What Is Spiritual Industry?
When you think of spiritual industry, think of service projects, ministry endeavors, and the busyness of Christians. Why do Christians do the things they do? Why do they serve at soup kitchens? What is the motivation for mission trips? We might have a pat answer on the top of our brains, but what if you were to honestly answer, why do you do what you do as a Christian?
Every aspect of our spiritual industry should be gratefully sharing the love of Christ.
If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1–3 CSB
Spiritual Industry Is Based on a Christ-centered Identity
The Christian established in a Christ-centered identity enjoys a Spirit-filled life characterized by love, joy, and peace fostered by dwelling intimately with Jesus. I may now find Christ relevant to every area of life, especially areas that test my relational resolve. As identity develops and intimacy matures, Christlikeness abounds with grace, swelling into a compulsion to express Him whom I adore with others.
I falter in living because I do not choose to be complete in Christ. Do you, as a Christian, hear the calling to engage the divine life? God’s Spirit challenges my heart to “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:12–13 NLT).
I Am Compelled to Spiritual Industry
The anointed believer is a compelled Christian possessing a passion for Christ born from a mature identity that causes me to experience Jesus authentically. The Spirit of God transforms my soul and enables my heart to embrace His love unrivaled by any earthly comparison.
For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.
2 Corinthians 5:14–15 CSB
Love for Christ compels me to serve at His good pleasure. I should no longer live for myself but for Christ, who paid the price for my freedom.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
Philippians 3:8–10 ESV
An Identity in Christ and Intimacy with Christ Compel Industry for Christ
The commissioning of identity, the creation of intimacy, and the compelling to industry rest foundationally upon my relationship with Jesus Christ. Then my relationship with Jesus reflects on all my other relationships. My intimate identity with Christ impacts everything that I do. When I find Christ relevant to my personal life, the experience with Him reflects even onto our marriage. As maturity blossoms, a couple will intimately connect with Christ in triunity to create a masterpiece marriage that portrays Christ’s relationship with His bride, the church. But married or not, does the love of Christ compel you to demonstrate His love to those around you? Does the love of Christ control your spiritual industry?
Insight Journal
- What industry am I compelled to pursue?
Excerpts from Marriages that Minister by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis. Available from your favorite book retailers, including Amazon and Redemption Press. (As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.)
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Read more about Marriages that Minister: A Portrait of Christ and His Bride.
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