none of us are there yet.
From: Stephen Williamson
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 2:17 PM
Subject: Pneumatikos vs Psuchikos - Spiritual vs Natural
Hi all
I was chatting this morning, about
Verses such as are found in
As opposed to the pneumatikos, the true world of the Spirit, where a soul's self-serving nature is instead surrendered over to death (for Christ's sake), is lost, destroyed, yes every day, in order to be saved, resurrected, brought back to life on different levels daily. Hallelujah :-)
Starting with Jesus, who knew from the prophets, from the Holy Spirit, all through his ministry, how he was facing a horrific destination, shortly. But for the joy set before him he endured it.
Same message, a horrific destination, is told to Peter at the close of the book of John. Peter was a man full of natural love initially, but very much subject to peer pressure. As we all are, on different levels. But then he submitted to that destination, and the book of Acts starts.
Slightly different for Paul, due to his natural pride, continually smacked down, whippings beatings imprisonments shipwrecks etc, through an angel of Satan. But, of course, the power of God was then huge all around him. Satan did not stop that. Though, as Paul said, people would speak about how his (Paul’s) presence was weak, his speech contemptible.
Yes, irony and contradiction. Most contrary to natural human psychology, as it says, the natural person will not accept this contract, it is foolishness to them.
But oh, with that death of the natural life, what a deluge of miracles flow around again & again & again & again, yes, as angels, as the Holy Spirit has heaps more room to move, to glorify Jesus, to glorify God, because our soul has gotten out of the way. And we are changed more and more into the likeness of Christ.
Yes, as with Jesus, it means that our words will become fewer, but they’re then the right ones. The same happens with the emotions. As Jesus said, “I can do nothing of myself.” Now his soul was pretty cool (pun intended), but he refused to say anything he wasn’t hearing from God. And the Lord gave him the Spirit without measure, without limitation.
No none of us are there yet.
This is the point Paul tries to make when he says, Men, if you’re able to handle it, don’t get married, Fathers, if you can handle it, along with your daughters, then don’t give them away, Wives, married to unbelieving husbands, don’t leave them, and if you do, then stay unmarried else be reconciled. Yes, these are hard words to say, everyone needs grace, needs to receive wisdom from God, as God grants to them, as he loves us so supremely, and knows the weakness of our frame, and takes us steadily onwards. But like a trade contract, as we submit, learn more faith, grow, yes, he gives us more. Yes, joy and sorrow, sorrow and joy.
Blessings all Steve
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