The Struggle Is Real-Living A Christian Life In A Fallen World

I am constantly reminded that the problem is always a spiritual one. It seems that regardless of what it is I am hearing about or watching, it all comes down to a spiritual issue. Now this is true for each of us individually, but it is also true of the world as a whole.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV says-

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

It is an important point to make here that although we are Christians and we are reading Paul's letter to the believers in Ephesus, we are not the only ones struggling. All people throughout the world are struggling with rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. If you think about this, you will see that if someone gets mad at another, it’s a spiritual issue.  Someone doesn’t get what they want; it’s a spiritual issue. Someone has something happen in their life, and they blame God and everybody else; it’s a spiritual issue.

Now, for you and me as believers, Jesus said we are to love one another as ourselves. 

Well, you get the idea, but what makes these and so many other examples a spiritual issue? 

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 we read-

1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.

2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

Look at what Paul is saying here. This is a sobering statement by Paul and one that today is as real as the day he wrote it. So many Christians are still infants. They are not growing in the Lord each day. They are still waiting to be entertained, maybe challenged, but don't make it hard.

In verse 3 we read the word flesh and in the KJV and NKJV it reads the word “carnal” which is the Greek word sar-kee-kos (sarkikos), which means “fleshly.”

Here, the apostle Paul is addressing the readers as “brethren,” a term he uses almost exclusively to refer to other Christians; he then goes on to describe them as “carnal.”

Thus Scripture confirms to us that Christians can be carnal. The Bible is absolutely clear that no one is sinless, as 1 John 1:8 tells us-

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

Every time we sin, we are acting carnally. The carnal man wants what he wants.  It is all about the carnal man.  His desires, his wants, his wishes.  They are all focused inward. 

Now, please pay attention here because we are not talking about your salvation, we are talking about how you act, what you say, and why. 

Simply, a person who is saved by grace through faith in and acceptance of Jesus Christ can be a carnal Christian. 

The reason is that God gave us free will.  We can decide to do whatever we want, and if we are not careful, we will often choose the wrong thing to do. This goes on constantly for every believer.  The battle that rages is a spiritual one. It is happening in the world all around, too.

That is why I am saying that it is always a spiritual issue.  There are example after example of this spiritual warfare.  There is a war going on all around us.  We know it because the Bible tells us.  We read about it, and then we act as if it cannot happen to u,s but it can and it will.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV, as we saw earlier, reminds us-

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Each time we are faced with a decision, we are making a carnal or a spiritual decision.  When we think that we know what someone else is thinking or doing, we are making a carnal or a spiritual decision. 

Unless we are making our decisions based upon the Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual decision, we will make the wrong one, a carnal decision.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ESV tells us-

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Then in Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV it says-

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Let mw provide you with some things to consider as you examine yourself on the issue of being a spiritual and a carnal Christian.  Neither of these are exhaustive list; they do however, provide signs of what we need to be looking for in our lives.

BTW, there are times, as I have said earlier, we are living some of both. There are areas we struggle in, and we find ourselves acting as a carnal Christian.  At the same time there can be an area that we can identify that shows our actions are that of a spiritual Christian.

I am acting as a spiritual man -

1) when I function not just in the earthly realm, but also the Spiritual realm

2) when I trust the unseen, His Holy Spirit

3) when I trust and act on the Word, doing what it commands, and serving Him

4) when I know God loves me and I love Him

5) when I practice loving others

6) when I think, talk, and act like Jesus

7) when I recognize my place in God’s family

8) when I see myself as God sees me

9) when I humbly acknowledge that I am nothing without Him and that He is always to be glorified and lifted up in my life

10) when I serve, not under obligation but rather obedience to the prompting of the Spirit

Our goal is to be the spiritual man, woman, or young person God intends.

However, I am acting as a carnal man-

1) when I function only in the earthly realm, with no involvement in the Spiritual realm

2) when I don’t allow the Holy Spirit to change me

3) when I only trust what I can see, and judge things by outward appearance

4) when I think, talk, and act, like the rest of the world, and follow the world’s way of doing things

5) when I allow my flesh and fleshly desires to control me

6) when I only function in the sense realm – what I can see, hear, touch, smell and taste

7) when I try to control behavior without changing my heart

8) when I try to serve God my way

9) when I am not afraid of God’s wrath

10) when I show no evidence of God’s love for me, His grace and mercy extended toward me, or the freedom that is available to me

Sadly, the Christian can at times be carnal, and this is a struggle we must fight against every day. The world is carnal because it does not know Jesus Christ as its Lord and Savior.

There are very bad things occurring in the world and in our own country, as we prepare today to celebrate our 249th birthday. Major spiritual issues, along with political ideologies that are demonic. As we have noted already twice today that Ephesians 6:12 NIV says-

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

As you celebrate this 4th of July holiday, I hope you will consider what we have shared today. There is no doubt that the only hope for the world and its people is Jesus Christ. Tell others and live the Christian life so others might see Christ in you.

Have a happy and safe Independence Day as you celebrate.

In God's Grace,

Elbert Nasworthy