Sermon On The Spiritual World

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a French priest and philosopher once remarked: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Hebrews 11:3 reminds us: “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

The spiritual world is often considered an unknown entity, apprised as a realm or dimension beyond the physical. It is regularly regarded as an afterlife or a kingdom inhabited by spirits, angels, and other supernatural beings. It is a concept that exists independently of the physical world, but interacts with it. The specific nature of the spiritual world varies across religions and cultures, with some believing it to be a place of judgment or reward, while others see it as an expanse for continued growth and evolution. It holds extreme mystical qualities that cannot be scientifically verified or disproved, but grants metaphysical insights suggesting a strong possibility of its existence.

A galaxy is a vast, gravitationally bound system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, typically containing billions of stars. The solar system, including the Sun and Earth, is part of the Milky Way galaxy, a large spiral galaxy. Some spiritualists and spiritual traditions believe in a spiritual principality or dimension that overlaps or interacts with our physical reality, potentially extending across galaxies or even beyond. Others may conceive of a spiritual realm as a separate plane of existence, potentially residing outside of the physical universe.

The spiritual world is believed by many to house God and heaven, and is considered to be ever-present. This is particularly relevant when it comes to God’s intervention on matters important to Him. 2 Kings 5:8-19 is a pertinent example of divine spiritual intervention and trust in God's unseen power. This passage highlights how God's power and grace can be experienced through a prophet and a simple act of faith and obedience. The Syrian king, seeking to capture Elisha, is misled by God into a blind state, leading his army to Samaria instead of Elisha's location. This highlights Elisha's faith and God's protection of his people, even in the face of perceived danger. It states: “Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.”

And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice. And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.”

God is known as the spiritual essence of life. It is He who breathes the necessary clean and unpolluted air into the nostrils of mankind that may impact cognitive function and enhance creativity. Larry Rosenberg, an American teacher once remarked: “The fact is that when we focus on the breath, we are focusing on the life force. Life begins with our first breath and will end after our last. To contemplate breathing is to contemplate life itself.”