Any Thoughts

The  mind can either be a wonderful or detrimental thing to use. For many years motivational speakers have continuously promoted what has been deemed "The Power of Positive Thinking." The power of positive thinking is a mental attitude in which one expects good and favorable results, or as a more modern definition defines it, a mental attitude of approaching life's challenges with a positive outlook. In every sense, it is simply mind over matter, that is, the use of willpower to overcome problems, whether physical or mental. There is certainly nothing wrong for one to have a positive approach to life challenges, but it still comes down to philosophy or psychological science. 

However, we need to understand that the unregenerate mind can be a powerful tool, but its power does not come from above, but is from beneath. The Apostle James tells us, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." (James 3:13-16) Notice that James is talking about people who are self-seeking. In a sense then, the power of positive thinking evolves around "I." James continues, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3:17) 

Although James is talking about wisdom, keep in mind that wisdom teaches how to use knowledge effectively. Again, there is certainly nothing wrong with positive thinking. The question we must ask ourselves is, what or who is behind it our positive thinking? For believers, it is through the Word of God that the mind is renewed in which faith is increased, (Romans 10:17) and thoughts are transformed. Unfortunately, though, most believers thoughts and confessions are mostly negative, due to a lack of meditating and studying God's Word. (Joshua 1:8) 

The teaching behind the power of positive thinking is not only taught in the world, but it has also infiltrated the church. Many church leaders today have gathered a large following because they have reduced the Word of God to nothing more than a philosophy for life. Although cloaked with verses of scripture, in reality, it takes the focus off of Almighty God and puts it on self. The Psalmist David wrote, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)  

Teaching a philosophy for life from pulpits rather than God's Word is a very dangerous concept because it eliminates faith in Jesus Christ, and turns ones faith, to faith in what can be accomplished through their own ability and or strength. In actuality, this is nothing more powerful to renew a mind than when it is filled with God's Word. We should never forget the devils tactic that led the woman away from the truth to believe his lie, "...And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said...Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God..." (Genesis 3:1, 4-5) I believe the deception behind this teaching is what the Apostle Paul tells us concerning what will happen to many believers as we draw closer to the end, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power." (2 Timothy 3:5) 

The Apostle Paul tells us, "giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us (has given us the ability) to be partakers (to enjoy our share) of the inheritance of the saints in the light." (Colossians 1:12) When one is born again, they immediately received God's nature, (2 Peter 1:4), that is, His substance, His life, and along with new birth we can also be filled (baptized) in the Holy Spirit to live within us. (Luke 24:49; John 14:15-17; Acts 2:38). When Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come and lead us into all truth, (John 16:13), He meant exactly what He said. God's ability is freely offered to every one who confesses Jesus as Lord and takes Him as Savior. Another deception behind the teaching of the power of positive thinking as it applies to believers, is that it alienated believers from the life of God. (Ephesians 4:17) However, the moment that ones spirit is recreated, the mind may be renewed and brought into perfect harmony with the recreated spirit by the study of God's Word. It may take a little time, but it is worth the effort. When the mind is renewed with the Word of God and brought into fellowship with the recreated spirit, then the reality of all the blessings and promises of God become ours, not by positive thinking, but faith in Jesus Christ.

For everyone who is born again, you have God's nature, God's ability. You are God's child. God
is the strength of your life. He is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30) We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10) We are the victorious and triumphant ones. (1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14) These wonderful things are ours. We are not slaves, but free. This New Testament is the "Good News" of our emancipation and of God's participation in our lives here on earth. 

Finally, the Apostle Paul reveals some more wonderful truths, "But the natural man (anyone under the influences of the mind, the senses, and not the Holy Spirit) 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...For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:14, 16) Why would one desire to be limited by the power of positive thinking when the born again believer can be led by the Holy Spirit and be unlimited in the way Jesus was in His earth walk? The reality of Paul's prayer to the church at Colossae belongs to every believer, "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge (complete, concise, precise knowledge) of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." (Colossians 1:9) PTL...        

