-Then Spiritual. By: Phillip Hayes

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1 First Natural -Then Spiritual By: Phillip Hayes Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [1Corinthians 15:46] When asked what the sign of His coming would be, our Lord answered, Take heed that no man deceive you. [Matthew 24:4] I believe the end of the last days are upon us and God s people would be wise to obey our Lord s warning. We are promised the last days would bring seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. I have always been amazed how professing Christians hardly ever read their Bibles and most haven t a clue how to rightly divide it. In 2Timothy 2:15, Paul encouraged Timothy to, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. What does it mean, and how does one rightly divide the Word of God? First of all one must understand that the Bible (which means books) was not written by man. It was dictated to man by God. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. [2Peter 1:20-21] Trumpet Messenger Page 1

2 Apostle Peter is referring to the Old Testament as the New Testament had not yet been compiled. Holy men of God were moved upon by the Holy Ghost and they spoke and wrote what God said to them. Therefore the Word of God is spiritually given and must be spiritually discerned. Because of this, You cannot read or study the Bible as you would a text book or magazine. Reading the Bible is a great and wonderful thing. However merely reading the Bible will not bring understanding. There is a difference between reading and studying. Studying the Bible will bring understanding if it is properly studied. However, in order to study properly, you must know how to rightly divide it. I firmly believe the reason there is so much misunderstanding and division within the body of Christ is this very reason. People are not rightly dividing the Word of Truth and are bringing confusion and division to the church. They cannot understand what they are reading because they are reading and studying the Bible with a carnal mind. According to God s Word, the carnal mind is an enemy to God. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [Romans 8:7] The carnal mind cannot rightly divide the Word of God. The carnal mind has used the Word of Truth to birth hundreds of denominations and literally thousands of little splinter groups all declaring they have the Truth. Certainly they cannot all have the Truth as they differ from one another in doctrine. There are numerologists and mathematicians today that have analyzed the King James Version of the Bible and have found it to be mathematically perfect. This astounds them as they know it would be impossible realizing the Bible was written by different men over thousands of years. Even today with all our computer technology it would be virtually Trumpet Messenger Page 2

3 impossible for a one writer, let alone many writers, to write a book that would be mathematically perfect. Without question the Bible stands apart as a mysterious marvel in the eyes of carnal men. But to us, it is no mystery! We believe that it was dictated by God to holy men of God throughout thousands of years and it is perfect. This marvelous, mysterious and complex book called the Bible can be understood if we use the keys that God has given to us. The first key is one must depend solely on the Holy Spirit to reveal the Word. They cannot lean upon their own understanding. Jesus said, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth... [St. John 16:13] The Holy Spirit is your teacher, not man! In Apostle John s first epistle he made it clear that you would not be seduced or deceived if you depended on the Spirit. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. [1John 2:27] Never depend upon your own understanding! The Lord Jesus also gave us the same understanding when He asked the disciples who He was. Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God! Jesus said to Peter, Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father which is in Heaven. He then said, Upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. That Rock my friends is spiritual revelation! God revealed the Truth to Peter, not man. (See Matthew Chapter 16) Perhaps some of you have read a certain passage of scripture over and over, yet you could not understand it. Then one day while reading the same passage, it suddenly opened to you and you understood it! Have you ever had Trumpet Messenger Page 3

4 that experience? I am sure you have! What happened? Did you suddenly become smart? No, the Holy Spirit revealed it to you! This is the way spiritual revelation works. God gave us an anointing, and that anointing is the Holy Ghost! Another key is realizing the Old Testament is a shadow of things to come. It foretells the future in types and shadows. The Old Testament is filled with natural wars, calamities and victories that happened to natural men and women. After Christ our warfare is spiritual, not carnal or natural. First natural, then spiritual. There was the Law written on tables of stone. There was a natural Tabernacle and later a natural Temple where God demanded animals to be sacrificed for the sins of the people. God required the people to observe all kinds of sabbaths and holy days. There were certain animals they could eat, and some they could not. When Jesus came, God gave mankind a New Covenant instituted by the shedding of the Blood of Jesus. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. [Matthew 26:28] There would no longer be any need to sacrifice animals in order for sins to be forgiven. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. [Colossians 2:14-17] Meats, drinks, holydays, new moons, sabbath days were all a shadow of something to come! I know it is hard for a lot of folks to accept but the Law was a shadow! For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not Trumpet Messenger Page 4

