The Portait Of A Spiritual Man Series

There are a lot of things that people identify with spirituality:

• There are some like the Pharisees believe that certain outward observations (washing hands, praying on street corners) were clear evidence of spiritual life.

• There are some today who view spirituality as adherence to certain things:

? Men have short hair.

? Ladies wear skirts below the knee.

? Carry King James Bible

Now, while I believe a Christian should do all of those things. These things are not evidence of spiritual life – they may be evidence of conformity to peer pressure.

As we read Psalm 27, we see the heart of a spiritual man – we know it's honest b/c he wrote it under inspiration. The Portrait of A Spiritual Man

Two main things that reveal his spirituality:

I. HIS CONFIDENCE

A. A spiritual man possesses a certain amount of confidence.

1. Not that he knocks the prospective employer over dead with his self-assurance.

2. Nor that he can stand before crowds with dynamics and eloquence.

3. But a certain spiritual confidence & assurance that only the Spirit of God produces in the heart.

• We may lose this assurance in our hearts when not right with God though we may know it in our minds.

B. A confidence that removes the fear of man (v. 1)

1. His heart is so mindful of God, that men are seen not in comparison to self but in comparison to God.

2. ILL. David & Goliath

3. A confidence that leads us to make a stand for God at school/work because we know that God is with us.

4. A confidence that is bold to witness b/c it knows God is the strength of his life.

C. A confidence that sees God amid adversity (v. 3).

1. He does not see enemies, He sees God.

2. When great obstacles mount up in his life, he immediately wonders how God will get him over them.

3. He is assured that God’s hand will be with Him even in trouble (v. 5).

a) He does not doubt that there shall be times of trouble.

b) But has sufficient confidence in God to be able to sing amid trouble (ILL. Paul & Silas).

c) This is what the Psalmist referred to when he spoke of “songs in the night.”

D. The fruit of the spirit is joy, peace & faith (confidence). This will not leave a man amid a storm!

• If you lose it in the storm, you never had the genuine article!

E. This confidence is plainly in God:

1. Not dependent upon earthly security (v. 10).

2. Not self-confidence (v. 13-14) – if God doesn’t come through he won’t make it!

II. HIS DESIRES

A. You can tell much about the proper condition of a man by what he desires.

1. You will know if you are a spiritual person if you long after spiritual things.

2. Rom 8:5

3. The Spirit of God produces spiritual desires in the life yielded to Him.

B. A spiritual man desires the presence of God (v. 4).

1. To a carnal person, the spiritual life appears dull; therefore, they despise it.

2. To a spiritual person, the carnal life appears vain & the things of the Lord are coveted – beauty of the Lord.

C. The desires are strong enough to produce action – that will I seek after.

1. some people desire to win souls but they never seek them.

2. Know the Bible but rarely read it.

3. Want to have a prayer life but will not get up in time to have one.

D. He is sensitive to God’s promptings (v. 8).

1. He does not resist God’s leading but gladly submits it.

2. “I never sense God’s leading” – maybe He knows you’d resist it.

E. He desires the honour of God’s name (v. 11)

1. He wants to live right lest his enemies reproach His God.

2. Let every one that nameth the name of Christ.

3. This must be wrought of God, for we would only seek the honour of our own name.

4. Are you grieved if your testimony at work is compromised?

• ILL. I saw professing Christians have bad testimonies.

Are you a spiritual person? You can tell by...

• Your confidence

• Your desires