What On Your Mind

Most believers know the importance of reading and studying the Word of God, which is good, but most do not take the time to meditate on God's Word. We have stressed the need to being born again and to live a godly life, but most new believers do not receive much teaching or encouragement regarding the necessity of having a renewed mind. Isn't it interesting the enthusiasm and joy that comes with the born again experience, but unless a new believer engages and feeds on the Word that joy will eventually die out.

The mind is similar to a sponge when it comes to knowledge. However, most knowledge comes by-way-of our five senses giving the mind will and emotions control over a person. But when one feeds on the Word through meditation, the mind slowly but surely becomes renewed. As the mind is renewed, the Word is then lived out because faith continually grows. Eventually, the spirit begin to take control and the mind then comes into fellowship with the spirit. This is very important principle for all believers not only new ones. Many Christians are led by the mind, will and emotions because their minds are not being renewed and their spirit is being starved of the truth.

The apostle Paul shows us two important aspects of the born again life in regard to the physical body and its thinking process, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) Take notice that believers are to present their bodies, which holds the five senses to the Lord. This is in the sense of the Old Testament priest offering a sacrifice on the alter to the Lord. It is a dedication of yourself to the Lord for His service, which is a reasonable thing to do. Why? Because no matter how long you have been born again, every persons mind has been influenced by the things of the world. For many, worldly concepts have had you under their dominion and you have not come to the freedom that comes by the truth.

Many today live in a semi-spiritual darkness still finding it difficult to know and understand the true nature, character, will, purposes and plan of God. Many continuously go to a church leader to deal with issues that never seem to leave because they have not taken it upon themselves to renew their mind. But as one renews his/her mind, they will come to know the Lord in a deeper personal manner. Not only that, but as ones mind continues to be renewed they will not be satisfied with the acceptable and the good will of God but will want to know what is the perfect will of God.

One of the ways that you can gauge if your mind being renewed will be seen in how much your faith is growing. A person who year after year shows little faith is almost invariably a person whose mind is not being renewed. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." The inward man is your spirit and as you feed your inward man the Word, your mind also becomes renewed.

Finally, take to heart what the Lord spoke to Joshua concerning His Word, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8) Through meditating on the Word day and night you will come to walk in God's will, recognize that His ability and strength has been given to you as well as the promise that was given to Joshua, "For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" so it shall be with you. Amen...

Loves is the Way

I am not one for watching movies. However, as I got older and had children we would occasionally take some time and watch a movie. One of the movie-musicals that is considered an all times favorite by movie critics is entitled, "Fiddler on the Roof" which was a 1971 film adaptation of the 1964 Broadway hit with the same name. In one of the scenes in the movie Tevye, the narrator and main character of the story, father of five daughters, an impoverished milkman, a leader in his Jewish community, asks his wife Golde in song, "Do you love me?" Golda's responses were based on all the chores that she had done as a wife and mother for Tevye and their daughters for the past 25 years and yet Tevye continued to asks Golda, "Do you love me?"

In John 21:15-17 we see Jesus asking Peter, "Do you love Me?" Jesus asked Peter this question three times and uses verb agapaoo, which means to love affectionately, ardently, supremely, perfectly, but in Peter's reply he is using the verb phileoo, which means to love, to like, to regard, to feel friendship for another. In other Words, Jesus says to Peter, "Peter, do you love me affectionately, ardently, supremely, perfectly", to which Peter answers, "Lord, I like, I regard, I feel friendship toward you."

If Jesus stood face to face with you and asked the same question that He asked Peter, what would be your response? Before you answer, remember, the Lord knows our heart. Let's be honest most believers would respond as Peter did. Phileo is the natural type of love that like Peter every person on the planet has. However, natural love is very limited. I heard it said that natural human love is nothing more the refined selfishness because it can shows affection one minute and turn ugly the next. But agape love knows no such bounds. It is not selfish in any way because it always seeks and thinks the best of others. Agape love, or the love of God, is already in the believer, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5) but it is a choice that every believer must make daily as we walk out our life in Christ.

