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March 2023 Printable 190 KB .pdf

MOR-Bible, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and us. We continually give thanks to God our Father for you and make mention of you in our prayers. We pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. We pray that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, you may know what the hope of his calling is, and give thanks for the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. We pray for the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, the now glorified one, when He raised him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places (see Ephesians 1:16-20). In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the February 2023 teaching, we learned that the devil is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). We saw that God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Father, cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2) and it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). We learned from God's Word that Jesus Christ, His only begotten son, taught the way of God in truth (Matthew 22:16) and said we shall know the truth, and the truth shall make us free (John 8:32)! Jesus Christ was a man that told the truth of God's Word (John 8:40). Jesus Christ is the truth and the only path to God our Father (John 14:6)! God's Word commands His children to make the free will choice to put away lying and speak truth with one's neighbors. We are instructed to not lie to each another and not lie against the truth of God's Word. We are to be imitators of God our Father as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1).

In the January 2023 teaching, we read Romans 12:2 and performed a word study on the Greek words suschematizo used for the English phrase "be conformed" which means "to fashion one's self according to; to fashion in same way." It is from the Greek word sun meaning "with, together with." The Greek word aion is used for our English word "world" documented in Romans 12:2. The Greek word aion refers to "age, indefinite time, dispensation; a space of time, an age."

In this month's teaching we will perform a word study on the Greek word nous used for our English word "mind" documented in Romans 12:2. The objective of a Biblical word study is to ascertain the exact meaning of a word as God utilized it in the context of the verse(s). We will do a Biblical word study on the Greek word used in the New Testament as translated later into English, in order to see its original Biblical usage and meaning. Remember, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and thus that word study would be on the Hebrew words as translated later into English.

Let's start with Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind [nous], that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Bold added for emphasis]

The Greek word nous, as translated into our English word "mind," is defined as understanding, reason, or will. The mind is the organ of mental perception and apprehension or the consciousness preceding the act or recognizing and judging the fact. Nous or a person's mind enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; it is the faculty of consciousness and thought. The mind is the way we receive God's thoughts through our believing. The word nous is sometimes employed to denote the total inner person, including their ability to distinguish between right and wrong.

Note: The sources for all Greek-English words are Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament (Bullinger), Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, and The Word Study Concordance by George V. Wigram and Ralph D. Winter. Harper's Bible Dictionary, Sixth Edition.

The mind or nous is the key to walking in the Lord. We are responsible for our minds, as what we put into our minds determines our walk. The mind controls the body and the gift of holy spirit in you. What we think in our minds, so are we! Proverbs 23:7 tells us:

For as he thinketh in his heart [mind], so is he.

We determine what we think in our minds. The thoughts in the mind are what you decide to meditate on. Your mind controls your will! In addition, our minds control our physical bodies and the spirit of God that is in us. The habit patterns of our daily lives determine whether the Christ in us, the hope of glory, is manifested (see Colossians 1:27). Galatians 5:17 warns us:

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Remember, the gift of holy spirit contrasts with the physical body and our senses. Spirit is holy as opposed to the flesh, which is called by God as unholy (see 2 Timothy 3:2). The sense's knowledge or flesh lusts against the Spiritual knowledge of God's Word in our minds! Therefore, what we put into our minds is important! John 3:6: says,

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

When we were born-again of God's Spirit, what happened to our minds? Nothing! We have the same mind we had before we were born-again of God's spirit. The mind is in the body and soul of a person. When I was born of the flesh, I came with a mind. The mind is in the flesh category. It is called in God's Word "the old man nature" (see Ephesians 4:22).

As individuals in Christ, we must renew our minds to the Word of God. However, most Christians have never renewed their minds to the Word of God, and they don't walk in the Lord. Their minds act according to sense knowledge, which the god of this world, the devil, has constructed in the world. They believe they act as sincere Christians. They listen to people who have wrongly divided God's Word. They don't search the scriptures daily, to see whether those things they were taught is the Word of God rightly divided (see Acts 17:11)!

In Acts 8:13-24, we read where Simon was born-again, but his mind was not renewed to the Word of God. Verses 13-19 are included below for our understanding and to set the context. Acts 8:13-17:

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized [spiritually], he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive [into manifestation] the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

(For as yet he [it] was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Then laid they [Peter and John] their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

The word "received" is the Greek word lambano which means "into manifestation." They spoke in tongues or acted into manifestation when they received holy spirit! See May 2016 teaching. Let's continue with Acts 8:18-19:

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] was given, he offered them [Peter and John] money,

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

This is what Simon had done in the past. This was his old man nature! He did not renew his mind! So, Peter is going reprove or correct Simon in Acts 8:20-21:

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart [mind; the Greek word kardia] is not right in the sight of God. [See May 2016 teaching. Bold added for emphasis.]

The Greek word kardia, translated to the English word "heart," does not refer to the actual physical heart that drives the blood. The word "heart" is only used metaphorically both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament and refers to the mind or the character, inner man, will, intention, or center. Let's continue with Acts 8: 22-23:

Repent [change your mind] therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart [mind; kardia] be forgiven thee.

