“Endless Resources”
By N. Daniel
www.lefi.org
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. “(Romans 8:6)
Here in the beginning of this chapter the life on the higher plane is differentiated from the life in the flesh. People who live in the flesh and work in the flesh get quickly worn out. Carnally minded men die. Very soon they come to the end of their resources. A machine, which is not properly lubricated, will not last long. Lubricating oil reduces frictional forces to the minimum and prevents metal coming into contact with metal and getting worn out. A carnal man who is not lifted into the higher plane in which Christ lived, with spiritual love and faith will not live long. The spiritual forces of love and faith prolong life and ennoble the quality of fruit you bear. A God-fearing man never comes to the end of his resources, because he is drawing upon the endless resources and the heavenly forces are sustaining him. To be carnally minded is death.
Once Mr. John was preaching on the theme “Faith as much as a mustard seed.” Even while he was preaching on this text, a sick woman was brought in by some Hindus from a neighboring village for healing. The woman was bitten by a snake. She was in the last convulsions which precede death. Mr. John said that this was a challenge to prove whether they had faith as much as a mustard seed or not. All the believers knelt down and prayed and the woman was healed. A man does not come to the end of his resources as long as he is spiritually minded.
“If ye live after the flesh ye shall die.” If we live after the flesh we die to usefulness. The spirit mortifies the low and destructive activities of the carnal mind. It keeps the physical body in tune to function by His spirit. “If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live.” As soon as you are born of the Spirit, the carnal desires are kept in subjection and you have a spiritual guidance. As you obey that guidance, the human frame will last till God's great purposes are fulfilled.
“Be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit.” Life in the Spirit is full of praise to God. As you are praising, the spiritual buoyancy increases and lifts you into the presence of God. Suppose you pump hydrogen into a balloon. As it gets bigger, it goes higher. There is always buoyancy when you are praising. “Not slothful in business.” When a Christian does business, he sometimes likes to take liberties with God. “I will not study hard. I shall pray,” is the devil's thought. God wants us to be equal to any one in business. There is no place in Heaven for lazy people.
In Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy. A spiritual man has a deep peace. God is with him and he goes on working till the work is done. “Joy in the Holy Ghost”. Joy is a great lubricant. It prevents frictional forces. Joy makes things very easy and much lighter. Do not think you are doing too much work. Through God you can do more. God says, 'You are My son. Your capacity to do work will be like Mine.' Though everything may be dark around you, you will be abounding in hope.
“Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” (Romans 16:5) There is a church in a house. What is a church? It is a place where true believers meet. When husband and wife meet in prayer with true devotion, they are a church. 'Be careful about evil, but God is going to bruise Satan shortly.' To St. Paul Satan is a defeated foe. Man is an inexhaustible power when in touch with God. The moment you are lifted from the carnal plane to the spiritual plane, you will receive great power. If you will obey God's voice and let his word dwell in you, you will do his will and allow the higher spiritual ambitions to have right of way in your life. Nothing can prevent your prayers being answered. You will become an inexhaustible power and an endless resource.
