I don't know about you, but thinking sometimes gets me into trouble.
In church, we have been studying through the New Testament. We are up to Romans 10 (next week), but a couple weeks ago we were in Romans 7. This is the chapter where Paul is testifying of his personal struggle with his flesh.
Pastor Bob brought out an excellent point that never occurred to me before. Brief background first: some Christians believe, teach and preach, that Rom. 7 was Paul talking about himself before he was Saved. The reason that cannot be true is that an unsaved man has no struggle with the flesh, all he can do is sin, so to speak. If he were to do any good works they are meaningless and vain.
Paul struggled like all of us do. He struggled all his life just like we do. He was just a man, one who God used to deliver to us the great and glorious gospel and teaching on the Christian life, and church.
Remember Paul wrote Rom. 12: 1, 2.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God".
Pay special attention to "renewing of your mind". So much of what we do begins in our mind. Not just the heart, but the mind, which are not the same thing, though we often use them interchangeably. Notice also that we are transformed by the renewing of our mind.
For more verses on the mind: Rom. 7:23-25 "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Paul could do nothing else buy cry out here.) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."
Rom. 8:7, 27 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.;"
Rom. 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?.
God has a mind too.
It's more than just a mind set: I Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. "mind of Christ" and "mind of the LORD"
God wants to renew your mind.
These have minds too:
God
Sin
Devil
Man
Eph 4: 20-24
But ye have not so learned Christ;
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness
.
Eph. 4:20 tells us to Learn Christ.
This is about a PERSON, not just knowing about "stuff".
Eph. 4:21-24 put off the old man, and be renewed in your mind, and put on Christ
We have the choice. We have to decide old man or new man.
Phil 2:5-7
" Let this mind be in you,
What mind? Would you let this mind be in you?
which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
So many times I get caught up in thinking and it just takes me down the worse path, all the worst case scenario, which leads to doubt and fear, robs me of my joy and peace. It tempts me to try and fix or reason things out rather than letting the LORD do it His way.
I remember in school when we studies communism and socialism. Both of these strive to get children in their early years because the recognize the need to get their minds, and brainwash them to believe the falsehood behind these systems. They, the communists and socialists knew that they would not fight a war with guns and bombs and killing, they would wage it in the classroom, in books, on television, in movies, in politics and policies of government, in doing away with as much of God and the Bible from public life as possible, instilling fear of Bible Christians, in the general population. All this, and more, made way for the the election of unfit, immoral, ungodly, lying, cheating, politicians, who in their suave manner of speaking hoodwinked this country to not only elect them, but to allow them to make and change policies which are taking away freedom, but worse, ridding our great nation of God's Word. The socialist/communist has gotten the mind of many americans.
In the church, satan has done this by causing doubt about where God's word is, can we have it? are their mistakes?...it is all a MIND GAME and satan is behind it all.
Satan cannot take our souls, and since some believers are able to live holy before God avoiding many of the wicked pleasures once craved, where else can he tempt us?
All sin begins in the mind, but there is another part of this. Satan wants to keep us bogged down over how wicked we used to be, remind us of all our failures and shortcomings,(even if they aren't sin, he makes us think they are), he gets us all wrapped up about our life before Christ, and our sin, that we forget who we are IN CHRIST. Yes, IN Christ. We are IN Christ, and in Him is no sin at all. We are sinless, in that sense, because in Him is no sin. It's time for Believers to stop letting satan drag them into the mud to wallow in pity over their past, which is under the blood, remembered no more by God, because of Jesus Christ, and start rejoicing in who we are in Christ, beloved bride, children of God, joint heirs with Christ.
Imagine if you went around being all upset about a man who jilted you before you married your husband, how would your husband feel? what would he think? Probably be jealous or think your crazy right?
Christ is the bridegroom and we are His bride. We need to start relishing this thought. We need to focus on the FACT that we have a husband more glorious than any made up storybook husband, than the best earthly husband in the world. Christ sees only the beauty of us. He has washed us, made us clean, given us a new life, and is waiting for us to join Him at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Lets focus on that!
And if that isn't enough to get your mind straight...preaching to myself gals....how bout this:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phil 4:7,8
If we focus our minds and meditate on these things, we will do fine. And be filled with joy and peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment