Carnal or Spiritual?

There is a great difference between those two states which is but little understood or pondered. The Christian who walks in the Spirit and has crucified the flesh, is spiritual. (Gal. 5:24). The Christian who walks after the flesh and wishes to please the flesh is carnal. (Rom. 13:24). The Galatians, who had begun in the Spirit were ending in the flesh. Yet there were among them some spiritual members who were able to restore the wandering with meekness.

What a difference between the carnal and the spiritual Christian! (1 Cor. 3:1-3). With the carnal Christian there may be much religion and much zeal for God, and for the service of God. But it is for the most part in human power. With the spiritual, on the other hand, there is a complete subjection to the leading of the Spirit, a deep sense of weakness and entire dependence on the work of Christ—it is a life of abiding fellowship with Christ.

How important for me it is to find out and plainly to acknowledge before God whether I am spiritual or carnal!.And one of the signs of this is that there is little pleasure or perseverance in fellowship with Christ through prayer.

Love of prayer is one of the marks of the Spirit.

What a change is necessary for a Christian who is chiefly carnal to become truly spiritual! At first, he cannot understand what must happen, or how it can come to pass. The more the truth dawns upon him the more he is convinced that it is impossible, unless God does it. Yet to believe truly that God will do it requires earnest prayer. Quiet retirement and meditation are indispensable, along with the death of all confidence in ourselves. But along this road there ever comes the faith that God can, God is willing, God will do it. Your soul which earnestly clings to the Lord Jesus will be led by the Spirit to this faith. God will teach you. Persevere in prayer and faith.