Though judged in the flesh like men, we live in the spirit like God. 1Pet4:6b In chapter five of Hebrews we learn that Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. We also learn in Luke eighteen that the blind man cried out to Jesus for mercy and though rebuked by the disciples was heard by Jesus and was healed. Both Jesus and the blind man let it loose. In the flesh the blind man could not see, but in the spirit, he believed Jesus could heal him. Jesus, in the days of his flesh, got into the spirit by loud cries and tears and because he did, God heard him. Praise and worship is the same way sometimes. We have to get past our self -consciousness and get into the spirit, and sometimes that means letting it loose and being loud and bold and inspired. The soul which is our intellect, will, and emotions, lies in between our flesh and our spirit. If we let the flesh dictate to our soul how we act and react we operate on the wrong level and we may not be heard from God. If we crucify the flesh, if we die to the flesh, if we mortify the flesh, we can begin to be led of the spirit and live like God. The soul must dictate to the flesh that it must die and not rule the soul and the soul must die to self and loose itself in the spirit in order to be heard from God. If the soul does this, it begins to live in peace, joy, love, faith, goodness, self-control, and patience. If the soul stays bound by the flesh, however, it lives in fear, anger, hatred, judgment, jealousy, envy, greed, or lust. People who live in the flesh are governed by the law and live with condemnation, shame, guilt, and judgment. People who live in the spirit are free and under grace without the fear of punishment or God’s wrath. Don’t be afraid to let it loose. In your prayer closet cry out to God if the need is there or praise and worship from the heart when you are so led. If you worship in a spirit filled service, let it loose. It is one way to get free and be heard from God. Learn from Jesus and the blind man. Neither of them stayed in the soul. If you let the flesh dictate, you are not going to be heard. Unless you get in the spirit, you are just like anybody else, but if you get in the spirit, you are like God. Be like God. Live and walk in the Spirit, those who do find peace, love, and joy but, those who don’t live in bondage. Be like Jesus. Amen |