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October
2016 Printable
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The
September article discussed the ways
in which understanding our rights as sons and daughters of God are
essential to walking with the greatness of the power of God. We
focused on one of our Sonship rights - Sanctification. We defined
sanctification to mean to be set apart by God's Spirit that is in
each born-again believer.
This month's teaching will focus on the renewed mind as the key
to the unlimited power that we have in Christ. It is through Jesus
Christ we
receive God's spirit. John 14:6 tells us:
Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.
How
do we receive God's spirit? We receive God's spirit by doing what
is written in Romans 10:9:
That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.
By
following what is written in Romans 10: 9, we are born-again of
God's Spirit. As a son or daughter of God, you are considered a
new creation. God created spirit in you. Now you are body, soul
and spirit (See January 2016 article)
What
happened to our minds when we were born-again? Nothing. We have
the same minds we had before we were born-again. Remember John 3:
6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit." Flesh and spirit are
two separated categories in the Bible and they never overlap. When
we are born into this world, we are born with just body and soul
only. The body and soul person gathers information from the five
senses - Seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting. As a body
and soul person, we are dead in trespasses and sins having no hope
and without God in the world.
The
natural man of body and soul has a mind and freewill. He or she
lives life by the five senses. We are what we are because of what
we have put into our minds by the five senses information gathered
over the years. We believe what we believe because of the five senses
data we have acquired over time. The spiritual person doesn't throw
out the senses knowledge. We all need senses knowledge because we
live in the body and soul dominion. But our standard of life, of
believing, of righteousness, is the spiritual knowledge or the revealed
Word of God.
Since God is Spirit (see John 4:24), He can only give what He is
- Spirit. You cannot see, hear, touch, smell or taste spirit. You
cannot analyze spirit. We can't put it into a test tube and examine
it. Remember John 3: 6 "That which is born of the flesh
is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Things in the natural world can only be known by the five senses.
Things of the Spirit of God in the spiritual world can only be known
by the Spirit of God. Look at I Corinthian 2:14:
But
the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:
for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned.
Spiritual
knowledge can only be ascertained from the Spirit of God and the
operation of the manifestations of the spirit. God's Spirit speaks
to His spirit which is in us. The competition within us is the spiritual
knowledge versus the natural knowledge. We have become so accustomed
to receiving information by our five senses. Now how do we receive
spiritual knowledge? By studying the Word of God, operation of the
manifestations of the spirit, and renewing our minds to say "It
is written" and "Thus said the Lord."
The
key to unlimited power we have in Christ is stated in Romans 12:1-2:
I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable [religious] service.
And be not conformed [by the five senses information] to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind
[to God's reveal Word], that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Our
lives are transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we may
prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. The
only way you can do this is to be born-again of God's Spirit. How
do we renew our minds? One definition of the renewed mind is to
hold the Word of God in your mind and act accordingly. We have to
renew our minds to put God's Word in our mind, people. We have to
walk by the Word of God. What you believe in is what you say and
do. Your mind directs your talk and your actions!
Your will determines how far you will go with God! So the first
thing we have to do is study God's Word and put it in our minds.
We can't renew our minds to God's Word until we first study God's
Word, rightly divide it, and have it in our minds. Look at Psalm
138: 2:
I
will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy
lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy
word above all thy name.
God
has magnified His Word above His name. The greatest thing God ever
did was His Word. Hebrews 4:12 tells us:
For
the word of God is quick [living], and powerful [energetic],
and sharper than [or above] any two-edged sword, piercing
even to the dividing asunder of soul [natural life] and
spirit [spiritual life], and of the joints and marrow,
and [the Word of God] is a discerner [critic; the Word
of God is the critic] of the thoughts and intents of the heart
[the mind of man].
Now
you see why we need to study the Word of God! We cannot do God's
Will without having knowledge of His Word. II Timothy 2:15, says:
Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Approved
to whom? God! When God's Word tells us to put on or put off something
in our minds, it has to be something we must do in our minds by
our own free will. Look at Romans 13:14:
But
put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the
flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
"Put
you on the Lord Jesus Christ" where? In our minds! And
make all kinds of provisions for the flesh? No! The moment we start
putting the Lord Jesus Christ in our minds, the five senses information
is going to tell our minds "You can't do that, you are going
to fail, that won't work, who do you think you are?" Then,
your family and friends start saying the same things to you.
But
God's Word says "make no provision for the flesh"
in our minds. Once we start putting on the Lord Jesus Christ in
our minds day-by-day, we will see our lives change. We are in absolute
control over what is put into our minds! You decide what information
you put in your mind. Each person, after he or she is born-again,
has to make up their own mind whether they want live by the old
man (natural knowledge) or the new man (spiritual knowledge) which
is after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Look
at Ephesians 4:22-24:
That
ye put off [this is in the category of works] concerning
the former conversation the old man [where is the old man?
He is in the mind - natural knowledge], which is corrupt according
to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit [life] of your mind [spiritual
knowledge or new man];
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness.
Now
we are to put on the new man which is created spirit in your mind,
and which is created in righteousness and true holiness. When Christ
comes in our life, he brings everything that he is, which is the
new man. We are told to put on the mind of Christ! Did God's Word
tell us to pray for the mind of Christ? No, it said put on the mind
of Christ! Would God our Father tell us to do something we cannot
do? No! We renew our minds to God's Word by the freedom of our will.
Jesus Christ always did the will of his Father. Let's look at some
of the instructions we receive in the category of works.
