IS YOUR INTELLECT BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW OR WHO YOU KNOW?
“…the
renewing of your MIND…” (Romans 12:2 KJV).
*
The human intellect is that part of the mind in which thought
takes place. Human intellect is the place where human rationale is reflected
upon, information is weighted, education is considered, and perceptions impact
decisions; good or bad; right or wrong.
The importance of renewing your intellect is because it often interferes
with God’s Sovereign intellect and revelation knowledge. “…For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom…”
(1 Corinthians 1:25 KJV).
The human intellect is often a concrete and inflexible library of
collective human information in which the mind uses to inform decisions,
directions, and worldviews. “….Don't
put your confidence in … people; there is no help for you there….” (Psalms 146:
3 NLT).
The human intellect is used to reflect rationally (sometimes emotionally)
on decisions, directions, and worldviews which rely heavily on one’s personal,
inner library of information. “…LEAN NOT
unto thine own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
Human intellect, therefore, impact and inform decisions,
directions, and worldviews that in turn impact and inform right or wrong
conduct. “…trust in the Lord
… and he shall DIRECT thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
The mind, as we determined earlier, is located IN the heart. “…For out
of the HEART come evil THOUGHTS…” (Matthew 15:18-19 NIV). “Jesus knew what they were THINKING and asked, “Why are you THINKING
these things IN YOUR HEART?” (Luke 5:22 NIV).
The
human intellect (mind) is part of the HEART community that impacts the inner
life of thoughts and contemplative rationale. It is the human intellect, with its
library of collective human information, which informs an individual’s practices,
ways, and purposes “…And
they refused to give up their evil
practices and stubborn ways”
(Judges 2:19 NLT).
Human
intellect, with its library of collective human information, informs
individuals whether to follow God’s desires or follow their OWN desires. “…But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever
they wanted, following the stubborn
desires of their evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).
Many
times if human intellect comes up against God’s sovereign intellect, man will
choose his or her library of collective human information. “….But the people replied, “Don’t
waste your breath. We will continue
to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires”
(JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
Human
intellect - no matter how highly praised in the natural world, or revered, or
applauded, or astute according to the intellectual communities -without God, that human intellect will be incapable of
comprehending God’s awesome truths. “…But people who aren’t
spiritual CAN’T RECEIVE these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them
and THEY CAN’T
UNDERSTAND IT…” (1
Corinthians 2 NLT).
Often
the human intellect depends on its OWN skills, abilities, and libraries of
collective human information and sets itself against God in blatant rebellion. “…So I
say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which
is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the
opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These TWO FORCES are constantly fighting each other…”
(Galatians 5 NLT).
In
addition, the human intellect, with its library of collective human
information, will tell a person NOT
to serve God especially if it goes against his or her contemplative rationale. “For
I know how stubborn and obstinate you
are. Your necks are as UNBENDING AS IRON. Your heads are as HARD AS BRONZE…”
(ISAIAH 48:4 NLT). “
The
human intellect can often intellectualize an individual right out of the dependence
upon indwelling faith and into unbelief. “…Take heed, brethren, lest there be in
any one of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God”
(Hebrews 3:12 KJV). “…The Lord said to Moses, “How long will
these people treat me with contempt (disrespect)? How long will they refuse to believe in me,
in spite of all the signs I have performed among them?”
(Daniel 14:11 NIV).
The
human intellect, with its collective human information, is usually based on
long-standing, historical, established, and scientific bodies of information. “…you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition’…”
(Mark 7:6-8 NLT).
Human
intellect heavily supports a culturally intellectual way of thinking that can
often stand in opposition to God’s truth. “…You skillfully ….hold on to YOUR OWN tradition...”
(Mark 7:9 NLT).
“…they have stubbornly followed THEIR
OWN desires…” (JERMIAH 9:14 NLT).
Because
of established libraries of collective human information, human intellect can
become hostile toward God’s sovereign truths. “…The mind
governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so…” (Romans 8:7
NIV).
Human intellect can actually blind the minds
of individuals from true enlightenment and wisdom. “…In whom the god of this world HATH BLINDED THE
MINDS OF THEM WHICH BELIEVE NOT, lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them…” (2
Corinthians 4:4 KJV).
The human intellect, with its library of
collective, human information can cause human pride. “…We know that “We all possess
knowledge.” But KNOWLEDGE
PUFFS UP while love builds up…” (1
Corinthians 8:1 NIV).