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Simon's mind had not been renewed. He was walking by what he had done in the past! However, Simon listened to Peter's reproof, and asked Peter to pray for him. Acts 8:24:

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

When we are born-again of God's spirit, we are babes in Christ (see 1 Corinthians 3:1). We must study God's Word, rightly divide it, and put it into our minds. Then we must live according to God's Word. We must retain and act upon God's words in our minds and speak God's words with boldness!

We will now perform a word study on the Greek word nous translated into our English word "mind" as documented in Romans 12:2. The Greek word nous is used 24 times in God's Word. It is translated "mind" 15 times, "minds" 2 times, and "understanding" 7 times.

The first usage of the Greek word nous is documented in Luke 24:45. It is important to read the context, or the verses surrounding each verse, for better understanding. In Luke 24:25, Jesus, in his resurrected body, appeared to the eleven disciples that were gathered together along with the people with them. Jesus was speaking the Word of God to them, as written in the law of Moses (and in the prophets and in the Psalms) concerning himself. The context for Luke 24:25 is that Jesus is teaching them the Word of God to open their understanding in their minds!

Turn to Luke 24:44-45. We will read verse 44 for context.

And he [Jesus Christ] said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he [Jesus Christ] their [the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them] understanding [the Greek word nous, mind], that they might understand the scriptures.

It is the teaching of God's Word that gives us understanding of the scriptures in our minds or nous! So, with teaching, there is understanding of God's Word in our minds! We renew our minds by reading God's Word daily.

Romans 1:28 tells us:

And even as they [homosexuals] did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind [nous], to do those things which are not convenient. [Bold added for emphasis.]

Homosexuals, in their minds, by free will choice, refuse to retain a clear and exact knowledge of God's Word. Therefore, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, a mind void of judgment, to do those things which are not seemly, befitting, fit or proper in accordance with God's Word! See February 2022 teaching.

Take a look at Romans 7: 22-23:

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man [the gift of holy spirit; the Christ in you]:

But [in contrast] I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind [nous] and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [Bold added for emphasis.]

Romans 7: 22-23 tells us if we do not renew our minds to God's Word, the desires of the members of our bodies will always bring us into captivity to the law of sin which is in our members. The word "members" refers to our body parts such as the hand (see Matthew 18:28), eye (see Matthew 5:29), feet (see Matthew 18:8) and tongue (see James 3:6). Sin is committed by the members (parts) of our bodies! This is why we must keep the members of our bodies in one accord with God's Word through our minds or nous! Romans 14:5 gives us instruction. Please read the context or verses before this for better understanding. Romans 14:5:

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind [nous]. [Bold added for emphasis.]

Until we are fully persuaded in our own minds that the Word of God is the Will of God, we will have doubtful debates with each other. What does it mean to be fully persuaded in your mind? It is written in Romans 4:18-21.

Who [Abraham] against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

And being not weak in faith [believing], he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old [99], neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith [believing], giving glory to God;

And being fully persuaded that, what he [God] had promised, he was able also to perform.

This is one of the examples documented in God's Word of a fully persuaded mind! It reminds us that we must be fully persuaded in our minds that what God our Father had promised, he has performed! Look at Ephesians 4:17; 23. We will start with verse 17:

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind [nous]. [Bold added for emphasis.]

The phrase "in the vanity of their mind" is synonymous with an ego trip. It starts in the mind! The mind controls whether you walk in God's Word or not!

Ephesians 4:23:

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind [nous]. [Bold added for emphasis.]

The word "spirit" in this verse means "life." We are to be renewed in the life of our minds! Why? Because the mind controls your life!

Turn to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2:

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

That ye be not soon shaken in mind [nous - entire mind], or be troubled, neither by spirit [devils], nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ [day of Christ is the day of the Lord] is at hand [is "set in" is the text]. [See April 2020 teaching.]

Everything we do starts in the mind. The born-again believers of Thessalonica were told not to be shaken in their minds or troubled by devil spirit possession of other people's minds. They were told to align their minds with God's Word to avoid saying the day of the Lord is at hand.

The last usage of nous we will look at is documented in Revelation 17:9. Be sure to read the context or verses before this for better understanding. Revelation 17:9:

And here is the mind [nous] which hath wisdom.

In this month's teaching we performed a word study on the Greek word nous used for our English word "mind" documented in Romans 12:2 and is defined as understanding, reason, or will. The mind or nous is the organ of mental perception and apprehension or the consciousness preceding the act or recognizing and judging the fact. Nous or a person's mind enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; it is the faculty of consciousness and thought. The mind is the way we receive God's thoughts through our believing. The word nous is sometimes employed to denote the total inner person, including their ability to distinguish between right and wrong.

We learned we must renew our minds to God's Word, or the desires of the members or parts of our body will bring us into captivity to the law of sin (see Romans 7:22-23). All we do, say, think, and experience starts in the mind. The born-again believers of Thessalonica were told not to be shaken in mind or troubled by devil spirit possession of people's minds which was trying to get them to say that the day of the Lord is at hand (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2). See April 2020 teaching.

Let us pray. For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. We pray that God our Father will grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. We pray that Christ may dwell in your hearts and minds by believing and that you are rooted and grounded in love. Father, may we be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, length, depth, and height of your Word, and know the love of Christ, which passed knowledge. We pray that we are filled with the fullness of God our Father. We give thanks to God our Father who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. We praise God our Father in the church by Christ Jesus, the now glorified one who was once humble throughout all ages, world without end. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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