Willing.

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works

Mar 12:24  And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power

'An Open Mind

Besides experiencing God’s direct revelation, we also frequently receive truth through the preaching of the Word by other children of God. Such truth is first received in the intellect before it reaches the

spirit. Since we make contact with the utterances or writings of others with the mind, there is hardly any possibility of this kind of truth reaching our life except through the channel of the mind. An open mind is consequently of paramount importance to spiritual life. If our brain is full of prejudice towards the truth or towards the preacher, truth will not enter it nor will it extend to our life. No wonder some believers derive no help—already have they decided what they would like to read or hear.

If a Christian is familiar with the process whereby truth is translated into life he will perceive the significance of a mind being unimpeded. Truth is understood initially by the mind; next it enters and stirs the spirit; and lastly, it is manifested in practical living. A closed mind prevents truth from entering the spirit. A closed mentality is a prejudiced one; it opposes and criticizes any item differing from its idea; its notion becomes the standard of truth; anything contrary cannot be truth. Such a mentality deprives the opportunity for many of God’s truths to penetrate into the man; consequently it damages the believer’s spiritual life. Many experienced saints can testify to the necessity for an unprejudiced

mind in regard to revelation of truth.

Oftentimes enough truth has been communicated to us, but we simply have not comprehended it because of the lack of an open mind. How many are the years that God must expend in removing all obstacles before we can accept  truth. An unobstructed mentality in conjunction with a free spirit aids us the most in knowing the truth. If the mind is open the individual will soon perceive the preciousness of a truth which initially appeared rather dull to him but now is illumined by the spirit’s light. This is the way a child of God often receives truth: at the beginning it seems quite meaningless; after a while, though, the light of the spirit shines upon his mind and equips him to comprehend the depth of that truth. Although he may not have at his command the proper words to explain it, yet inwardly he has understood perfectly. An open mind lets in the truth, but the illumination of the spirit’s light renders the truth profitable.'

Please, Let Your Mind Be In Us, Jesus!

How did Jesus walk?  Did He walk after the Spirit or after the Flesh?

Of course the answer is that Jesus walked only after the Spirit and not the flesh.

And we know this--

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

The mind that Christ possessed upon earth is the SAME mind we are to possess.

'The FORM of a SERVANT' or as other translations render it- 'The FORM of a SLAVE' 

Jesus could save us because He loved us more than He loved His own life.  Jesus spent His entire ministry serving others.  Do we imagine Him as One who spread a magic dust all around healing people? No, He didn't heal and help offhandedly. Jesus helped on a personal level! Jesus didn't step into a city and say magic words that healed the entire town of disease and demon possessions. Jesus did NOT stand on a hillside and wave His arms healing the entire multitude at once. Jesus went into cities and healed very few.

Mat 13:54  And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 

Mat 13:55  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 

Mat 13:56  And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 

Mat 13:57  And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 

Mat 13:58  And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. 

Jesus forced His healing on no one. There wasn't a single person healed that didn't desire that healing in some manner.  There were people healed on behalf of other's believing in Jesus and seeking healing the their behalf. Jesus healed on a very personal level.  A woman touch the hem of his clothing and He felt her belief taking healing from Him. Yet how many people touch Him and received no healing because they didn't believe? There had to be some, He walked through crowds of people. And not everyone clamoring about Him did so because they believed in Him but rather because they doubted Him and despised Him and sought ways to make trouble for Him. 

No matter how AWFUL people treated Jesus, He did NOT in turn treat them badly.  Jesus' heart broke because the people chose not to believe in Him. He wasn't indifferent to their unbelief, it pained Him.

We are to LOVE others NOT BECAUSE THEY LOVE US!

We are to have the mind of Jesus in us, a mind that is a servant, a slave-  one intent on others being before ourselves! We are NOT supposed to be first and foremost, God is to be first in our lives and then others, but NOT ourselves.

We cling to the comfortable us we know rather than seek true spirituality in Christ, because that calls for self-denial and we do NOT want to deny ourselves, we just don't.

God help us! Save us please, from ourselves!

Jesus GAVE of Himself when He healed-

Mar_5:30  And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

Jesus gave of Himself for others in so many, many ways.

We have to GIVE of ourselves, any and all that we have we need to give.

