9-25-03

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.~ (Romans 12:2)  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~ (Ephesians 4:23-24)

  If we have truly come to know Christ as our Savior, He will transform our minds.  Even better than that, Jesus will give you a NEW mind- HIS mind!  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.~ (Philippians 2:5)

Too many Christians claim to struggle with their minds, letting thoughts and evil impulses rule them.  Modern preaching has so diluted the power of the scriptures that some people are nearly helpless in this area.

        If you have been truly born again, the Holy Spirit of Almighty God has come to dwell within you.  Jesus said the Spirit of Truth should be in you.  (John 14:17)  God says you WILL  be transformed, and you ARE a new creature, old things are passed away and all things become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Gods word does NOT say you will gradually transform, or that you will have wicked thoughts that you need to slow grow out of .That is WEAK!

     After Israel was delivered from bondage in Egypt, they spent 40 long years wandering the desert, simply because of their constant murmuring and complaining, their unbelief, and their refusal to take God at His Word.  They reasoned in their minds why they didnt have this or that, or why things happened to them.  Much of this was born of fear and uncertainty~ but God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ~(2 Timothy 1:7)

    True repentance is the Key here.  Gods people seem to have forgotten all about repentance.  Repentance means both a change of mind, and subsequently a change of behavior.  Romans 6 deals with this, illustrating that we are crucified with Christ, that the body of sin is dead, so we will not continue to serve sin.  This is what takes place at the moment of salvation.  It should happen instantaneously.  This does not mean automatic perfection, but it does mean receiving a new mind.

     Hebrew 8:10 says, The Lord speaking here I will put my laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts.  Ezekiel prophesies, "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you.  And I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them an heart of flesh".~ (Ezekiel 11:19 + 36: 26)

  Paul writes that the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, and the things of God are foolishness to such a person, because they are spiritually discerned. But he goes on to say we have the Mind of Christ~(1 Corinthians 2:14- 16)

  The mind of Christ.  Awesome!  God puts that mind in us.  Its not just changing your mind as most people think of it, but a complete transformation of the thought processes!  God will give you a new mind and a new heart in which you will NOT think the way you once did.  The Spirit comes with power, it is sharp as a two edged sword, its a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.  There should not even be the old way of thinking because your mind is renewed. 

     If you are continuing in sin in your mind, you have not known God.  You may know About God, may have intellectual head knowledge of the Scripture, but you do not know God in the way necessary for salvation.   Jesus said if you sin in your mind its as if you did the action.  If you lust after someone in your heart, you have committed adultery; if you hate your brother or sister, its like murder!  Sins of the mind, as bad as if you did the behavior- for as a man THINKS in his heart, so is he.  Those fantasies, lust, vile affections, greed, vengeful thoughts- these are not a part of the renewed, transformed mind.

     If you deny these things, you are lacking true faith and denying all that Christ provided in his atonement.  Today religious teachers water down Christs teachings to the point of absurdity!  And if a person has never been born again,, they cant even speak with authority on this subject.  Psychology that attempts to cure the mind is like putting a band aid on an internal hemorrhage! The wound does not heal because its deep on the inside, and if God is not allowed to give you a new mind, and let the Spirit transform your way of thinking, it is useless to try by such superficial means.

     When Jesus called his disciples, the immediately forsook all and followed him.  The Bible records numerous cases where demon possessed people whose mind were deranged, were instantly changed and in their right mind after encountering Christ.  In Mark 5 and Luke 8, there is the record of a man who was so bad off he ran naked in the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones.  This kind of person would be a prime candidate for a mental institution today.  Doctors would pump him full of medication, psychiatrist would try to understand his psychosis, and the man would still be crazy!  But after meeting Jesus, we are told this man was seen sitting clothed, and in his right mind~(Mark 5:15)  In Luke 8:35 it says he was sitting at the feet of Jesus clothed and in his right mind.  Jesus power hasnt changed.  He's the same today as yesterday and will be forever!

       I know this from experience.  Almost 19 years ago when I confessed my sins and asked Jesus to come into my heart and save me, my mind immediately changed- overnight, literally.  Besides having some of the worst habits imaginable, I had rejected Gods power.  I was in the occult, the dark side, and I believed Satan was god!  I had lustful and greedy thought. These thoughts were gone after I met Jesus!  My demonic artwork and writings I destroyed.  I'd used to watch music videos on TV, but after meeting Jesus, when I saw them, they completely turned me off.  I immediately stopped associating with my old friends~ the partiers, occultists, etc..  Why?  God gave me a new mind!  I simply did not think the same way.  God kicked out all those dark spirits, cleaned the cobwebs, and filled my mind with his light and love.

