Photo compliment of Sandra Copyright 2011 |
Greetings -
Recently I watched a sermon series by a pastor. The topic was renewing our minds. The series deeply affected and taught me. I am grateful for how the Lord used that pastor to teach on mind renewal.
Herein are some points that the Lord gave me about mind renewal. If we do NOT renew our minds daily through study of the Holy Bible and prayer to our Father with hearts that follow God’s Word, we allow the Devil to control our minds as his playground. If we do not daily renew our minds, we are snared by the devices of Satan. We give him permission to occupy places within us where he has no business.
Why are so many Christians weak in power?! It is largely due to failure to do daily mind renewal with steadfast obedience to GOD. Also, they allow more of the world within through media, technology, unholy alliances, and associations. The consequences are that less gospel centered things enter to renew their minds.
Change in character is dependent upon what we allow to enter and abide in us. When we renew our minds through righteous channels, the result is that we demonstrate what is representative of holiness. In order to have the characteristics of GOD, we must spend daily meaningful time with Him. We cannot engage GOD in hit and miss mode or with swift administration. He is not to be squeezed in – He is to be focused in to our daily schedules. It is disrespectful to treat GOD as a mere inconvenience or nuisance distraction. He is sovereign and holy and mandates that He be revered as our FIRST love.
I cannot remember how many people that I have met who state that they are born again Christians but do NOT daily read the Holy Bible or know scriptures from memory. I have met more born again Christians who do NOT know the Word of GOD than I have those that do. It is spiritually dangerous to lack knowledge of the Holy Bible, the inerrant Word of GOD. It is more dangerous to know it and not be a doer of what it commands.
Born again Christians who do not know…are largely ineffective for the advancement of the kingdom of GOD. They have placed themselves whereas they are inadequate for what GOD expects them to do to have a profound impact on unbelievers. Also, we in the body of Christ are instructed to help, admonish, encourage, and correct one another. Spiritually, if GOD’s resources and means are not used, abilities are feeble in application to assist others.
Born again babes in Christ, of course, are not held to the same standards by GOD as those who have been born again for years. My experience is mostly with those who have been saved for years and are stuck, by selfish choices, in the dairy section. Those milk indulgers who should have long ago progressed to the meat realm. Plain and simple, some do NOT want renewed minds. For this cause, many are weak…1 Corinthians 11:30. Yes, dry bones can live - Ezekiel 37 – whosoever will, let him come.
Satan is assailing us from every angle. He is launching vicious attacks against the kingdom of GOD. He has elevated his game with his relentless wicked devices. He is in constant war mode against us. Too often, the response of scores of Christians is to be “on the ropes” while Satan and his cohorts pummel their weak spirits. The Devil does not fight fair. He hits below the belt, behind the back, while opponents are sitting in the corner, when the bell rings for the end of rounds, and however else he can get his punches in. He does head shots, body blows, upper cuts, slugs, left and right hooks, and sucker punches. Too many Christians are left dazed, bloodied, and brain dead - in sum, out of commission for anything truly spiritually victorious.
Amos 6:1, “Woe, to them that are at ease in Zion…” True Christians do NOT have mind renewal as an option. It is a mandate. Demonic strong holds cannot be pulled down if Christians have not pulled UP to GOD through daily quality communion with Him. It is a sin to ignore GOD, and to relegate Him after anything or anyone else in our lives. His Word states in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”
God loves us all - He does NOT respect all. He respects holiness. He loves righteousness and hates iniquity. Indeed He is a GOD of mercy but it is an insult to GOD to come to Him only in times of trouble and need. He grievingly observes other gods being served. He hurts when people use Him for self-centered purposes. Jeremiah 2:27 says, “…for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.” And Jeremiah 2:28 states, “But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble:…”
We are commanded to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We must strive to be without guile, blameless and above reproach. Righteous transformation is not possible without mind renewal through the means that GOD commands. If we desire true change to be acceptable to GOD, we must do as mandated in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Sandra
Written Monday July 12, 2010
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MIND RENEWAL
ReplyDeleteWe need to give the Holy Spirit ammunition by memorizing scripture. Before you lament as to how hard it is, remember that Jewish kids memorize the whole Old Testament by age 10.
ReplyDeleteGoogle "scripture memory course" and "scripture memory system." Pick one and try it out. They will cost you in time & a little money, but consider it a sacrifice unto the Lord.
I used the Navigator's Topical Memory System and church folk consider me a phenomenon. I'm not; I just put in the time & effort.
WOW!!! This is such a wonderful post, thank you so very much for letting me read this!!! And thank you so very much for your visits and comments!!!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you!!!
Greetings -
ReplyDelete@Timothy
You said, "We need to give the Holy Spirit ammunition by memorizing scripture. Before you lament as to how hard it is, remember that Jewish kids memorize the whole Old Testament by age 10."
I love that expression "give the Holy Spirit ammunition by memorizing scripture. Yes, indeed, I love that, Timothy!
Thank you for the info on the Jewish kids. I had no idea about that. Wow! That is impressive! It is more impressive, of course, if they DO what our Lord's Word commands!!
@Lon
Thank you for visiting and commenting. You are indeed welcome here. I appreciate your compliment....
God bless you, too, Lon.
Very well written Sandra! I love this!
ReplyDeleteSad, in a way, that Biblical prophesies are coming true;
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'
Thanks for sharing!
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Great post Sandra. I found much food for thought here.
ReplyDeleteI love Psalm 119:11 which says,
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Thanks for sharing.
Greetings -
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and commenting.
@Child of God
Thank you for the compliment - glad that you loved it.
You are right, Biblical prophesies are coming true...
@Bernadine
Thank you for the compliment. Yes, there is food for thought for us all - praise our Lord for the knowledge that He provides us.
I agree, Psalm 119:11 is great to apply.
Thank you, Bernadine.
Oh Amen, Sandra. Just the right word of convicting, yet encouraging, thoughts. The other day I felt very attacked by "fears" - and I literally RAN to God's Word for protection and peace. The battle still raged - but my heart had been stilled by His Presence.
ReplyDeleteI was reminded of our church verse for 2010 - "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God TRANSFORM you into a NEW PERSON by CHANGING the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is GOOD and PLEASING and PERFECT." (Romans 12:2)
This transforming power comes through His Word - it is His Word that God uses to change the way we think - which then begins to change our behavior.
Satan is vicious - he fights "dirty." We must know and use the Sword of Righteousness - God's Word - against him. It's our responsibility to arm ourselves properly...
Amen, Sandra - thanks for sharing.
GOD BLESS!
This is a powerful post and so full of TRUTH! We must be consuming the Word daily in order to stand up to Satan's attacks. Satan is relentless.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this much needed reminder to renew our minds daily!
Greetings -
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and commenting.
@Sharon
You expressed, "...RAN to God's Word for protection and peace. The battle still raged - but my heart had been stilled by His Presence."
I love that you RAN to God's Word. There is no better place to go. Our Lord is our SOURCE - all else is a resource.
Yes, Sharon, you are so on point that we need to allow our Lord to TRANSFORM us through His Word - Amen to that powerful truth!
@Faith Imagined
Yes we must consume the Word daily, as you said.
I agree "in order to stand up to Satan's attacks." Yes, indeed Satan is "relentless" but we are more than conquerers, and greater is HE that is in us. Isn't it wonderful that GOD always causes us to triumph through CHRIST?!