This morning my wife and I had a very interesting conversation. As is true so often with us the Holy Spirit bounced spiritual understanding from one of us to the other until he revealed something new. The conversation began as Mary shared some things from a new book she is reading called Forbidden History. The book delves into the histories of ancient peoples and their amazing structures and religious and philosophical thoughts which much of western culture has supressed. The book consists of many independent essays and at least one writer discussed a profound spiritual experience which, he claims, changed his life. “How is it that so many people have dramatic experiences with the spirit world,” Mary asked, ” and we don’t. What do we have to do to get God to listen to us?”

I responded, “Remember, in the beginning we did. But God weened us from depending upon always feeling his presence because he does not want us to be like the horse, directed by a bit and bridle (see Psalm 31:8-9). It is not a matter of us doing any particular thing or living like an ascetic monk in order to get God to give us spiritual experiences. We are still on the cross, as prophet Ken Visscher so often teaches, and God only allows us to see our flesh and the inadequacy of our flesh right now.” Then the LORD recalled to my mind certain Scripture written by Paul.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.[c]

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival ora new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,[d] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:8-23 ESV)

So, we read this passage from Colossians as well chapter 3 which follows. That’s when the LORD gave us new understanding. Mary had just read a chapter on the Mayans in which the writer described a profound spiritual encounter and claimed to still being “led” by the spirit of it. Together we reminisced of churches we had attended where everyone seemed to feel “the spirit” except for us. We agreed that that was because the spirit everyone felt was not the Holy Spirit, but was in fact one of the elemental spirits of this world of which Paul warned the Colossians. Then my wife said, “Now I see. These elemental spirits were the gods of the ancient myths. They were the gods of the Romans and the people to whom God sent Paul.”

“Yes,” I said, “this writer who described his spiritual revelation while studying the Mayans is following one of these elemental spirits. And they are the spirits who still show themselves to Christians who seek spiritual experiences, but do not learn to discern the holy from the profane. We have known Christian leaders of churches we have come out of who indulge in ascetic fastings and seek spiritual power. They and their followers always seek spiritual experiences, but they do not teach the people to live holy lives. Therefore they cannot discern the evil spirits which visit their meetings.”

Alas, this is what we have found in all the charismatic churches of Thyatira we have ever visited. They seek spiritual experiences, but they seek them from any source because they do not seek the purity of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore God gives them the wicked spirits of Jezebel to follow and obey. But, let us listen to and obey the pure Word of God. After Paul warned his people concerning the elemental spirits of this world he counseled them in the ways of God. He said,

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[e] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[f] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[g] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice,slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[h] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[i] free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants,[j] obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,[k] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 3:1-4:6)

Let us, therefore, follow the Holy Spirit. Let us learn his ways versus the ways of our flesh. Let us come into agreement with him, let us take off our wicked ways, and let us replace them with his.