people live by kingdom principles in any community, God’s kingdom becomes visible there—justice displayed, righteousness established. (See citations below)

Clearly evidence of disunity or division indicate God is not necessarily leading or guiding that endeavor. He is not on the throne of that life! Sometimes ‘kingdom’ subjects have allowed themselves to be influence by something besides God. Perhaps politics, ethnicity, culture, country, religion, identity, or university has cluttered the real issues, and kingdom values are lost in the conflict. The Bible speaks of behaving like mere men (1Cor.3:3, 4). When carnal behaviors (such as “envy, strife, and divisions”) are expressed they are undoubtedly relying on the basic nature of the weak, sinful, human flesh—selfish energy dressed up like ‘holy purpose’ must be the cause.

Such immaturity often evidences a weak and frustrated Believer accompanied by an inferior prayer life, failure to studying the Bible, and limited quality Christian fellowship. A carnal lifestyle increases our vulnerability to temptation and sin even on social media platforms.

A good question to ask ourselves is “Am I living honorably according to God's reign in my life?” One of the best ways to defend the truth is to live the truth. My verbal defense of the gospel will accomplish very little if my life contradicts what I say. How I live out the grace of God is just as important as what I say. We really must return to an open Bible in front of us as we open our minds to God’s Word and our hearts to the truth of the Spirit.

 

 

 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1754.

^[2] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1754.

^[3] David K. Lowery, “1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 511.

        4. Bitrus A. Sarma, Drums of Redemption: A New Testament Theology for Africa (Bukuru, Plateau: Hippo Books: An Imprint of ACTS and Langham Publishing, 2023), 83–85.

        5.  Africa Study Bible (Oasis International Ltd, 2016), 1429.

        6.    Joshua T. Searle, Theology After Christendom: Forming Prophets for a Post-Christian World (New York, NY: Cascade Books, 2018).