MIND RENEWAL
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 Renee Hicks
P.O. Box 1210
Washington, DC 20013
Written Monday July 12, 2010
NOTE: This topic is also posted on my READ ONLY MAIN blog, LIONS SHARE MAJESTY at http://www.lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/. The bulk of the responses to this topic are found in the comment section on that blog. Here is the specific link to the subject topic there
NOTE: This topic is also posted on my READ ONLY MAIN blog, LIONS SHARE MAJESTY at http://www.lioneaglesoar.blogspot.com/. The bulk of the responses to this topic are found in the comment section on that blog. Here is the specific link to the subject topic there