Please, Lord, help us deny self and serve others! Please, we just don't know how to do this, we don't know how to make ourselves be Yours, we need You to heal us with Your virtue and give us You so that Your mind may be in us! Please, Lord, we know we are evil, fleshy, selfish beings, save us from ourselves! Please, all by YOUR GRACE and MERCY, Your LOVE, Your FORGIVENESS!

*******

'To walk after the spirit means to have the mind set on the things of the spirit; it also means to have the spirit rule the mind. Those who act according to the spirit are none other than those who are occupied with the things of the inner man and whose mind is therefore spiritual. Walking by the spirit simply denotes that a mind under the control of the spirit sets itself on the things of the spirit. This implies that our mentality has been renewed and has become spirit-controlled and thus qualified to detect every movement and silence of the spirit.

Here we see once more the relationship between these two component parts—“they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit.” Man’s head is able to mind the flesh as well as the spirit. Our mental faculty (soul) stands between the spirit and the flesh (specifically here, the body).

Whatever the mind sets itself on is what the man walks after. If it occupies itself with the flesh, we walk after that; conversely, if it sets itself upon the spirit, we follow after it. It is therefore unnecessary to ask whether or not we are walking after the spirit. We need only inquire if we are minding the spirit, that is, noticing the movement or silence therein.

Never can it be that we set ourselves on the things of the flesh and yet walk after the spirit. On whatever the mind sets itself, that do we follow. This is an unchangeable law.

What does our mind think and notice in our daily experience?

What do we obey?

Are we heeding the inner man or do we obey the flesh?

Being occupied with the affairs of the spirit will make us spiritual men, whereas occupying ourselves with the affairs of the flesh will turn us into fleshly people. If our mind is not governed by the spirit,

it must be governed by the flesh; if not guided by heaven, it must be guided by earth; if not regulated from above, it must be regulated from beneath.

Following the spirit produces life and peace, while following the flesh results in death. From God’s point of view, nothing arising from the flesh contains any spiritual value. A believer is capable of living in “death” though he still possesses life.  (Excerpt - The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee)

Following Christ- Not an Easy, Fun Ride- but Carrying a Daily Cross.

'The more spiritual a child of God becomes the more he is conscious of the significance of walking  according to the spirit and the dangers of walking according to the flesh. But how is he actually to walk by the spirit?'

Excerpt - The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee

How?

'The answer given in Romans 8 is to mind the spirit and to possess a spiritual mind: “they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace” (vv. 5-6 ASV). '

Excerpt - The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee

Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (KJV)

Things of the flesh.
Things of the Spirit.

Yesterday we looked at a few Biblical verses about things of the flesh. Let's look at a few about things of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Rom 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:11  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rom 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Rom 12:14  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Clearly we can comprehend that there is a difference between minding the things of the flesh and things of the Spirit.
If we CAN'T see the difference then we need to get on our knees and pray desperately for our eyes to be opened to truth!

Today the majority of people glorify things of the flesh- maybe it's been this way since sin entered the world. Wasn't Eve minding things of the flesh when she took the fruit and ate it? Satan tempted her with having her eyes opened, having her understanding be like God's. Not content to allow God to have the things of His own, believing He knows what's best, Eve wanted to glorify her own mind, her own comprehension.  And today mankind demands people glorify themselves and think them simple minded when they choose to allow God to be in control of their lives. People will twist things ups wickedly when you follow God and not man.

Does choosing to follow God mean a person is perfect in all they do? No.

People will say that the majority of Christians are hypocrites, not truly practicing what they preach, but picking and choosing which precepts they want to follow and not following all of God's truth.  And they will be right about the majority of Christians- even Christ says so. However, that doesn't mean there won't be true Christ followers, there will be and they will face intense persecution and not just from society but family as well. Taking a stand for Christ and committing to a spiritual life found only in Him, isn't jumping on the easy, care free, fun ride of life, but rather the picking up and carrying of a DAILY cross.

Please, Lord, please…. We would be Yours!

Do you know what is of the flesh?

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

10:35 PM

Flesh and Spirit.

What are some of the things of the flesh that we are to shun?

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions…

Envying, strife, divisions.

Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

Things LIKE- idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murder, drunkenness, revellings.

Mar_4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Luk_21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, lusts of other things, surfeiting, drunkenness.

We KNOW what these things are. We know how vulnerable we are to these various things of the flesh. These THINGS of the flesh have become things we have accepted as a part of us, not something to necessarily be shunned. In the world we live in today so many lusts of 'other things' are encouraged. Strife, heresies, drunkenness…. These are a part of everyday life. Anger, jealousies, greed… so much is touted as acceptable though often renamed. Ambition, comfortable in life, a right to be heard, we call things by many different names and often it's to make them acceptable, to cover the truth of their nature as being of the flesh, as being evil, as being contrary to God, contrary to the Spirit, contrary to our Savior.

Truly this statement -

'The more spiritual a child of God becomes the more he is conscious of the significance of walking  according to the spirit and the dangers of walking according to the flesh. But how is he actually to walk by the spirit?'

-is something we need to study more in-depth. All by the grace and will of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!

Obeying the Flesh, or Obeying the Spirit.

'Mind, the Spirit, and a Spiritual Mind

The more spiritual a child of God becomes the more he is conscious of the significance of walking  according to the spirit and the dangers of walking according to the flesh. But how is he actually to walk by the spirit?

The answer given in Romans 8 is to mind the spirit and to possess a spiritual mind: “they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace” (vv. 5-6 ASV).

Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

To walk after the spirit means to have the mind set on the things of the spirit; it also means to have the spirit rule the mind. Those who act according to the spirit are none other than those who are occupied with the things of the inner man and whose mind is therefore spiritual. Walking by the spirit simply denotes that a mind under the control of the spirit sets itself on the things of the spirit. This implies that our mentality has been renewed and has become spirit-controlled and thus qualified to detect every movement and silence of the spirit.

Here we see once more the relationship between these two component parts—“they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit.” Man’s head is able to mind the flesh as well as the spirit. Our mental faculty (soul) stands between the spirit and the flesh (specifically here, the body).

Whatever the mind sets itself on is what the man walks after. If it occupies itself with the flesh, we walk after that; conversely, if it sets itself upon the spirit, we follow after it. It is therefore unnecessary to ask whether or not we are walking after the spirit. We need only inquire if we are minding the spirit, that is, noticing the movement or silence therein.

Never can it be that we set ourselves on the things of the flesh and yet walk after the spirit. On whatever the mind sets itself, that do we follow. This is an unchangeable law.

What does our mind think and notice in our daily experience?

What do we obey?

Are we heeding the inner man or do we obey the flesh?

Being occupied with the affairs of the spirit will make us spiritual men, whereas occupying ourselves with the affairs of the flesh will turn us into fleshly people. If our mind is not governed by the spirit,

it must be governed by the flesh; if not guided by heaven, it must be guided by earth; if not regulated from above, it must be regulated from beneath.

Following the spirit produces life and peace, while following the flesh results in death. From God’s point of view, nothing arising from the flesh contains any spiritual value. A believer is capable of living in “death” though he still possesses life.  (Excerpt - The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee)

The Brain Sustained By the Spirit.

'We have observed in Ephesians 1 how the spirit aids the mind. Upon receiving revelation from God the believer’s spirit enlightens the intellect. The mind of a spiritual man does not rely upon natural life; it depends instead on the enlightening of the spirit’s light. It lapses into darkness otherwise. A renewed mentality needs to be directed by the light of the spirit. This explains why a person may find his thoughts confused and his whole being dissipated if his inner man is blocked by evil spirits. The brain of a spiritual man is sustained by the spirit. Should the latter fall under siege, its power cannot reach directly to the brain and so the mind immediately loses some control. The preservation of these two elements in their proper relationship requires an alertness lest our spirit be besieged by the evil spirits and cause our mind to relinquish its normal functioning.' Excerpt- The Spiritual Man - Watchman Nee

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 

Eph 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 

Eph 1:16  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 

Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

The Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ Jesus.

Eyes of understanding enlightened.

We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Spirit will give us in our spirit -the wisdom, the revelation, the knowledge we need of our Savior. We need this wisdom, this revelation, this knowledge to live our EVERYDAY lives. We need to live in the spirit always, never choosing to live without the Holy Spirit, never denying our spirit to allow our self to dominate. When we dominate we are not living in the wisdom of the Spirit. 

Spiritual Wisdom.

'“The eyes of your heart” points figuratively to the organ of our reasoning and understanding, that is, our mind. In this passage the word “know” or “knowledge”—used twice—serves to convey two distinctive notions: the first one is a knowing intuitively, the second is a knowing or understanding mentally. This spirit of revelation is located in the depth of our being. God reveals Himself to our spirit

that we may truly apprehend Him by our intuition. Thus far,  however, this is but intuitive knowledge; that is to say, the inner man knows while the outer man remains ignorant. The communication to

the outward man of what has been known by the inward man is an indispensable step, the lack of which prevents united action by the inner and outer man together. How then can there be this

communication? The Scripture informs us that our spirit will enlighten our mental faculty to make it understand the meaning of the revelation in the intuition. Since our outward man depends on the

mind in order to comprehend things, the spirit must convey what it knows intuitively to the mind so that the latter can deliver the message to the entire being and enable the child of God to walk

according to the spirit.'

Excerpt- The Spiritual Man - Watchman Nee

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

May the FATHER give us the SPIRIT of wisdom and revelation in the KNOWLEDGE of HIM.

The EYES of your UNDERSTANDING being enlightened, that you may KNOW what is the HOPE of HIS calling.

The eyes of our understanding, the eyes of our heart. 

Spirit of wisdom.

The eyes of our understanding- our mind.

The Spirit of wisdom- spiritual knowledge.

Two ways to learn- through our minds and through our spirit.

You can have all the book knowledge in the world and none of the Spirit.

You can have mind knowledge of God but none of the Spirit.

You can know of God, know of Salvation, know of the Spirit and you NOT have the Spirit knowledge. 

Knowing something but not experiencing in the Spirit is an important distinction.

You can know of love, but not experience love.

You can know of hate, but not experience hate.

You can know of many, many things but not have them as a reality, not have them as a heart knowledge, a spiritual knowledge.  We need Spiritual wisdom!

Col 1:9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

Col 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 

Col 1:11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness

Filled with ALL wisdom AND spiritual understanding.

We need to pray to be filled with all wisdom and with spiritual understanding.

By the grace of God may this be. He is our ONLY hope!

The Spirit Daily.

'If the Christian does not relentlessly oppose his traditional Way of thinking he shall unconsciously turn back to it. As he needs to deny the Work of the flesh and daily follow the spirit, so he must resist the old mental Way and daily think according to the renewed mind. Such vigilance is absolutely essential; otherwise he Will return to his old state.

Retrogression is all too possible in spiritual life. Unless a child of God is watchful following his mental renewal, he can still believe in the enemy’s lie and once again through passivity give him ground. In order that he may maintain his mind continually in the renewed
state, it being renewed day by day, he needs to appropriate its laws.'

(((My thoughts-  DAILY.  There are several things we do daily- every single day - some with rare exceptions. Every day we eat- unless we are fasting for person, religious reasons or through illness or other deliberate reasons.  Every day our bodies demand we do various things, they follow the physical law of our existence. Every day we drink, again very rarely do we not drink some sort of liquid every day. Then there are things we choose to do daily through being taught as part of our upbringing- such as bathe, or wash up, brush teeth, comb hair, put clothing on, you understand what I mean. We form routines. Some people in this electronic, information technology, internet world have to do various things online every single day- they've become habits.  None of this is to say that there are exceptions to these things. The majority of people have DAILY habits of living, there are very few people whose day to day life doesn't contain anything repetitive.

DAILY- prayer, study.  DAILY- choice making.

We have to choose purposefully to commit our actions. We choose whether or not to eat on any particular day. We choose what we will do every day. Will we work? Will we shop? Will we walk, run, dance? Will we go to school?  Our existence is FILLED with choice making.

Why do we for a single moment believe that we don't have to make choices daily in our spiritual life?

How could Jesus pray this prayer-

Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread.

- if we weren't to pray daily?

Spirituality is much more than a daily prayer.  Spirituality is a way of life, the life of having hope, having faith in a better land, not of this world.  Having a REAL hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!  Spirituality is cognitively thought about all the time, not once in a while.))))

Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding (((HEART)))) being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

'“The eyes of your heart” points figuratively to the organ of our reasoning and understanding, that is, our mind. In this passage the word “know” or “knowledge”—used twice—serves to convey two distinctive notions: the first one is a knowing intuitively, the second is a knowing or understanding mentally.

