There is a tendency in the church to think that we can become Christ-like and spiritual outside of a real vigorous pursuit of the Word of God. The tendency is to be passionate in worship, prayer and fellowship sessions without firstly pursuing the Word in our personal context.
The Word of God defines true Spirituality
John 1:1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. NIV
God is defined by His Word. We of course know that in John 1 the Word is Christ Himself (John 1:14). So God who is Spirit (John 4:24) is defined through His Word. So we can say that:
- God is Spirit.
- The Word defines God.
If we bring these two realities together we can say that we access true spiritual, Christ-like life through the revelation of the Word of God in our lives.
Remember the definition of the word “logos” (the Word) in part 1 of this series:
Logos: “something said; words as the expression of intelligence; reasoning; thought; motive; computation” (Strong’s Greek Dictionary).The word “logos” comes from the verb “lego” which means: “to utter definite words, connected and significant speech equal to discourse; to speak intelligently”. The idea or meaning carried in the word “lego” is that of putting forth a systematic argument with intended meaning as one engaged in a discourse. So therefore it is reasonable to say that there is intelligence and wisdom behind the Word of God.
If Spirituality is defined within the confines of God’s word then spirituality cannot be mistaken for emotionalism. While passion and zeal are good and important, Paul still warns of zeal without knowledge (Rom 10:2) – meaning that at the centre of true spiritual advance is the issue of a possession of knowledge (the Word) from God.
The Pursuit of God’s Word is the basis for Dynamic Worship
Relooking into this issue is critically important in a time where we are obsessed with producing a spectacular church service that appeals to big audiences. The idea in such environments is that the “Word” is boring; rather we should focus on just worshipping and may be prayer to a certain extent. Prayer and Worshipping are absolutely Biblical and important in maintaining vibrancy and momentum in our spiritual lives but worship outside of God’s word can be a deadly poison in the churches. It was in this context that Jesus rebuked the Samaritan woman and the Samaritans for “worshipping that which they don’t know” (John 4:22). This was the same issue that Paul dealt with in Athens:
Acts 17:23
23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. NIV
The altar with an inscription: “to an unknown God” very clearly speaks of Christianity that is full of worship and yet without a deeper revelation of God. Such environments tend to carry a very elementary-generic understanding and are never able to “go on to maturity” as the word demands (Heb 6:1).
The Word of God defines true Spirituality (cont…)
God is Spirit and God is the Word. The Word of God is reasoning, knowledge, mentality and principles. What then is spirituality?
- Primarily, spirituality is the extent to which we possess understanding of the Word of God.
- Spirituality is the application of the principles of the Word of God in our lives.
Spirituality cannot be defined outside of (a) an understanding and (b) application of the principles of the Word of God.
John 1:14
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. NIV
Christ teaches us that true spirituality is the convergence of the principles of God’s word into human life. We therefore express our spirituality not just during the worship service but in the very conduct and structure of our lifestyles.
Confronting the Corinthian Element
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? NIV
The Corinthian church experienced the manifestation of the Spirit to a greater measure. It was in this church that Paul taught about the gifts of the Spirit and yet it was in the same church that Paul dealt with issues of sexual immorality. The Corinthian church therefore had an immoral element even though there were prophets who often prophesied during the meetings. The dilemma of spiritual giftedness and morality (gifts and fruits) has always been an issue that the church has had to confront, especially back in the Charismatic dispensation. As God enforces His kingdom in a greater measure in the church, there is a realisation that spiritual giftedness that is not founded on Christ-likeness is really death, even though it may produce results on Sunday morning. We therefore cannot keep gifted but immoral people anymore. We have to correct, adjust and rebuke such people (beginning with scrutinising closely our own lives) and if they don’t want to change, we have to expel them just as Paul did in the Corinthian church.
1 Corinthians 5:9
9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- NIV
1 Corinthians 5:10-12
10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? NIV
1 Corinthians 5:13
13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." NIV
What do we see in 1 Corinthian 3?
- Spiritual giftedness does not mean that one is spiritual.
- The manifestation of the Spirit (through His gifts) does not mean that the environment in which He manifests Himself is spiritual. This is true also of the children of Israel, they saw the glory of God and yet God was angry with them (Heb 3:7-15).
- To be spiritual has to do with living life according to the principles of Christ and not of the world. In the case of the Corinthians, there was jealousy and quarrelling.
- Spirituality and Christ-likeness can therefore be measured through one’s conduct of life.
Spirituality can be measured through lifestyle and not in the manifestation of a gift on Sunday morning. The tendency again in the church is to think that those manifesting a gift of word of knowledge or prophecy on Sunday morning are the spiritual ones. We see in the case of the Corinthian church that this is not so.
The Holy Spirit and the Word of God
In the Charismatic dispensation, the Holy Spirit was subjected to a limited sphere of the gifts on Sunday morning. The Word does teach about the gifts of the Spirit:
1 Corinthians 12:1
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. NIV
1 Corinthians 12:7
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. NIV
This (the gifts) is a true and a valid dimension of the Holy Spirit but the work of the Spirit of God in the church is broader than just the gifts.
The Holy Spirit was given primarily for the development of the life of the believer on a daily basis and not simply for the manifestation of the gifts on Sunday morning. And so the doctrine on the Holy Spirit does not begin in 1 Cor 12 it actually begins with the teachings of Jesus in the gospels.
