Spirituality, the Present Meed Churches Are Full of Half-grown Christians, and Spiritually Minded People Are Not Numerous By PERCY W. HEWARD England
|OW h ea rt searching are the words to the Corinthian Chris tians in 1 Cor'. 3:1-3, “And I ,’ brethren, could not speak un
will be spiritual. Alas, in these perilous times how often sentimentalisin is mis taken for spirituality. If the Scriptures were esteemed more th an necessary food (Job 2 3 :12 ), and as all important, we should be more sp iritu al ourselves, and able to ’discern those who were really growing in grace. The n atu ral man cannot understand th e things of God “ because they are spiritually dis cerned” (1 Cor. 2 :1 4 ). And the words which follow are suggestive, “he th a t is sp iritual discerneth” “ all things” (m ar g in ). May we be more concerned as to our grow th in grace. Let us seek , “to be spiritually m inded”— which «js life and peace (Rom. 8 :6 ). May we, through m editating on God’s Law, and waiting upon Him, “ be filled w ith the knowledge of His Will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” F o r what purpose? “That ye may walk worthy of th e Lord unto all pleasing, being fru itfu l in every good work, and in creasing in th e knowledge of God” (Col. 1 :9-10). We cannot offer sp iritual sac rifices unless we are spiritual in heart (1 Pet. 2 :5 ). If saints are growing in grace, surely th ere will be deep and lov ing concern about other saved one§. How often the exhortation in Gal. 6:1 is overlooked— “ If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are sp iritu al restore such an one in the sp irit of meekness.” It is not easy to speak to one who is wandering: much grace and spiritual ta c t are needed. Only as we walk in fellowship w ith the Lord shall we have grace and wisdom to act and speak wisely. Spirituality is seen in our daily walk and talk , and in every little detail
to you as spiritual, bu t as carnal, even as babes in Christ.’’ Their condition of h eart was sadly manifest,, for th e Apos tle goes on to speak of envy, strife, and divisions amongst them . The same Apostle, w riting to th e Philippian saints, exhorts, saying, “Only let your conver sation be as becometh .the Gospel of Christ, th a t w hether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may h ear of your affairs, th a t ye stand fast in one Spirit, w ith one accord, striving togeth er for the faith of the Gospel.” What a con trast w ith disunion. Where th ere is th e standing fast and th e oneness, Spirituality will then resu lt. But, alas, in these days how much falling short th ere is in individual life, as well as collectively, through failing to continue in God’s Word (John 8:31, 32). Surely th e Scriptures are plain, th a t those who continue as babes in Christ, when they should be full grown, are carnal, and unskillful in the Word of Righteousness and thus cannot discern between good and evil (Heb. 5:12 -14 ). Therefore one of th e m arks of spirituality is dis cernment, and knowing what to do in emergencies. Where th ere is grow th in grace, and in th e knowledge of the Lord Jesus, th ere will be hatred of sin, and more love to Him, and fellowship with Him. We are told th a t th e people took knowledge of P eter and John th a t they had been w ith Jesus (Acts 4 :1 3 ). It is only as saved ones walk in His light, and have fellowship w ith Him, th a t they
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