DEFINING SPIRITUAL DEFICIENCY

I want you, just for a few moments, to focus in on all the spiritual oppositions in your life. Look closely at the captivities and the negative dispositions of your mind. Try to look back and think of all the things the Father has delivered you from. Think on the spiritual progression of your thought patterns and how the Lord actually brought you to a new disposition of the mind.

Hebrews 5:13-14

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Years ago, while developing our growth path, my perception of spiritual data was sometimes distorted by my failure to consistently walk in the Spirit. As I look back now, I can see some areas of darkness that subtly linger in the hearts and minds of the people of God, who sincerely desire to please the Father. It is for that cause, that I now go back to these misconceptions created by not seeing from the position of the Spirit. If the saints are to grow into the stature of the man Jesus, then they will have to hear as He hears and see as He sees. Jesus said I only do those things I see the Father do. I only say those things I hear the Father say. The first place to implement this is in discerning your own spirituality and location.

THE EFFECTS OF SIN

It was my belief, as well as that of many other scholars, that whenever we looked into your lives and saw sin and its products, it was due to a spiritual deficiency. The products of sin were best described as the effects of our sin, or the effects of those who sinned against us that lingered in our hearts. These effects of sin hinder us while trying to do the will of the Father. These effects of sin and offenses laid in our lives can cause us to remain spiritually retarded and bitter. This is the sign of a very spiritually immature individual who is still drinking milk and unable to digest strong meat. To be very candid, all of this is spiritual nonsense.

This is the handy work of Satan. He took advantage of the fact that many leaders did not understand the very rudiments of salvation, thus we did not see the New Creature through the eyes of the Father. But the question is still why? Why is it so easy for one who loves the Lord and desires to keep His commandments, enter into such bitterness and unforgiveness? The answer most leaders would render is Spiritual Deficiency. To complicate matters even more, many of these so called spiritually deficient folks sit under the Word for many years, but are never able to quite rid themselves of these deficiencies. I need the Lord to really help me here so that I can make this as clear as possible for those truth seekers who are tired of running around in circles trying to bring about spiritual deliverance.

Spiritual deficiency, as in any deficiency, denotes lack or corruption. So what are we really saying here? Where is the deficiency? Is it in the Spirit or perhaps in the flesh? After all, we have been programmed to believe that even after circumcision of the flesh, there is still no good thing in the flesh. Flesh is bad and you must constantly fight to keep it under control. But what about the times when even the flesh was repulsed by sin? It did not want to comrade with those who did not honor the way of the Lord. It did not want to hear, see or speak any evil. What happened? Did it suddenly forget that it was bad and always up to no good? Or, could it be that it was under the control of the mind of Christ; a mind that does not struggle with any form of disobedience or thought wars.

According to scripture, the New Man is complete in Christ. He has no deficiencies. To grow up into the stature of the man Jesus, does not imply that from babe to maturity we are learning how to overcome sin. We were born into an overcoming Spirit. In Christ, sin is not an issue. It should be so with the babes in Christ. Growing up into Him makes reference to learning what is our fellowship and inheritance in Christ. In doing so, we learn the riches of His glory and the things that have been freely given to the Sons of God. Missing the mark should be a rare occasion.

ANTI-CHRISTIAN COUNSEL

Up until now, most of the counsel in the Body of Christ has been from the perspective of the flesh. In other words, ministers continuously dealt with the attributes of the flesh, year after year and counseling session after session. It is the flesh being counseled.

Romans 8:6-7

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

When a Son of God walks after the flesh, he is even as a sinner or unbeliever who has never known God. He submits himself again to the powers of death. When the New Man sins, the Father chastens him. There is no particular part of him that is selected for chastening. The New Man is one. When we are involved in the sin of the saints, our counsel should be in the form of ministry to the spiritual being, not the shell he lives in. We waste a lot of time talking to the house and not the owner. It is time to accept and admit that the flesh is always under control. It is either controlled by the will of the Spirit of God or the will of the New Creature. Your hands and feet do whatever you tell them to do. They go where you say go. They have no mind or ability of their own. There is no part of you that has a mind separate and apart from your will. You and your mind are one. It is with the mind that you serve the Lord and it is with the mind you serve sin.

When the fleshy mind controls the flesh or creates lust in the flesh, it has been given the authority to do so by the New Creature. The simple truth is that you have chosen to think with the mind of the body, void of the influence of Christ. You have rejected the mind of Christ and its attributes. You have decided to employ, solicit or whatever you decide to call it, the fleshy mind to accomplish those things the Spirit will not be a party to. There is no deficiency in Christ. The New Man needs to turn back to the purpose for which he was created. He must be reminded of his fellowship in this mystery. He must choose to glorify the Father with a sinless life. Salvation is his chance to do so.