The Carnal Vs Spiritual Christian | Navigating through the way Jesus truly lived

Welcome to My Blog! I'm your host Ladasia of Daughters of The King ministries.

As you may know Daughters of The King is coming up on our ministry anniversary very soon, specifically Oct 20.2023.I am so excited and honestly I thank you and thank our Lord Jesus for being with me on this journey and just pouring into everyone who reads or listens to the podcast. If I have impacted your life in some way be sure to send me a dm "daughters__oftheking" or email daughtersoftheking325@gmail.com to share your testimonies or whatever you feel led to send me. I also accept giving there's no required amount nor do you have to give. If you'd like to sow into the ministry be sure to cash app $ladasiaaa02 or click this link. Giving helps me to grow the ministry. Thank you in advance. Now let's dive into this week's blog.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

In this blog I will be discussing the truth about the carnal Christian versus the spiritual christian. Yes, there is a significant difference and yes, Jesus did not live carnally but spiritually. The Holy Spirit is called that for a reason. It is not called "The Holy Carnal". The Bible clearly states that we are to worship God in spirit and truth. There are too many American churches and christians who are not operating in the Holy Spirit but out of their fleshly nature. Yes I am going to be that bold to talk about it because God did not give me a mouth to use to sugarcoat but to win souls. With that being said, if exposing the enemy's lies will help even just one person truly seek Jesus out of Him renewing their spirit and minds then truly that is all that matters. Too many people are claiming Jesus' name, they pray, they worship, they go to church, I mean if this was a race or a simple to-do list then most people would win. Most would get the biggest trophy and brag about it.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is not a race, it is not an aesthetic, it is not a religion, it is not based on works. It is so much more Jesus wants to offer us by giving us true freedom but you can't receive that when you're carnal.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast

I get it the world we live in shapes us into this competitive environment where you're always working a 9-5 just to get by and collect a paycheck which in deeper terms it's just us working...working.. and more working to earn something so it's not surprising that we do this with our salvation. You will never be able to earn God's love. It is freely given to you, if only you receive it. Imagine someone giving you a gift and you're trying to repay them like our parents. For example they give us gifts or help us in some form and we can never repay them, we can try but that would take a lifetime.

John 4:23-24- But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

What is a carnal minded Christian?

The word "carnal" is translated from the Greek word "sarkikos", which means "fleshly". In simpler terms, to be carnal is to operate in the flesh. Before I continue to dive right in here are a couple of bible verses to meditate on as you read this blog.

• Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

• Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

• Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

• Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

• Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

• Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

• Romans 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

• Colossians 3:1-25 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ...

I suggest reading Romans 8 as it specifically talks in depth of the fleshly nature that we all have in us but must put to death. When you give your life to Christ, the same way Jesus had died on the cross with His flesh nailed, it's in the same way we must nail our flesh so yes that means it is very painful there is a lot of suffering and I'd be lying if I said it was easy. It is literally giving up your life to follow Him which in the world we live today it opposes the way Jesus lived. I encourage you to take up your cross , don't look at this world, look at the one who saves.

In Corinthians, Paul is addressing the church and he describes them as being carnal minded aka fleshly yearnings. The truth is, a christian can be carnal but should not live their life in carnality. The church of Corinth dealt with many problems that American churches are dealing with today. Paul's letters to the church in Corinth show that the problems of the city also affected the Christian community. People need to understand that if you're a part of the body of Christ and you do something completely out of order it will affect the entire body. Paul's whole purpose of Corinth was helping them build their foundation on Jesus instead of their flesh. Paul rebuked the Corinthians and they did not like this. It is the same way today. If a preacher preaches the truth many people will leave the church because they don't like to hear the truth, they only want to hear what feels good to their flesh.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Acts 18:9-11 "9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Now back to the church of Corinth we're all new believers can you imagine a church filled with baby christians? Not to knock that people are babies in Christ, I love seeing people saved and free, however a church needs a leader to lead those new believers. Most American churches are in fact like this. There are new christians learning from new christians and that is a problem. There are baby christians learning from carnal christians or carnal christians learning from carnal christians. All of this in fact is an issue within the church today. Moral of the story, a carnal christian needs someone who is spiritually mature to teach them the mature meat of the gospel.

Approximately two weeks ago I was in Florida, feeding baby goats and I noticed that these baby goats loved their milk that is what nurtured them in that stage of their life. Then I saw the adult goats and they ate mature food. They weren't drinking a bottle of milk. An adult goat will never drink a bottle of milk, in fact they might just treat it like a toy.

This is what the body of Christ should be like. As a baby Christian/carnal christian you are getting the bits and pieces of the gospel probably learning about who Jesus is and how important reading your bible is and so much more. Then you should be able to transition to the meat of the gospel with mature believers holding you accountable, helping you to serve, understanding your authority with the demonic forces, fasting , acting out of obedience and not needing 100 confirmations just to do what God says to do.

Characteristics of being carnally minded:

• Shaped by culture

• Minds set on the flesh

• Don't bear fruits of the spirit

• Dependent on others

• Remain spiritual infants

• Contentious over trivial issue

• Want others to be carnal too

• Don't please God

Questions to evaluate yourself:

1. Are you concerned about yourself more than anything else? We live in a society of promotion of self. Check your heart. Does your prayer life center around you or others?

