In our last bible study we began our discussion of the three “types” of peoples in the Church. We have the Carnal believers, the Spiritual believers, and then we have those with believers clothing on, but indeed they are wolves.

Our main passages are from 1 Corinthians chapters 2 and 3. 

In today’s Christianity, we are inundated with “fad” teachings, “fad” programs, “fad” terminologies, and frankly, we are falling into the cookie cutter assembly line of creating carnal (earthly) churches. Folks will ask you if your interested in the new teachings of “so and so” or if your Baptist or Charismatic. People have to “categorize” you so they can tell if your “one of them”. I happen to love two teachers of the Word of G-D very much. They are two very different teachers-to say the least. Never the less, the one thing I can say they both have in common: they speak truth-and quite boldly and bluntly. Both of these women are responsible for training me in my walk with the L-rd, although, they will probably never know it. One of those teachers is Joyce Meyer, and the other one is Elisabeth Elliot. You can’t get any broader of a spectrum there, you can’t “categorize” me now because I’ve just pulled two teachers from two very different “movements” or “schools of thought” yet, they are both in the same body, with the same Spirit, operating with the only authority necessary: The Anointing of Jesus Christ.

Both of these women seek the L-rd, and as a result, they gain wisdom-from above, not man‘s wisdom, opinions, or theologies from today‘s so called “fad“ teachings. No, these women are interested in what the Spirit of the L-rd is saying to themselves and what they are to relay to the churches. These ladies are willing to yield to the Father no matter what the cost, and this is being wise. (James 3:17).

Our key verse for the Spiritual believer is this:
1 Cor 2:10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Notice the L-rd has freely given us all things. 2 Peter 1:3,4 also backs this up-(please read this verse). Notice the Word says he HAS given us. It’s already done, you can claim this as your own in faith that He has given you ALL things for life and godliness.

You don’t need a seminary degree to be used by the L-rd. You don’t need to read 100 books about the bible, you just need to read your bibles. The spiritual person wants the L-rd, hungers for the L-rd, and doesn’t let earthly wisdom get in their way of obtaining the riches in Jesus. 

The Spiritual believer though, has a great responsibility: 1) they are to stay humble. (1 Corinthians 3:18-21). 2) They are to JUDGE ALL THINGS.

1 Cor. 2:15- “But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.”

Frankly, I believe here we are told here that spiritual believers judge things-notice it doesn’t say people. Believers who are tapped into the Holy Spirit can’t help but notice what is truth, and what is error. What is abominable and profane verses holy and wise. There is nothing wrong with differentiating between the two-especially when the motive is to bring one closer to the L-rd, not tear them down. This is where the humility comes in, the responsibility of the Spiritual Believer. Please read now 2 Timothy 2:14-26. 

Obviously, Paul would not be speaking of the necessity of coming against false doctrine, even naming the teachers themselves, if the L-rd didn’t deem it important to abstain from such heretical teachings or teachers. This passage in 2 Timothy also tells us to avoid foolish disputes. Proverbs tell us not to argue with a fool. Remember the passage of 2 Cor 3:18-21 many who appear wise may very well be fools. 

Many a time I am asked about the reasons the L-rd may give heavenly insight into situations-even possibly exposing error. It is true that the L-rd will not speak badly about His own offspring to His other children, so, when exposing a false doctrine you don’t hear me answer “Mr. So and so is an idiot.” I very well may be speaking against a brother in the L-rd. However, it IS permissible to say, “Mr. So and so is in error.” The guidelines to this insight falls in 2 Timothy 2:24, describing the attributes of the servant of the L-rd. When correction is being done, it must be done in a spirit of gentleness, with the motive for winning one’s soul from the error of their ways and sparing them any further damage, or even danger. It is ALWAYS the motive of the believers operating in the Spirit to build the body up, not tear it down. Some times that requires speaking the truth, in love, never the less, it is truth.

Another reason the L-rd may allow His children understanding into the errors of the brethren is RESPONSIBILITY. The number one action that should be taken is prayer. Let the servant pray about these things-bring them before the throne and not based on what one thinks, but only what the Spirit dictates should action then take place. Usually the action required is admonition, with the motive to encourage-to encourage one onto godliness. Of course, if it’s disciplinary issues, then the biblical principles for discipline should be followed, but that is another subject.

