For some time, I’ve marveled at 1 Corinthians 3:1-3: “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”
In verse 3, Paul makes an astonishing statement: Believers who settle into carnal, fleshly living behave like mere men. This verse, therefore, begs a question: What kind of life takes us beyond living like mere men? And how do we live this kind of life?
In verse 1, Paul gives us the answer. He says that he could not speak to the Corinthians as he would to spiritual people. Spiritual people are those who desire solid spiritual food and have developed a taste for spiritual growth and maturity in Christ. They mine for truths in God’s Word and walk them out. Yes, spiritual people mature in Christ, experience Kingdom living, and walk as people of God’s Spirit, not mere men!
Born of the Spirit
Paul explains life in the Spirit in John 3:6-8. When Nicodemus inquired about being born again, Jesus said to him, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Being born again means being born of the Spirit. Those born of the Spirit are led by the Holy Spirit, which is God’s Spirit. Furthermore, verse 8 says the wind blows where it wishes. You cannot tell from where it comes or where it goes. So are spiritual people! The Holy Spirit moves and guides us as God wills: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Often, we do not know how God will move or direct our lives. Therefore, we must trust His purposes and His goodness towards us.
We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when we receive Jesus Christ as Savior, but we still have a choice. Do we yield to the Spirit or remain in our own self-will? If we remain in our self-will, we live as mere men tossed about by the passions of earthly life. We remain carnal. If we are determined to yield to God’s Spirit, we move with Him, not against Him, and experience Kingdom living here on earth.
The Spiritual Way Revealed to a Broken Woman
In John 3, we learn about being born again of the Spirit. In John 4, Jesus presents this same message to a broken and disillusioned Samaritan woman alone at a well. He began to engage with her about spiritual things. She opened her heart and responded in John 4:13-15:
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”
Yes, although she did not fully understand, she said, “Give me this water.” Her heart opened, and she received what Jesus offered as He instructed her.
Jesus then asked her about her husband, and she told him the truth: She had no husband. She could have dodged the question or been deceptive, but she was open and honest. Jesus confirmed that she had answered truthfully but went on to reveal more: “For you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly” (John 4:18). Further, in John 4:19-24, the two had this dialogue: The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
To this broken woman at a well, Jesus revealed profound spiritual truths. His people are to worship Him in spirit and truth. God is a Spirit, and His people must live in the Spirit to truly worship Him. We must allow the Holy Spirit to move us in life as God wills. Our responsibility is to obey. Notice that as this woman continued to press into this spiritual conversation, Jesus went on to straightforwardly reveal Himself as the Messiah: “I who speak to you am He [the Messiah]” (John 4:26).
At the Carwash
I’ll close by giving an example of being led by the Spirit in a way counter to the way I would have chosen. The way of the Spirit surprised me but provided wisdom and life.
One evening, I went to a car wash and put a $20 bill in the machine for an $8 wash. I received a receipt stating there was no change and that I was to take the receipt to the attendant. There was no attendant on duty; in fact, there was never one at this car wash. I called the customer service number prominently displayed nearby but got a recording saying voicemail had yet to be set up. There was no way to get my change! I felt I had been scammed and needed help with the situation, so I called the police department. The officer looked into it and called me back.
From his response, I could tell the police knew of this owner’s shenanigans but were not going to do anything. By then, I had researched and located where the owner lived, along with several numbers for him. Two numbers had the same voicemail message about not being set up. When I called a third number, the woman who answered immediately hung up. Then, I really knew this situation was not good. As I washed dishes one morning, I distinctly remember turning my head to the side. I asked the Lord what I should do, and I heard in my spirit, “Let it go.” I was not expecting that at all! But I decided to yield, and immediately, peace came over me. God also dealt with the pride that arises when a person feels taken advantage of. I released it! And lastly, deep within me, I knew God’s wisdom protected me. I knew it was best not to engage with this man for any reason, especially over $12.
Praise the Lord! God covered me! I am a woman of the Spirit who has chosen to live by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Although I felt anger, frustration, and a sense of injustice, God required me to rise above a mere human response. He wanted me to go higher, to respond as a spiritual woman. And I yielded! Join me as we represent Christ on earth—people truly of His Spirit who are yielded and who walk a more excellent way! Peace to you!
