THE THIN LINE: A SWITCH FROM SPIRITUALITY TO CARNALITY

"To start in the Spirit and end in the flesh? No be Juju be dat?"

Can a believer begin in the Spirit and eventually depend on the flesh? Can a Church retain its name, structures, programmes and outward beauty while losing the very life of the Spirit? Through Galatians 3:1–3 and Ezra 3:8–13, this exhortation challenges believers to examine the foundation of their faith, recover the transforming life of Christ and return to the Spirit that began the journey.

Paul's question in Galatians 3:3 captures one of the most disturbing contradictions in the Christian journey: beginning by the Spirit of God and attempting to finish by the power, wisdom and ingenuity of the flesh.

This was not merely the concern of Apostle Paul. It reflects the deep concern of the ancient men of faith who had witnessed the foundation of the first house of God being laid and lived to see the foundation of the second house.

In Ezra 3:8–13, we encounter a remarkable scene. While the younger generation celebrated the laying of the foundation of the second temple with shouting and great rejoicing, many of the older priests, Levites and family heads who had seen the former house wept with a loud voice.

Why?

They understood something that the excitement of the moment could not communicate. They remembered the former glory, the foundation, the original pattern and the spiritual significance of the house of God.

There was a sound of celebration, but there was also a sound of mourning!

This presents a sobering picture of the contemporary Church. We may celebrate impressive structures, numerical multiplication, expanding ministries, sophisticated programmes, abundant resources and remarkable external achievements, yet lose sight of the very foundation upon which the Church was established.

The house may look beautiful outwardly, but what about the life within?

What happens when the expression of faith becomes increasingly dominated by human engineering, calculations, programming, manipulation and the corrupting influence of carnality, rather than the leading, power and life of the Holy Spirit?

THE TRAGEDY OF A CHURCH WITHOUT THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT

No wonder the Gospel, in many instances, appears to have lost its transforming power in the lives of men. Rather than producing the mind of Christ, forming Christ in men and bringing believers into the power and privileges of sonship, we sometimes settle for religious activities, institutional growth and outward manifestations.

Yet, the ultimate purpose of the Gospel is much greater than gathering crowds or building religious institutions.

It is to FORM CHRIST IN MEN!

That men may possess the mind of Christ (Galatians 4:19). That they may be conformed to the image of God's Son (Romans 8:29). That they may grow into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). That their lives may manifest the Kingdom culture of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17). That, beholding the glory of the Lord, they may be transformed into the same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Church is called to demonstrate the life, character and culture of Christ, shaping lives and transforming society through the expression of God's Kingdom.

WHEN RELIGION REPLACES THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT

The issue is not necessarily juju in the literal sense; it is a shocking spiritual reversal!

You cannot begin by depending on God's Spirit and then abandon Him for human wisdom, manipulation, self-effort and worldly methods.

When the faith of Christ is disconnected from its foundation and the life of the Spirit, religion gradually takes over. This is one of the troubling realities confronting the Church today.

Songs become noise rather than spiritual expressions of worship (Amos 5:23).

Services become mechanical routines and burdens rather than encounters with God.

Prayer becomes a struggle rather than communion and fellowship with the Father.

Bible studies become sleeping doses rather than opportunities for illumination, transformation and spiritual growth.

Special programmes, conventions and gatherings sometimes become mere convergences of carnality, religious entertainment and showmanship, with little evidence of genuine spiritual transformation.

We must ask ourselves: Are we still building according to the pattern of the Spirit, or have we substituted divine inspiration with human ingenuity?

Jeremiah 3:23 reminds us that salvation and deliverance are not found in the multitude of human efforts, but in the LORD our God.

THE FATHER'S GRIEF: A NAME THAT LIVES, BUT A LIFE THAT IS DEAD

The Lord's message to the Church in Sardis is a sobering reminder:

"Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." — Revelation 3:1 (KJV)

What a frightening spiritual condition!

A church may have a reputation for being alive, influential, prosperous, active and successful, yet be spiritually dead.

The outward appearance may be impressive, but the inward spiritual condition may be far from God's expectations.

Even among those who appear outwardly righteous, only a remnant may have preserved the purity of their walk with God.

"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy." — Revelation 3:4 (KJV)

This is a call to examine not merely what we have built, but what has been formed within us.

THE WAY BACK: REMEMBER, REPENT AND RETURN

There is hope for every believer and every Church willing to acknowledge the departure from the original foundation.

The first step towards recovery is remembering where we have fallen, acknowledging our spiritual condition, repenting and returning to our first love and the life of the Spirit.

We must recover the foundation of our faith in Christ, the doctrines handed down by the Apostles and the transforming ministry of the Holy Spirit.

We must not merely reproduce the activities of the early Church; we must recover the spiritual life, devotion, obedience, purity and power that characterised its existence.

The Christian journey cannot be sustained by human enthusiasm, religious activities or institutional machinery. It must remain rooted in the Spirit of God.

LET US ASK OURSELVES SOME SEARCHING QUESTIONS:

You started by faith; why switch to human calculations?

You started by divine dependence; why end in self-dependence?

You started by the Spirit; why pursue fulfilment through the flesh?

You started with God; why finish without Him?

THE BIG QUESTION!

WHO HATH BEWITCHED YOU?

(Galatians 3:1)

Beloved, if you began in the Spirit, do not allow the flesh to dictate how you finish.

Never exchange divine inspiration for human manipulation, spiritual substance for religious appearance, or the life of Christ for the applause of men.

The God who began the good work in you is able to sustain and complete it. Remain yielded to His Spirit!

REPENT AND RETURN TO THE SPIRIT THAT BEGAN THE JOURNEY!

Never abandon the Spirit that started the journey for the flesh that cannot finish it!

REPENT. RETURN. REMAIN IN THE SPIRIT.

BE WISE!

Pst. Tope Omotayo
Morning Dew