You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
16 This I
say [lego] then [de], Walk [peripateo] in the Spirit [pneuma], and
[kai] ye shall [teleo] not [ou me] fulfil [teleo] the lust [epithumia] of the
flesh [sarx]. KJV-Interlinear
16 But I
say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. NASB
Science does not study the things that are not a part of this universe as opposed to the things that are a part of this universe, namely the essence of life. But instead, science studies the field of relativity, or the theory of how big things work together, as well as the field of quantum or the theory of how the very small things work together.
When God created this universe, the angels already existed. When God created man, the universe already existed. But one day this universe will be removed as though it never existed, and humanity, in resurrection bodies, and angels will still be here. Thus we are not a part of the elements of this universe with respect to our resurrection bodies, our soul, our human life residing in the soul, our human spirit and our eternal life residing in the human spirit.
So, the very core of our existence is separate and apart from this universe
Likewise, while we are alive in this world, there is a component of our life that is separate and apart from this world. We call that component our spiritual side of life.
In contrast to our spiritual side, is the flesh side of life, which we also call the sin nature or the lusty side or the carnal side of life.
These two sides are mutually exclusive, and neither cross over into the sphere of the other.
You are either living within your spiritual side of life, or your carnal side of life. You are never living inside of both sides simultaneously.
And while this universe seems to be extremely complicated, our spiritual life is relatively simple and easy to understand. The only thing that prevents anyone from understanding the spiritual life is their continued residence within the carnal side, which blinds them from seeing or knowing the spiritual side of their life.
To ignore or be indifferent toward your spiritual life, is to leave out the greatest and most important aspect of your entire existence.
Paul sums up these two opposing lives.
To walk in, means to live your life within the boundaries of the environment in which you are advised to walk.
Thus live in the spirit, and do not live in the carnal side of life.
And so how do you distinguish between the two and how do you place yourself within the boundaries of either?
We can define the spiritual side of life, and since the two sides are exclusive, then everything else will be the carnal side of life.
First you must have already believed in Christ. The spiritual side of life requires a relationship with God, and to obtain that you have to be saved.
All unbelievers are not saved and thus do not have a spiritual life. All unbelievers are therefore excluded from having a spiritual life.
Does this mean that all believers are living in the spirit? No.
Believers in Christ are also subject to life in the carnal world, because believers are subject to sins and lusts and so forth just as unbelievers are. The only difference is that believers can get out of the carnal and into the spiritual, whereas unbelievers cannot, at least not until they believe in Christ.
So, in order to operate within the spirit, you must confess your sins on a regular basis. Confession of sins places you in fellowship and that is the place of your operational spiritual life.
To confess your sins you simply list your sins to God the Father thus, ‘Father I did this and I did that and this and that and this and that….’
When you commit a sin, then you are out of fellowship and in the carnal state. When you confess that sin, then you are placed back in fellowship and thus again spiritually operational.
All of your spiritual life occurs and functions while you are in fellowship.
All of your relationship with God functions properly, while you are in fellowship.
All of your spiritual growth occurs while you are in fellowship.
All of your spiritual development and growth occurs while you are in fellowship.
All of your spiritual benefits and blessings and advancements and so forth, occur while you are in fellowship.
Therefore, live your life in fellowship, which is in the spirit, which is also sometimes referred to as living under the control of the Holy Spirit. For it is the Holy Spirit that makes your spiritual life operational and effective and efficacious and successful and meaningful and with purpose and fulfills your destiny.
While living out of fellowship or in the carnal state, causes you to lose out on all of these things.
If you live your life in fellowship, then you will not live the carnal life and not lose out on Gods many blessings for you.
And since your spiritual life is infinite or eternal, then its value is likewise infinite. Only a fool would throw away an infinite fortune. Isn’t having an infinite fortune worth pursuing?
