Daily Word, 9.1.10 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit [in this scripture the word flesh is used to describe a mindset where ideas that are contrary to who God is are exalted (mentally) above the goodness of God. Within a person’s brain are ideas that are received and accepted, which either keep a person in agreement with death or bring life to the hearer. Someone who is after the flesh is someone who holds onto beliefs (within their brain/mind/thoughts) that exalt ideas that are contrary to who God is, so that it is said they walk in death. Someone of the flesh will believe it is logical, and/or normal, to live contrary to the Word of God. A person who is of the Spirit is someone who holds God and His Holy Word in high regard. Someone who is after the Spirit is someone who has personal relationship with the Word, who is Christ. They are people, who, due to the influence of God’s Holy Spirit (who is love, mercy, grace, holy) within their lives who are found exalting God above all others. They are people who realize God’s Spirit of mercy, love and holiness is able to use God’s Word to influence their thoughts so that they come to realize the importance of thinking on those things that are good and acceptable in God’s sight. These are people who will be at peace with God and the life He has given them].” Romans 8:1 “For to be carnally minded is death [to say someone is carnally minded is the same thing as saying they are of the flesh. Within the brain (where thoughts dwell) of someone who is carnally minded, are ideas that do not hold God in high regard; there are thoughts where no desire to exalt God to a position of importance exist. The word death in this scripture describes the condition of someone who is separated spiritually from God while physically alive. These types of people do not see or value those things which reflect and reveal God’s mercy, love, and goodness. This also means, unless this type of person turns toward God while alive physically, they will, upon physical death, be eternally separated from experiencing the goodness of God]; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace [to be influenced of God’s Spirit, so that personal knowledge of the love, holiness and mercy of the living God is realized while physically alive, is what will influence a person’s thoughts so that it becomes their desire to act in agreement with the Word of God. This is to describe someone who is awakened, or made alive to the things of God, which in turn is what will help them realize peace of mind, while physically alive. Also, to be joined unto God, through receiving God’s Holy Spirit is to gratefully realize that eternally where Christ is they shall be too].” Romans 8:6 For a long time I thought the words, spiritually minded, spiritually aware, and spiritually speaking were meant to describe things that were high and above anything I could ever ascend. It was only as I studied who God is (He is Spirit), and His characteristics that I realized those words can be used to describe the thoughts and behavior of someone, who, because of their being influenced of God’s love, mercy and holiness (God’s Spirit), is consciously aware of the goodness of God. To be aware of who God is, because of being influenced of God’s Spirit (who wields the Word in authority within their lives) is what brings to pass an attitude of desiring to live in agreement with God’s Holy Word. But, as I studied this concept, things began to branch out so that other ideas blossomed and took shape – poetically speaking. Nowadays, I realize that I am able to say someone is spiritually minded, or spiritually aware and mean they are influenced of God’s Spirit, so that they look at the Word of God and the world around them with the same mindset as Christ, who was born and led of God’s Spirit. They have the mind of Christ, spiritually speaking, because of being personally influenced of God’s Spirit of holiness and love. It is these types of people who will find it is much more enjoyable to live their lives as Christ asks them (describing a spiritual person, who is alive to the things of God), than to live contrary to the words Christ speaks (which behavior will be the norm for a carnal person, or of the flesh). I have come to realize that when some people use the words spiritually speaking that it does not necessarily mean they are talking about something which depicts the goodness of God. Instead, to say something is, spiritually speaking, not of God, can be to describe an action, word, and/or behavior that does not line up with what it is acceptable in God’s sight. This means when some people use the words, spiritually speaking to describe an action or event that does or does not reflect the goodness of God, they are saying that according to who God is, this or that, does, or does not, line up. Someone who is spiritual, having received God’s Spirit, so they are led into thought and action which reflects God’s holiness and love, should feel confident using the words spiritually speaking when describing actions and events which do or do not reflect the intents and purposes of God. The reason I said things branched out for me, after studying the words spiritually speaking, and spiritually minded, is because of coming to realize that someone who has received, and is led of God’s Spirit, can find truths for living their lives on almost every page of God’s Word (if not every page or even every paragraph). This means I was led (to mentally believe) to realize that even literal events found within the OT, can contain spiritual truths (truth that depicts who God is and His purposes for humankind in Christ, which includes receiving and being led of God’s Spirit due to faith in Christ) for those who have put their trust and hope in Christ; who are spiritually minded, because of being influenced of God’s Spirit. The words within the OT, where men who were carnal could not ascend God’s Holy Mount (this is a spiritual teaching, where men, except for a few chosen men could not come up higher, into the realm of God’s Holiness, in order to commune face to face with God, due to their sin nature - so that they were separated from God) are able to reveal to those who are spiritual (who have come up higher, into the realm of God’s holiness, who have been adorned of God’s righteousness, because the blood of Christ has made them clean, in order that they may walk and talk with God – speaking of being led of God’s Spirit, through faith in Christ, so that God’s Word has personal relevance in their lives), truths, regarding who God is and what He purposed for humankind, in Christ. I have found it is possible for someone who is spiritually minded to find life among the dead, when reading OT scripture, through realizing that OT scripture points to Christ, who is the Word who was with God in the beginning, who is alive and sits at the right hand of God. While it is wonderful to hear historical messages, of the conquests and faith of those who went before us long ago, I think it is as wonderful, if not even more wonderful, when we find a spiritual truth within these same words that reveal the promises of God, which are found, fulfilled and realized in Christ. May those who are spiritual, who are spiritually minded, so that spiritually speaking they stand upon the mountain top where they are able to listen to the still small voice of the Lord, receive His truth, so in being illuminated they may be used of God to help others appreciate and value who He is and what it is He desires to say through His Holy Word. Blessings in Christ, Arlette Lapol@sbcglobal.net, www.ascendedlife@injesus.com Click here for a complete archive of daily words