Spirit-Filled But Worldly? - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) April 29, 2025
- P L U N D E R E R
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
How can a Christian go to church, feel the 'move of the Spirit,' then return to sinning as if nothing ever happened? For instance, how does an individual exit church only to curse out other drivers on the way home? Or how could someone sit in the pews looking at lewd pictures on their phone while the choir leads the congregation in worship?
Such unfortunate irony was also common in the early church. Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth that believers "have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). But a few sentences later, he said of this church, "Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:1).
Clearly, not everyone has the mind of Christ. This is reserved for those who believe Jesus is the Son of God and submit to Him, acknowledging Him as their Lord and Savior. When this happens, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, whose job it is, among other things, to remind them of what Jesus taught. The Holy Spirit helps human beings by serving as a conduit between them and both God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Without the Holy Spirit's leading, the words on a Bible page lack depth, for example.
First, we must understand what it means to have the "mind of Christ." For this, consider what Jesus told the disciples in John 12:49 - For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. Also, He said in John 14:24 - Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
A person with the mind of Christ, therefore, has access to the thinking of God the Father. They gain insight into His plans and purposes. And Jesus told His disciples that they would continue to have such access through the gift of the Holy Spirit who would come after He departed the earth. That promise applies to His disciples today.
Second, to understand the term 'worldly', Paul shed some light in 1 Corinthians 3:3 - You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? Worldly practices are further outlined in Galatians 5:19-21, which mentions envy, selfish ambition, sexµal immorality, idolatry, witchcraft, factions, fits of rage, drunkenness, and orgies. And Apostle James told believers that such attitudes reveal the presence of "disorder and every evil practice" (James 3:14-16).
Sadly, many of us say we believe in Jesus but do not live in the fear of the Lord or obedience to His word. Instead, we live a worldly lifestyle that includes sinful behaviors and thought patterns. Many ignore the warning that those who practice these things "will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:21).
The only way to overcome such sin is for us to allow the Holy Spirit into our lives and let Him change us. It is the Holy Spirit who will tell us what to do and what not to do. That way, we keep far away from the worldliness that seeks to keep believers from righteous and godly living.
We must pray for the gift of the Spirit of God. He is promised to all who repent and confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Having received the Holy Spirit, we must allow our desires and tastes to be transformed. He will remove the worldly attitudes and habits in us so we live according to the word of the Lord. This all happens over the course of our lifetime, and as we submit to the changes, we grow from strength to strength until the day we stand in God's presence.
Come back to fellowship at Noon EST today. We'll honor the God who made us for great exploits and pray for others that they come to know the same before covering ourselves in prayers as well.
To learn more about today's message, please read the hyperlinks above and see the posts below:
ALTAR CALL
Christ died on the cross for all of humanity and you have the right to be free of everything that wants you bound. I was raised a Christian my whole life, and didn't know this. Sure, I heard stories that seemed fantastical, but once I met Jesus I realized there was so much more to learn.
For instance, I previously had no clue that simply being a Christian wasn't enough to make it to heaven. I didn't know that I needed the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit of God who rested on King David. The same One who came down as a dove and rested on Jesus enabling Him to do God's work on earth.
That same Holy…