     C.H. Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers in the 1800s, taught that the true Christians life will be marked by several things:  The Holy Ghost must work regeneration in you, or you can never become a possessor of eternal happiness.  First, regeneration will be shown in conviction of sin, then, a simple faith in Jesus Christ, followed by unfeigned repentance of sin, and, a real change of life.  The whole person must be renewed or conversion will be questionable. He that committeth sin is of the devil.  A Christian professes to renounce sin, and if he does not do so, his very name is an imposture.  There will also be a life marked by true prayer, and a willingness to obey the Lord in all his commandments.  (Excerpts from C.H. Spurgeon, The Soul Winner.)

      These things Spurgeon preached 150 years ago can only be had with a new mind Not masking your thoughts, or trying tyo find alternative distractions, but a true change in your entire thought process, brought about by transformation accomplished only by the mysterious, but very real work of the Holy Spirit.  Don't rely on people to do this for you.  Even these words, if they do not become real, if they do not become a prt of you, and if the Spirit of God is not in you, it avails you nothing!

     People make the mistake of thinking this is something we can do on our own, by our own power.  Only God can transform your mind~ for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ~ (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5)

        Through God we have the power to bring every thought to the obedience of Christ!  Amazing!  What a difference from the wasted efforts of struggling on your own against evil thoughts!  The power of God literally casts down imaginations and brings every thought into obedience to Christ,.  It pulls down strongholds.  Those ungodly thoughts can be broken down by Gods mighty power!

    Jesus talked about being the vine, and we being the branches.  He said the branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine.  Jesus said we have to abide in him, and he in us.   Its an inner experience some people read the words of the Bible and try to apply them intellectually.  They try to reason in themselves what the Words mean.  By human reason they try to interpret verses and rationalize.  But all of this is fruitless.  The Spirit of God who authored the Scriptures must be in you to make the scriptures alive within you.  Abide in me, and I in you, Jesus said- (John 15:4) Inside, a part of your being- you become what Jesus is- you obtain the mind of Christ, and in so doing your thinking will change!  Not maybe, not I hope so, but it WILL  change!  Now,  what if you claim to know the Lord, but have not experienced this new mind- this transformation?  Are you really repentant?  Have you let God deal with your sin?  If not, Do So.  Be honest with God. 

     Psalm 139 makes it clear that none of your thoughts are hidden from God.  Pray as David did, Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139: 23-24) Let God give you a new mind.  Let God do his work to transform you.  Then youll be able to say, He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God, many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord_ (Psalm 40:3)

     And finally, if in your present sate of mind you dont really believe this message: TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING, IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.  BE NOT WISE IN THINE OWN EYES, FEAR THE LORD, AND DEPART FROM EVIL. (Proverbs 3: 5-7)  Fear the Lord and depart from evil.  Repent.  Crucify the sinful nature, Be the new creature with the new mind God wants you to have.

      It is by the ministration of the Spirit that we receive this- Now the Lord is that spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liverty.  But we all, with oupen face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord ~(2 Corinthians 2: 17-18)  We are changed into his glory, as a reflection in the mirror, we are to reflect Christ.  By the Spirit, not by our own understanding.  Not by our own wisdom, not by that natural wisdom of the world- because that wisdom cannot know the mind of the Spirit.  But we have the mind of Christ.  Let this mind: Christs  mind, be in you. 

   He has chosen us before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.  ~(Ephesians 1:4)  How are we holy and without blame?  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus! And when Paul struggled, he realized with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin. (Romans 7:25) But look at Romans 8- we do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God- (Romans 8:1 & 14) Led by the Spirit, given as a new mind, a new heart, God literally transplants spiritually our minds.  Our thoughts should no longer turn to evil, but to the goodness of God and things of Gods kingdom, for this mind is His gift freely given.  Shall ye take it and possess it??

   Believe that your receive and you shall have.  The Father gives good gifts to those who ask for them. Believe by faith; grasp it by faith, pray God for The New Mind of righteousness.  Pray God to renew and transform your mind.  Let no doubt cloud your Thought, but TRUST God now for these things.Amen.