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| The Mind of Christ |
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Greetings brethren,
Today I wanted to share a simple lesson that I have learned about how to get an answer or instructions from God. I find this to be a very practical application of the truth that we have already been given the mind of Christ.
Recently I wrote a blog entitled "Sprit, Soul & Body". It is important to understand the principles of that lesson in order to grasp the concept of the message I am attempting to relay here.
2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
The born-again spirit part of you already contains the very mind of Christ. Often when we pray we are asking God to speak to us or give us an answer and we expect that answer to come from maybe an audible voice or some other outside source. But the truth of the matter is that the very mind of Christ has already been placed within your spirit!
2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
We know all things? Can't be Aunt Bee! Well, that's what the Word says. We know all things. If you are like me you are saying, "Not me, I certainly don't know all things". Well, thats true if you are only searching the physical or soulish realms, But in your spirit you have been given an unction, or an anointing from the Holy One. Your spirit knows all things!
1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Notice the use of the word "hath". As in, past tense. He has abounded, or fully supplied with all wisdom and prudence, or understanding.
2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
So we already know that we have the mind of Christ. And according to the first verse here in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So therefore, hidden within us are also all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The new man, as I talked about in the Spirit, Soul & Body blog is our born-again spirit! And it has been renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created us. That's awesome!
I love this verse too:
20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
So then, we have the mind of Christ. We know all things. Hidden within us are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We have been renewed in the knowledge of Him who created us. And He has supplied us with all wisdom and understanding, and made unto us the mystery of His will.
Wow! That's powerful. So now the question becomes, how do we tap into that? How can we bring all this knowledge and wisdom from our spirits and into our soulish realms so we may reaps their benefits.? The answer is simply, by praying in tongues!
14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
See praying in tongues is so much more than just building yourself up or proving to the members of your congregation that you have the Holy Spirit. It's also more than just using it for spiritual warfare.
When you pray in tongues your born-again spirit prays. And that my friends is where all of those incredible gifts of knowledge and wisdom and understanding, that you already have, are located. They are in your spirit! Praying in tongues is like the golden bucket that you use to dip down into the deep wells of your very core, the spirit part of you, and bring up those priceless buckets of living water!
Now here's the great part:
14:13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret.
When you pray in tongues, you can also pray for an interpretation. I know that this is generally talking about an interpretation for others to understand, but God will give you the interpretation! That's powerful.
So when you are perplexed about something, or you really need to get a Word of Wisdom from God, I encourage you to start praying in tongues and also pray that He will give you an interpretation and when that interpretation comes, boom, there's your answer from God!
Now that's good stuff! And I truly believe that this is exactly how we can dig down deep within our spirits and utilize the amazing gift we have, The Mind of Christ!
That's all I have to say about that.
I love you brothers and sisters,
Michael
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| To add a comment to "The Mind of Christ" |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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| still like the big print! |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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| Incredibly interesting stuff, but let me ask you this...keeping in mind in this life we often are dealing with other humans and they have a will...and I see time and time again what a gentleman God is...for example we know it is His will NONE would perish, but we also know they do...daily...and many do daily...but it was neverHis will...so when we pray....often, often times it involves the will of others...or more accuratly changing their will....we may hear Gods wishes/will on that but does it mean it will come to pass in this life? Your blog is so good and there are so many keys, you have spoken rich, rich truths...but reality is what God wants and what He may tell us is His will or desire...and what others choose are often opposing things and He never asserts Himself on others...he allows free will and always has....so what I am getting at is what we may hear and what may happen can be two different things...and then people think they have missed it somewhere....see what I mean? How do we deal with that? |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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| Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. :) |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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Lori,
I am going to ponder for a while on the questions you have posed. But if I am hearing you correctly, you are speaking about praying for the salvation of others, is that correct?
I honestly do not believe we can actually get someone else saved by our prayers alone. We can pray that God send someone across their path who will speak the Word to them. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Our role, as far as others is concerned, is to speak the truth of God's Word to them and allow that truth to change their hearts, which is of course dependant upon the condition of the soil so-to-speak.. What we can hope for in that process is that they themselves come to the point where then then ask the question, "What must I do to be saved"?
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| August 18, 2008 |
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Awesome verse Brother Todd! Thanks.
I had completely missed that one. I am posting it again now!
2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Amen! |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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| Although we have the mind of Christ many are not operating in the capacity of the mind of Christ. The bible says that we are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds and for us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This means to actively allow the spirit to renew is and transform us. Many are still opearating in the old nature so that the mind of Christ is not revealed. Then there are those that quench and grieve the Spirit so that in the flesh they cannot please God. It is one thing to have something. It is another thing to know how to use it. I know I have the mind of Christ because of my speech and my attitude. I am nothing like I once was. All of my actions revolve around Christ. |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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Amen Jay!