Renewed Mind

The soul is an immaterial part of a human being. It consists of the mind, will, emotions and intellect. Our mind is the element or faculty of consciousness and thought. When one confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and takes Him as Savior, the unregenerate human spirit becomes alive, it is Born Again, with the very life and nature of God. (John 3:3-8, 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21; 2 Peter 1:4) However, the soul is not immediately transformed as the spirit is. Jesus tells us, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh (body and soul) profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) Jesus is not telling us that we should become mindless, but that the Holy Spirit and His Word brings life to our recreated spirit which in turn renews the mind and brings the body into subjection.

The Apostle Paul tells us how we deal with our two unregenerate parts, also known as the flesh, "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) This is something that must become apart of our daily lives. Everyday we should make it our declaration that we choose to use our bodies as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13) and renew our minds with God's Word. (Proverbs 4:20-22; John 6:63; Romans 10:17) Paul also shows one particular way to adjust our thinking, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

Why is dedicating our bodies to the Lords service and renewing our minds everyday of the utmost importance to all believers? Peter tells us, "your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) The adversary has not changed his tactics. He does the same thing today as he did in the Garden with the woman. He works at getting believers to use their mind, that is, their intellect, to figure out what God said, His Word. When the believer does this, they will eventually reason God's Word away and act out through their body in the same manner that thw woman did. (Genesis 3:1-6) Paul warns us, "the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." (Romans 8:7) He also tells us, "But 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) This very thing is what has become a natural occurrence in the church for centuries and seems to be even more prevalent today.

Notice, what Adam and the woman did, after they chose to listen to the adversary rather than God, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:7-8) They hid, covered, themselves from one another and hid, conceal from view, themselves from God. They had lost their spiritual connection with God and now relied on their mind, their intellect. Now guilt, condemnation and unworthiness had replaced innocence, approval, and nobility. 

However, it did not stop there. Look at Adam and the woman's response to God, "Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:13) The guilt, condemnation and unworthiness, the consequences of their acting upon their mind with their bodies, was so strong, that they could not even admit what they had done. Instead, Adam blamed God and the woman, and the woman blamed the serpent, the devil. This brings us to the point. Many times, believers will blame God, for things that are actually the works, lies, deceptions of the devil, without actually saying it. 

For instance, sickness and disease continues to ravaged the Body of Christ. Many have been trained through church leaders and theologians that God permits sickness and disease to be apart of the believers life for some benevolent reason that no one, except He, knows. They are taught, that healing today is not in the redemptive work of God in Christ, but only belongs to the believer if God gives one faith to be healed. If He does not give you faith, there is no need to struggle for your healing from God, you simply put up with it or better yet, go to a physician for healing. The question that we need to ask ourselves then, is, if benevolent is defined as well meaning and kindly, then why would one go to a physician and work against God doing some that is well meaning and kindly?

That fact is, "...For I am the Lord who heals you" (Exodus 15:26); "Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows; (pains) (Isaiah 53:4); "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses" (Matthew 8:17); "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" (Acts 10:38); "For I am the Lord, I do not change;" (Malachi 3:6); "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1); "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14);  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8)

Notice, not one of these scriptures insinuates that God has anything to do with sickness and disease other than to heal. If you read the Gospels, you will find that the majority of Jesus' earthly ministry was to bring healing to the sick and diseased. We also see that Jesus tells us numerous times and in various ways, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38)  So then, if God is the God who heals; if Jesus only did the will of the Father; if Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him; if God has not changed, then it goes without saying, that God still heals today and all sickness and disease is not of God, but from the adversary!

Think about it, disease is, dis-(cut off)-ease. Disease is pain, weakness, loss of ability to bless and help. It makes slaves of the people who care for the sick (not that caring for the sick is a bad thing, it is actually a good thing to care for those who cannot care for themselves). The loved ones who are up day and night taking care of the sick ones, are robbed of joy and rest. Most importantly, sickness is not of love, and God is love. (1 John 4:7-8, 16) Disease is a robber. It steals health; it steals happiness; it steals money we need for other things. Disease is an enemy because it comes from the enemy and is not a benevolent work of God. All of this is of the devil. We see in Luke's Gospel that "there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God." (Luke 13:11-13)

Naturally, Jesus doing the will of the Father dealt with the issue. However, the religious intellects of the day began to criticize because Jesus healed on the Sabbath, "But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”  (Luke 13:14) However, Jesus goes to the heart of the matter, "The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, think of it, for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:15-16)

There are five things that we can take from this passage. First, the woman was dealing with a spirit of infirmity. There is not one verse of scripture in the entire Bible that even suggests, that a spirit of infirmity is of or from God. Second, Jesus heals the woman. Third, as it was then, it is today in many portions of the church, the religious intellects always have something to say that is contrary to the will, nature, character, purpose and plan of God due to their lack of faith. Four, we see clearly that this spirit was of and from Satan himself. Five, we see healing, not sickness or disease, glorifies God!!!

As I had mentioned before, God is love, sickness and disease is not of love. If sickness and disease is the will of love, then love has turned to hatred. If sickness and disease is the will of God, then heaven will be filled with it. Jesus said, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9-10) No, sickness and disease is the will of hate, the will of Satan, due to his hatred of God, His children, and in fact, all humanity. Sickness and disease were never and are never the will of the Father. To believe that they are, is to be deceived by the adversary. If healing had not been in God's plan of redemption, the Father would not have taught it in His Word.

Finally, Jesus healed all who came to Him, Jews and Gentiles alike. He was carrying out the will of the Father and so should all believers, "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) However, for many believers, their mind must be renewed and their bodies dedicated to the service of the Lord daily so they can shed the doubts, fears and unbelief that thwart the church from releasing God's Kingdom, as well as His power and glory to the entire world. The struggles that most believers face is not with the adversary, per se, but with a mind that has not been renewed by the Word of God, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)         

Wisdom From Above

Jesus sent the twelve disciples out and "...He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease." (Matthew 10:1) In doing so, Jesus knew that as ambassadors for Him, they would come in contact with some hostile people. Concerning this, He tells them, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) So what does it mean to "be wise as serpents?" Jesus was using a serpent as an example because they are cunning. (Genesis 3:1) He tells his disciples, they needed wisdom in the midst of a world that would seek to take their lives. However, we also need to keep in mind that there are two type of wisdom. 

The Apostle James tells us, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3:13-17) So, naturally, we will be talking about "the wisdom from above," the Wisdom from God. But why would Jesus not tell them to use the knowledge that they had received while listening to His words and while observing His actions? Surely, they must of acquired much knowledge being with Jesus day and night.

Wisdom shows us how to use knowledge effectively. For instance, people know it is not good to smoke, but they smoke just the same. They know it is not good for their body to stay up late at night, get little sleep day in and day out, yet they do it anyway. They know they should not make a glutton of themselves, nor eat or drink certain things, yet they do it with little regard. They know that they  should not exceed the speed limit on the highway and yet, with no regard, they do this also. They know, but they are not using their knowledge. Why? Are they being obstinate? Is it that they just don't care? Could it be that they enjoy the adverse consequences that come with such neglect or poor behavior? No, not at all. They simply lack wisdom. If they were wise, they would cut out all these things that they know are or could be harmful. So, with that said, let's look at the Word of God spoken through Solomon...

"Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words: "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge." (Proverbs 1:20-22) These are strong words, but also a warning that we should listen and adhere to. If we know something, such as shown in the examples above, and refuse wisdom to use the knowledge that we have, then we are fools and we hate knowledge. Notice, what Wisdom continues to say, "Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you." (Proverbs 1:24-27)

Just observing the few examples above, we can see why so many believers struggle in life. They know but they refuse wisdom and reject the counsel that wisdom brings and therefore will deal with calamity and the storms, distresses and anguish of life that could have been avoided, simply by adhering to wisdom's "...rebuke..." and letting the "words of wisdom be known to you." (Proverbs 1:23) When wisdom is rejected we also see in the time of calamity, "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. (Proverbs 1:28-32) Could this be a reason why so many believers struggle with sickness, disease, financial woes and broken relationships? Could this be a reason why we see very little expressions or experiences of God's Kingdom, Power and Glory in His church and among believers? 