2. Are you obsessed with getting more and never content with what you have?

3. Do you think you are more than what you really are? Pride is a big sign of a carnally minded christian.

4. Do you find yourself unwilling to forgive?

5. Are you seeking pleasure with no boundaries?

6. Are you worshiping God or people?

7. Is your love for others growing cold?

The disease:

A disease left untreated will continue to spread even more throughout the body. Think of it like cancer. Once cancer is diagnosed it continues to spread if it doesn't get the proper treatment.

The cure:

Surrender and truly let God search your heart, repent, find a spiritually mature church because bad company corrupts good character. Remain spiritually minded as I will be discussing below.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

What is a spiritual minded Christian?

The Apostle Paul said, “To be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6; see also verse 5). Choosing to be spiritually minded by living a life worthy of the Holy Spirit is gentle persuasion will provide you guidance in your decisions and protection from both physical and spiritual danger.

As you walk in the spirit you begin to develop the fruits of the spirit, growing in Christ, fasting, abiding in His word, making disciples etc. It is a life of holiness and complete maturity in Christ. When you are connected to the Holy spirit you will then be led correctly and if you stumble across a carnal minded church/christian then you can discern that properly because of The Holy Spirit.

There are times when because I am being led by the Holy Spirit I hear God's voice to do a certain thing or not do a certain thing and each time God is always right. He is just and knows what's best for us. He is a loving father and a father disciplined to protect His children.

The American church has a part to play...

From my understanding with my personal experience, I was once a new believer in Christ and I needed someone that had a leadership role to teach me the things of Christ. Then eventually, I got to a point where I wanted to meat of the gospel. I realized not many churches today offer that type of spiritual maturity. It equaled to me not being fed spiritually and when your spirit is not fed then your flesh is being fed. How can one know God's voice ? If they're feeding their flesh. The spirit has to be nurtured and the flesh needs to starve and hop in the backseat of the car because it should never be the driver.

When Tiphani Montgomery spoke about a particular topic ( I won't be discussing on here but here's a youtube if you'd like to know more about it https://youtu.be/VJZSgcYLFVw?si=giqsOz-Z4e8lYdYb ). She took a stand for Christ instead of a stand for culture and she was attacked by so many carnal minded christians, unbelievers, atheists and more. All because she spoke the truth and that is an example of what happens when we preach the truth , many will oppose it, persecute us, etc. They did this to Jesus as well. He preached things contrary to the flesh and some people were opposed to his message. Some preachers/churches are afraid to speak on the truth because their church wouldn't be as full which means less money, less applause, less fame in their eyes. Keyword "some '' there are in fact good churches out there who stand on God's word but most American churches are seeking to please man and not God. Jesus ran from popularity,He did not come to be liked but to do His father's business and with doing that as a true christian you'll always be outcasted and that is okay. I would rather please God not man because at the end of the day God is who reigns above it all.

The American churches have watered down the true gospel of Jesus Christ, you can walk into a church and not even feel the Holy Spirit but many other spirits at work. Yes, the devil goes to church too. As long as you go to church on Sundays and spend the rest of the week with him the devil will not bother you but as soon as you commit to Christ fully he will attack you in many ways and I and many others can testify that. There're so many churches that aren't doing deliverance, healing, and training up disciples. They preach surface level and sugar coated messages to keep people comfortable but the true gospel that Jesus preached makes people uncomfortable.

Why is it that someone can get prayed over and walk away still hurting when Jesus literally healed people and made them whole by prayer and deliverance. Why is it that someone can go to church and not be transformed as the Bible talks about? It is because the American church has watered down the gospel. People need healing, prayer and deliverance. They need the gospel the one Jesus lived through. Healed people do not go to hospitals, sick people do. Churches are filled with christians and unbelievers are not always in a church that's confined to a building. In fact, church is where two or more are gathered in Jesus name. Jesus is within us and he told us to go out and spread His gospel. We are supposed to be doing so much more than being a benchwarmer inside of a building, we need to get in the game and save souls. That is spiritual maturity. That is living like Jesus.

“Is anyone ill? They should ask the leaders of the church to come and to pray for them. The leaders should put some olive oil on the sick person. They should pray for him with the authority of the Lord Jesus.”

‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭EASY‬‬

“Jesus heard what the Pharisees were saying. He said to them, ‘People who are well do not need a doctor. It is people who are ill that need a doctor.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭12‬ ‭EASY‬‬

“I tell God's good news to people. But I have no reason to be proud because of that. It is something that I have to do. If I did not tell the good news, it would bring me great trouble.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭16‬ ‭EASY‬‬

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Go to all people everywhere in the world. Tell God's good news to everyone.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭EASY‬‬

I was having a conversation with my friend Kristlyn and she stated " we go to church in a building more than we go to preach the gospel" and my mouth dropped instantly. I was grieved by this because it is true. We lack spiritual authority and maturity in the today's modern Christianity.

Jesus traveled everywhere to deliver people from all types of things He uprooted those spirits within the person because He knew we don't wrestle with flesh and blood. He knew the spiritual realm was real. The problem with American churches is they talk about authority but they don't carry it out. I refuse to be a benchwarmer christian while many people are in need of Jesus inside of a grocery store, airport, street or whatever.

Conclusion:

Be led by the spirit. Reflecting Jesus' life. If you do that you'll always be in alignment with God's will for your life no matter what people say. Keyword "do '' is an action word. Obedience is necessary. Don't be carnal minded.

Thank you for reading , I understand this was a deep topic and a lot to take in, definitely go to God in prayer and process it then tune into the Podcast Thursday 10/12 for more in depth revelation. God bless you.

-DOTK