The bible says for us to be not conformed to this world but transformed. That word transformed was the Greek word that we get metamorphosis from. From the Word of God we have the ability to become completely transformed. We can grow out of the worm existence we once had, spread our wings and fly'!
"I know I have the mind of Christ because of my speech and my attitude. I am nothing like I once was. All of my actions revolve around Christ"
Amen! |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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| I'm not just thinking about salvation here...often when we seek God on issues we are seeking him on things that frankly involve other people that have wills and desires of their own, it can be business transactions, relationships, what college your child should go to, should they play a sport vs another, what friends are good for you...all kinds of things....Let me give you an example here...To me it is so much easier to decide whether or not to buy a car, or a house, than to decide what college my daughter should go to next fall...and to help her decide what major to declare as she enters college...I know what I would do, but I have to consider her and prayerfully those issues mess me up to be honest....it is harder to get clarity because of her will and desires...it is harder for me to "hear God" on the issues at hand...but if I don't consider her and just make a unilateral decision for her life than she could be very unhappy her first year of college could be a disaster or a waste and we don't want that...and again this is now her life, and she is will be an adult technically, although she definitely needs guidance and is not ready to make this decision on her own...This is one of my kunundrums...so how do I go to God clear away the garbage and hear Him on this issue...and hear the "secret" He might be telling me....I have found it is a process, it is not over night, and it doesn't happen in one prayer session...I have been going through this for a year now...(eye-roll) this girl is a tuff cookie.... |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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You are a tough cookie Lori. Which is exactly why you have not crumbled, considering all that you have been through.
Aside from that, I suppose it comes down to a matter of trust. Have you prayed in tongues? Have you been given a word of interpretation? After all, that was the whole purpose or intent of this blog. And if so, do you trust that voice you hear? Or are you listening to other signals and being distracted by some outside source?
Of course, as you will often hear me say, I do not have all the answers. Shoot, I don't even know half the questions. But I honestly believe that because you are currently the spiritual leader of your household, that God will speak a word of wisdom to you in this area.
Another option of course, is to get your daughter also turned into these truths so she may begin to tap into Christ's mind which dwells with her as well.
Bless your heart! |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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Good Blog Michael, and good comments.
I agree with Prophet Jay, our pastor just was preaching about where we are, and who we are POSITIONALLY, compared to PRACTICALLY.
We are positionally seated with Christ, above all the bad stuff, but practically a lot are not living in the potential we have available. |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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Thanks Tom,
I agree as well. Which is precisely what has prompted not only this blog, but my Spirit, Soul & Body blog also.
I truly believe God is ready to move His body into POSITION! |
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| August 18, 2008 |
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Having the mind of Christ is just as true as "the old man is dead." These words are the assessment of our Eternal God (who dwells outside time and space). I prove to myself daily that my old man is alive and well.
Our Christian life is a journey as well as a growth process. But mostly, I believe it is a love relationship that is growing. We are still stuck in time (except in our spirit). Like Todd shared, we are still in the "LET" process.
My experience has been that as the Lord Spirit draws me closer to Himself, I little by little begin to think more like Him. It's His attraction and revelation that transforms and renews my mind (as proph Jay said).
This is fun! I sure would like to hear the understanding of others about "...renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Eph.4:23)
Charlie |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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Hi Charlie,
While I certainly do appreciate your input, there is one thing that I am leaning towards disagreeing on. And that is the fact that you stated: "I prove to myself daily that my old man is alive and well."
Our old man, or the sin nature as I see it, died with Christ.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.
Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
The way I see it Charlie is that our "old man" is now dead. He passed away. And for me personally, I was glad to see him go!
Now that "old man" spent years and years training my mind to think like him. Even parts of my body are just in the habit of doing the things that he programmed me to do. So what's left then in his wake, are the thoughts and desires, or philosophies if you will, that he tried for 43 years to convince me I needed to live by.
But now that he's dead. I have to -retrain my mind to think. Or better yet, I have to allow the "new man", or the born again spirit that dwells within me to do the programming for me. I am no longer obligated to fulfill the desires of my flesh. Hence, my will has become His will.
This my friend, it the whole concept that I have been attempting to relay in my last two blogs, It is the spirit that gives life and this life we now have we live according to the spirit and not by the desires of the flesh!
2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
You could really substitute the word "man" here for "old man". Or "tradition of men" "traditions of the old man".
My old man died praise God!
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| August 19, 2008 |
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4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Here's some commentary I took from Andrew Wommackin regards to Ephesians 4:23 for what it's worth:
The word "spirit" here is not designating the Holy Spirit or even our born-again spirit. In fact, it is not referring to a part of us at all. It is speaking of our attitude. The NIV translates this as, "be made new in the attitude of your mind." Strong's Concordance says that the Greek word PNEUMA, which was translated "spirit" in this verse, can mean "mental disposition." That's the way it is used here.
So Paul is saying we not only have to reprogram our minds with new information, but we have to allow these new truths to change our attitudes. Synonyms for attitude are: "outlook, feeling, sentiment, disposition" (New Am. Her. Dict.). Our perspectives have to change.