John 14:15-17
15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. NIV
John 14:26
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. NIV
John 16:7-8
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: NIV
John 16:13-15
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. NIV
Key issues to note:
- Jesus talks about “another Counselor”: The word “another” in the Greek means “another of the same kind”. So the Holy Spirit is no freaky spooky spirit. He does not lead people to do crazy things. He is the same in quality and character as Jesus. The Jesus we read about through the gospels demonstrates the character of the Spirit.
- “Counselor”: is the word “parakletos” and the word means: a consoler, a comforter, an intercessor, an advocate. Parakletos comes from the word “parakaleo” which means “to comfort, to encourage, to exhort”. The word means “one who provides an aid or help”. The word defined “an advocate or one who comes forward in behalf of and as a representative of another”. In what context is the Holy Spirit providing help? The context is one of living a life of Christ. So therefore the Holy Spirit is ministering to our conscience in the daily conduct of our lives not just on Sunday morning. His grace or anointing is with us so that we can live correctly in the midst of the darkness of this world. This has somehow not been emphasised in the teachings about the Holy Spirit and as a result the saints are not equipped to “hear the Spirit” directing their lives. This in turn continues to produce a weak church that is strongly only on Sunday morning.
- He will “teach” you: The word “teach” is the Greek word “didasko” and it means: to instruct, to tutor, to advise, to put in mind, to shape the will of the one being taught through the communication of knowledge; to influence or shape the understanding of another”. To what extent are believers aware that the Holy Spirit is teaching them things in the daily conduct of lives. If the Holy Spirit is teaching then we can say that at the centre of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in our lives is the impartation and revelation of the Word of God. We therefore cannot disconnect the Holy Spirit from the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is here to guide us into all truth and so when we have the Holy Spirit we will continue to be on a journey of discovery of God’s nature. We need to be careful of any spirit that manifests gifts on Sunday morning but leaves us shallow and sometimes leading immoral lifestyles.
The Holy Spirit is here to reveal God through the Word (to teach) so that our lives can be developed in Christ. But also the Holy Spirit is here to demonstrate the divine power of God.
The “Man” who did not understand
Matthew 13:19
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. NIV
In Matt 13, the parable of the Sower in its primary context has to do with the proclamation of the Word of God and not financial giving (there are scriptures that more appropriately speak into issues of finances and giving). And so the “good soil” is not a minister or preacher but represents the required quality of the heart of a believer if the kingdom of God is to be established in one’s life.
Jesus talks then about the seed sown along the path as a man who hears but does not understand. How many people sitting in the churches and who are passionately worshipping God every Sunday and yet cannot sit down and explain the concepts and principles of the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 3:15
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, NIV
How many believers can give valid satisfactory answers if asked about God, the Kingdom of God, Christ, the purpose of God and the pursuits of the faith? If as leaders we do not have confidence in people’s understanding of these issues then we know we have not gone far in establishing them in the most holy faith. The issue about Matt 13:19 is that understanding is the foundation of spirituality and spiritual advance. The word that Jesus uses in verse 19 has a very interesting meaning.
The word “understand” is the Greek word “suniemi” and it means the following: to put together mentally; to perceive; to understand. The comprehending activity of the mind denoted by suníemi entails the assembling of individual facts into an organized whole, as collecting the pieces of a puzzle and putting them together. The mind grasps concepts and sees the proper relationship between them.
This man who did not understand (suniemi) the message of the Kingdom could not establish himself spiritually. The enemy snatched away that which was sown in his heart. So understanding is the pathway so sustainable spirituality and Christ-likeness.
Discipleship as a Mechanism for Christ-likeness & Spirituality
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." NIV
The phrase “make a disciple” has following meanings: “a process of making one a pupil, to enrol as a scholar; to be a disciple or a follower of another’s doctrine; to instruct someone with a purpose of making them a disciple; to become attached to one’s teacher and to become his follower in doctrine and in conduct of life”.
A “disciple” (mathetes): a pupil; a learner; an adherent who accepts the instruction given to him and makes it his rule of conduct.
The word “disciple” (mathetes) comes from the word “manthano” which means: “to learn, to understand”.
We can therefore observe that the issue of discipleship is not defined primarily by being a church member but by (a) understanding of things being taught and (b) adhering or obeying such things.
So therefore if we use discipleship as the things that truly characterises a spiritual person we realise that a discipleship-based spirituality is one rooted on processes of learning, understanding and obedience.
Heb 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.
Heb 5:12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
Heb 5:13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Heb 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation…
These verses in Hebrews 5&6 so clearly indicate to us that true spirituality, spiritual advance and Christ-likeness are all based on the extent of our understanding of the principles of the kingdom of God. If we compromise the issue of “learning” inside the church we will also compromise spiritual advance.
All these things teach us this one thing that spirituality and Christ-likeness in the kingdom of God are not purely based on zeal, activity, giftedness emotionalism but on knowledge, learning, understanding and application of the principles of Christ in our lives. True spirituality is therefore measured in the context of insight-based lifestyle and not in the context of Sunday morning. We go to the church meeting in order to be taught on how to become spiritual and we exercise spirituality in the daily conduct of life.
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