Ask God: Every believer needs to understand the difference between living from the spirit and living from the natural, carnal side of our lives. When we understand this difference, we can recognize what is happening within us, learn to listen to and communicate with the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to guide our thoughts, decisions, and actions. The goal is not simply to gain knowledge, but to learn how to live each day in a way that brings us closer to Christ and allows us to experience the peace, purpose, and joy God desires for us.

Good Evening Reader,

Our objective is to know the Truth, the Truth sets us free.

Lesson 2 of the series of 6.

God Bless.

Elvin

Why Understanding Your Spirit and Your Flesh, Changes Everything

You Can Be Saved and Still Be Confused

Have you ever wondered why you can know what the Bible says is right and still find yourself doing what you know is wrong? Have you ever prayed for God's direction, but then allowed fear, anger, worry, or your emotions to influence your decisions? If so, you are not alone.

Many Christians love Jesus and sincerely want to follow Him, yet they struggle to understand what is happening inside them. One moment they feel close to God. The next moment they are discouraged, angry, tempted, or confused. They may wonder, "Why am I like this? If the Holy Spirit lives in me, why do I still struggle?"

The Bible gives us an important answer. We need to understand the difference between the spiritual man and the natural, or carnal, man.

Paul wrote, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Romans 8:6, KJV).

That verse gives us a powerful reason to learn how God created us. Your spirit, soul, and body are connected, but they do not serve the same purpose. Your body experiences the physical world. Your soul includes your mind, will, and emotions. Your spirit is the part of you that can communicate with God.

Paul prayed that believers would be "sanctified" completely, with their "whole spirit and soul and body" preserved blameless (1 Thessalonians 5:23, KJV).

This knowledge can change the way you live.

Imagine driving a car without understanding the steering wheel, brakes, or accelerator. The car may be powerful, but if you do not know how it works, you will struggle to control it. In much the same way, God has given believers spiritual resources, but we need to understand how to use them.

The goal is not simply to learn another Bible lesson. The goal is to recognize what is happening inside you, learn to listen to the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to guide your life.

You Begin to Understand What Is Really Happening Inside You

One of the greatest benefits of understanding the spiritual man and the carnal man is that you begin to understand your own struggles.

Before we understand this difference, we may blame everything on our circumstances. We might say, "My boss makes me angry," "My family is causing me stress," or "I cannot help the way I feel." But Scripture teaches us to look deeper.

The Bible says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7, KJV).

Our thoughts matter because our thoughts influence our decisions and actions. Your soul includes your mind, will, and emotions. It is where you think, make decisions, and experience feelings.

Think about a Christian who receives an angry email. The first thought may be, "I am going to tell this person exactly what I think!" The emotion rises. The body becomes tense. The natural response is to fight back.

But something else can happen.

The believer can stop and ask, "What is my soul telling me right now? What does God's Word say? What is the Holy Spirit leading me to do?"

That pause can change everything.

Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Scripture helps us recognize the difference between what our soul is telling us and what God wants us to understand.

This does not mean every thought is from the devil, nor does it mean every feeling is wrong. God gave us a mind and emotions for a reason. The problem comes when our thoughts, emotions, or physical desires become our master.

Your soul is not your enemy. Your body is not your enemy. God designed them to function together. But He also gave you a spirit that can respond to Him.

Think of a house with several rooms. The body is the house itself. The soul is like the busy family room where thoughts, emotions, and decisions take place. The spirit is like a quiet room where you meet with God.

When you understand the difference, you can recognize which "room" is influencing your decisions.

That is the beginning of spiritual growth.

You Learn to Let the Holy Spirit Guide Your Thoughts and Decisions

Understanding the spiritual man does more than explain your struggles. It teaches you where to look for God's direction.

Jesus promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come and guide them. He said, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13, NKJV).

The Holy Spirit is not simply a doctrine we believe. He is God's presence working in the life of the believer. He helps us understand God's Word, recognize truth, and follow God's will.

This is important because we often make decisions based on what we can see.

Suppose you receive two opportunities. One looks profitable, but something inside you causes you to stop and pray. Another opportunity seems smaller, but as you seek God, you sense peace and see that it agrees with Scripture.

What should you do?

You should not simply follow a feeling. The Holy Spirit will never lead you contrary to God's Word. Instead, you pray, search Scripture, seek God's wisdom, and pay attention to the direction God is giving you.

James tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5, NKJV).

This is where prayer becomes more than asking God to bless our plans. Sometimes we approach God with our decision already made. We say, "Lord, I have decided what I am going to do. Please bless it."

But spiritual maturity changes the question.

Instead, we begin asking, "Lord, what do You want me to do?"

That is a major change in the Christian life.