We see though, that he that is spiritual often times is found in an unpopular stance. Look at the prophets, they were unwelcome. John the Baptist was beheaded, and, well look at Jesus, they sought to kill Him many times prior to the appointed time.

The hardest nugget to swallow though is the thought that believers may very well be unpopular in the church. However, I have found this out for myself, and for many others who choose to stand on the Word of G-D first, and sometimes we like the cheese in the Farmer and the Dell, we stand alone.

Elisabeth Elliot wrote many essays in her day, and there’s a compilation of them in a book called “Love Has a Price Tag.” These essays span a 30 to 40 year time frame, written from the late 1960’s onward. One of those essays is entitled “Those Personality Tests”. In this essay Elisabeth shares that she attended a conference sponsored by a missionary organization. She expounds that at the conference, a personality test was administered for “interest only” for the participants by a psychiatrist who screens candidates. Elisabeth notes that she never endured such a test prior to going to Ecuador, and, she and her friends concluded that had these tests been in place in their day, they probably never would have made it to Ecuador. 

She continues to describe the test. She explains that many of the questions were not “matter of fact” yes and no type questions, but a lot of “feelings based” questions. She concludes that this test is showing forth that people are being led these days more by feelings than appropriateness. Here’s a portion of Elisabeth’s experience of the test: 

“I was categorized at once by my answers. Distinctions were made, all right, whether the tester chose to call them moral ones or “value judgments” or not. If I admire what, in a less analytical age, were called virtues and am “upset” by what were once called faults, I am classified as “R”-regimented, regular, reserved, rigid. To like punctuality, neatness, thrift and self-discipline is to be regimented. To dislike tardines, slovenliness, profligacy, and self-indulgence is to be hostile. (My “hostility scale” was dangerously high.) To be upset by punctuality, neatness, thrift and self-discipline is not regarded, I found, as any index of hostility but rather of geniality, and to “feel comfortable with” tardiness, slovenliness, profligacy and self-indulgence is to be classified as “Z” which, we were informed means you’ve got “zip, zing, zest, and zowie”! The conclusion is that discipline and joy are mutually exclusive. (Not certain I understood, I inquired whether a person who is rated “pure R” therefore has no zip, zing, zest and zowie. The solemn reply: “that is correct.”) Love Has a Price Tag, Elisabeth Elliot Pg. 25 Servant Books

I do not know the actual time this essay was written, but I do realize that this “personality test” was administrated by a psychiatrist screening for missionaries by an organization that sent such missionaries out. This folks, is scary to me. I may not be the most punctual person, or the neatest, but I do know that I loathe self-indulgence. It goes against the nature of the L-rd, Who’s Spirit dwells within me. Sure, my soul loves the indulgence, but it wars with my Spirit and if I want ultimate joy (something which this test concludes if you are given over to the godly attributes joy will be absent) I will submit to the Spirit of the Living G-D and NOT my flesh-which would be, self indulgent.

If this essay was written even 20 years ago, and more probably 30 or 35, imagine how long our churches and organizations have been indoctrinated with such rubbish. I can’t tell you how many times folks have said to us, “well, you may receive more support or recognition if you were with an organization.” I assure my well meaning friends that the L-rd supplies our every need and that we need not anyone “send us out” but only that we be accountable to one another. It is the L-rd who calls, the L-rd who equips and the L-rd who sends. Remember, we read that we have received the Spirit of G-D and, He HAS Given us all things for life and godliness!

Sisters, this IS the time in which to be spiritual. Sometimes that means we will be in an unpopular position, calling out the things which are profane but being passed off as holy. This is detestable in our L-rd’s eyes and He has given us a great responsibility to defend the gospel. 

1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge-- 21by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.

This brings us to part 3 of our study, which, is very to the point- the Wolf. Notice in the above passage vs. 21-some have strayed concerning the faith by giving into what is falsely called knowledge. If they have strayed, this is where truth meets error, making more confusion, and presto-we’re creating wolves in sheep’s clothing!