Human intellect and its
library of collective human information can NOT sanctify you or made you more
Christ-like. Only a FOOL would believe human intellect is spiritually
transforming and it is NOT. “…How FOOLISH can you be? After starting your new lives in the
Spirit, why are
you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?”
(Galatians 3:3 NLT). “…he said unto them, O FOOLS, and slow of heart to believe all that
the prophets have spoken…”
(Luke 24:25 KJV).
Human intellect needs
renewal. “…be renewed in the spirit of
your mind…” (Ephesians 4:23 KJV). The library of collective human
information is thus replaced by the collective holy knowledge of God’s word. “…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV).
Human intellect needs
converting and regeneration too. “…put on
the new man, which is RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE after the image of him that
created him…” (Colossians 3:10 KJV).
Being “renewed in knowledge” will renew the information
that informs one’s conduct and leads to a life in service to God’s will and
God’s purpose. “…So I say, let the Holy Spirit
guide your lives. Then you won’t
be doing what your
sinful nature craves.
…” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“…[You]… have the
mind of Christ” (1 CORINTHIANS 2:16 KJV).
Therefore, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5 KJV). A renewed mind is a
regenerated mind and will be in sync with Christ’s mind. Jesus “…emptied himself…”
(Philippians 2:7 NASB). “…He (Jesus)…[completely]… entrusted
himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:19-23 NIV). No matter how much human intellect we have; “…we are not sufficient of ourselves to think
any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God…” (2 Corinthians 3:5 KJV).
God is after man’s heart and ALL that it
contains (including human intellect) with the purpose of cleaning that heart. “...God sees
not as man sees, for man looks at the
outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart…”(1 Samuel 16:7
NASB). God zooms in on the “…hidden man of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4
KJV). God knows it is “…from within, out of the heart of man,
proceed evil thoughts… wickedness…All these evil things come from within,
and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV).
The heart and ALL that
it contains “…is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked…who can know it [except God?” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).
Human intellect impacts
one’s way of thinking. Without the indwelling knowledge of God to inform conduct
the mouth will reveal the content of the heart. “…The
mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45
NIV).
“…So
letting your sinful nature CONTROL YOUR MIND leads to death. But letting the Spirit CONTROL YOUR MIND leads to life and peace. For
the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and
it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful
nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature.
You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you…”
(Romans 8:6-9 NLT). The human intellect controlled by the Spirit reveals a renewed
mind or a new way of THINKING.
To renew human
intellect: 1. Let “…Christ ….dwell in your hearts by faith …” (ROMANS 8:29 &
Ephesians 3:17 KJV). 2. Remember, God has “…dealt to every man the measure of faith...” (Romans 12:3 KJV). 3. “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Roman
10:17 KJV). 4. “…It shall be done to
you according to your faith…" (Matthew 9:29 NASB).
5. “… [You]… can do
all things through Christ which strengtheneth [you]…”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV). 6. Your responsibility is to “…BELIEVE on Him (empowered by the indwelling Holy
Spirit) whom he (God) hath sent…” (John 6:28-29 KJV). “…we are not sufficient of ourselves to think
any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God…” (2 Corinthians 3:5 KJV).
“….Apart from [Christ]…you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
God will NOT force you to stop
relying on human intellect; it is your CHOICE. “… I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life…”
(Deuteronomy 30:19). “…Jesus said… I am the
life…..” (John 11:25 KJV). “…BELIEVE
on Him whom he (God) hath sent…” (John 6:28-29 KJV).
Once you CHOOSE to stop relying on human
intellect and rely upon the indwelling spirit of faith; ask God to help you. “And this is the
confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according
to his will, he heareth us…” (1 John 5:14 KJV). “…You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do
it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything
in my name, and I will do it...” (John 14:12-14 NLT).
God helps you by empowering and enabling you through the
indwelling Holy Spirit to renew your intellect. “…God which worketh in [you]… both to
will and to do of his
good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “…That he would grant [you]… according to the
riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…”
(Ephesians 3:16 KJV). “…May the God of peace, … that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his
will, and may he work in us
(in the human intellect) what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
“…It shall be done to
you according to your [indwelling Holy Spirit of]… Faith…"
(Matthew 9:29 NASB).
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