Death of natural mind
Paul wrote, "The mind governed by the flesh is death," (Romans 8:5). Samson was chosen by God from his mother's womb. Because God was with him, he was physically very strong and powerful. However, he had his eyes gouged out because he was not living according to the will of the God, but lived according to his natural desires. He was eventually killed by the Philistines. (Judges 13 to 16).
Saul was chosen by God to be a king. However, he did not obey God's command. Firstly, he offered sacrifice to God by himself without waiting for Samuel the priest. (1 Samuel 13). Offering sacrifice is only to be performed by the priest. Secondly, God ordered Saul to completely destroyed the Amalekites in the war. However, he did not fully obey God's order. He seized the fat sheep and cattle to be sacrificed to God (1 Samuel 15). Samuel said to Saul, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
King Saul did not fully obey God's command, so God abandoned him. "Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him." (1 Samuel 16:14) Why did the evil spirit bothered Saul? The reason was because God's spirit had left from him. Even though God rejected him from being the king, his natural inner man still wanted to be the king, so he didn't want to step down from his position. Instead, he tried to kill David, who was chosen by God. God repeatedly delivered David from his hand. Finally, Saul was killed by the Philistines. When we disregard God's will for us by living according to our natural desires, we are faced with all kinds of trouble, sicknesses, and even untimely death.
It is written that Ahaz was very humbled by the Lord because he left the Lord and worshiped other gods. "The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the Lord." (2 Chronicles 28:19). " In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. 23 He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.” But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel." (2 Chronicles 28:22-23)
Like King Ahaz, when we are suffering, rather than getting closer to God, we tend to keep distance from the presence of God. Whether your situation is good or bad; whether your life challenge is too great to bear or not, instead of turning away from the Lord, you should try harder to get closer to God. "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." (Psalm 55:22)
Spiritual life
Paul said, "the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)
King Nebuchadnezzar issued an edict to build a golden idol, requiring everyone to worship this idol and "anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” But some young Jewish men -Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not bow down. They said, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[a] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18) Because the young Jewish men had full confidence in God, they dare to defy the frightful king without any hesitation and worry.
"Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace." (Daniel 3:19-23)
Because they cling to God, in other words, because they were spiritual men, God delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar, and rescued them from the raging fire: " Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them." (Daniel 3:24-27)
Why Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not die? It was because they put their trust wholly in God. A person who lives according to God's will is a spiritual person. The three were alive because they were spiritual men. Therefore, may we all try to become spiritual men who live according to God's will.
Questions
1. When a person is born from the mother's womb, he is born as a natural person or spiritual person?...
2. Why all human being cling to natural things?.......................
3. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what desires?....................
4. What are natural things?....................Does it related with God?..................
5. Mind governed by the flesh is …………………
6. Why were Samson’s eyes gouged out?...........................
7. Did king Saul obey completely?................What did he do?....................................
8. What is better than sacrifice?................................
9. Rebellion is like the sin of ………………………….
10. Why God rejected Saul as king?.............................
11. Why did the spirit of the Lord depart from Saul?...................
12. Saul was tormented by ………………………………………
13. Why didn’t Saul want to step down though God rejected him?..............................
14. Saul tries to kill ……………. Why?.....................
15. Did Saul enjoy life?................Why?.............................
16. How did Saul die?..........................................
17. Why was king Ahaz humbled by the Lord?...............................
18. What did King Ahaz do when he suffered? ...............................
19. Are Ahaz's trusted gods helping him?.........................What is causing this?...................... .......
20. Do you approach God when you suffer? ...............................
21. Who should bear the burden? ...................................................
22. The mind set on the flesh is ...........................
23. What punishment did Nebuchadnezzar give to those who did not worship his idols? .....
24. What did the three young Jews say? ................................................ .
25. Why are the young Jews not afraid? .............. ...................................................
26. How hot is the oven? ...................................................
27. Why aren't the Jewish youth burned? ...................................................
28. From where did God save the Jewish youth? ................... ...................................................
29. Those who live according to God's will is ....................................................
30. Are you a spiritual man or a natural man? ..........