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It’s Time to Grow Up! – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Disclaimer: I am not the epitome of this sermon. In fact the reason that this topic is of particular concern to me is that I am more the opposite of this sermon than the example of it. I am not particularly mature or advanced as a Christian but I want to be. I want to enter greater maturity and I hope you guys do to.

What does it mean to be Carnal?

– Fleshly, worldly minded, sinful

Is it possible for Christian to be carnal?

– Yes look at the Corinthians!

[1Co 1:4-9 NKJV] 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, [that you may be] blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God [is] faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

– There is no doubt that Paul is speaking to Christians yet look at ch 3:1-3

[1Co 3:1-3 NKJV] 1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 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; 3 for you are still carnal. For where [there are] envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like [mere] men?

– There are two states that a Christian can exist in

– Carnal and spiritual or mature and immature

Now the question I ask myself and I want you to ask yourself is am I spiritual or am I carnal?

3 things that mark a carnal Christian

1. Infirm either dying or stagnant (no growth)

– If a baby doesn’t grow either physically or mentally it is indicative of a disorder, disease or deformity

– An infant cannot help himself or others

– Needs constant attention and supervision

– Are we making sufficient spiritual progress or are we in this state of protracted infancy
[Heb 5:11-14 NKJV] 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need [someone] to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes [only] of milk [is] unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, [that is], those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

– Are you selfish? Babies don’t care that they cry all night keeping

1. Impotent or powerless over sin

– There are two forces at work in us the Spirit and the Flesh

– [Gal 5:17 NKJV] 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

– Which one is winning?

– John 8:34 says … whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

A life dominated by sin is carnal

[Gal 5:19-21 NKJV] 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told [you] in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

• One of the biggest ways that I am carnal is being a huge complainer!
• The people complained and said to Moses “let us alone” – Exodus 14:11-12
• The people complained about being hungry; God gave them Manna – Exodus 16:1-4
• the people complained about food – Numbers 11 – Quail out your
• Miriam and Aaron complain about Moses’ leadership – The Lord curses Miriam with leprosy – Numbers 12:1-12
• The people complained about how difficult it looked to enter the land so they refused to enter the Promise Land. Numbers 14:1-10

–   The key leaders rebel against Moses – Numbers 16

1. Incompetent.

[Rom 8:5-8 NKJV] 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those [who live] according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 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, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

[Jas 1:23-24 NKJV] 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

How to reverse the Carnal state

1. Must be convicted of your carnal state
   1. No remedy is found within yourself ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts Zech 4:6

1. Believe that it is possible to live a victorious life
   1. [Eph 5:1-4 NKJV] 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
2. Be willing to give up everything

[Heb 12:1 NKJV] 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

1. Be filled with the Spirit
   1. The Holy Spirit enlighten us concerning truth John 16, 1 John 2:27
   2. Empowers us to be witnesses
   3. Enables us to live Godly lives
      1. [Eze 36:25-27 NKJV] 25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do [them].
      2. [Gal 5:16, 22-25 NKJV] 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. … 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those [who are] Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.