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Spirit-Filled But Worldly? - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) April 29, 2025

P L U N D E R E R
Apr 29, 2025
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:

Topic: Repent

P L U N D E R E R
Apr 29, 2025
1 min read

The Shimei Lesson - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) April 25, 2025

P L U N D E R E R
Apr 25, 2025
6 min read

Moses said, Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people (Exodus 22:28). This instruction is in both the Old and New Testament (Acts 23:5). It is crucial to be aware of this word, especially in the current political climate, where events seem designed to trigger emotions and stress. And while many may think this scripture applies solely to using coarse or foul language against leaders, the interaction between Shimei, David, and Solomon illustrates that this is not true. We must be careful how we speak to and about those in authority because God is watching and we can't hide what we say and think from Him.

When King David temporarily lost his throne to his son, Absalom, Shimei, a kinsman of Israel's first king, Saul, threw rocks at him. He accused David of killing Saul and his sons, saying, "You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!" (2 Samuel 16:7-8). Although a soldier wanted to kill the man for these and other insults, David responded, "...let him curse... It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore me His covenant blessing instead of His curse today" (2 Samuel 16:11-12). Absalom attempted to kill his father to solidify his claim to the throne, but he died in the ensuing battle, and when David returned to Jerusalem, Shimei sought forgiveness. David accepted that apology, but that wasn't the end of Shimei's story.

Before dying, David advised his successor, Solomon, to deal with Shimei. The new king invited Shimei to move into the city from the outskirts, but added a caveat - that he should never leave. Three years later, Shimei left Jerusalem to retrieve two servants who had fled. Solomon summoned him and pointed to his oath to never leave. And his error became clear when the king also reminded him of what he'd done to his late father. 1 Kings 2:44 - The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the LORD will repay you for your wrongdoing. But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the LORD forever.” Unable to defend himself, Shimei met an unfortunate end. In 1 Kings 2:46b, we learn, "The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands." This indicated that Shimei's behavior opened the young king to potential challenges from others who might be emboldened to go beyond the insults Shimei leveled and challenge Solomon for the throne. His death served as a lesson to all.

Shimei disobeyed God's instruction and reaped what he sowed. He is a reminder to be cautious when speaking to those in authority. The Bible teaches that rulers are only in power because God permitted them to be (Romans 13:1). And we are warned in Romans 13:2 - So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished (NLT). Further, Ecclesiastes 10:20 - Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter (NKJV). The Good News Translation of this verse states, Don't criticize the king, even silently, and don't criticize the rich, even in the privacy of your bedroom. A bird might carry the message and tell them what you said.

One might say that Shimei had every right to express himself. Someone could argue that if he hadn't assaulted David or expressed himself respectfully, then all would have been well. Maybe. I don't have all the answers, but I've learned God's wisdom is needed when dealing with those in authority. Vashti's story bears this out. Also, when people allow emotions to control their tongues, they say more than they should have or intended to. This is why we are told in Proverbs 10:19 - Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut (NLT). It is far too easy to get carried away when emotions are involved, and in so doing, an individual can quickly go from expressing an opinion to insulting and cursing leaders in disobedience of God's word.

Let's look at Shimei again. He was upset with David. That caused him to do and say too much. Most of his accusations were false. Sure, many people died in the years that led to David sitting on the throne. However, David played no role in the deaths of Saul and his oldest sons. They died in a battle that had nothing to do with him. Ishbosheth, Saul's remaining son, was betrayed by his war commander, the elders of his tribe, and was killed by two of his soldiers. Men whom David killed for murdering their leader. Saul had few heirs left, but his lame grandson, Mephibosheth, was adopted by David. He lived in the palace, was treated as a royal prince, and received all his father's assets, instantly going from poverty to wealth. Much of this information was likely common knowledge at the time.

Most importantly, God publicly selected David to replace Saul and his heirs as Israel's king. Thus, Shimei, in his anger, ended up slandering and cursing his king, which is something God despises and prohibits. How many of us, in frustration, have gone beyond what we know to speculate and potentially slander when expressing our opinions about leaders? How many of us have uttered curses in that process? Remember, the Bible does not show that Shimei used foul language when cursing David. It was his insults, likely stemming from genuine hurts for what happened to his kinsmen, that amounted to curses against the king. It is easy to do what he did, especially when dealing with polarizing leaders. This is partly why God warns us to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23). He knows that if we allow ourselves to meditate on certain things, they are sure to come past our lips, and when angry, the flood of words will lead to sin. Even with the best intentions at heart, we need to be wary not to sin, and obeying God's instructions will greatly help us.

What are we supposed to do when we see and hear about distasteful actions taken by our leaders? What about when they do offensive things or take steps that seem ungodly? God's word tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:4 - For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. Spiritual weapons such as fasting, intercession, and prayer are our primary means of creating change in the world around us. And even then, we still need to remember what Jesus said in Luke 22:42, "...not my will, but yours be done.” Like Him, we should submit our desires and opinions to God's will, knowing that He knows best. No matter what things look like, we must trust Him. His word states that His plans for us are good. They will bring success and not harm (Jeremiah 29:11). Plus, as we intercede for others, we can trust God to bless and care for our prayer subjects. This way, we focus more on what God is doing and less on what those in authority are doing.

The Lord may provide His children with additional strategies to address certain leaders and what they do. Such instructions may confuse those who don't know God and those who do. The key is to be led by Him and not our human desires, which tend to be spurred along by worldly wisdom, which produces no profit. None of this is easy and requires discipline, patience, and faith. We have to allow God to strengthen us in these areas. It is difficult to see people suffer because of choices made by those in authority, especially when such decisions appear arbitrary, unfair, or unscriptural. Nevertheless, trust God and wield the weapons of godly warfare. Try to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry per James 1:19. We might not have to fear the loss of life and the way things happened for Shimei, but our eternal souls are at risk and more important than the lives we currently lead.

If by chance, you believe reckless speech, pettiness, or revenge is justified because of the behavior and words of someone else, please beware. God has called those who believe in Him and His Son to focus on what they do, not what others do. On Judgment Day, each person will account for their actions and failures, not those of someone else. That person will be confronted with their choices, so worry about your race to heaven. Remember, Jesus said that many will say that they prophesied and performed miracles in His name, only to be rejected (Matthew 7:22). It is those who, by the grace of Jesus, kill their flesh to obey God's word that will make it on that day. The Lord will help each of us so we will neither follow Shimei's footsteps nor experience what he did, IJMN, Amen.

To learn more, click the hyperlinks above and read the messages below: