“… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV).
“... Knowing
this, that our old man is
crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we
should not serve sin...” (Romans 6:6 KJV).
“... I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself for me...” (Galatians
2:20 KJV).
*
The body of flesh and its dictates were
CONTROLLED by the EVIL ONE. He is able to continue to affect and control the
behavior of the redeemed through the MIND. In addition, the redeemed STILL
blame the body
of flesh, which is crucified and doesn’t recognize they are being
controlled, manipulated, and forced to continue to do things they don’t want to
do, because the EVIL ONE is influencing their BEHAVIOR through the "untransformed" MIND.
Nobody
likes to be controlled, manipulated, or forced to do something, so the EVIL
ONE, through their “own” MINDS, influences them to fall prey to his tactics.
The untransformed MIND has been brainwashed by the EVIL ONE. The EVIL ONE used
WORLDLY and CARNAL influences every minute, second, hour, day, week, and year
to gain control of mankind by influencing their beliefs, attitudes,
personalities, identities, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The EVIL ONE changes mankind to become like him in order to totally eradicate any image or likeness of God, the Holy Spirit.
Everything,
in the world and UNDER the power of the EVIL ONE is used to PERSUADE and REFORM
mankind’s THINKING and BEHAVIOR toward SIN. This persuasion can be OVERT or
COVERT. But, nevertheless, EVERYTHING “IN” the world is designed to educate,
affect, and influence mankind toward a CARNAL mindset. This PERSUASION is what is
called BRAINWASHING, where EVERYTHING in the WORLD, combined together, is meant
to SEVERELY influence the WAY mankind THINKS and BEHAVES. This BRAINWASHING is DONE without
mankind’s consent and without the permission of mankind’s human will.
The
EVIL ONE’S brainwashing techniques INVADES every fiber of mankind’s THINKING
and proves the WHOLE WORLD is UNDER his EVIL power. EVERYTHING in the world and
under the EVIL ONE’s power is designed to ISOLATE mankind from God’s TRUTH. The EVIL ONE also wants to
ensure mankind ONLY YIELDS to HIM and his EVIL WAYS. The EVIL ONE wants to be
LIKE God by becoming sinful mankind’s god; so he influences them to yield to his EVIL WAYS and become HIS servants.
The
reason the EVIL ONE isolates mankind from God’s TRUTH is to REMAIN in COMPLETE
CONTROL over THEIR SOULS. The EVIL ONE wants to CONTROL everything that the
SOUL does, through the body of flesh and its dictates (senses), which includes what and
how they eat, how they love, how they engage with the opposite or same sex, how
they interact with other people, and how they experience all aspects of life.
The
EVIL ONE uses the WORLD to systematically KILL and DESTROY mankind’s original
identity as a “LIVING SOUL” until he or she doesn’t even remember or care that
they were a “LIVING SOUL.” He replaces their original identity with HIS set of
VALUES and establishes another identity through the sin nature, which is
CHRONICALLY encouraged by the EVIL ONE’S worldly and carnal environments.
The
EVIL ONE’S brainwashing is DONE through MIND coercion, clever and masterful
manipulations, and CONTROL which is a POWERFUL and effective WAY to GAIN
influence over a man or woman's MIND and BEHAVIOR.
When a
person BECOMES a NEW CREATION in Christ, it CRUCIFIES the EVIL ONE’s
brainwashing process through the flesh (old sin nature). The OLD identity established through the body of flesh and it dictates (senses) is
OVER. However, in order to STOP being affected and influenced by the OLD
IDENTITY, originally established through the sin nature, the person CHOOSES to renew their MINDS in order to ERADICATE the
brainwashing process DONE by the EVIL ONE through the heart.
The EVIL ONE used the FIVE SENSES, like the serpent did Eve in the
garden, to gain control over the SOUL. The FIVE SENSES are powerful SOURCES used to put information into the human heart in order to
motivate their BEHAVIOR. PAY ATTENTION to how this is DONE: “…The woman [became] ... convinced
(THROUGH SOUND) [to eat from the tree, anyway]... She saw (SIGHT) that the tree
was beautiful and its fruit looked (SIGHT) delicious (TASTE), and she wanted (LUST of the EYES or the LUST of the FLESH) the
wisdom (PRIDE of LIFE) it would give her. So
she took (TOUCH) some of the fruit and ate it (TASTE)...”
(Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). “….She [choose to take] ... some of the
fruit and [eat] ... IT. Then she gave some
to her husband, who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). One or more of
the FIVE SENSES motivated Eve to BEHAVE in the WAY the serpent (the EVIL ONE) WANTED her to.
Eve DID exactly what the SERPENT MANIPULATED her to DO by APPEALING to one or more of FIVE SENSES.
The
EVIL ONE (the serpent) MANIPULATED, INFLUENCED, and COERCED using one or
more of Eve’s FIVE SENSES and thus, deceiving her into DOING what he WANTED her TO DO.
The EVIL ONE understands the body of flesh and
its FIVE SENSES were NOT created to FOLLOW AFTER GOD; it never could and it
never would. “...
the
sinful nature ... never did obey (follow after)
God’s
laws, and it never will. (FOLLOW AFTER GOD’S HOLY
LAW)..” (Romans 8:5-7 NLT).
The body wasn't created to obey God, but it was created to help the soul ENGAGE and INTERACT with God's "GOOD" world. The EVIL ONE appealed to the woman's "FLESH" nature (body).
The body wasn't created to obey God, but it was created to help the soul ENGAGE and INTERACT with God's "GOOD" world. The EVIL ONE appealed to the woman's "FLESH" nature (body).
The
EVIL ONE knew the SOUL would have NO POWER over the body of flesh WITHOUT the
indwelling Holy Spirit. The EVIL ONE also knew he could use the body of flesh to
engage one or more of the FIVE SENSES and coerce EVE into “eating the apple”
with very little effort. WHY? The body of flesh wasn't created to obey God, the soul was. The EVIL ONE knew the body of flesh would disobey God's Word "not" to eat the apple. Thus, he appealed to Eve's flesh. READ IT AGAIN: “…The woman [became] ... convinced
(THROUGH SOUND) [to eat from the tree]... She saw (SIGHT) that the tree was
beautiful and its fruit looked (SIGHT) delicious (TASTE), and she wanted (LUST of the FLESH or LUST of the EYES) the
wisdom (PRIDE of LIFE) it would give her. So
she took (TOUCH) some of the fruit and ate it (TASTE)...”
(Genesis 3:1-7 NLT). “….She [choose to take] ... some of the
fruit and [eat] IT (the information put into heart, informed her mind, which
directed her behavior) ... Then she gave some to her husband,
who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).
The EVIL ONE used her senses: HEARING (HE TALKED TO HER), SIGHT, TASTE, TOUCH, LUST OF THE EYES, LUST OF THE FLESH, PRIDE OF LIFE, HUMAN WILL, ETC. THESE THINGS APPEAL TO THE BODY OF FLESH AND COME FROM THE WORLD. NONE OF THESE THINGS, THAT APPEALED TO HER FLESH THROUGH THE SENSES, ENCOURAGED HER TO DO GOD'S WILL, BUT THE SERPENT'S INSTEAD.
The EVIL ONE used her senses: HEARING (HE TALKED TO HER), SIGHT, TASTE, TOUCH, LUST OF THE EYES, LUST OF THE FLESH, PRIDE OF LIFE, HUMAN WILL, ETC. THESE THINGS APPEAL TO THE BODY OF FLESH AND COME FROM THE WORLD. NONE OF THESE THINGS, THAT APPEALED TO HER FLESH THROUGH THE SENSES, ENCOURAGED HER TO DO GOD'S WILL, BUT THE SERPENT'S INSTEAD.
The
EVIL ONE used Eve’s body of flesh and its FIVE SENSES to gain control of her
MIND and thus her behavior. God, the Holy
Spirit, GAVE mankind (Adam and Eve) one HOLY instruction: “…of every tree of the garden THOU MAYEST FREELY
EAT: But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou SHALT NOT EAT of
it; for in THE
DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…”
(Genesis 2:16-17 KJV).
The
EVIL ONE’S manipulation and influence was intentional, because he KNEW, without the indwelling Holy Spirit, he
could take POWER of the natural world from Adam and Eve by making them HIS
slaves. “….Apart from [the indwelling Holy Spirit]…YOU CAN DO NOTHING…” (John 15:5 NIV). “...God blessed them and said to them, “...Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it ...RULE OVER (have dominion over).... Then God said, “I give you
every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole
earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be
yours for food ...And it was so...” (Genesis 1:28-31 KJV). “…the body without (apart from) the
spirit is dead…” (James 2:26 KJV).
When Adam and Eve FOLLOWED AFTER the EVIL ONE through the body of
flesh and its FIVE SENSES, they became HIS SERVANTS and everything they had
been given was now his to do as he pleased. “…Know
ye not, that to
whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or
of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 KJV). “...the whole world lies under
the power of the evil one” (1
John 5:19 RSV).
The
EVIL ONE’s techniques were and are DECEITFUL. He is a LIAR, and he has used his
lies upon mankind, since the beginning of time, by using the body of flesh and its FIVE SENSES to control them. Now ALL OF MANKIND have BECOME
BRAINWASHED and SHAPED by “HIS” LIES. HIS WORLDLY INFLUENCES and HIS SINFUL
BEHAVIORS are duplicated through mankind's evil thoughts and evil behaviors. “…He
was a murderer from
the beginning
… for he is a liar and
the father of lies…” (John 8:44 NASB).
GOD SAID: “…of every tree of the garden THOU MAYEST FREELY
EAT: But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou SHALT NOT EAT of
it; for in THE
DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…”
(Genesis 2:16-17 KJV).
The EVIL ONE "lied" and SAID: “…ye shall not surely die.…”
(Genesis 3:4-5 KJV). HE LIED, BECAUSE THEY DIED SPIRITUALLY, IMMEDIATELY!
THE WOMAN WAS CONVINCED, through her flesh, BY THE lies of the EVIL ONE:
“…The woman [became] ... convinced (THROUGH SOUND) [to eat from the tree,
anyway]... She saw (SIGHT) that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked
(SIGHT) delicious (TASTE), and she
wanted (LUST of the FLESH) the wisdom (PRIDE of LIFE) it would give her. So she took (TOUCH) some of the fruit and
ate it (TASTE)...” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).
Mankind
was LEFT with a body of flesh, which became the sinful nature, under the power and slavery of the EVIL ONE. The indwelling Holy Spirit of LOVE,
GOODNESS, POWER, PEACE, and HOLINESS departed from the SOUL and BODY of FLESH. “…[Their]... INIQUITIES (sin) ....separated (divided them)…[from their] God…” (Isaiah 59:2
KJV). . “…Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey
(follow after), his servants
ye are to whom ye obey (follow after); whether of sin unto death, or of
obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16 KJV). “...the whole world lies under
the power of the evil one” (1
John 5:19 RSV).
After salvation, the body of flesh (sin nature) is DEAD and CRUCIFIED, but the
influence or residuals, it LEFT, upon the HEART and MIND needs cleansing! Here are some suggestions in
order to clean, remove and STOP the evil one’s brainwashing influence: 1.
The redeemed CHOOSES to renew their OWN hearts and minds according to God's instructions. “… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). 2. The redeemed
CHOOSES to fellowship in order to surround themselves with like-minded people. “...And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage
one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near...” (Hebrews 10:25 NLT).
“... Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching...” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV). 3. The redeemed chooses to trust and
depend upon the indwelling Holy Spirit
to walk and live in their new freedom from the sin nature. “…God ...does the work IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his…
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
4.
The redeemed chooses to pray and spend time with God, the Holy Spirit. “….call upon me …and pray unto me and I will [LISTEN] unto you…”
(Jeremiah 29:12-13 KJV). “...I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you...” (Hosea
14:5-9 NASB).“…Abide in Me, and I in you …”
(John 15:4-6 NASB). 5. The redeemed chooses to trust and depend upon their new
identity as a NEW CREATION in Christ. “…Therefore
if any man (woman) be in Christ, he is a NEW creature …” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “...For in him we live, and
move, and have our being (identity); as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his
offspring...” (Acts 17:28 KJV). 6. The redeemed chooses to transform, conform, and become renewed in their mind through the CLEANSING power of God's Word. WHY is this most important? Because, long after, the body
of flesh (sin nature) is DEAD and CRUCIFIED, it is normal to spend time with the Word of God in order to rid oneself of the influences the old nature had upon the MIND and one's BEHAVIOR. “…Be transformed
by the renewing of your mind….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). “…be
conformed to
the image of his Son…” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV). “…the will
of God (his heart’s desire, his choice, what he wants, etc.), [is]…your SANCTIFICATION
…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NASB). “ ... in the PROCESS of TIME “IT”
CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
In order to develop and grow spiritually, the redeemed HEART and MIND
must be transformed in order for the
indwelling Spirit to influence and empower the choice of behavior.
“… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV).
The EVIL ONE will gladly, through the untransformed mind, continue to CONTROL the choice of
behavior the REDEEMED makes while the
indwelling Holy Spirit wants to INSPIRE the redeemed to freely CHOOSE
righteous behavior. However, the MIND must
become transformed by RENEWING it through the WORD of God.
“… His name (Jesus) is called The Word of God …” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB).
“... [Jesus, the Word] ...
opened their minds to understand the Scriptures...” (Luke 24:45 NLT).
“…All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works…”
(2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV).
“... Let the Spirit (the
Word, scriptures, etc.) renew your thoughts and attitudes...” (Ephesians
4:23 NLT).
“…THE WORDS
(scripture) THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT …” (John 6:63 KJV).
All human behavior is
decided and determined by the instructions of the MIND which is informed by the
heart. The MIND is LINKED with and influenced by the information within the
HEART. “... from within, out
of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder...” (Mark 7:21 NLT).
The untransformed THOUGHTS in the mind that direct behavior come
from the information sent from the HEART. VICTORY over the sinful nature,
therefore, comes through the transformed
mind that is RENEWED by the POWERFUL Word of God which becomes the NEW INFORMATION within the HEART.
If the MIND is “not” transformed, by renewal, then the redeemed
will NOT be ABLE to put demands upon the cognitive affects leftover from the
sinful nature. They will NOT be empowered to produce spiritual fruit, or
display God’s indwelling power.
The untransformed MIND will continue to be influenced by the body
of flesh (sin nature) and its dictates, which is dead. Thus sinful behavior continues and
reigns in the life of the redeemed whose mind remains untransformed. The
EVIL ONE gladly continues to coerce and control the redeemed through his
TRIGGERS and INFLUENCES, embedded in the natural world. Further, the redeemed
won’t be able to overcome “certain” entrenching sinful behaviors. without the POWER of the Word.
The EVIL ONE deceitfully and cleverly devised the survival of
sinful behavior, even after the death and crucifixion of the body of flesh (sinful nature). The body of flesh (sinful nature) developed automatic behaviors which causes the redeemed to continue to DO WRONG long after the
death and crucifixion of the body of flesh (sinful nature). The EVIL ONE can
“still,” CONTROL - through the triggers, enticements, and influences of the
natural WORLD - sinful behaviors that have been deeply established within the
HEARTS and MINDS, of the redeemed, from long-term practice.
The way given to the
redeemed, by God, to break the bondage of automatic sinful behaviors,
established from long-term practice, is to renew their mind. The mind is
informed by all that’s in the heart, which includes a lifetime of evil
thoughts. “… For out of the HEART come EVIL THOUGHTS—murder,
adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander…” (Matthew
15:18-19 NIV). Therefore, the untransformed mind, before Christ, is
basically an instrument of evil.
The
bible says, “…as he [or she] thinketh in his [or her] heart, so is he [or she]…”
(PROVERBS 23:7 KJV). What this verse is saying is that thoughts in the mind come from the heart to influence the choice of
behavior. Thus “…thinketh IN his (her) heart…”
We’ve always understood that thoughts are associated with the mind, but fail to
see they COME from the heart. The thoughts are IN the heart, FIRST. The
HEART supplies the thoughts to the MIND. “…..out of
the HEART come EVIL
THOUGHTS—murder,
adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander…”
(Matthew 15:18-19 NIV). The thoughts, delivered
to your mind, come FROM the heart.
The mind, after
salvation in Christ, is to become an instrument of righteousness informed by
the WORD of GOD, which is NOW planted in the heart like a seed. “… … THE
WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke
8:11 KJV).
“… …The seed is the
WORD OF GOD …”
(Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). As the seed of the Word grows and develop it produces new information within the heart, delivers it to the mind, and directs new, transformed behaviors (righteousness).
The thoughts, delivered
to your mind, still come FROM the heart, but they CAN NOW be informed by the
Word. God says, “…I WILL GIVE you a new heart,
and I will put a new spirit in you. I
will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive
heart…”
(Ezekiel 36:26 NLT). “…it is God which worketh
in you both
to will and to do of his good
pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
“…by the grace of God I am what I am…”
(1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). “…
[Therefore]… we all … are changed into
the same image [of Christ] from glory to glory …” (2
Corinthians 3:18 KJV).
“…Create in me a
clean heart, O God…”
(Psalms 51:10 KJV). SO I CAN BE “…transformed
by the renewing of [my] mind (through my clean heart)….” (Romans 12:2 KJV). “… Apart from [Jesus, the Word, You]…can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
The purpose of CLEANING THE HEART is to RENEW the MIND. RENEWING
the MIND TRANSFORMS behavior. TRANSFORMED BEHAVIOR is the RESULT of a CLEAN
HEART that INFORMS the MIND and DIRECTS NEW, righteous BEHAVIOR. “…Create in me a clean heart, O God…”
(Psalms 51:10 KJV). “…Christ ….loved the
church, and GAVE
himself for it;
That he might SANCTIFY and CLEANSE it, with the washing of water by the word (of god)….”
(Ephesians 5:25-25 KJV). “…
The God of peace Himself SANCTIFY (cleanse) you ENTIRELY…” (1
Thessalonians 5:23 NASB). “...God has chosen you from the beginning for SALVATION through SANCTIFICATION
(cleansing power) by the Spirit and faith in the truth…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB “….ye are SANCTIFIED
(cleaned) …in the name of
the Lord Jesus (the Word), and by the SPIRIT
of our GOD…” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV).
“…..out
of the HEART come EVIL
THOUGHTS—murder,
adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander…”
(Matthew 15:18-19 NIV). “… … THE
WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke
8:11 KJV).
“… …The seed is the
WORD OF GOD …”
(Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV).
When the heart is cleansed, the redeemed MIND is cleansed and RENEWED and BEHAVIOR is too. For instance,
NOW (paraphrased)...“…..out of the HEART come
...[GOOD]...THOUGHTS—love, joy, peace, gentleness…”
"....The....[indwelling]...
Holy Spirit produces
this kind of fruit in
[your] ...lives …”
(Galatians 5 NLT). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…Ye shall know [those with the
indwelling Holy Spirit]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…He who ABIDES in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit … ” (John
15:1-11 NASB). "…My
Father is glorified by this, that “[THE REDEEMED” bear much fruit, and so PROVE to
be...[HIS]... disciples” (John 15:8 NIV). “…God ...does the work IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his
(the REDEEMED)… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
The renewed mind, of
the redeemed, is WITNESSED through renewed behaviors. The renewed mind, of the
redeemed, will PROVE God’s will and what HE considers a good and acceptable
lifestyle. The good and acceptable lifestyle is observable through Christ-like
behaviors. It is what makes, the
redeemed, true Witnesses for God.
A practicing, sinful
lifestyle will always, no matter how big or small, be in opposition for what
God desires for his REDEEMED PEOPLE. "…A
little yeast works through the whole batch of dough…" (Galatians 5:9
NIV). A holy (set apart, especially from sinful practices) lifestyle is all
that will be acceptable with God and no other. God does not endorse straddling
the fence, where you practice sinful behaviors part-time and righteous behavior
the other part of the time. "… You must purge the evil from
among you…” (Deuteronomy 21:18-21 NIV). God is ONLY pleased when
his people live holy lives and separate themselves from all forms or
appearances of sinful practices. “…Abstain
from all APPEARANCE
OF EVIL…” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV).
When the Word says, to
his people, “BE NOT” conformed, to this world, it is not an option. “…Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “…And do not touch what is unclean…” (2 Corinthians 6:13-17 NASB). It
literally means NOT to copy, in any form or fashion, the sinful lifestyle.
This includes habits,
fashion patterns, behaviors, actions, practices, or speech. Whatever the
current, wicked and idolatrous culture and age; do not conform to it. “…ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be
mine. …” (Leviticus 20:26 KJV).
God wants his people to
be influenced and governed by the biblical lifestyle. He wants his people to
pattern their lives after Jesus Christ and be conformed to HIS IMAGE. Many
redeemed people think they are NOT conformed to the sinful lifestyle, but
consciously or unconsciously they are privately indulging or engaging in many
of its patterns and carnalities through automatic behaviors. “…thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and …art polluted with their idols…” (Ezekiel 23:30).
Most non-believers,
especially from the 21st century, find so-called followers of Christ
to be hypocritical and are turned off from Christianity. Some redeemed people
still cherish patterns of thinking and practices from the heathen lifestyle. “….These people honor me with
their lips, but their hearts are far from me…” (Matthew 15:8 NLT).
God is
“NOT” LOOKING at your behavior, because the problem is not the behavior, it is
the 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 (woman) 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 “…is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…who can know it
[except God?]…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).
Their heart, which
informs the mind is still devoted to some aspects of the sinful lifestyle and
they either secretly or overtly follow carnal pleasures or practices through
unrestrained, automatic behaviors. “.. For
everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its
desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
(1 John 2:16-17 NLT). A little sinful thinking is still some sinful
thinking and some sinful thinking is too much.
The one solution to
this problem is to transform the mind by renewing it and allowing the renewed
mind to empower a spirit of holiness through the spiritual growth and development
from the WORD of God within the heart. The redeemed are to influence the sinful lifestyles of
the heathen by THEIR CHRISTIAN WITNESS; not the other way around. “…LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE before men, that they may
see your good works…”
(Matthew 5:16 KJV), “…Let your light so
shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven…”
(Matthew 5:16 KJV).
Out of a CLEAN heart,
which TRANSFORMS the MIND come GOOD and RIGHTEOUS thoughts, which is WITNESSED
through the redeemed’s Christ-like practices (behaviors). “…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). In reality the
redeemed soul is a new creation. “…Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17
KJV).
Without renewing the
mind the redeemed “ARE” useless for WITNESSING God’s presence, goodness, or
power upon earth. They would most likely, appear righteous, but be full of
hypocrisy. “….Apart
from Me (the indwelling Holy Spirit and Word), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness… ”
(Matthew 23:27 KJV).
Being full of hypocrisy
is the result of a continual conformity to carnality, where the redeemed
remains limited to external conduct, automatic behaviors, sinful conditioning,
satanic brainwashing, and coerced evil habits. When the redeemed continue to practice sin they are NOT impacted
by transformation that comes ONLY from RENEWING the mind. “…thou …art polluted with their
idols…” (Ezekiel 23:30).
Whatever is in your
mind, comes from your heart and PROVES, to those witnessing your behavior, who
and what you are truly patterning your lifestyle after. Devotional love to God
will always lead to renewing you mind, because you personally desire and choose
to “keep” his commandments. “If you love me, you will keep my
commandments” (John 14:15).
An untransformed mind
will continue to willfully and voluntarily embrace the sinful lifestyle
patterns of thinking and behaving. An untransformed mind will NOT allow for the redeemed, to
truly demonstrate the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God.“…A double minded man is unstable in all his ways…” (James 1:8 KJV).
EVERY THOUGHT needs
renewal and to be bought into obedience to God’s word. “... take captive EVERY THOUGHT to make it
obedient to Christ (the Word)...” (2 Corinthians 10:NIV). It is the renewed
mind that EMPOWERS, the redeemed, to display what the good, perfect, and
acceptable will of God. “... For it is God
who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good
purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).
It is the renewed mind
that comes from a clean heart, which enables, the redeemed, to do the will of
God. The spiritual FRUIT that empowers righteous behavior will PROVE the HEART
and MIND are being RENEWED. The renewed mind that comes from a clean heart is
CAREFUL to INFORM every THOUGHT in order to direct behavior to FOLLOW AFTER or
OBEY God. “... we demolish arguments and
every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take
captive EVERY THOUGHT to make it obedient to Christ (the Word)...” (2
Corinthians 10:NIV).
The renewed mind that
comes from a clean heart, will direct all their actions toward God’s holy
commands. The renewed mind that comes from a clean heart, desires to
demonstrate or be a witness for God’s good, perfect, and acceptable will. The
redeemed mind that comes from a clean heart will WITNESS God’s presence,
goodness, and power upon earth. "My
Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My
disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
The effort that goes
into renewing the mind relies upon the HUMAN WILL and its CHOICE to allow THE
WORD to remove and clean any leftover residuals, within the heart, from the
former sinful lifestyle. The heart
“…is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…who can know it
[except God?]” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV). “Create in me a clean heart, O God…” (Psalms
51:10 KJV).
Cleansing the heart
also helps the redeemed to become more and more influenced by holiness. It also
separates them from the practices of sin, which ultimately empowers them to
glorify God in the world. . "My
Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so PROVE to
be My disciples” (John 15:8 NIV). Therefore, “…BE YE transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may PROVE
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God…” (Romans 12:2
KJV).
God’s
goal is “…to make
[the heart]… holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word”
(Ephesians 5:26 KJV). “...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). Why? The heart “…is deceitful ABOVE all things and desperately
wicked…who can know it [except God?]” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).
How is
the heart cleaned? “You are “… [cleansed]… through [God’s]… truth: thy word is truth…” (JOHN
17:17 KJV). Therefore, “…Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (COLOSSIANS 3:16 KJV). You are cleansed through the indwelling power of Jesus, the Word of
truth. When “…Christ [dwells] in your hearts by faith
…” (Ephesians 3:17 KJV). Jesus becomes the cleansing Word.
“…Christ
... [comes to dwell]…in your hearts by faith …” AFTERWARD Jesus “… [purifies your]… hearts by faith”
(Acts 15:9 KJV).
To “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). AND “…conformed
to the image of his Son;” “... [Jesus]...Christ...[the Word must].... dwell in your hearts …” (ROMANS 8:29 & Ephesians 3:17 KJV). “… … THE
WORD …was sown in THEIR HEARTS…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke
8:11 KJV).
“… …The seed is the
WORD OF GOD …”
(Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV).
God
says, “…I WILL GIVE you a new heart,
and I will put a new spirit in you. I
will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive
heart…”
(Ezekiel 36:26 NLT). “…it is God which worketh
in you both
to will and to do of his good
pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).
“…by the grace of God I am what I am…”
(1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
“… [Therefore]… we all … are changed into
the same image [of Christ] from glory to glory …” (2
Corinthians 3:18 KJV).
We live in the body of flesh (sinful nature),
but it is DEAD and CRUCIFIED. Thus, it is NOT the body of flesh (sinful nature) making you continue to practice sin, it is the INTANGIBLE cognitive memories, influences, and dictates the body of flesh (sinful nature) LEFT within the HEART and thus, the MIND.
“… Be transformed by the renewing of your mind….”
(Romans 12:2 KJV).
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