Category Archives: Miscellaneous

We may claim to be a spiritual person. Is it, however, biblical spirituality?

How the Bible Defines Spirituality

Biblical spirituality is more than a bent toward God or being a good, moral person. We find a distinction between the natural and spiritual in 1 Corinthians 15:46-49 as that which comes from earthly origins versus heavenly. Hence, biblical spirituality takes us out of the natural and into the supernatural requiring God’s power to be at work in and through us. We cannot be spiritual, biblically speaking, without pulling on His divine power. — “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Pet. 1:3)

Two elements integral to biblical spirituality:

1) Biblical spirituality ties into who we are in Christ.

2) Biblical spirituality reflects the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.

Many Terms Used to Describe All Things Spiritual

Living within who we are in Christ and the Spirit at work in and through us involves so much it’s difficult to find one term that describes it all. The following list includes some terms or concepts found in the Bible. We don’t find the word “spiritual” in front of every one of these terms in Scripture but it’s implied if you look in the context showing that these are realities that take us beyond the natural.

Struggles in Our Quest to be Spiritual as in Biblical Spirituality

While Jesus came to give us abundant life, the devil comes like a thief “to steal and kill and destroy” (Jn. 10:10). While the Spirit leads us into truth, Satan seeks to lead our minds astray from “sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3) with lies (Jn. 8:44; Col. 2:8) and accusations (Rev. 12:10). Some of the lies Satan perpetrates includes confusion about what truly defines spirituality. If we redefine it in accordance with the world or what might be politically correct, being swayed by the spiritual forces of evil, we will fail to live that godly and full life only found in Christ produced within us through His Spirit.

But, in Christ we also have spiritual weaponry that enables us to stand firm against the devils schemes (Eph. 6:10-18).

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

God equips us and empowers us to rise above and view life from our position with Him “in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6). This is no pie in the sky type of spirituality. Rather, it is something that makes a difference here and now.

In the Old Testament we read about the prophet Samuel’s quest to anoint a new king for Israel. Samuel leaned toward one of Jesse’s sons who looked the part. “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'” (1 Sam. 16:7)

Because God prioritizes the heart, we should guard our hearts (Prov. 4:23), preparing our hearts so we are fit for ministry. Before considering how we do that, we should learn more about our need for heart preparation.

Lessons from the Bible Showing the Need for Heart Preparation

Page through the Old Testament and you’ll clearly see the hazards of not preparing your heart and the value of heart preparation. Here are a few example:

The Israelites of old provide an example of what happens when people’s hearts are not prepared. Though God made a covenant with them, protected and provided for them in miraculous ways, the people forgot God and persistently failed to follow Him. Then, instead of experiencing God’s blessing, they received His discipline. Psalm 78:8 gives the reason for their unfaithfulness. — “A stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart …” (NASB)

God chose David as their king who “shepherded them with integrity of heart” (Ps. 78:70-72) because of his heart, not because of his stature or other outward signs of accomplishment (1 Sam. 16:7). — “God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'” (Acts 13:22). — David wasn’t perfect but with a heart so bent toward God, it didn’t take long for him to repent of his sin, get right with God, and be back on track.

Rehoboam gives us an example of an individual leader, a king, who started out well but after just a few years, lost His way (2 Chron. 11:17). 2 Chronicles 12:14 provides the reason. — “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.” (KJV) — Rehoboam did humble himself before the Lord and was spared some of the severity of God’s judgment but still faced negative consequences (2 Chron. 12:5-8).

In both of the more negative examples, the same Hebrew word, kuwn, is used about not preparing their hearts to follow, or seek the Lord. If, in our hearts, we are not firmly established, or set on following after the Lord, we too could find ourselves turning away from God and His ways. We must value heart preparation, not just “going to church” or doing ministry. We must focus on what’s inside, not just learning new skills. If we don’t, we could find ourselves in the same predicament.

How to Prepare Our Hearts

We prepare our hearts is by making regular and consistent interaction with God in His Word a priority. Learn from the above examples:

The safeguard for the Israelites not becoming “like their ancestors” (Ps. 78:8) would be that they make learning about Him and His ways a priority for both themselves and the generations to come (Ps. 78:1-7).

What led to Rehoboam’s heart failure was that “After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.” (2 Chron. 12:1).

If we don’t make God’s Word a priority in our lives, we can’t expect our hearts will be prepared, or set, on following Him. — “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:25)

We prepare our hearts through regular and consistent interaction with God in prayer.

Read through the Psalms and you will find King David constantly turning to God in prayer. He would also exhort the people, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (Ps. 62:8). He asked God, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:23-24). He knew that what was on the inside of him mattered. He valued heart preparation.

Let’s not become so busy “doing” ministry that we lack time and energy to spend with God in His Word and in prayer. We need to make this kind of heart preparation a priority!

In ministry we can spend a lot of time in preparation for what needs to be done … preparing a lesson or sermon, setting up a room, learning new skills, making sure everyone’s safe, etc. But, how much attention do we give to heart preparation? — our own hearts as well as the hearts of those we serve?

What is Heart Preparation & Why Value It?

Preparing our hearts is about sowing good into our lives. The good we need to sow into our lives is that which aligns with God and His Word. We’re talking about the heart qualities we need, not just what we do.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Lk. 6:45)

Heart preparation is also about guarding our heart so it stays focused on the Lord. It’s about watching over or protecting our hearts, being careful we don’t sow into our lives those destructive, ungodly influences that block or hinder us from focusing on Him. We’re talking about being vigilant as well as diligent and intentional about what we sow into our hearts. We must always remember that we reap what we sow.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Prov. 4:23)

God looks for people whose heart is right with Him (1 Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2). It’s what He values, so we should too.

The concept of sowing and reaping originated with God.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal. 6:7-9)

Implications of the Principle of Sowing & Reaping for Believers

As believers, we choose whether or not to engage in activities that have the potential of bringing about a lot of good for ourselves and others, as well as bringing glory to God. But, we must be careful, for even “Christian activities” can be done in a way that pleases the flesh rather than pleasing the Spirit. Here’s what we need to remember:

1) Outward appearances don’t impress God. He “weighs the heart” (Prov. 21:2). So, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

We might fool people by doing all the right things but eventually we will reap what we’ve sown. — A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Lk. 6:45)

2) What we sow into our lives will ultimately reveal itself for what it is. “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

We do not always see the good, or harm, our lives might bring but in the end, it will either count for eternity or not. — If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Cor. 3:12-15)

3) Since we will not always reap immediate fruit, it’s important we continue sowing good “for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

We will be more likely to persevere when we do what we do with the right motives, perspective, and attitudes. We will be less likely to persevere when our heart isn’t into it for everything we do flows from the heart (Prov. 4:23).

Sowing Good into Our Lives Discipleship Acrostics looks at what believers do (Bible reading/study, character development, giving, outreach, prayer, relationship building, serving, and worship) in light of good traits that need to be sown into these activities.