Believers are called to do the things God desires from them. Unless they devote themselves to do as He desired they cannot accomplish them. Many Christians show interest to do works for God, but end up not having the will for them. Some begin them, but do not complete them; others do them, but not as God desired. Those that want to do God’s desires must follow His principle to do them as He desires. Then, they can keep pleasing Him in all areas of their life. They do not worry of the consequences of their works. They do them for God’s glory and are sure He will bring glory to His name. The fruit of their works is the amiable results. And the principle they must follow is entrenched in the following. “…I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also” (1 Cor. 14:15).
Devout Christians use both their mind and spirit when engaged to please God. They are aware that doing so gives them the will to do all He desired from them. By following the principle we gain strength to focus on His will and are able to sacrifice ours; we bring our bodies in subjection to Him. Our spirit and mind together control our flesh by the strength He avails in the Spirit. Then, we follow His timing and unfailingly fulfill His desires. In putting out the principle Paul was not defining how to do it, but why to do it. It is to bring the outcome God wanted. By using the mind we assess the thoughts of the flesh in the power of the Spirit. As a result, we can remove those that are against our endeavors for God. God has given us the mind that we choose to act wisely for Him. He gave us a spirit that we greatly allow His Spirit to dwell in us. Yet, the Corinthian Christians became indifferent to this as are also the many Christians today. They were not helping the cause of the gospel, but damaging it. They were regressive minded in so far as glorifying God and Christ. Using both mind and spirit profits God. He does not expect half-hearted profits from us. Again, using them without the Spirit’s guidance is dangerous, for in time we become the pretenders rather than the trustworthy. And the joy, peace and comfort of God evade us.
Adding our mind to our spirit filled with Holy Spirit is a winner. It can only be a winner, since we listen to the promptings of the Spirit. The danger is thwarted; we make a difference as Christians. Our spirit is an emotional being. Many emotions flow from him all the time; our thoughts are influenced by them. With the Holy Spirit our emotions take a back seat, if we put our mind to act judiciously on His promptings. Some emotions are good and the Spirit leads our mind to use them. When Paul spoke of using the spirit and mind, he asked them to act on the promptings of the Spirit. At the same time, he was also notifying them their lack of fellowship with Him, and so, the unfruitfulness of their mind. If our emotions do not play the role of guiding us, we do not fail God. Whether we are worshipping God or performing His desires by the Spirit, it is our spiritual service of worship to Him. Then that which we display to the world is the power of an indestructible life, which is the basis for our Lord to become God’s power to us. “[He] has become such (priest) not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life” (Heb. 7:16).
You see, the reason God wants us to fulfill His desires His way is that the power of an indestructible life is made known. We are not called to do works on the basis of the law of the flesh or fulfill His desires according to our ways. Instead, we are called to fulfill them by using the promptings of the Spirit. Let the Spirit guide you daily and you will have life. And that life radiates the power of an indestructible life, who is God. Jesus died, rose and entered heaven and has called you and me to continue His work. He did not leave us without help, but endowed us the Spirit that we choose to act wise for God’s desires. Choosing any other help undercuts our efforts to glorify Him; we end up an emotional wreck having no use for His desires. On the contrary, using our mind and spirit for accomplishing His desires has incomparable blessings. We will have,
- Peace. We made peace with God, when we were saved. He no longer penalizes us with death. But, when we keep His principles, He lets His peace flow into us; it sustains us. We remain unshakable in any situation, even the earth shattering ones. The reason: it gives us the fantastic assurance that God is in control of everything. Having been aware of it Paul said, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9).
- Abundant life. Jesus desired it for us. It is more than we as humans can define. We may think of a few to describe it, but they certainly cannot match it. It is being in comfort in all areas of our life no matter the time, place and situation. While Satan’s only aim to steal, kill and destroy that comfort, Jesus gives it to us for the rest of our life. Using our mind and spirit by the Spirit thwarts Satan’s purpose for us. So, we can hope in this Word of Christ. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
- Protection. Every time we face troubles and hardships the Lord God sets out to lessen them for us. He will not leave us to succumb to them. Now that we knew the secret, we do not have to worry. He rescues us from harm and gives to us our life as treasure. He has made a promise to intervene for us and make our life safe. “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Matt. 24:22).
- Strength. Our strength will be at our side. The Strength with which we have been filled by the Holy Spirit helps us walk in faith and obedience to the Lord all the days of our life. We do not fall for the Enemy’s devices nor do we fall for the wicked schemes of men. Because we act wisely, we shall not face the shame and despair that befalls unfruitful men. “Strangers devour his strength, yet he does not know it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, yet he does not know it” (Hos. 7:9).
Having these blessings means we are with the joy of the Lord. As long as we commit ourselves to Him, it cannot be taken away from us. And we will always find it to be true. Therefore, we also serve Him with more eagerness and devotion. We do not think of failing to please Him, for we go from faith to faith receiving grace upon grace. Our hearts sing a splendid message to the Lord. “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!” (Ps. 57:7).