What Kind of man are you?

 What Kind of man or woman are you?

You might know many things about your physical body, your weight, height and your BMI. 

By the time you are middle aged, you would know something about your blood pressure and probably your blood sugar level. If you are an older person, you will not only know the range of your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, but also will be interested to regularly check not only your blood cholesterol level, but also your HDL and your LDL. Not only that, but as the medical system would want you to be aware of your blood k and Na, minerals, vitamins, liver and kidney functions and a list of unending letters and numbers. These would occupy a large part of your brain, which is already deteriorating, leaving very little space for rational thinking and a clear mind for day to day activity and necessary memory!

MAN

 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:27

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7

In certain portions of Scripture, 'Man' refers to a human being -  man and woman.

OUTWARD MAN, INWARD MAN

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

As human beings, we have an 'Outward Man', which refers to the physical body.

Every human being has a soul, which is the 'Inward Man'. The soul is the mind of a man that has the will, emotion and the intellect.

NATURAL MAN, SPIRITUAL MAN

 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:11-14

Every human being has a spirit, which is his deepest part. It is the spirit of man that GOD, Who is Spirit, connects with.

The 'Inner Man' is a 'Natural Man' until that spirit and soul are revived by the Holy Spirit when he is born again spiritually. Thus the 'Natural man' becomes a 'Spiritual Man'.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:1-11

OLD MAN, NEW MAN

 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:17-24

The 'Natural Man' is also referred to as the 'Old Man' and the 'Spiritual Man' is referred to as the 'New Man'. The 'Old man' operates according the 'carnal mind' while the 'new man' operates with a spiritual mind according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The carnal mind progresses into corruption according to the deceitful lusts of this world. The spiritual mind progresses towards GOD in true righteousness and holiness.

 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17

NEW MAN, PERFECT MAN

 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2:14-18

 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16

It is only by the grace of GOD revealed through JESUS CHRIST, that we are enabled to overcome our carnal mind to live a victorious life spiritually. As all of us, who walk in the spirit, progress to perfection in love and holiness and unity, we portray the glory of the LORD JESUS as 'One new Man' to a 'Perfect Man'.

WRETCHED MAN!

 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 
Romans 7:22-8:2

The apostle Paul recognised this tussle within himself. The carnal mind and the spiritual mind pulling his soul in opposite directions! The carnal mind that is selfish and that follows the dictates of the physical body. The spiritual mind that desires to follow the word of GOD and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Paul refers to the carnal selfish part of himself as the 'Wretched man'!

STRONG MAN, STRONGER MAN

 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
Luke 11:14-26

One can also be possessed by and oppressed by a demonic spirit which is a strong man. Such a person would be totally influenced and ruled and controlled by the demonic force, displaying the same demonic activity of uncleanness, disorder and disability. When the Holy Spirit, Who is more powerful, comes upon such a person, the demonic spirit is ousted and the man is set free. It is necessary for that man to be filled with the Holy Spirit to prevent re entry of the unclean spirit.

THE MAN

 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!"
John 19:5

 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5

We thank and praise GOD for His indescribable gift  - JESUS CHRIST, The Son of GOD, The Son of man. Only He could play the role of a Mediator between GOD and man!

The Old Man and the New Man

 The Old Man and the New Man

The Outward Man and the Inward Man

The outward man is the physical body and appearance of a person.
The inward man is the heart that depicts the nature or character and of that person.

The character reflects in the attitude one carries towards GOD and towards others.

Even prophet Samuel, based his choice of a king by the outward appearance and stature of Eliab.
The LORD is not interested in the physical appearance, but looks into the attitude of the heart of a person, that is hidden from man.

 But the Lord said to Samuel, 
"Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, 
because I have refused him. 
For the Lord does not see as man sees; 
for man looks at the outward appearance, 
but the Lord looks at the heart." 
1 Samuel 16:7 

Although we do work on keeping our outward appearance presentable so as not to cause offence to others, we should spend more time and effort on beautifying our character which matters to the LORD.

 Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, 
wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-
- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, 
with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, 
which is very precious in the sight of God. 
1 Peter 3:3-4 

With age, the physical body becomes weak and loses the beauty of youthfulness.
Yet, with time and experience, the character is renewed and has to become stronger and more beautiful.

 Therefore we do not lose heart. 
Even though our outward man is perishing, 
yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 
2 Corinthians 4:16 

Flattery puffs up the self but encouragement builds up the spirit.

The Old Man and the New Man, a Perfect Man

The 'old man' speaks about a life that is controlled by the old carnal mind that operates in us.
The 'new man' speaks about the life that is led by a mind that is renewed according to GOD.
As we all grow in that life in CHRIST with each other,
we progress towards the fullness of CHRIST, to a perfect man.

