What's in your mind? The key to faith and Christian living

What's in your mind? The key to faith and Christian living.

The core of your faith and of Christian living is based upon what's in your mind. Are you operating in a mind that is renewed by the Word of God and based on the principles of spiritual wisdom and truth or are you still functioning with a darkened mind that is based upon worldly knowledge and vanity? That's quite a contrasting picture, not so. Well, let me confirm this with two contrasting scriptures in the epistle of Ephesians that says the same thing.

Eph 4:17-20  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in THE VANITY OF THEIR MIND,  (18)  Having the understanding DARKENED, being alienated from the life of God through the IGNORANCE that is in them, because of the BLINDNESS of their heart:  (19)  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  (20)  But ye have not so learned Christ;

Paul writes, but you have not so learned Christ. What is it to learn Christ? Well, if the above statement is being without Christ in edification, then what is it to learn Christ? Paul already provided the answer to this question in chapter 1:

Eph 1:17-19  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the KNOWLEDGE of him:  (18)  The eyes of your UNDERSTANDING being ENLIGHTENED; that ye MAY KNOW what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  (19)  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Fellowship and friendship are good. Praise and worship are important. Prayer and intercession are of great value. But there is something that far exceeds the scope of these activities. It is reading and studying the Word of God. To gain in knowledge of the rightly divided Word is the core of your life and strength. It increases faith, it feeds you with truth, it fills you with God's Spirit, it empowers you to walk worthy of the Lord, it's the armour to war against the enemy. Increasing in knowledge of spiritual truth is the most important, yet the most undervalued activity in most Christian's lives. Let's see what value the Bible places upon this.

The epistle of Romans is the foundation of our faith. Several times in chapters 6 to 8, Paul asks the reader if they know certain things:

• Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
• Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
• Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
• Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
• Rom 7:1  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
• Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
• Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

Until you know these things, you are not educated or walking in the principles that stablish your faith and empower you to yield in obedience unto righteousness, delivering you from sin and fruitlessness, Rom 6:16-17. 

Words carry Spirit

Words carry Spirit

Words possess a spiritual dimension. When you receive a word, it takes residence in your heart, carrying the essence and spirit of the one that inspired it. Similarly, words come from the heart of the giver and convey their will, wisdom, and purpose. This is why Jesus rightly said, “My words are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Today, the words of God are compiled into the canon of scripture. Reading the written words in the Bible can convey the spirit of God into our hearts. Have a look at the following passage:

1Co 2:11-12  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  (12)  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Did you notice the word ‘spirit’ in the bolded part? It is not a capital “S”. What is being referenced here? It is not the Holy Spirit. Rather it is the written Word of God! The ‘spirit which is of God’ refers to the Bible. As you read and believe the written word, you are partaking in the essence and spirit of the one that inspired it. Essentially, you are receiving God’s (Holy) Spirit, which is the inspiration, and power, and truth within those words, bringing life, knowledge, conviction, and God’s will, by His Spirit.

When you grasp the truth of the ‘spirit’ of God, you will start to better understand verses such as these:

Rom_7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

(By gaining knowledge in the newness of the ‘spirit’ that we can start to walk by the ‘Spirit’. Rom.8; Gal.5)

2Co 3:6-8  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  (7)  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:  (8)  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

Eph_1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

2Th_2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

 

Recognize the value and worth of this book

Recognize the value and worth of this book

My wife had run into the pharmacy, while I waited in the car. In the quietness of that moment, whilst looking out at the cars driving past, the people walking about, the clouds drifting on the winds, and the sun, soon to be setting over the green hills in the distance, I started thinking about how all this came to be, how that by words, God had spoken this all into reality.

My mind locked onto the Word of God. That book, the Bible, and all the words written into it. It’s amazing how much one’s mind can contemplate in a moment of quiet! As my thoughts drifted about, I settled on the fact that EVERY WORD in the Bible is true, Rom.3:4. Every word written in its pages is filled with God’s living Spirit and is alive, and active, Heb.4:12, and full of grace. Besides the cross of Christ, the Bible is the greatest tangible object we have in this world today. This book is given to us by God Himself. It is a gift of epic proportions, and its value is incomprehensible. Can you even imagine that when you flip through its pages, the words, as you see them laid out before you, are the very breath of God, His will, His thoughts, plans and desires. Can you even comprehend the worth of receiving these words into your mind and spirit and believing them and acting out on them. My mind raced about in this moment, just drowning in the significance and thankfulness of being able to quote some verses, or go home and read those words again.

The Journey: Part 2 - A Process of Edification

Start here at the Introduction: The Journey Begins

The Journey: Part 2 - A Process of Edification

There's a methodical process of edification that occurs in Paul's epistles, taking you from the wrath of God in the book of Romans, to the faithful Body of Christ in Thessalonians who are patiently waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ to come. From Romans to Thessalonians, the whole outlook of life and faith has changed.

Rom.1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

2 Thess.3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. 5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

OBS: ACTS - The Transition (Part 1 - The Bible is God's Words)

OBS: ACTS, The Transition (Part 1) The focus is not so much on studying Acts, as it is on using the book to teach us about dispensation truths.

"ACTS, The Transition" is a Bible Study that we are studying via our Online Bible Study. This article is a basic study outline of the material we are covering, week by week. I am publishing these notes for attendees who want to study the scriptures and get a deeper understanding on what was discussed during the lessons. These notes will also be useful for attendees (and everyone else) who missed the lesson due to other circumstances.

See the video lesson of this study here.

The Word of God is God's Words The very words we read in the Bible, were put there, not by the creativity of man, not by his interpretation of spiritual things, and not by his wisdom, but by the very direction and purpose of God Himself.