Although this may sound hard, there is wonderful news. Wisdom also say, "But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:33) PTL! Solomon goes on to tells us, "My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5) So, not one believer has to ever struggle in this life having knowledge but not applying wisdom " For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6) I want to encourage you to finish reading and meditate on all of Proverbs chapter two. In it you will find some wonderful promises that the Lord has for those who diligently seek wisdom.

Finally, I want to leave you with this encouraging word also from God through Solomon, "My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22) Can we just imagine the abundant and successful life that we can live now in this life, if we were to have a greater love for God's Word? If we seek after God's Wisdom, we are actually seeking after God Himself. Remember what the Apostle John tells us concerning the Word, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) To have a love for God's Word is to love God. He and His Word are one. "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." (1 John 5:7) So, let us daily seek after God, "For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding." Amen...   

Do You Understand

Isn't it interesting, how a misunderstanding can cause so many problems. To misunderstand is nothing more than a failure to understand something correctly. Instead of drawing a wrong conclusion or applying wrong actions, a misunderstanding can be avoided simply by finding out the facts. For believers, the Bible is the place where we can look to and find indisputable facts, because the Word of God is indisputable. However, in saying that, the church has been in many disputes when it comes to interpreting God's Word. There are two ways that we can understand and interpret God's Word. One is through our own intellect. However, the Apostle Paul tells us, "...We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up..." (1 Corinthians 8:1) The knowledge that Paul is referring to is intellectual understanding. The intellect is the vehicle where most of our knowledge is acquired, but it is limited, because it cannot operate without the five senses. This is also known as sense knowledge or mental assent. Notice that Paul says that this kind of knowledge "puffs up" that is, makes one proud and or arrogant. It is this type of knowledge that has brought numerous erroneous doctrines into the church, which for many, has reduced Christianity to a faithless, powerless religion.

The other type of knowledge is revelation knowledge which Paul reveals in his epistles numerous times and in numerous ways. This is the type of knowledge that believers should strive for, because it is spiritual. Revelation knowledge does not rely on the five senses, therefore, it far exceeds intellectual knowledge. Paul tells us, "making mention of you in my prayers: 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 (precise and correct knowledge) of Him." (Ephesians 1:16-18) "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge (precise and correct knowledge) of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." (Colossians 1:9) However, to come into revelation knowledge, first and foremost, believers must allow the Holy Spirit do His work, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." (John 16:13) Secondly, believers must exercise faith, "By faith we understand..." (Hebrews 11:3) 

We can say that faith is like a tender plant. It cannot stand the harsh winds or the torrential down pour of sense (intellectual) knowledge or it is neutralized. Faith must feed continually on the Word of God and then grows by acting on that Word. Simply reading the Word, meditating on the Word, will not build faith. It will, however, build a capacity for faith. Faith will only grow when God's Word becomes a part of our daily conduct, our daily speech and our daily actions. The word faith appears in the King James Version of the Bible two hundred forty three time. Two time in the Old Testament and two hundred forty one times in the New Testament. As we can see, faith is an important element that should be a major part of the believers daily life. In fact, "without faith, it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6) and yet faith is one of those subjects that has been so misunderstood, that most ministers today do not want to teach or preach about it. 

However, as faith grows, Satan's dominion over the believer wanes. Circumstances that life brings are less formidable. As ones faith grows, fear is destroyed and you begin to possess your rights in Christ. You eventually possess the things that you have merely hoped for in the past. For instance, at one time you hoped for money to pay a bill, now by faith you have it. The reason why many believers do not possess the things that are freely theirs in Christ, is, although they may say that they agree with God's Word, they simply have not acted upon it. They have merely taken an intellectual approach to it, that is, they have mentally assented to it. When believers not only agree with God's Word but also act upon it, they reach the place where they no longer hope for things, but look up and say, "Father, I thank you that I am what you say I am, your child. (1 John 3:1) I thank you that your Word is true (John 17:17). I thank you that you do not lie (Numbers 23:19). I thank you for the things that I have asked for in Jesus Name." (Mark 11:23-24) What you once mentally assented to, you now possess, because believing is possessing. 