Many people have heard biblical truths and can recall them, but often they don't dwell upon them to the degree that it changes their attitude. For instance, you can know that it is God's will to prosper you financially, but if you don't start seeing yourself with your needs met, then your attitude hasn't changed. A poverty attitude will cause you to stay poor even though you know God wants you to prosper.
So, it is not good enough to just learn facts from God's Word and store those facts so we can recall them. We have to meditate on the truths of God's Word until our outlook, feelings, sentiments, and disposition have been renewed to God's way of thinking.
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| August 19, 2008 |
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Basically, I think everything you wrote in this entry and the previous one is accurate. It's some really useful teaching! I can't see you point about praying in toungues though. Perhaps you have other scripture to support it. :) Praying in toungues has/had the purpose of reaching out to people who speak a different language from you. What is the point of God speaking to us in toungues in private and then, essentially, translating it? He speaks directly to me, then I have to test what I believe I'm told to make sure it's Him. ICor 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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Hi Jen, thanks for the comment. Much appreciated.
I really don't have the time right now to get into the whole issue of tongues. I suppose that will have to be a blog of it's own, although there are many on here already.
There is a plethora of scripture and teaching available on that subject. I understand how controversial it is also. That and OSAS and predestination seem to be the biggies.
Let me ask you, did Paul pray in tongues? Did he do this only so he could reach out to people who spoke a different language?
Tongues are not only a sign, but they are a gift. I am glad that God speaks directly to you. That's awesome! He speaks to me too, in my spirit!
Love you sister! |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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Michael: What is OSAS? LOL! --Jen |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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OSAS = Once Saved Always Saved. But don't say that too loud!
(Shhhh) |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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Michael, I think we agree on the old man..it just doesn't sound like it. If our old man IS dead (and he is), we had nothing to do with it. God did it. When? At the cross.
Faith is a challenge to believe God inspite of what you see, feel or think. My old man is very convincing cuz I still "see" his apparent evidence to the contrary. This is the battle: believe God who knew the end from the beginning or believe what still "seems" so real to us. I vacilliate daily.
I'm glad God hasn't given up on us. Jesus knows our struggle. He is our Advocate. We are still in the process, but the good news is..the process has begun and continues daily. |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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Michael: Thanks! I'll whisper! In His love, --Jen |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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Great comment Charlie, and I completely agree we had nothing to do with it. It happened at the cross!
You said, "Faith is a challenge to believe God inspite of what you see, feel or think. "
Amen. I like to say that faith is not believing that God can do something. And faith is not believing that God will do something. But faith is believing that God has already done everything!
It is our positive response to what He has already done! |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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| Whew, Michael, between the two blogs, you have given me a lot to think about! |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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Great Deb....just remember that you have two minds to help relieve some of that!
Good seeing you! |
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| August 19, 2008 |
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Dad said........Come Let Us Reason Together.
He Desires so very much.... to see as He sees....to know as He knows.
Work in His Business JUST_LIKE The Example Displayed By Jesus.
Fairness....is That He Did Live a Example that We All could Arrive at & Attain to, or it just would
not be a fair Example.
Jesus Was God The Father Who is Spirit & The Word.....& He Became a Man To Disciple.
By Giving Us a Example of a Perfect Child or Perfect Son or Daughter.
Now...... IDENTIFY with This Example [LIFE] Jesus !......& No Longer identify with original sin of
ADAM.
No More Excuses.....The Chuch has been Lied to keeping The World from Becoming Redeemed
by the Sons of GOD.
By weak adulterted & False Teachings by Men that should not be Teaching.
We are to Blot out the Curse.
Acts 3rd Chapter.....Heaven must Retain Him until the restoration.....Will I Find Faith when I Return?
Our Works that He Taught [discpled] us - That Faith with Works Restores & Heals Creation.
He so Loved All of His Creation.....Romans 8:18 That all Creation is in Birth Pains waiting to
be Redeemed.
God Gave The Kingdom To Adam & He Gave it to Satan, Jesus on behalf of Mankind Camr to Reclaim it for Us & Gave It back To Us.........so what will we do with Creation ????
The Jews Did Receive Jesus Because He Did not Restore Everything.
As The Old Testament Prophets Spoke as Messiah would do.
It is as if I were to Buy a Great Big House for You & gave it to You a very Valuable Property
but it did need some work & repairs. The Property was worth $1,000,000.00 before improvments
I the Promise is ...That it will be worth $10,000.000.00 after repairs.
So what GOD has been waiting for is for Us to do those repairs FIRST.
If You Thought You had Him coming as a Guest soon To This House would You not want to get
this house ready???
The World is This House, ...& That His Spirit Through Us Heal this World ....Then We will be Like
Him & Where He is. |
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| August 20, 2008 |
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We are to Be in One Mind & of One Accord with The Lord. |
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