JimmyWest

1 Corinthians 3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1 Corinthians 2

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Carnal Christians are people who are listening to their animalistic instincts. Their instinct tells them to fight. Their instinct tells them to tell somebody off. Their instinct tells them to cuss and swear. Their instinct tells them to get even. Their instinct tells them to fornicate. BUT, what is the spirit saying? Carnal Christians are like animals. They are not that different than their un-believing brothers. The only difference is that they have salvation.

Spiritual Christians are people who have rebuked their flesh by giving themselves WHOLEY to the Lord, so instead of listening to their instincts or flesh, they are listening to the Holy Spirit. They are in constant contact with God through the Holy Spirit so the decisions they make and the actions they take are what God would do.

So, how does one become spiritual. Your knowledge of scripture does not make you spiritual. Attending church does not make you spiritual. Tithing and giving does not make you spiritual. Serving as an usher or deacon does not make you spiritual. Your spirituality is based on your spiritual walk with the Lord. It is based on your God-like characteristics. It is based on you going beyond scripture into a spiritual realm where you can truely get to know the God who is reaching out to you.

There are many who believe that they have a relationship with God through their knowledge of scripture. That is not a true relationship, but a fantasy. You can NOT truely know someone by just reading everything that is written ABOUT that person. That is like watching "The Right Stuff" and then saying that you know John Glenn. The only true relationship you can have with God is through the Spirit, and you can not have a spiritual relationship if you are carnal.

Everybody who is born again receives the presence of The Holy Spirit. But, the Holy Spirit will sit and remain silent as long as you are listening to your flesh. The Holy Spirit will not compete with your flesh, until you rebuke your flesh and make a serious effort to give yourself COMPLETELY to God. God does not want part of you. He wants ALL of you and he wants you now.

As stated in 1 Corinthians 2:14, these issues of the spirit will seem like foolishness to the carnal man. I ask all of you to please not get caught in that trap. Open up your hearts and learn how to know God on Gods level.
When you grow and mature spiritually some amazing things will happen. You will get to know things about God that are not written. You will take on his character of love, kindness, mercy, goodness, patience, tolerance, understanding and complete joy. You will become one-in-spirit with him so that your prayers are actually his prayers. You will reach a level of consecration where God can bless you with EVERYTHING he has for you.

For those who wish to start or advance their spiritual growth today, I have prepared a prayer for you. Please read it carefully and mean every word of it.

Most Heavenly Father, I commit from this day forward to give
you my entire being, 100% mind, body and soul. Today I make
you number one in my life over everything else. My desire is
to put your needs above mine, so please fill me with a new
spirit so that I may hear your spiritual voice.
I rebuke my flesh and desire to only hear the Holy Spirit.
I make it my purpose in life to be a blessing to you at all
times. Please lead me and change me so that I can become
one-in spirit with you. I understand that when I become
one-in-spirit with you, I will take on your character, becoming
like you. That is my hearts desire, to be filled with love,
kindness, mercy, goodness, patience, tolerance, understanding
and joy. I offer myself as your loving child today and ask you
to be my loving father. I place myself, my very life, in your
hands with complete trust, knowing that you are all I can depend
on, and the only way I can survive. To sum up this prayer of
redemption sweet Lord, I offer you my complete true, unrestricted LOVE.
Thank You for accepting me as your loving child today.
I pray this in the Name of Jesus, to You, The Father, AMEN!

Now, go and truely live for him. Spend every day with him, not just Sunday. Talk to him often throughout each day. He is your loving father and best friend. Do not neglect or ignore him. He wants to share your life with you. Every time you think about him, tell him that you love him. Live to be a blessing to him and bless him EVERY TIME you see the opportunity to do so.

Liberty

That's well stated, JimmyWest!
I'd like to add Romans 12:1-2

From the NIV:Living Sacrifices
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Or, if you like the Message better,
1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Praise God, He will do it if we will allow Him to!

__________________
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Thank you Jesus!