Next, we see that faith grows in the atmosphere of confession of the Word. We are not speaking of confession of sin. It is our confession of what God's Word declares as to what we are in Christ, what Christ is in us, and how the Father truly sees us. Continuous confession of God's Word becomes a living thing in our hearts and minds. Just as the Word from Jesus' lips could rule the sea, the winds, sickness, disease and even death, so God's Word spoken from our lips will have the same effect. Every time we break the silence caused by fear with an open confession of the integrity of the Word, and act on the Word, we destroy the very roots of fear and unbelief in our lives. Fear and unbelief grow with confession, in the same manner as faith grows with confession. For instance, if you  confess that you are sick, unbelief grows in you. If you confess that "by His stripes you are healed" faith grows. 

So, let us not misunderstand. God's Word works when spoken through faith filled lips. His Word declares, "You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways." (Job 22:28) "My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips."
Psalms 107:20 "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalms 119:89) "You have magnified Your word above all Your name." (Psalm 138:2) "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8) "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) "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." (Mark 11:31) "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) "For the word of God is living and powerful." (Hebrews 4:12) Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Him

There is an issue that has damaged many people's lives in today's societies that deals with identity, it's called "identity thief." Identity thief is defined as "the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information, usually for financial gain." There is also another issue that deals with ones identity found within the world of psychology, called "identity crisis." This has been defined as "the failure to achieve ego identity during adolescence; a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person's sense of identity becomes insecure." Both of these identity issues are the result of a satanically influenced, fallen world.

In the Garden of Eden, God made man in His own image and likeness. (Genesis 1:26) However, when Adam sinned against God, he actually lost his identity. He had now taken on the identity of his new father, Satan. Jesus clear reveals this in one of His confrontations with the religious leaders during His ministry on earth as the Son of Man, "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." (John 8:44) Adam as the representative of all humanity has caused the entire human race to take on this fallen satanic nature, identity. Jesus warns us today, "The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." (John 10:10) From the fall, man is now faced with a stolen identity which has led him into an identity crisis. Although man lost his identity, God has made a way for him to once again be identified with his Creator, God Himself, through faith in Jesus Christ.      

What fallen man does not comprehend and many believers have not found, is that the spirit is who we really are. The body is not the real person, it is merely the vehicle in which the spirit lives. The soul (mind, will and emotions) is also not the real person but simply the part of mankind that uses the five senses to accrue information to operate in the natural realm. Simply remove one of the five senses, and the mind loses its ability to learn and grow. If all five senses are removed, the mind is rendered completely useless. The Apostle Paul tells us, "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..." (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) The Apostle Peter tells us, "...that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature..." (2 Peter 1:4) Man could not be a partaker of God's divine nature (God is Spirit, John 4:24), if man were not recreated. 

As a sinner, man is called "the old man" (Ephesians 4:22), who cannot approach God (Ephesians 2:12-13) except through Christ. However, when one comes to Christ, he/she receives a new identity. He become a new man. (Ephesians 4:24) God has recreated him. The old man has stopped being, and the new man has taken its place. The o1d man was born of the spiritually dead satanic nature. The new man is born of the very nature of God the Father. The believer no longer needs to identify with the old nature, because God has recreated a new one. The identity crisis is over. The stolen identity has been restored. Man in Christ is returned to his true identity, a partaker of the divine nature.

Think about this; the old creation had no standing with God. The new creation in Christ, can now stand in the Father's presence as though sin had never been. As Paul reveals, the new creation man has become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is why it is so imperative to develop the recreated human spirit, through the Word of God, (Romans 10:17), so the believer can know his identity in Christ. Paul tells us, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Notice, "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Paul no longer identifies himself with his old sinful nature, but identifies himself with his new recreated nature, that of Jesus Christ. 

