by According to the Fresh Fire website, Todd Bentley entered into an unhealthy relationship, on an emotional level, with a female member of his staff. As a result, he agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season. Hearing of this and remembering the events of the eighties when major TV evangelists fell, I began pondering on what it means to be truly spiritual.
What does God say about spirituality? How do we discern who is spiritual and who is not? Is it when a person is used mightily of God in signs and wonders? Is it those who have it all together and seem to never do anything wrong? The Pharisees were like this and Jesus called them a brood of vipers and hypocrites. So how can we tell if someone is spiritual or not?
Spiritual people understand their own spiritual bankruptcy (Matthew 5:3)
This is one of the first steps to being truly spiritual. Isaiah experienced this at the offset of his calling and ministry (Isaiah 6:1-6). Peter as well experienced this at one of his first encounters with Jesus. At receiving a revelation of Jesus, he responded, “depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:1-9).
Whenever we have a true revelation of the Lord we don’t become arrogant and self righteous. On the contrary, we are humbled. The problem is that after we have been saved for a time and God begins to use us we start to trust our new life in Christ instead of leaning completely on His grace. We lose our since of spiritual poverty. I believe this is why God, at times, has to allow us to experience failure. We need a continuous and fresh revelation of our spiritual bankruptcy so we will lean solely on Jesus and His grace.
Spiritual people take God at His word
We take Him at His word even when we are filled with doubt. When Jesus told Peter to launch out into the deep for a catch of fish he replied, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at your word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5). When Gabriel appeared to Mary saying she would give birth to a child her first response was, “How can this be” (Luke 1:34)? But ultimately she said, “Be it unto me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Even when we see no way and our hearts are filled with doubt we say, “Nevertheless at your word” I will do as you say or “be it unto me according to your word”.
Spiritual people are restorers (Galatians 6:1)
It has often been said that the church is the only army that shoots it’s wounded. That is sad. The church is to be a spiritual hospital where those who have been beat down by the enemy or life can find healing and encouragement. All too often, those who are viewed by many as spiritual, are the first ones to cast blame and condemnation on someone who has failed.
The truly spiritual person will come along side their fallen brother or sister, help pick them up, encourage them to keep going and not to quit. It’s the devil’s job to kick us when we’re down, beat us up, and get us to give up. He’s the accuser of the brethern (Revelation 12:10). Too often, we become his emissary. Paul said, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of the God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:33-34). There is, therefore, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
After Jesus rose from the dead, Mary was told, “Go tell His disciples and Peter” (Mark 16:7). Don’t forget Peter, He’s not finished with him yet. Peter’s denial was worse than any sin of the flesh. Yet Jesus wasn’t through with him. In fact, Peter was the one who preached the first sermon on the Day of Pentecost where 3,000 were saved and the eleven stood with him in full support (Acts 2:14). This was just fifty days after the Passover. Would to God that we could stand with our fallen brethren today like they did. We’d be amazed at what would happen. It’s interesting to me that Peter was not told to sit down for a period of time but was encouraged to get up and continue plugging away for God. Praise the Lord! God is a restoring and gracious God.
Good work! I like very much your point that Christians often begin to feel comfortable and self-sufficient. We are in constant need of God’s help and grace. Thanks for directing my attention to this article.