The new man therefore refers to one who is a believer,
whose spirit has been revived by the Holy Spirit
and whose mind is in the process of being renewed
according to the word of GOD.

 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
(Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended
into the lower parts of the earth? 
He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,
that He might fill all things.) 
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ, 
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 
that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men,
in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love,
may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-
- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working by which every part does its share,
causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. 
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, 
that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk,
in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened,
being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them,
because of the blindness of their heart; 
who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness,
to work all uncleanness with greediness. 
But you have not so learned Christ, 
if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him,
as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct,
the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 
and that you put on the new man which was created according to God,
in true righteousness and holiness. 
Ephesians 4:8-24

As long as we live in this dirty world, we should expect our minds to get corrupted.
So we need to constantly cleanse our mind by putting off the 'old man'
and putting on the 'new man',
just like putting off our clothing that get dirty, and putting on fresh clean clothing!

Don't we shower each morning and then brush, comb and set our hair so it is neat and tidy?
It is even more important for us then, each morning and as often as possible
 to seek eternal things and set our mind firmly on them.

It is also like preparing to take a photograph of an object.
First of all we want to find the object that is worth being photographed!
Then we need to focus the camera on the object and zoom into it.
When it is clearly and fully in focus, we click to capture the image.
So it is available for us to look at as often as we want.

Seek, see and set!

The mind directs our life and activities, depending on our purpose in life.
Our values will determine how we spend our time, energy and money.

 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 
When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 
in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 
and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who created him, 
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 
Colossians 3:1-11 

To them God willed to make known 
what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles:
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 
Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 
Colossians 1:27-28 

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers, 
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 
Ephesians 4:11-13 

Imagine a 3-D puzzle, the image being the LORD JESUS.
He has given all of us something of Himself.
Each one of us needs to be perfected as a piece of the puzzle.
We are being fitted together, playing our individual roles in the Body of CHRIST.
As we are being perfected and being fitted in the puzzle, the image of CHRIST is being perfected.

Strong Man, Stronger Man 

The natural man is the one who guards and rules over his life until he is overcome by another force.

The following scene gives us a picture of a natural man overpowered by an evil demonic spirit.

The man was possessed by the demon and reflected its characteristics, muteness being one of them.

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. 

So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; 

and the multitudes marveled. 

But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." 

Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. 

But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: 

"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, 

and a house divided against a house falls. 

If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? 

Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 

And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? 

Therefore they will be your judges. 

But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, 

surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 

But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, 

he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 

He who is not with Me is against Me, 

and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 
Luke 11:14-23 

The Spirit of GOD is the Stronger Man referred to in the above portion of Scripture

Who was able to overpower the demonic spirit and set the man free.

When a shop, store, restaurant or company is bought over by another one, you see changes in the structure, colour of the building, the arrangements, the staff , their uniforms, the way they function, their products and so on. Then you understand that it has come under new management!

Similarly, when a natural man is possessed by an evil spirit, the changes are evident.

Then when he is set free by the more powerful Holy Spirit, GOD'S glory is revealed!

The nature and characteristics of the spirit he is controlled by, are reflected in his behaviour.

'Come upon' means the mind being affected and overpowered by a force from outside.

Another Man

 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; 

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth."
Acts 1:8 

 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; 

and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. 

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; 

neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, 

but they had all things in common. 

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 

And great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:31-33 

The disciples of  our LORD who were afraid and cowardly, became bold and courageous when the Holy Spirit came upon them! They behaved so differently. They seemed as different people because they had come under a new management!

When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person,

He brings about changes in his thinking

resulting in changes in his behaviour.

He is so changed and different, he becomes another man!

 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, 

and kissed him and said: "Is it not because the Lord has anointed you 

commander over His inheritance? 

Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands. After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 
1 Samuel 10:1, 3-6 

Natural man, spiritual and carnal

 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, 

that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 

These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches 

but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, 

for they are foolishness to him; 

nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 

For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" 

But we have the mind of Christ. 

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; 

for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, 

are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 
For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 

1 Corinthians 2:12-3:4 

By default, our natural mind progresses towards carnality.

Each of us has been given the responsibility to steer our minds.

Our mind is influenced by the information we put in and the things we think on.

It is easy to be influenced by the spirit that is of the world

and be carnal, which leads to death.

If we study and meditate on the word of GOD, the Holy Spirit gives us understanding

and we become spiritual people.

Such a mind leads one to eternal life and peace.

As we teach and train our mind to think in line with the word of GOD,

we progress to becoming spiritual men and women of GOD.

 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, 

but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; 

for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. 

Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, 

but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, 

He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies 

through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:5-11