Way to often from pulpits, believers hear how they are nothing more than sinners. This is the cause of many believers having an identity crisis. As we see in the scriptures above, the recreated person in Christ is just that, in Christ, not in the devil. "God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." (Colossians 1:13) "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3) How can a person be delivered from darkness and be hidden in Christ if he or she were a sinner? "To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." (Psalm 92:15 - also see John 7:18) It is unrighteousness (sin) that keeps people from God. If believers were still sinners, then they would not be permitted in the presence of God. However, the writer of Hebrews says, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)        

The fact is, Christ became as we were, so that we might become as He is. He died so that we could live. (John 10:10) He was made sin, to make us righteous. (2 Corinthians 5:21) He became weak, to make us strong. (Philippians 4:13) He suffered shame, to give us glory. (John 17:17) He was condemned, so we could be justified. (Romans 5:1) He was made sick, so we could have health and healing. (1 Peter 2:24) He was forsaken by the Father and went to Hades, in order to take us to heaven. (Acts 2:27) In Christ the believer finds his/her new and true identity. So let us no longer be rob of who we truly are and know "...as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17) PTL!!!     

It Starts With The Heart

For centuries man has put much effort trying to understand the human mind and behavior. Birthed out of the combination of philosophy and biology this has come to be known as psychology. Although it is somewhat difficult to capture everything that psychology encompasses, the simplest definition of psychology is that it is the study of the human mind and human behavior. Research in psychology seeks to understand and explain thought, emotion, and behavior. However, it is limited due to one simple fact. The human soul, that is, the mind, will and emotions, became corrupted by sin at the fall of Adam in the Garden, effecting the human mind and behavior in a negative, destructive, depraved manner. However, the destructive nature of sin did not stop with the soul, it completely corrupted the entire human himself, spirit, soul and body, "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)

Even after the fall of Adam we see the gross destruction that one human brought upon another. "Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord . Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell." (Genesis 4:1-5)

Notice, Cain became very angry. Anger is considered a secondary emotion because people tend to resort to anger in order to protect themselves from or cover up other vulnerable feelings. A primary feeling is what is felt immediately before one feels anger. Anger is defines as a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. Next, we see the results of what the mind can produce if anger is not immediately dealt with, "So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." (Genesis 4:6-8) 

We see in the above scripture that not even the Almighty, All Wise God of Heaven in His intervention was able to convince Cain to change his thinking, his mind, which would have changed his behavior. It is apparent that Cain's mind was already fixed by anger that eventually produced a horrific action. The murder of his own flesh and blood brother. As we can see in this example, the mind has been so corrupted with sin, how can one even think that a science that deals with the corrupted mind is able to produce any true positive and lasting results, especially when we see that Cain would not change his mind even when God Himself intervened. Cain's mind was so corrupt, I believe if a psychologist showed up on the scene to try and reason with Cain, there most likely would have been two murders. So, what is the solution to truly fix the human mind and behavior?

 It is not mind over matter, it is not doing good works, it is not even delving into religion although these things in and of themselves may be considered good things. However, it is not any of these things. It is "New Birth" through faith in Jesus Christ, period! Why? Because new birth is not mental, but spiritual. Psychology has to do with the mind, and the new birth has to do with the "hidden man of the heart," (1 Peter 3:4) or the spirit of man. Understand, man is in God's class of being, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness." (Genesis 1:26) "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than yourself, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." (Psalm 8:4-6)

When man was created in the Garden he was made in the image and likeness of God, that is he was created as a spirit being with a soul in a body, because God is a Spirit. (John 4:24) Man was created so that, by partaking of God's nature, he might become a child of God. If man was simply a physical being, then he would not have receive God's nature, thereby, making him nothing more than a mental being. He had to be a spirit being, an eternal being, who would live as God lives. Man was created so that he could be the companion and associate of God Himself. As we saw in Psalm 8, God gave man authority over creation, that is, the laws of nature as well as over every living thing. If we were to study the gospels, the ministry of Jesus, we would find that the same authority that Adam had was also given to Jesus. We would see in the gospels such things as Jesus walking on water, changing water into wine, restoring broken, maimed bodies, calming the sea and raising the dead.

