BEING SPIRITUALLY CARNAL.

 

By Isaiah-Phillips Akintola

 

THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, CONVERTING THE SOUL.

 

Part 1

 

Introduction.

In this latest article, I have sought to provide insight, answer, and direction to some of the most perplexing questions before the Body of Christ in relating to what has been erroneously defined and termed as spirituality or Church practice.

Several young and upcoming spiritual leaders today are confused, particularly in the area of determining the correct footing of what could be defined or described as an appropriate biblical practice of spiritual leadership. Jesus made a profound statement when he said, these people draw close to me with their mouth, but their heart is far from me.

This is one of the most deceptive characters highlighted regarding a spiritual relationship. The fact that we can vocalize all the right spiritual ‘things’, and still be spiritually disconnected and dysfunctional is a serious issue that should not be ignored or neglected.

The increase of sensual and demonic inspired leadership practice demands that we raise our prophetic discernment and biblical doctrine and spirituality such that everyone can easily identify false spiritual projections, particularly, in this season of increased darkness. We cannot fold our hands while charlatans continue to corrupt and misrepresent the prophetic intention of God for the Church and the nations.

We should engage these raised false altars and impression that has brought so much shame to the Body of Christ. I have tried to examine this highly interesting but complex subject through the eyes of the Spirit. It’s my prayer that you will take the time to carefully study and meditate on some of the points highlighted in the article. Please feel free to engage me in any area you may seek further expansion.

When we buy the lie…

one of the major lies we have accepted as humans but particularly a major part of today’s church is to believe that one part of human is spiritual while the other aspects are none spiritual. The truth is, every single aspect of man is intricately designed to be spiritual both in existence and function. The creation of man and its various complex functions are all reflection of a certain degree of spirituality that takes the spiritually inform and awakened to understand.

Being spiritual is an integration of who we are, what we represent, and how we function emotionally, intelligently, physically, and of course, spiritually. Let’s examine some simple but critical facts that can assist us in the understanding of how human beings get to be shaped, develop, and function in behavior. I am not an expert on human development but I can say that I have extensively read books and research materials that back my knowledge on this subject. Further still, my work in the matter of spiritual development and leadership has given me rear opportunity to glean certain biblical values that have enhanced my insight and understanding.

 

Development and knowledge

 

We’ve all had of what is known as early childhood development (ECD). Experts reckon that the first 1000 days in the life of a child is critical because that is the formative process period of a child’s interaction to life. In other words, this period determines how the child will see, view and interact with so many things we define to be behavior and intelligence.

Intelligence is shaped and enhanced through early exposure to the necessary information and nurturing the brain requires to effectively function. As this point of fact applies to the natural realm, so does it apply to the concept of the spiritual infancy development of man.

Meaning that environment, either physical or spiritual plays a significant role in shaping our idea of knowledge and how we interpret such knowledge, especially in the area of defining truth and its application to real life events. The development or better still, the none development of the soul, which is the residence of human attitude, character, and behavioral pattern control how the brain process information, and how humans react and respond to such information, regardless of the spiritual state or carnal tendencies of such a person.

The brain which is part of the faculty of the soul operates based on a particular system of data inflow, particularly when such data is released frequently on a systematic, repetitive format.

Research has proved that the brain does not recognize the difference between imagination and reality. Thus, whatever gets infused within the human brain cognitive character long enough, becomes by default, the very reality the brain projects to such a person — this a profound law that has enhanced or even weaken the developmental journey of humans throughout history.

 

 

The power of reinforcement

 

Repetition reinforces what the brain thinks, sees, believes, and accept as its reality. No wonder the word of God declares, “as a man thinks in his (mind) heart so he is.

Any form of thought pattern, good or bad, creates a profound sense of reality within the mind if they are not immediately dealt with correctly.

Whatever we believe and accept as spiritually correct becomes what our brain accepts and reinforce as the truth within the various faculties of our being as the truth.

If we, therefore, do not have a biblically set pattern of determining and measuring truth and spirituality, we can easily fall into any deceptive trap of the enemy, and in fact, this is what the enemy is busy with today to lure many into his den of destruction.