Ephesians
4:25:
Wherefore
putting away lying [it doesn't say pray about not lying, it
says stop lying], speak every man truth with his neighbor:
for we are members one of another.
Ephesians
4:28:
Let
him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working
with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give
to him that needeth.
The
Word of God says "Let him that stole steal no more."
You renew your mind to stop stealing. You renew your mind to the
Word of God, and do the things which move you away from the causes
of stealing. You take action as the result of renewing your mind!
You go out and get a job! You stop drinking or doing drugs or whatever
the cause for stealing is in your life.
Ephesians
4:31:
Let
all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking,
be put away from you, with all malice.
God's
Word says put it away! So you renew your mind to put away "bitterness,
and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking."
You do it! God told us to do it, and that's what He means. People,
that is what renewing your mind is all about!
Ephesians
4:32:
And
be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
We
renew our minds to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another. That's the renewed mind, people! Christ Jesus is our
example of how to renew our mind. Philippians 2:5:
Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
To
be born-again is NOT just words. It is not something we put on our
business card or wear on a T-shirt. It is walking in alignment and
harmony with God's Word. It is living, breathing action. It is a
mind-set which directs our thoughts, our words, and our actions.
This mind-set, this way of life, comes through renewing our minds.
Let's go to God's Word and read some examples of what was in Christ
Jesus' mind.
John
6:38:
For
I [Jesus] came down from heaven, not to do mine own will,
but the will of him [God] that sent me.
John
8:29:
The
one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always
do what pleases him.
John
10:30:
I
and my Father are one [in purpose].
John
12: 49-50:
For
I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he
gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever
I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
When
we make up our minds day-by-day, moment-by-moment to do our Father's
Will, do those things that please Him, have the same purpose as
our Father God, say what His Word says, know that His Word is everlasting
and speak as our Father said in His Word then, we have "Let
this mind be in us, which was also in Christ Jesus." Boy, oh
boy! We have the renewed mind and we are walking in alignment and
harmony with God our Father! The Word of God in Philippians 4:13
says "I can do all things through Christ which strengthened
me." Now it is up to me to renew my mind and do it!
Look
at Colossians 3:1-6:
If
ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection [your mind] on things above, not on
things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid [hidden] with Christ
in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry:
For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children
of disobedience.
But
I am NOT a child of disobedience. We all can obey Romans 10:9. Say
it with me, "I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and
believe in my heart that God hath raised him from the dead."
Now I am a child of God!
Colossians
3:7-9:
In
the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived [before
we were born-again] in them.
But now [since you have Christ within you; put off all of
these] ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy,
filthy communication out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man
with his deeds [works].
We
are not to lie to one another. We are to speak the truth in love
(see Ephesians 4:15).
Colossians
3:10:
And
have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the
image of him that created him.
You
put off the old man with his works in your mind (old man - natural
knowledge) and put on the new man in your mind (spiritual knowledge)
which is renewed in knowledge (of the revealed Word of God) after
the image of Him. What is the image of Him? Look at John 4:24 "God
is Spirit." Look at the Word of God in Colossians 3:11-17:
Where
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in
all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also
do ye.
And above all these things put on charity [love of God in the
renewed mind in manifestation], which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also
ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching
and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
We
can do this because we have put on the mind of Christ. It's a lifetime
walk. It's a disciplined walk. It's a continuing action, moment-by-moment.
It's something you don't do overnight. In order to renew the mind,
you must have knowledge of God's Word, a will to study it and to
rightly divide it. You cannot rise above what you do in your life,
unless you put aside ONLY seeing the world through the five senses
(natural knowledge) and see and experience the world through spiritual
knowledge.
As we prove "what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God," we begin to manifest the greatness of what
God made us in Christ. God expects His sons and daughters to know
His Word. We search the scriptures daily as the Judeans in Berea
did. Acts 17:11-12:
These
[the Judeans in Berea] were more noble than those in Thessalonica,
in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Therefore, many of them believed; also of honorable women which
were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
They
searched the scriptures how often? Daily. With spiritual knowledge,
we daily renew our minds. And with this renewed mind, we can have
unlimited power through Christ.
In
summary, we discussed how the renewed mind is the key to the unlimited
power that we have in Christ. We discussed the difference between
spiritual knowledge and natural knowledge. We learned that without
the knowledge of God's Word in our minds, there is nothing to renew.
We have to study God's Word daily, so we have a knowledge of His
Word in our minds. Then we can renew our minds to say what God's
Word declares.
When God's Word says put on or put off something in our mind, we
have to do it by our own free will. We can pray to God 24/7 but
nothing is going to happen because we have not renewed our minds
by putting on or off those things as instructed in God's Word. It
seems pretty simple, but it is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment walk.
But with dedication and continual practice, the renewed mind becomes
a way of life. Imagine all of God's glory we can see and experience
with a renewed mind!
When we make up our minds day-by-day, moment-by-moment to do God
our Father's Will, do those things that please Him, have the same
purpose as our Father God, say what His Word says, know that His
Word is everlasting, and speak as our Father said in His Word then
we have "Let this mind be in us, which was also in Christ
Jesus!" Boy oh boy! We have the renewed mind and we are
walking in alignment and harmony with God our Father! Now when we
pray to our Father we have our prayers answers. The Word of God
in Philippians 4:13 says:
I
can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.
Now
it is up to us to renew our minds and do it! John 6:63 tells us
we are made alive by the spirit of God that is in us.
It
is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Next
month's teaching will continue the discussion of the renewed mind.
We will focus on the ways to renew of our minds to say what God's
Word says.
In the Lord,
Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ
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