“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” (Romans 8:5, NKJV).
Life in the Spirit is a life of fellowship and friendship with God. It is the lifestyle that precipitates revival in both personal and corporate dimensions. The opposite to life in the Spirit is life in the flesh. This is a lifestyle that promotes the self-serving desires of our fallen nature, which cannot please God. Paul explained: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8). The Christian life is life in the Spirit, which is simply a relationship with God that flows out of friendship with Him. Friendship with God is fuelled by the Spirit-aided obedience to His commands. Our Lord is emphatic in His declaration: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14). He further explained what friendship with God entails saying, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” – John 14:23. Embracing the word of God in loving obedience is a way to attract His Presence in our lives and unleash personal revival.
The Christian life is life in the Spirit, which is simply a relationship with God that flows out of friendship with Him.
The seed for personal revival is sown with the decision to live according to the dictates of the Spirit of God as against the flesh. The way you live is determined by the place you set your mind. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh. On the contrary, those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Where you set your mind is entirely your choice. It is then clear that what is critical here has to do with the basic orientation of people in relation to God. One is living according to the flesh if the basic orientation of his life favours gratifying the desires of the flesh. Their perception of reality is limited to the five physical senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Whatever they cannot understand by any of these senses is of little or no interest to them. Thomas could not breakthrough the barricade of the senses to receive the good news of our Lord’s resurrection. “The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So, he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” – John 20:25. Truly those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
However, those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit. Spiritual realities which include the being and operations of God fall far beyond the reach of the human senses. We know God and relate with Him through faith. To this end the Scripture informs us that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). We understand realities as it concerns God and our redemption in Christ by faith. Paul made it clear that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The live according to the Spirit is to live like God who is a Spirit. Our Lord Jesus told the woman of Samaria, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth”. Only what is done in the spirit will be of any consequence in the sight of God. Revival is a spiritual phenomenon which must be pursued through spiritual principles. Hence, things like, personal holiness, a life of total consecration, prayers arising from a humble and contrite spirit are invaluable requirements for revival. Let us embrace life in the spirit as we seek revival in Jesus name.
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