Agape love is a demonstration, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) However, demonstrating love goes beyond doing various works or chores because the God kind of love is not natural but spiritual. It takes faith to walk it out in our daily lives for many reasons, such as, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44) "If you love Me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:12-13) "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8)

As I had mentioned it takes faith to live out the God kind of love daily and consequently it takes the God kind of love to walk in faith, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5:6) So, for us to truly answer the question, "Do you love Me?" let's consider these things and make the choice that no matter what circumstances come our way, no matter what people may say, let us choose to have  "compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:8-9) In other words, let's choose to love as God loves and choose to practice it daily.

Finally, I want to challenge you to turn to 1 Corinthians 13, read and meditate on verses 4 - 8 every day, especially in the Amplified Version of the Bible. The apostle Paul tells us, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God." (Romans 10:17) As we read and meditate on these verses our faith will grow, our minds will be renewed and our spirit will be built up resulting in knowing that we are Christ's due to the love that we express in every situation.  

Fearless Confidence

The apostle Paul tells us, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12) In other words, believers are engaged in combat with forces not seen by the natural eye and must come to realize some things concerning this battle. First and foremost, although these forces in the spiritual realm are mightier than any natural forces or what man can develop, believers must always keep in mind that these forces have been conquered and dethroned by Jesus Christ. "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14) These forces of darkness only have power over man because most people do not recognize the fact that they have been set free from them.

When Jesus conquered Satan through His resurrection from the dead, He did it for humanity. His victory over the adversary was our victory. The believer is more than a conqueror today because of what Jesus did. Believers do not have to do a thing but simply uphold and enforce their victory in the Name of Jesus. Unfortunately, most believers, including many church leaders have never appreciated the fact that our enemy is defeated and that our fight is one of faith. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith..." (1 Peter 5:8-9) "Fight the good fight of faith..." (1 Timothy 6:12)

It is a fearless confidence or faith in the Word of God that actually does the conquering. Spiritual strength and courage are built up by our persistent confession of what God's Word declares and then acting upon it. James further tells us, "But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18) James is saying again in a different way, that one cannot say that they believe God's Word or have faith if they do not act upon it. You see, demons know that they are defeated. When believers know this as fact and act on that knowledge, they will see the results of their actions, through Christ.

My challenge to all believers is, dare to act on God's Word in the same manner that you act on the word of a doctor. Dare to act on God's Word the way you act on the word of a stranger who gives you direction when you are driving and have lost your way. Dare to act on God's Word when the circumstances of life and the world are speaking the opposite of what God's Word says. Dare to act on God's Word when you have absolutely zero evidence that things can get better. Always remember these words, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) "My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." (Psalm 89:34)  

"Forever, O LORD, your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89) "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

May we all grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, having the eyes of our understanding be enlightened so we will truly believe and act on God's Word, in Jesus' Name...

There Is Something About That Name

I would like to give you something to think about. "The measure of the Lord's ability to work in and through a believers life, is measured by the value that the believer places upon His name." Now at first glance most will begin to quote some scripture such as, Matthew 28:18 "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." and  Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name..." These are certainly true, but, what do verses of scripture like these really mean to you? What value do you truly place in and on the name of Jesus?

Observe the following scriptures, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18) "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."  (John 14:13-14) "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24)

If you do not believe what Jesus said in these verses to be true, then and now, then the posiblitiy exists that you have placed little value on Matthew 28:18, Acts 4:12 and Philippians 4:9 not to mention most of the Bible. How can I make such a statement and know that what I am saying is true? Has Jesus lost His authority? Is there another name by which men can be saved? Is His name no longer above every other name? Absolutely not! In fact the promises that Jesus made concerning the believers use of His name is not only for the early church but also for all believers until His return. As staggering as that may seem, He has given the believe the power of attorney to use His name. It is ours to use and when you really meditate on that, the reality is, what is already ours does not require faith. With this in mind let's look at and consider these scriptures..."