I’ll like these basic facts to be the footing of some of the principles I want us to examine through this article as we continue to find the divine pattern for our spiritual reformation, transformation, and ultimate restoration even as the battle of light and darkness continues.

 

 

Unveiling carnality within spirituality.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

 

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

To be carnally minded is death and but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. The term carnality is a berry broadened word that goes beyond a particular act of sin. The biblical definition of carnality is anything outside the standard order and functional state and value system of the Spirit of God.

I will frequently use this term on a broad definition that should help us make sense of what the Spirit of the Lord is emphasizing in this hour, even as we continue to witness the false impressions of spirituality all around us. To understand and thoroughly apply the perfected law of the Lord in its true essence is to begin to step into the journey of the conversation and transformation of the soul back to its ordained, original place and function in Christ.

There are several ascended truths and high values we can glean from this profound statement made under divine inspiration through David, centuries-long before Christ our Redeemer came to earth. It’s evident that the main focus of the Spirit in this season is the conversion of the human soul and its entire operational faculties.

The need to continue to unravel the character nature of the soul-man is necessary to begin preparing the Body of Christ for the next spiritual emphasis of kingdom lifestyle and its governmental expression. There are just too many assumptions flagging around today in the name of biblical spirituality, or in the name of some kingdom manifestation that is totally contradictory to God’s divine order and value pattern.

Many out of shared zeal in our time have sought to run with some kind of apostolic mandate or prophetic message without clear knowledge and insight into how the deceptive, operative influence of the unregenerate soul seeks to corrupt and disregard the advancement of kingdom assignment. I do not believe that we can fully enter the scope of the third day ascended ministry of the ecclesia without a clear, broadened, prophetic insight into every sphere of human faculty operational system.

It will be a great mistake to venture into the realm of high-level kingdom spiritual activity within the context of the humanist, New Age definition of spirituality without a well-balanced, matured sense of biblical spiritual wisdom and authority of engagement.

 

Removing the footing of assumption

 

Therefore, pressing into the realm of kingdom possibility in this hour necessitate that each one of us returns to the school of Christ, and be upgraded on how the soul-man seeks to manipulate and circumvent the divine protocol of accurate spiritual ministry lifestyle.

In my past articles, I have sought to deal with the concept of the soul and how the mind operates. In this article, however, my focus is slightly different in the sense that I am trying to unravel how the unregenerate soul-man can almost successfully camouflage in its operations as an authentic spiritual manifestation.

 

It is a known fact that is worth repeating that many of the acts of war, destructions, wickedness, enslavements, corruption, perversion, religious cultism, social abuse, and many other destructive tendencies we’ve witnessed in history till this very day, all emanate from the fruit of the rebellious, unregenerate souls of men. The soul faculties of man by the act of the fall is morally corrupt and continually wicked in its desire and aspirations. The unrefined behavioral patterns of men find their roots from the fallen, Adamic character of the soul.

Beyond this, the influence of illegitimate leadership power either from the viewpoint of political manipulation, socioeconomic degradations, or the abuse of spiritual authority, are all products of the fallen, dysfunctional character values within the human soul. When that which is defined to be spiritual and sacred becomes the very instrument of deception, perversion, corruption, then, such narrative of spirituality calls for significant concern, and this is what I am seeking to highlight through this note.

What worries me is, a significant part of today’s church is fast losing the true meaning and essence of spirituality to that which is soulish and carnally motivated. As I read and interact with folks, especially on social media platforms, I see how a vast number of church members; individuals we once thought have spiritual understanding, stand up in defense of criminals who call themselves men and women of God.

It baffles me to see how folks confront and criticize authentic followers of Christ who stands up in defense of the truth. It is surprising to see how so-called Christians today can rise in defense of that which is indefensible. These brethren seem not to know nor understand what is biblically deem heretic from what is spiritual and doctrinally correct. I cannot but wonder what in the world is going on within the mind frame of many of our church folks today.