John 12:28–29: Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I
have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
Therefore the people who stood by and heard
it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An
angel has spoken to Him.”
The shrew-like creature evolved some 200,000 years after a
massive asteroid impact led to the extinction of the dinosaurs
65 million years ago. From this small beginning sprang every
‘placental’ mammal that gives birth to mature live young,
including dogs, cats, rodents, whales and humans.
2Cor.11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no
marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end
shall be according to their works.
Transformed: refers to the act of an individual changing his
outward expression by assuming an expression put on from
the outside, and expression that does not come from nor is it
representative of what he is at his inner character.
Transformed: (believer) -- speaks of the act of a person
changing his outward expression from that which he has to a
different one, an expression which comes from and is
representative of his inner being.
Carnal – sarkikos : fleshly, sensual, worldly, nonspiritual;
relating to or given to the crude desires and appetites of the
FLESH. One who walking "after the flesh," living according to
the Adamic nature. It denotes, in an ethical sense, mere
human nature, the lower side of man as apart from the Divine
influence, & therefore estranged from God and prone to sin.
When “carnal” is applied to Christians the lower nature of
their being is dominant and not the higher. They manifest the
feelings, desires, views of that which pertains to the flesh.
They are yielding to the corrupt passions of flesh and
unfortunately have little interest in the things of the Spirit.
Failure to walk in complete deliverance from the power of sin,
submitting themselves to the suggestions of the carnal
nature.
1Cor.3:1-4 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as
unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in
Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for
hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye
able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you
envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and
walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and
another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Cor.1:2-3 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to
those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,
with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ
our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Envy: Intense negative feelings over another’s
achievements or success.
As members of one Body, we should be just as delighted
when another member is honored.
1Cor.12:26 And if one member suffers, all the members
suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the
members rejoice with it.
If someone can sing, play, speak better -- can we rejoice?
If we cannot enjoy to have somebody else preferred
before us – we are yet carnal!
Strife: Engagement in rivalry, especially with reference to
positions taken in a matter, discord, contention.
All kinds or quarreling, rivalry in church.
Divisions: Envy led to strife and strife eventually brought
divisions. They contended till they separated from each
other, and the Church of Christ was rent.
They split up into parties, and were embittered.
A Home can be divided and yet under one roof.
Are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Carnality is also unbalanced attachment to ministries who
nurture them. -- Followers of Paul, Peter, Apollos, etc.
We’re also immature if we’ve unbridled allegiance to any
human leader.
Many also filled with attitude of spiritual superiority,
which was another evidence of their immaturity and
carnality.
Enamored with spiritual gifts. “The mature uses gifts as
tools to build with, the immature uses gifts as toys to play
with or trophies to boast about.”
BABIES ARE….
Self-centered
Dependent on others for all their needs
Have a short attention span
Go for things that glitter, and they have no sense of values
Are illiterate and ignorant of much they need to know
Their wants are predominant
Ruled by their appetites and move fitfully from one thing to
another
Unable to feed themselves, or to protect themselves, or to
defend themselves
Cannot see beyond their own little world
Enjoy being the center of attention and soon learn how to get
their share of it
No thought for the needs and concerns of others
Demanding
Get themselves in the most frightful messes and seem
blissfully unaware of it
Demand a great deal of care
But, in time, we hope and pray they grow up to be
responsible, reliable and dependable.