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11) 

"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

(Ephesians 5:20) "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17) "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14) "And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment." (1 John 3:23)

These are certainly not all the scriptures that emphasize the name of Jesus, but we can see that the name of Jesus touched every phase of the believers life in the early church. His name was upon their lips, in their hearts, it filled their thoughts, answered their prayers, it was in their preaching and teaching, it healed the sick, raised the dead and basically made what seemed impossible simply possible all the time. My prayer is that every believer begins to truly believe and act upon the Word of God. I pray that we permit the Lord to open the eyes of our hearts so that we may know the riches of His glory and that we operate in the power of the name that is above every other name, the name of JESUS.

The Truth Will Make You Free

As I meet with fellow ministers and listen to the words that come from their lips my heart sometimes sinks. It is almost as if Jesus only came to earth to forgive sin, and the results of life on the earth for the Christian is nothing more than a life of weakness, disappointment and misery. That Christians are nothing more than weak sinful church goer that God has saved from hell and some day when we pass from this life to the next we will finally have the victory.

Well, if you have been trained to think along these lines than I have some good news for you. The days of oppression are over (actually they were over when Jesus was raised from the dead). Satan has receive a paralyzing blow through the meritorious work of Jesus and has been rendered harmless and ineffective against the believer. How do I know this?  "No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. and then he will plunder his house." (Mark 3:27) Jesus has bound the strong man (Satan). Look at what the Word of God also says about these things...

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

Does any of this indicate that the devil has any authority or dominion over the believer? Absolutely not! Well if the devil has had his authority and dominion over the believer taken away then this means that everything that is of or from him also has been extinguished such as, fear, doubt, sickness, poverty, all manner of evil, etc. Jesus is now Lord and the believer is identified with Him...

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ…

Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified (declared righteous) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 

Do you see that? When one confesses with their mouth the LORD Jesus Christ, believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead, they instantaneously are transformed into the very things the above scriptures tell us. Believers are no longer beggars and sinners, but as Paul tells us by the Holy Spirit, "...put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:24) Isn't this great news. Understand that when Jesus said, "Therefore if the Son make you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) that you are completely free of all the works of the devil? Makes you want to jump up and shout, "Thank You Jesus." So, let us exercise our faith and speak the Word of God knowing that the Word of God, the Words that Jesus spoke, have as much power today as they did when He spoke them... 

 Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Matthew 18:19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven
Matthew 17:20 for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you
Matthew 21:21-22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." 
Mark 11:23-24 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 

 Finally, I want to leave you with this last thought, no word from God is void of power. Do you believe this?

Don't Miss Out

Did you ever have an event that you wanted to see or be a part of only to miss it. I am not one for high school reunions, but I remember when my 30th year high school reunion was coming up. I thought that it would be interesting to attend so I sent in the registration form stating that I would attend. The weekend before the event, I once again looked over the invitation but to my surprise the reunion was taking place that very moment. I had inadvertently placed in my mind, is was in one more week. Well, I was wrong and I missed the reunion. Needless to say I make it a point not to repeat the same mistake again.

This brings me to my point. How many times have we placed within our mind something that we thought was truth but in fact it was contrary to it (the thing is, we did not know it at the time). Maybe some pastor or other church leader had presented what they believed was true but it could not be substantiated by the Bible. Maybe it was something that the mainline church has accepted as truth for years or even centuries but we cannot find chapter and verse to prove that it is so. Honestly, this happens all to often and continues to plague Christians with much misunderstanding of the the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit.

Hosea says it this way, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hosea 4:6) Another version of the Bible says it this way, "My people are destroyed because they don't know me..." This is certainly a sad commentary that God says that His people do not know Him and therefore suffer because of it. This is a prophecy concerning Israel but it is an unfortunate reality today. Look at what the apostle Paul states concerning the church and Israel, (for the sake of space I will narrow the scripture to the point) "Now these things became our examples...Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (1 Corinthians 10:6-11) In other words, the things that Israel did or failed to do were written for the church so that we do not repeat their failures. But it is apparent that Hosea's prophecy (Hosea 4:6) is as real today as it was when it was spoken.

