The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.. (John 5:7)
Activities that deter, discourage, delay, prevent, obstruct, hinder, etc. our interactions or fellowship with God are not innocent. Our coming nigh unto God is clearly a spiritual activity; it is unnatural. It is important that we gain content of this truth.
According to the Bible, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24). This was Jesus’ introduction of God: He was very definite about the “nature” of God. Unlike Man (you and I), God is a Spirit.
A spirit does not have a physical body or substance to hold, this is the very basic feature of a spirit. The limitation of Humans therefore is clearly evident in the scope of substance and time. Humans are visible, spirits are invisible, Humans age but spirits do not, etc. It is therefore un-natural for Man to relate with spirit as man will need to “exit” his element to “make the contact” or connection. This is akin to Man going to space or deep sea. These instances are un-natural environment to humans.
The lesson is this; as Jesus communicated it, “God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” (John 4:24 MSG) Notice the imminent condition to worship God in Jesus’ comment “must do it out of their very being, their spirits”. This is the cogent point that makes man’s interaction with God unnatural. Except one is born of the Spirt, one cannot enter (access) the Kingdom of God (realm of God’s influence) – John 3:5-8. We must know and engage God with our spirit, this is the element in us that can touch or interact with God in us.
The Bible puts this thus, “The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics” (1 Cor. 2:14-16 MSG)
Gaining this understanding, we must be awaked to the truth (also) that there is an adversary, called the devil who being a spirit (also) is wickedly and curiously opposed to our (you and I) approaching or interacting with God. This devil is aware that our connectivity with God is adverse to his operations and “businesses” which are opposed to God. and we gain command and control over him when our connectivity with God is both established and strong. The devil, therefore develop all curious ploys to limit, deter or prevent our drawing nigh unto God.
But you and I must be smarter than all that, like in the case illustrated in Mark 2:4, we must breakthrough all limitation and distractions that appear “innocent” but are insidious to our making contact and connection with God.
“Remove the roof” if you need to, only make certain you are not removed from coming nigh to Jesus.
