A People that Lacks Spiritual Understanding – Part 1

 Hosea 4:14b It is true: “A people that lacks understanding will come to ruin!”

This last Sunday, our church celebrated the liberty and freedom that is privileged by every American because of this country’s Independence Day, based on the Declaration of Independence and the associated United States Constitution, which affords people of faith, our church and specifically every individual to express their religious beliefs without persecution (but, not without dark attacks on that freedom as we’ve seen recently). Pastor Kyle points out that, today, we are free to worship God without oppression. But, we must remember that freedom is never free. Many American lives have been given as the ultimate sacrifice for the establishment and maintaining of this nations freedom. And, likewise, we must always remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the Cross for every Christian’s freedom from sin and death that we may have life eternal as citizens of heaven. In accepting Christ as Savior and Lord, we experience the regeneration of our soul, receives the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide and walk aligned with through live, receive a born-anew heart the discerns will and way of God’s life-altering principles, statues of the Holy Word of God. We must see and feel like we need to know more about the things of God, then pursue them.

Matthew 9:36-38When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Pastor Kyle gave us five godly elements of people with spiritual understanding. As in the times of Hosea, people are moving away from God and anything church related. Why? Because they lack spiritual understanding and do not see the way, the truth and the life. The question is: are there elements of this existential, secular world, culture that are not aligned with God’s standards and we’re allowing into our lives; permitting socially acceptable thoughts, words and actions which are not pleasing in the eyes of God to become willfully acceptable in ours`. Pastor’s first point is that people of spiritual understanding seek the knowledge of God. Psalm 119:66 says, “Teach me proper discernment and understanding! For I consider your commands to be reliable.” Proverbs 1:5 tells us, “Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!” Hosea 14:9 concludes, “Who is wise? Let him discern these things! Who is discerning? Let him understand them! For the ways of the Lord are right; the godly walk in them, but in them the rebellious stumble.”

Secondly, Pastor Kyle states that people of spiritual understanding submit to authority. Number One is submitting to the lordship of Almighty Creator God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). But, the Holy word of God tells us in Jeremiah 3:15 “I will give you leaders who will be faithful to me. They will lead you with knowledge and insight”. People who argue and contend with their shepherd pastor continually are unreasonable.All pastors desire our spiritual best in life. There are many church teachers today, who have stopped teaching the Word of God correctly, putting unnecessary burdens on the people of God by not submitting to authority and leading disciples away from the true knowledge of the things of God. Hosea 5:4 explains, “Their wicked deeds do not allow them to return to their God; because a spirit of idolatry controls their heart, and they do not acknowledge the Lord.”

Let’s continue Pastor Kyle’s sermon message on “Lacking spiritual knowledge” in the next post.

In Christ, Brian