A More Excellent Way - pt1

MORE EXCELLENT WAY 1Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 1. WE WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT a) This phrase comes from 2Cor 5:7 and is said in the contexts of awaiting our glorified body – Rom 8:22-25. b) We learn from Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the substance and evidence of things hoped for, but not seen, not faith itself, but what one’s faith is in (the Word of God) – Heb 11:3. c) The phrase “seeing is believing” is not what we live according to, but rather, “hearing the Word of God is believing” – Rom 10:17, Eph 1:13 d) This is a more excellent mind set – 2Cor 4:15-18, Rom 8:18, Col 3:1-4. 2. WE ARE TO WALK AFTER THE SPIRIT, NOT AFTER THE FLESH a) We are to walk in the Spirit not fulfilling our flesh – Rom 8:1-5, Gal 5:16-21. b) The flesh = carnal, earthly, after the natural man - Rom 8:6-7,15:27, 1Cor 3:1-4. c) Fulfilling the desire of your flesh or being carnal is not necessarily a sin, it’s when you walk according to that. d) Walking according to your flesh does not always mean blatant wickedness – Rom 1:3, 15:27, 2Cor 5:16, 10:3 e) You can do religious things in your flesh and not be walking in the Spirit– Col 2:16-23. f) Walking after the Spirit means walking according to the word of God – Eph 5:18-20, Col 3:16, 1Thess 2:13, 2Tim 3:16-17. g) The Spirit and the Word have connection in scripture - 2Samuel 23:2, Isa 59:21, Micah 2:7, Zech 7:12, 1Cor 2:13, Eph 6:17. h) Having Gods Words written down so that you can read them, understand them, believe them, be filled with them, walk according to them, is more excellent than having an experience, living according to a feeling, or waiting for God to give you a “fresh word” – Neh 8:8, Rom 2:17-18, Eph 3:4, Col 4:16, 1Thess 5:27, 1Tim 4:13, Rev 1:3.