01.16. Some Dangers of the Spiritual Man
The believer who has become really " spiritual ", that is, with his spirit ruling soul and body-does not at that time pass out of the realm of conflict, but enters upon a more subtle phase of it, as set forth in Ephesians 6:10-18. The man who is said, in Ephesians 2:6, to be " seated with Christ in the heavenlies ", is afterwards described as " wrestling " with spiritual hosts of wickedness in " high places ", particularly in the form of " wiles " of the devil. This indicates that the spiritual believer in conflict has mainly to watch against subtle spiritual wiles of spirit foes, who are seeking to entangle him in matters connected with the spiritual realm, rather than in the conflict between flesh and spirit described in Galatians 5:17. In this phase of conflict, the wiles of the powers of darkness are mainly directed toward getting the spiritual man to walk, in some degree, after the soul and not after the spirit; that is, to be influenced by and to walk by anything in the realm of the senses, instead of in the spirit in co-operation with the Holy Spirit of God.
It is essential, then, that the believer, who is spiritual, should understand that deceiving spirits of Satan can create a counterfeit of the human spirit in the realm of the soul. They do this, by getting access to the outer man by guile, and then producing motions in the man other than those of the spirit. When these other motions-which possibly appear spiritual-get a hold, they may become strong enough to silence or overpower the true spirit action. If the believer is ignorant of the tactics of the enemy in this way, the true spirit action is easily allowed to sink into disuse, by the man following the counterfeit spiritual feelings, thinking he is " walking after the spirit ". When the true spirit-action ceases, the evil spirits may suggest that " God now guides through the renewed mind ", which is an attempt to hide their counterfeit workings, and the man’s disuse of his spirit. At the same time comes counterfeit light to the mind, followed by counterfeit reasoning, judging, etc., and the man thinks he has light from God, because he is unaware that he has ceased to " walk after the spirit ", and is now walking after the natural mind.
Another danger of the spiritual man lies in the subtle attempts of the deceiving spirits of Satan to get him to walk after the flesh (i.e., body), under the belief that he is still walking in the spirit, by creating feelings in the body which the man thinks are " spiritual ". To defeat these wiles, the believer should understand that all physical consciousness of supernatural things, and even undue physical consciousness of natural things, should be refused, as both divert the mind from " walking after the spirit ", and set it upon the bodily sensations. Undue physical consciousness is also an obstacle to the continuous concentration of the mind, and in a spiritual believer an " attack " of " physical consciousness " made use of by the enemy may break concentration of the mind, and bring a cloud upon the spirit: therefore the body should be kept calm, and under full control. For this reason, excessive laughter, and all " rushing " which rouses the physical life to the extent of dominating mind and spirit should be avoided. Believers who desire to be " spiritual ", and of " full age " in the life of God, must avoid excess, extravagance, and extremes in all things. (See 1 Corinthians 9:25-27)
Because of the domination of the physical part of the man, and the misunderstanding of supernatural experiences felt in the body, the body is made to do the work of the spirit, and is forced into prominence which suppresses the true spirit life. Under such conditions the body feels the pressure and feels the conflict, and becomes the " sense " in the place of the mind and spirit. Believers should learn to discriminate, and know how to discern the true feelings of the spirit, which are neither emotional (soulish) nor physical. (See, for example, Mark 8:12; John 13:21 ; Acts 18:5 A. V.)Through ignorance, a large majority of believers walk " after the soul ", i.e., their mind and emotions, under the impression that they are " walking after the spirit ". Because of what this means-depriving the believer of vital spirit power-the satanic forces use all their wiles to draw him to live in his soul or body, sometimes flashing visions to the mind, making presentations to the mind during prayer, or giving exquisite sensations of joy, buoyancy of life, etc., to the body. To depend upon supernatural things given from outside, or experiences in the sense realm, checks the inward spiritual life. By the bait of " experiences " in the senses, the believer is drawn out to live in the outer field of his body, instead of living in the true sphere of the spirit; then, ceasing co act from his centre, he is caught by the outer workings of the supernatural in his circumference, and loses-quite unconsciously-his inner cooperation with God. Then his spirit, which is the organ of the Holy Spirit in conflict against a spiritual foe, drops into abeyance and is ignored, because the believer is occupied with the sense-experience. Consequently, it is practically out of action, either for guidance, power in service, or conflict.
There is a serious danger arising out of the human spirit acting apart from co-operation with the Holy Spirit. When the spirit has been " divided " from the soul and become dominant, it is then open to become influenced by deceiving spirits in quite another way. Supposing in one of the ways already indicated, or otherwise, the man has ceased (unconsciously) to co-operate with the Holy Spirit, and is still guided by his spirit, he is liable to think his own masterful spirit is an evidence of the power of God, because in other directions he sees the Holy Spirit using him in winning souls. Under that delusion he may have a flood of indignation inserted into his spirit, and he pours it out, thinking it is all of God, but others, with real discernment, are conscious of a harsh note which is clearly not of God. Such an experience may easily take place in conflict, as well as in speaking, if the praying one is not watchful, the energising power being demoniacal, either directly influencing the spirit or by way of the soulish emotions. This influence on the human spirit by evil spirits counterfeiting the Divine workings in the man himself, because he is out of co-working with the Holy Spirit, needs to be understood and detected by the believer who seeks to walk with God. He needs to know that because he is spiritual, his " spirit " is open to two forces of the spirit realm. If he thinks that only the Holy Spirit can influence him in the spiritual sphere, he is sure to be misled. If it were so, he would become infallible, but he needs to watch and pray, and seek to have the eyes of his understanding enlightened to distinguish the true workings of God from the counterfeit. The believer who is " spiritual " must ponder deeply the unveiling of the heavenly warfare given in Ephesians 6:1-24 and strive to know in its fullest extent the experimental meaning of the " whole armour of God " which he is to " take " and use in the " evil day " of specific onslaughts of the foe. The burden of the Spirit of God at this present time is the perfecting, or full ripening into maturity, of the membersof the Body of Christ, so that His appearing may quickly take place, and the millennial reign of Christ, and His co-heirs be ushered in, for the peace of the world and the discomfiture of Satan; who will then be cast down into the pit, and the kingdoms of the world become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ." Even so, Lord Jesus-come quickly. Amen."
Made free ! Made free in Jesus Deep planted in His death, He liberates His Life power, And breathes His Spirit’s breath, Then, waxing strong in spirit, With force of quickening life, The soul and body governed, Its members cease from strife.
Made free ! Made free in Jesus:
Joined to the Risen One, By conflict prayer you triumph, And claim His victory won. Freed with His glorious freedom, Above the darkness rife; For now the law of sin and death Is conquered by His life.
M.M.
* For fuller light on this aspect of the walk after the spirit, see War on the Saints, from which this portion is extracted * Colossians 1:28-29. See Conybeare’s Note.36