This morning let’s look at three kinds of people in this world:
1st – The Natural Man is one who has not received Christ as stated in 1 Corinthians 2:14, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned (KJV).
2nd – The Spiritual Man is one who is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit as stated in 1 Corinthians 2:15, 15, But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man (KJV).
The natural man is self-centered, for Christ is outside of the natural man’s life, and his interests are directed by himself, usually resulting in conflict and frustration.
The Spiritual Man is a Christ-centered life. That is to say Christ is in the life of this man. Man’s self is yielding to Christ, and his interests are directed by Christ, resulting in agreement with God’s plan. The Christian (the Spiritual man) that has placed his trust in God will be led by the Holy Spirit and will have the characteristics or traits of the Holy Spirit; the fruit of the Spirit as listed above, in Galatians 5:22-23.
The Spiritual Man’s life is Christ- centered and empowered by the Holy Spirit, introduces others to Christ, has an effective prayer life, an understanding of God’s Word, trusts, and obeys God The degree of these traits will vary depending upon the extent to which the Christian trusts the Lord with every part of his life.The Christian walk is an ongoing walk of maturity, with a life of trials, test, trouble and tribulations; placing one’s very own life in the Lord’s hands, a complete life of trust and obedience to the very will of the Father, listening to the voice and direction of the Holy Spirit.
Lastly – The Carnal Man is one who has received Christ, but who lives a defeated life trusting in his own efforts to live the Christian life. The Carnal Man is one who does not fully trust God. The Spiritual man will live by faith, as stated in God’s Word, the just shall live by faith.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3, And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men (KJV)?
Let me say, the Carnal Man is similar to the Natural Man in that he is self-centered. He is either uninformed about, or has forgotten God’s love, forgiveness and power as stated in Romans 5:8-10; Hebrews 10:1-25; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; 2 Peter 1:9; Acts 1:8.
Here are some of the characteristics of the Carnal Man: Legalistic attitude, impure thoughts, jealousy, guilt, worry, discouragement, critical spirit, frustration, aimlessness, fear, unbelief, disobedience, loss of love for God and for others, poor prayer life, no desire for Bible study.
The Carnal Christian will experience an up-and-down spiritual experience, not understanding himself, for he wants to do what is right but can not. This is because he fails to draw on the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life as stated in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (see above); Romans 7:15-24; 8:7; Galatians 5:16-18.
The power and working of the Holy Spirit is a must in every believer’s life. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be tossed to and fro.
The in-filling of the Holy Spirit will lead, guide, and direct us into all truth. Satan is defeated in the life of the spirit-filled believer.
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