- Bro. M. Geo Prakash
God created man as a being
consisting of three parts – spirit, soul, and body. Among these, only the body
is visible to our eyes. The body serves as an instrument to fulfil God's will
on earth. In this world, God works through human bodies.
That is why the Bible says, "What?
know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19,
KJV).
The spirit is life. The soul
is connected to a person’s inner mind. Thoughts, intelligence, desires, joy,
and sorrow all belong to the soul. Today, many who have accepted Christ as God
and Savior have done so at the soul level, that is, at the level of the mind.
Those who accept Christ at
the soul level may engage in worship, religious activities, and various acts of
devotion, believing themselves to be Christians. They may read the Bible,
attend prayer meetings, donate money, and even become prominent ministers, but
all these activities originate from the soul rather than the spirit.
Ministers who serve at the
soul level may initiate various projects based on their own reasoning, such as
specific prayer initiatives, fundraising strategies, and numerous ministry
programs. However, a person’s works reveals whether they are spiritual or not.
If a minister's plan contradicts the Bible, it is clear that the plan
originates from the soul and not from the spirit.
This kind of soul-based
Christian life is not what God desires. It is similar to how people of other
religions believe in and worship their gods. Just as they read their religious
texts, a soul-based Christian reads the Bible. Just as they serve their places
of worship, a soul-based Christian also serves the church. Many churches and
preachers who claim to be spiritual today are actually soul-based Christians.
God does not want us to be
merely intellectual or ritualistic Christians. He does not desire us to be mere
worshippers. Instead, He desires a life led by His Spirit. The Bible says, "For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
(Romans 8:14, KJV).
A life led by the Spirit is
different. It is entirely directed by God. Those led by the Spirit do not
accumulate wealth for ministry or employ fundraising strategies. They only do
what God commands. In the Bible, God’s servants were led by the Spirit. They
did not know where they would go or what they would do the next day, but they
walked according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The book of Acts is filled
with examples of such Spirit-led lives. Peter had no personal ministry agenda,
nor did Paul. They acted solely as the Holy Spirit led them.
Only those born of the
Spirit can experience being led by the Spirit. Jesus said, "The wind
bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not
tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of
the Spirit." (John 3:8, KJV).
Spiritual Life and the
Tabernacle
In the Old Testament, there
were priests who ministered to God. But in the New Testament, every believer is
a priest called to declare God's praises.
"But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, KJV).
If we examine the Old
Testament tabernacle, we find it had two sections: the Holy Place and the Most
Holy Place. "For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was
the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the
sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the
Holiest of all." (Hebrews 9:2-3, KJV).
Priests entered the Holy
Place daily, but only the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year
with blood.
Today, many ministers and
believers who claim to be spiritual remain only in the Holy Place of spiritual
life. They engage in worship, read the Bible, and perform religious activities,
but they do not progress further. However, this is not enough. We need an
experience beyond this, a life led by the Spirit.
The practices of many
soul-based Christians are also seen in other religions. People of various
faiths also worship, read their sacred texts, and serve their temples. If we
remain at this level, what difference is there between us and them?
We must go beyond the first
section of the tabernacle. The Bible says, "The Holy Ghost this
signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest,
while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time
then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not
make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience."
(Hebrews 9:8-9, KJV).
That is why Hebrews exhorts
us to move beyond the foundation and press toward maturity. "Therefore,
leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:1-2,
KJV).
Jesus has now made the way
for us to enter the Most Holy Place through His blood. "Neither by the
blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." (Hebrews 9:12,
KJV).
Only in the Most Holy Place
do we receive divine guidance. In the Old Testament, God's voice was heard from
the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place. "And when Moses was gone into
the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice
of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of
testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him."
(Numbers 7:89, KJV).
Characteristics of a
Spirit-Led Person
Reads the Bible not as a duty but with
love for God.
Hears God's voice while reading the
Scriptures.
Feels conviction when sinning and seeks
reconciliation with God.
Always prays in the Spirit, even while
working.
Cannot pray freely until reconciled with
God after sinning.
Does not pray only for worldly needs but
also seeks God's will.
Listens to God’s guidance in every
aspect of life.
Loves others as Christ loved.
Has a thirst for holiness and
Christlikeness.
Does not have religious bigotry or caste
discrimination.
Recognizes Christ did not establish a
religion but showed the way to eternal life.
Beloved, let us not remain
mere soul-based Christians. Let us yield ourselves to God so He may lead us by
His Spirit. It is in this Spirit-led life that true spiritual manifestations
will be revealed in us. Today, the lack of this experience is why Christianity
is viewed as just another religion. We must move beyond soul-based Christianity
and become truly spiritual Christians. Amen.