5 the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. [Hebrews 10:1] During our Lord s famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. [Matthew 5:27-28] The them of old time were Moses, the Priests and the Prophets. The Thou shalt not Jesus is referring to is the Ten Commandments. Jesus is clearly redefining the Ten Commandments! He is stating what would become the law of the Spirit! He said, BUT I SAY. This is what got Him into trouble with the leaders of the Jews. In this, we have the natural Law, Thou shalt not verses the spiritual law that is placed in every believers heart by the Holy Ghost. Jesus said, The Holy Spirit would reprove the world of sin. [See St. John 16:8] The Old Testament laws were given to the natural man. The New Testament laws are given to the spiritual man. The old was given on tablets of stone, the new is inscribed on our hearts by the Holy Spirit. First natural, then spiritual. I have said for years we don t need the Ten Commandments nailed on the church house wall to know what sin is! That is the job of the Holy Ghost! Neither should we submit to the carnal standards of man. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, Trumpet Messenger Page 5

6 and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. [1Timothy 1:9-10] The Law is not for a righteous man, neither does righteousness come by the law! The law is for the lawless and disobedient, the ungodly and sinners. In other words the law will forever stand against a sinful world. If there was no law, there would be no sin and the world would be guiltless. Paul said, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. [Galatians 2:21] Therefore a righteous man is one that is entirely dependent on being clothed in the righteousness of Christ. His righteousness is by faith in Jesus Christ. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. [Galatians 3:6] I have known Holy Ghost filled Christians that never felt convicted of wearing their wedding rings or certain kinds of clothing. Yet, when they began to be influenced by carnal minded ministers and church people, they began dressing and obeying their standards. Suddenly, they couldn t wear their wedding rings! You see, they were not obeying or doing what they were doing for God, they were doing it for man. What a shame for this is exactly what happened to the Galatian church. They had begun in the Spirit, but were trying to be perfect by the law! First natural, then spiritual. We need to know what is natural and what is spiritual! So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that Trumpet Messenger Page 6

7 which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [1Corinthians 15:42-49] These verses are revealing one very important key to the knowledge in which we seek. Namely, that which is natural comes first, and afterward that which is spiritual. Paul delighted in the law of God after the inward man (Romans 7:22). In other words, the laws found in the Old Testament were the shadows of the law of the Spirit that God would give to those He called. Although Paul was a natural Jew by birth, he did not delight in Old Testament laws and ceremonies. He clearly understood that the carnal law of commandments found in the Old Testament could never bring salvation. Paul found freedom in the law of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [Romans 8:2] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [Galatians 5:18] Now, we have an understanding. The Old Testament was a shadow of what was to come. The Bible refers to the Old Testament law as a schoolmaster. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. [Galatians 3:24-25] Now, what else can we learn by understanding that the Old Testament was natural, and the New Testament is spiritual? I want you to think about a shadow. Everything stricken by light has a shadow. The shadow will look somewhat like the image it portrays. My shadow is not me, but it does resemble me. Obviously, there cannot be a Trumpet Messenger Page 7

8 shadow if there is no object, nor can there be a shadow without light. Look at this a moment... In Hebrews chapter eight, the writer said that God warned Moses to make everything in the tabernacle according to the pattern he was shown in the mountain. He was shown a shadow of heavenly things. Now, this speaks volumes to me! First natural, then spiritual is ringing in my inner man s ear! This says to me, and I hope to you also, that everything in that tabernacle represented something to come. In other words, it is a shadow, or more accurately a prophetic shadow! We have all heard things that were supposedly in the Bible and we found out later it wasn t. When I was a boy, I remember my mother quoting the following to me, Cleanliness is next to godliness. And, Spare the rod and you will spoil the child. Maybe your mother or father said the same to you. However, neither is in the Bible! Let s look at a few more. Three wise men came to worship Jesus in the manger. Not so! No where in the Bibles does it say there were three wise men. Also, when the wise men came to see Jesus, He was a young child in a house! We have probably seen to many nativity scenes. Well, everyone knows, Jesus was born in a manger. No! Mary laid Him in a manger after He was born. When I was a child, I was told, Jesus birthday was December twenty-fifth. Not so! We do not know what month or day Jesus was born. If it was important to God for us to know, we would find it in His Word. I could go on and on, but space in this article will not allow me to do so. However, by these few things, we know we have believed many things we thought was in God s Word that isn t. The Old Testament (The Natural) taught that eating certain foods were unclean and would defile us. Jesus said, And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from Trumpet Messenger Page 8

