Sermon notes
"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17). The Father seeks true worshipers who worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Because God is Spirit, we can only commune with Him if we live as spiritual people.
From shadow to reality The Old Testament speaks much of physical things: physical blessings, physical descendants, physical wars. All of that is a shadow. Jacob had twelve physical children; Christ, the true Israel, "birthed" twelve apostles spiritually. David and Samson were mighty kings and heroes, but the true Hero is Jesus. Israel's wars point to our true battles, which are not against flesh and blood, but against evil spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12). God's goal is to move us from the flesh to the spirit, from death to life, from darkness to light, so that we may be like Him.
Why seek the Lord? Many people pursued Jesus from town to town, but He said, "You are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life" (John 6:26-27). Israel in the wilderness also continued to long for the meat in Egypt. We need to examine our motivation: are we seeking the Lord only for a thick wallet, physical healing, or comfortable living?
Desires of the flesh are never satisfied The desires of the flesh, such as hostility, promiscuity, envy, and lust, always demand more. A hundred million is not enough, three cars are not enough. Whoever drinks from Jacob's well will thirst again, but the water Jesus gives satisfies forever (John 4:13-14). "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6). "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13).
The Spirit always gives life When the teachers of the law brought the woman caught in adultery, they thought carnally: stone her. Jesus answered, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). The Lord did not nullify His word; it was their understanding that needed to change. Jesus is the Stone of Life. When sinful humans encounter Him, their flesh dies, but they themselves are given life.
Let the flesh die so the Spirit can work Abraham, tired of waiting, took the carnal path through Hagar. But the Lord waited until Sarah's body was past childbearing, so that Isaac could be born as a child of promise, a child of God's power. As long as we rely on the flesh, God often remains silent; when our flesh dies, God acts.
Perhaps there are prayers that have gone unanswered for years. Let's examine ourselves: are our thoughts, words, eyes, and desires still controlled by the flesh? Don't just dream of the rapture; ask every morning, "Am I living by the spirit or by the flesh today?" Be a spiritual person, so that God may be present in our lives every day.
