Bible Reading: Exodus 27; Proverbs 3; John 6; Galatians 2
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
When the Bible talks about quickening, it means to give life. The Spirit of God gives life or quickens the dead spirit of man.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
This is a mighty miracle of God wrought by his spirit in us by grace. Jesus here tells us that the flesh profits nothing. Do you know the difference between the flesh and the spirit? It is absolutely necessary to be able to distinguish between the two. Both of them are at work in you if you are a child of God. If you do not have the Spirit of God living in you, you are only operating in the flesh and to God, you are dead.
The flesh always tries to perform and to achieve. Flesh is all about religion. Your flesh wants to offer a sacrifice to God. It wants to perform a religious ritual and earn salvation. But Jesus says it profits nothing. Your religion cannot add anything to the finished work of Jesus Christ. Your flesh brings nothing good to the Spirit-filled life.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
There is always a war going on between the flesh and the spirit within the child of God. Your flesh wants God to love you because of what you do. The Spirit teaches you that God loves you because of what Christ did for you and is please with what Christ is doing in you.
How do you understand this? The Words of Jesus!!! He said the words are spirit and they are life. It is only when you allow the Word of God to come into you and influence you that you will begin to understand what a spiritual quickening and walk with Jesus truly is. The Spirit of Jesus is constantly taking the Word of God and applying it to our lives. He takes the Word and makes it a part of our lives. So the need to HEAR God's Word is imperative! The Word is how the Holy Spirit helps us distinguish between our old religious flesh and God's life giving Spirit.
Do you have ears to hear?
In Christ,
Rody