9 without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. [Mark 7:18-23] The first law was to the natural man, the second was the law of the Spirit after the inward man. Clearly, first natural, then spiritual. Let s compare a few more instances of first natural, then spiritual. Look closely at First Corinthians, chapter fifteen beginning with verse forty-two: So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [1Corinthians 15:42-49] There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. We presently have a natural body, but we will have a spiritual body. The shadow of this is: The first man Adam was a natural created man, created out of the earth. The second man is the Lord from Heaven (a spiritual man). We Trumpet Messenger Page 9

10 have born the image of Adam (natural) but we will bear the image of Jesus (spiritual). There was a natural creation. God created the heavens, the earth and man. The first man created according to Genesis and First Corinthians was Adam. But, in the book of Revelation, Jesus said He was the beginning of the creation of God. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. [Revelation 3:14] The carnal mind would think that Jesus and Adam was one and the same person. The spiritual mind understands the first natural, then spiritual principle. Adam was the beginning of the natural creation, Jesus was the beginning of the spiritual creation. We become, new creatures or a new creation in Christ Jesus when we are born again. Remember, Jesus said a man must be born again! A natural man must become a spiritual man. Here is the way Paul describes this principle of first natural, then spiritual in Romans: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. [Romans 1:20] When you look at God s natural creation, you are seeing a shadow of His invisible (spiritual) creation. First natural, then spiritual! There was a natural Passover in the Old Testament. The children of Israel had to put the blood of a lamb without blemish on the upper door posts and on the two sides of the posts of their homes. When God came to slay all the first born of Egypt, He would see the blood and pass over those homes. The first born in that home would be spared. Some say it was the Death Angel, but this is not in the Bible. (Probably been watching too much TV). Trumpet Messenger Page 10

11 Now, we have a spiritual Passover. Their unleavened bread was natural. Our unleaved bread is spiritual. Jesus said, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. [Luke 12:1] Paul was referring to sin in First Corinthians when he said, a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump. He was referring to Judaism when he said the same thing in Galatians chapter five. We must also rid ourselves of all leaven. The natural lamb without blemish that was slain was a shadow of Jesus the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. The natural lamb s blood was placed on the top and the two sides of the door posts. This represented the cross of Christ. When death approached their natural homes, He saw the blood of a natural lamb. Christ was killed and His Blood was spilled at the Passover. When death comes to us, God will see the Precious Blood of Jesus applied to the door posts of our hearts. There is no death to a Christian. Jesus has abolished death (2Tim. 1:10)! First natural, then spiritual. There was a natural feast of Pentecost which means fiftieth. This was also fulfilled in Christ on the Day of Pentecost. This feast began the fiftieth day after the Passover feast. Remember, when Jesus rose from the dead, He continued with the disciples for forty days, speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Then, He departed to Heaven, and after ten days, the Holy Ghost was poured out on the very day of the Jews Feast of Pentecost. Exactly fifty days from Passover to Pentecost! No matter what, the Holy Ghost would have been poured out on that day, for it was foreshadowed and could not fail. God s Word is perfect! First natural, then spiritual. I want you to understand this vital principle of first natural, then spiritual! There is natural fornication, and there is spiritual fornication. There was a natural temple, and there is a spiritual temple. Trumpet Messenger Page 11

12 The natural Temple was built in Jerusalem. It had to be destroyed for it was merely a shadow. I have said for years, that I did not believe God would allow a natural temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. And, if He did, He would not live in it! Why, Because God does not live in temples made with man s hands (Acts 7:8; 17:24). He now lives in us! We are the temples of God (1Cor. 3:16; 3:17; 6:19; 2Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21). First natural, then spiritual. God gave the covenant of circumcision to Abraham and his seed. This was a natural circumcision of all male children of Israel. (Gen. 17:10). But after Christ, circumcision was of the heart (spiritual) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. [Galatians 5:2] The reason circumcision would not profit a Christian is because it was done away with, being natural. Paul referred to circumcision of the heart, in the spirit, and not of the letter (Rom. 2:29). Keep that in mind. First natural, then spiritual. In the Old Testament God had a chosen natural race of people called Jews; a natural nation called Israel, and there was a chosen natural city called Jerusalem. Now if our principle is correct, none of those exist today in the natural. After Christ, you have a chosen spiritual people out of every race; a spiritual nation (spiritual Israel) and a spiritual city (New Jerusalem). Keep in mind our principle. The Old Testament was the natural, the New Testament is spiritual fulfilling the Old. Let s prove it again with the New Testament. First, who is a Jew today? Remember, it cannot be a natural race of people. The Jews were a special race of people, but now God views all men as of one blood (kinship). And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.... [Acts 17:26]. There is now no difference in a Jew or a Greek. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male Trumpet Messenger Page 12