God has a purpose for your life, and you do not have to create that purpose yourself. We should seek to discover God's plans and then use our physical resources to carry them out.

Think of a sailboat. The sailor cannot control the wind, but he can raise the sail and allow the wind to move the boat. In a similar way, we cannot control everything God is doing, but we can surrender ourselves to His direction.

Learning to communicate with the Holy Spirit begins with listening.

Pray. Read the Word. Be still. Ask God for wisdom. Test what you believe you are hearing against Scripture. Then obey what God has made clear.

The more we practice this, the more familiar we become with God’s purpose and direction.

You Begin to Experience a Life of Greater Peace, Purpose, and Victory

The third change may be the most encouraging of all.

When you understand the difference between the spiritual man and the carnal man, you begin to understand how to live differently.

Romans 8:6 says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (KJV).

Notice those last three words: life and peace. Peace and satisfaction come when we know God’s purpose for our lives and we use all our natural, physical resources to accomplish God’s purpose.

God does not want you to spend your Christian life confused about who you are or constantly defeated by your thoughts and emotions. He wants you to learn how to walk with Him.

Consider what happens when a person allows the soul to take control. Fear says, "Something terrible is going to happen." Anger says, "Get even." Temptation says, "Give in." Pride says, "You deserve better."

But the Holy Spirit can bring another voice.

God's Word says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV).

The Spirit says, "Trust God."

The soul says, "I have to figure everything out."

The Spirit says, "Seek God's wisdom."

The soul says, "You have been hurt. Get even."

The Spirit says, "Forgive."

This is the battle many believers experience every day.

Paul described it in Galatians 5:17: "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh" (KJV).

The answer is not to hate yourself or become frustrated because you still have struggles. The answer is to learn which voice you should follow.

Imagine a young child learning to walk. The child falls many times. The parent does not say, "You are a failure because you fell." The parent reaches down, helps the child stand, and says, "Try again." Like the child, you will fall but God will give you strength to get up and continue to grow.

God is patient with us as we learn to walk with Him.

Your spiritual life also grows through practice. Every time you choose God's Word over your emotions, you are learning. Every time you stop and pray before making a decision, you are learning. Every time you forgive instead of seeking revenge, you are learning. Every time you surrender your plans and ask God for His will, you are learning.

The change may not happen overnight. But little by little, your mind is renewed, your decisions change, and your life begins to reflect Christ.

That is spiritual growth.

Conclusion: You Were Created for More Than Survival

Perhaps the most important thing you can take away from this lesson is this: you do not have to remain confused about what is happening inside you.

You may have struggled with anger for years. You may have allowed fear to control important decisions. You may have wondered why you can read the Bible and still struggle to understand how it applies to your daily life.

There is hope.

God has not left you alone to figure out the Christian life by yourself. He has given you His Word. He has given you the Holy Spirit. He has given you prayer. He has given you a new spiritual life through Christ.

The Bible says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).

That does not mean every old thought, habit, or emotion disappears instantly. It means something new has happened inside you. Your spirit has been made alive to God, and now you can learn to live from that new life.

This is why understanding the spiritual man and the carnal man matters.

You begin to recognize the difference between what your emotions are saying and what God's Word says. You learn to stop before reacting. You learn to pray before deciding. You learn to seek God's will instead of simply asking Him to bless your own plans.

And perhaps most importantly, you begin to realize that your Christian life is not simply about trying harder. It is about learning to follow the One who lives within you.

The question to consider is simple: Who is leading your life today?

Is your mind being controlled by fear, anger, temptation, and the circumstances around you? Or are you learning to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow God's Word to direct your thoughts, decisions, and actions?

Take a moment before you continue with your day. Be still before God and ask: "Lord, show me what is leading me. Show me where my soul is trying to take control. Teach me to hear Your voice, know Your will, and follow Your Spirit."

You may be surprised by what God begins to show you.

The Christian life is a journey. You will not understand everything in one day. But you can begin today.

Your spirit can lead. Your soul can learn to follow. Your body can become an instrument for God's purposes.

And as you learn to walk with the Holy Spirit, you can experience what Paul described as life and peace.

There is a better way to live. It begins with understanding who God created you to be.

Elvin

Share your thoughts. Email me at elvin@askgodfor.com. I would love to share with others on this list how you handle difficulties and trials.

Ask God For

Christian faith

PS. Share your newfound knowledge with you friends.

Reader,

Hosea said his people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge give believers and non-believers a choice. When a person does not know, they cannot choose.

Feel free to forward this lesson to your friends and family.

Grow in the knowledge of God.

Elvin

Send your comments to elvin@AskGodFor.com and let me know what you think of the lessons.

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