Today, many Christian leaders in colleges, universities and local churches are inoculating people with philosophies and psychology that have nothing to do with the knowledge of God. Many doctrines that the church still embraces are from the Mosaic economy, the Dark Ages or the old wine skin of the Protestant Reformation. Every now and then they are tweeted to make them seem like truth, but if we have to adjust doctrine then the chances are it is false doctrine. One example of many, concerns God's will, especially when it comes to healing. A great segment of the church does not believe that God heals today like He did in the early church. Many others believe that healing is entirely up to God, meaning that if He wants to heal, He will, if not, He won't.

The problem with this type of teaching, is that it is not found in the Bible. It is the product of church leaders lacking in understanding God's true nature, character, will, purposes and plan. It is a lack of knowledge that only comes by way of the Spirit by exercising faith. When I talk about faith, I mean the Bible or God kind of faith that comes from the heart, not the mystical kind of faith that comes from the head nor the natural kind of faith that comes from the senses. The only way to operate and understand true Bible faith is to do as Jesus did, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4) We must live on God's every Word.

This means letting go of mans wisdom, your own personal reasoning and using your senses to understand the things of the Spirit. The apostle Paul says it this way, "The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14) Paul is not only referring to those who are spiritually dead, but he is also addressing Christians who are carnal. You cannot expect to know the things of God through the natural mind. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) We can only discern or understand spiritual things through the Spirit which requires true Bible faith.

So, if we do not want to miss the wonderful things that God has for His children, then we must come to grips with what faith really is and shed all of the doubts that have been entertained in the mind. We must embrace God's Word with all of our heart. We must "...believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) and remember, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19) 

Remembering

Today, throughout the United States it is a national holiday entitled, Memorial Day. It is a day in which Americans remember the service men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives so that others may have freedom. They did not give their lives for the United States alone, but also for others throughout the world in efforts to bring an end to demonized dictators who, like Satan their father, have only one desire, power over humanity. Their objective is to steal, kill, destroy and or hold in bondage to slavery their fellow man in efforts to promote their tyrannical reign.

Although people may have many thing to remember, for Christians the greatest Memorial Day for them should be, the day that we "confessed with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and were saved." (Romans 10:9) We celebrate the fact the Jesus Christ also paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving His life to save (redeem, heal, deliver, make whole) all humanity from Satan, the most evil, murderous tyrant known to man. We should remember as Paul said, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience." (Ephesians 2:1-2)

Notice that before one confesses Christ they "were dead in trespasses and sin" not spiritually sick, but spiritually dead. Cut off from and unable to communicate with God. This was due to the fact that before one is born again, they walk according to the world, according to the ways of the devil. Paul tells us that the devil, "The god of this age had blinded your mind from the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 4:4) However, one day in the history of man, God took it upon Himself the fix the problem, "He  anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) Then a glorious thing happened. Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..." (John 6:44) Our heavenly Father drew us to Jesus, gave us the grace and faith to confess Christ. Then God immediately "delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14)

When we consider what Jesus did for us and all mankind, the mind can hardly comprehend it. The apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:18-19)   This means that not one person in all of humanity had the ability to provide redemption. God Himself became a man and provided man’s redemption. (John 1:14) It was God who redeemed man from the dominion of Satan. (1 John 3:8) It was God who destroyed death. (Hebrews 2:14) It was God who restored man’s authority over the Satan (Luke 10:19) It was God who adopted us through Jesus Christ and made us His children (Romans 8:15-16) It is God who gives us all things that pertain to life and godliness. (2 Peter 2:3) It is God who gives us exceedingly great and precious promises. (2 Peter 1:4) It is God who gives us the victory at all times (1 Corinthians 15:57) and it is God who gave us eternal life (1 John 2:25) all through Jesus Christ.

I could go on and on concerning what scripture says as to what God Himself did for humanity through Jesus Christ and what He gives to those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. When we look to the promises that God has made throughout the Bible, there are several estimations. They range from 3000 to 7000 promises. Many of these promises were spoken by the Prophets and have been fulfilled through Jesus Christ. However, in the New Testament there is an estimated 750 promises that God has bestowed upon the believer. PTL Although today is Memorial Day, for the believer remembering what God did for us and what he has given to us, should be a Memorial Day celebration everyday.