13 nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [Galatians 3:28] The New Testament is clear! Born again Christians are the real Jews! Here is more proof: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. [Romans 2:28-29] Are you still not convinced? Here is more evidence of just who Christians are in the sight of God: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. [1Peter 2:9] We (Christians) are a chosen generation, royal priesthood, (no more levitical priests) and an holy nation! Natural Israel was all those things we have just mentioned. Paul said this about natural Israel, Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. [Romans 9:7-8] Here again the Word is plain concerning natural Israel! They which are the children of the flesh (even though they were the seed of Abraham by the flesh) are not the children of God. What about Jerusalem? Natural Jerusalem is held in respect as a city of God both by natural Israel and by Muslims. But, is natural Israel the city that God has chosen to be His? Remember, it s a natural city! The New Testament holds the Truth. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, Trumpet Messenger Page 13

14 and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. [Hebrews 12:22-24] The writer is not speaking of a natural mountain Zion, or a natural city. But, ye are come! We have approached this holy mountain and the city of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem. We find ourselves surrounded by an innumerable company of angels. We are in the company of the church of the firstborn. The God and Judge of all is here! Spirits of just men are here and Jesus is here! Where are we? We are sitting together with them in heavenly places in Christ Jesus! There s more! Revelation chapter three, verse twelve tells us that Jerusalem is the city of God. There is no question about it! Here is a crystal clear description of the Holy City: John saw it on the Isle of Patmos. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [Revelation 21:2] How he described the city of God was very strange! It wasn t on the earth, it was coming down from heaven! And it looked like a bride dressed for her husband. Strange indeed. Thankfully, God gave John a more detailed description where there would be no doubt what this city was. It is found in the same chapter, beginning with verse nine: And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. [Revelation 21:9-10] The Angel told John that Jerusalem was actually the Bride of Jesus Christ! We are the city of God! Remember, First natural, Then Spiritual! God doesn t live in temples made with man s hands. He doesn t live in churches, Trumpet Messenger Page 14

15 synagogues, temples or cities! He lives in us! Jesus said, we are a city. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [Matthew 5:14] When you have time; read the rest of chapter twenty-one. You will find the city of God described in detail. Everything in that city has a spiritual significance. Think about this. There is a natural Israel. There is a natural Jerusalem. Both are prophetic. They speak of something that was to come. It has came! Look up at the natural sun. The natural sun is the light of the world. Jesus is the SON of God, the light of the world. Now, we are the light of the world because Jesus lives in us. First natural, then spiritual. Consider the moon. What could it possibly be a shadow of? The moon has no light of it s own. The light you see beaming from the moon is merely a reflection of the sun. If we are the light of the world, it is because we are a reflection of God s Son! The moon would represent the flesh (mankind). What about the stars? Abraham s seed was to be as the stars of heaven. Joseph had a dream where eleven stars worshipped him. Jude called false teachers wandering stars. Therefore stars can represent men. Yes, there are real stars, a real sun and a real moon. But they all speak of something. They are signs and symbols. First natural, then spiritual. There is a natural heaven but, there is a spiritual heaven which is far more glorious! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. [Ephesians 1:3] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. [Ephesians 1:20] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. [Ephesians 2:6] Trumpet Messenger Page 15

16 Some are looking to rule and reign with Christ during the one thousand year reign, however, I am ruling and reigning with Christ now! Revelation chapter one tells us we have already been made kings and priests unto God. (See Rev. 1:6; 5:10) Praise God! Think about it. We are the body of Christ. If Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, then you and I are also sitting with Him. Some are looking for the kingdom of God to come, but Jesus said,... The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. [Luke 17:20-21] I know most Christians walk in the flesh. They cannot understand the Word of God because they haven t a clue how to study it. I hope this article will encourage you to look at things more spiritual than you have. Paul prayed for the church of his day, that they might have wisdom and spiritual understanding. This is also my prayer for you dear reader: For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. [Colossians 1:9] My dear grandfather whom I loved with all my heart often wrote me while I was overseas serving the military. There are two things he emphasized in every letter. One was, In all your getting, get spiritual understanding and he would use Colossians 1:9. The other was from First John chapter five: He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [1John 5:10-11] It is my heart s desire that the world (Jew, Gentile, Greek, African, Asian, Indian) might also believe God s record of His Son. Trumpet Messenger Page 16