Before Adam fell in the Garden, during his fellowship with God, his spirit ruled him. His soul and body were subject to his spirit. But, when he sinned, his spirit was enveloped by his flesh (Genesis 6:4), that is, the combination of his soul and body. He became spiritually dead, took on the satanic nature and his spirit became subordinate to his flesh, that is, his five senses. Adam was then driven from the presence of God and became a partaker of a Satan corrupted world. In this new world system he had to see clearly and hear keenly, or an animal could take advantage of him and he could lose his life. His taste must tell him what was good to eat. His touch must tell him whether or not an object was hot or cold, sharp, rough or smooth. His wisdom and knowledge would no longer be tied to God, but his education would be gained through his five senses. Man's spirit lost contact with God. His body became mortal, that is, subject to death.

This is the condition in which Jesus found the human race when He left eternity and broke into time and space to introduce the Father to fallen man for the purpose of restoring man back to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). So, as we can clearly see, psychology has no ability to truly fix the human mind or behavior, because the mind can only be transform when the "hidden man of the heart" receives new birth. Jeremiah said it this way, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) Without the renewing of the heart, new birth, the mind remains corrupted and under the sway of a satanically influenced world (1 John 5:19). So, do not be surprised when people who have not experienced new birth say and act the way they do. Where they are quick to seek out psychologists and or psychiatrists hoping to find relief. It is simply fallen man trying to be fixed by fallen man. Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). Grace and Peace be with you through Christ our LORD... 

Seated With Christ

The climax of the meritorious work of the Lord Jesus Christ is His glorification, that is, "the seating of the Lord at His (Father Gods) right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." (Ephesians 1:20-21) This came about after Jesus had been made sin with our sin; after He had paid the penalty for our sin; after He had suffered unimaginably in spirit, soul and body, all of this, so that the demands of justice against humanity could be met and paid in full. Once this was accomplished, then Christ was raised from the dead. We may know these facts but the good news is, we were raised with Him and seated with Him, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7) This was not our doing, but the Father's. The Father declares we are seated together with Christ. PTL

God the Word became flesh, a man (John 1:14); He identified Himself with the human race  (Philippians 2:6-8); He became the substitute for the entire human race (John 3:16); He delivered the human race from the authority of Satan (Colossians 1:13); After He has conquered Satan, death, hell and the grave (Revelation 1:18), He arose from the dead; was reunited with His physical body (Acts 2:27); carried His blood into the Most Holy Place in heaven (Hebrews 9:12); He then sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High making redemption eternal, comprehensive and available to the entire human race. We have the God Man seated at the Father's right hand as our advocate, (1 John 2:1), our mediator, (1 Timothy 2:5), our representative, our intercessor before the Father. (Hebrews 7:25) This is the crowning event of redemption. Jesus seated at the Father's right hand, and is the head of the new body, the Church. It's no wonder that the Apostle Paul proclaims, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3) 

Not only are we seated in the highest position in the universe with Christ, we are also blessed with every spiritual blessing that is necessary to maintain our place as members of His glorious body and live life abundantly through Him. In the mind of God, every believer is in Christ now. When we go to the throne of Grace in prayer, it is as though Jesus Himself were going there, for we go in His Name. The Apostle Paul tells us, "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3) Every believer is  hidden from the adversary, but we are visible to the Father. The writer of Hebrews says, "For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." (Hebrews 9:24) 

Jesus is at the right hand of the Father as our representative, as our Lord, who gave Himself for us. If Christ sat down at God's right hand, it is because the Father accepted Him and accepted what He did for all humanity, especially every believer. The fact that He is seated there is the seal of our acceptance in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6) This should cause us to see that our Redemption is a completed, eternal, finished thing. So, let us not get caught up in the worry and anxiety that the world would try to conform us to, but let us exercise our faith in the integrity of God's Word and know that as Christ is, "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come" (Ephesians 1:21) so we are also for we are in Him as we can see, "the Father has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:22-23) PTL...