This spirit of revelation is located in the depth of our being. God reveals Himself to our spirit that we may truly apprehend Him by our intuition.

Thus far,  however, this is but intuitive knowledge; that is to say, the inner man knows while the outer man remains ignorant. The communication to the outward man of what has been known by the inward man is an indispensable step, the lack of which prevents united action by the inner and outer man together. How then can there be this communication?

The Scripture informs us that our spirit will enlighten our mental faculty to make it understand the meaning of the revelation in the intuition. Since our outward man depends on the mind in order to comprehend things, the spirit must convey what it knows intuitively to the mind so that the latter can deliver the message to the entire being and enable the child of God to walk according to the spirit.'

More on that tomorrow, by the GRACE and WILL of our Savior, Jesus Christ now and forever!

His Will, His Path, His Way.

Psa 25:4  Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 

Psa 25:5  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Col 1:9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding

Filled with the KNOWLEDGE of HIS WILL in ALL WISDOM and SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.

Truly this is our desire, isn't it? As Christ followers we desire to have the knowledge of our Savior's will.  So often we manipulate our lives by telling ourselves we are following God's will, when in fact we have exerted our own will over and over and pretended that it's God's.

Col 4:12  …, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 

Here we have one laboring in prayer for another- the prayer being that one stands perfect and complete in ALL THE WILL OF GOD.

Psa 143:10  Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. 

Taught to do the WILL of God. We need this teaching!

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

The will of God is a TRANSFORMED RENEWING of our MINDS- not a mind conformed to this world.

Why can't our mind be conformed to this world? Because our Savior came preaching what? A new world! Our Savior came preaching SALVATION! Salvation from our unrenewed minds filled with living in the present world, unconcerned for the future, the eternal future. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph all these lived with the hope for a future, they did not live with the hope of this world. They knew this world would not give them the things of God, their hope was in the promise afar off. When Jesus came He made that afar off promise a triumphant reality so ALL human beings regardless of birthright would have hope in eternal salvation, hope in that heavenly kingdom to come. Our minds need transforming from conformity to this world! We need the will of God in our lives as a reality, not as an offhanded belief tucked away that we pull out from time to time to think about, meanwhile we conform to the world.  We need the REALITY of SALVATION in our lives! The will of God- good, acceptable, perfect, we need this!

Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

Eph 6:6  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 

Eph 6:7  With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men

Mat 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. 

Do we realize how important it is to do the will of God?!

Mat 12:50  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. 

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 

Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 

Heb 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

1Pe 2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 

1Pe 2:16  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 

1Pe 2:17  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 

1Pe 2:18  Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 

1Pe 2:19  For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 

1Pe 2:20  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 

1Pe 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 

1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

1Pe 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 

1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

Psa 25:8  Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 

Psa 25:9  The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 

Psa 25:10  All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 

Psa 119:5  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! 

Psa 119:6  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. 

Psa 119:7  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. 

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 

Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 

Every Thought - Christ's- A Renewed Mind.

Truly it's hard to deny that our carnal minds are an enmity against God. Is it easy to keep our minds on Christ? Seriously, is it easy to put Christ first in our lives, truly first? Think about what that means. 

Our natural inclination is to put ourselves first. We allow ourselves to be ruled by our desires. You may think it's not true, you may think you are putting your family first, your job- which you may or may not like, your friends, but a lot of times we are deceiving ourselves because that putting them first when analyzed deeply beyond the superficial reasons thrown out there- is for selfish gain. You may like playing the martyr, you may enjoy the accolades of being the hardest worker, the best mother, the most amazing friend ever.  I'm not saying this is true for everyone. Most people don't want to delve too deeply into their lives, it stirs up stuff they'd rather keep hidden.

Our Savior said many are going to believe they are His but they aren't. I talk about this often because to me it's very scary to imagine being deceived so completely that you truly believe you belong to Christ but He's going to tell you that you don't. God forbid I hear those words! 

If you're like me, then you want to belong to Christ, you want Christ to know you! You want to be His completely.

Our minds do need to be renewed, to believe otherwise is truly deception. And another fact that isn't so often discussed, we have to commit our lives to Christ daily, sometimes several times a day. It is never once only and that is that. It is never a few times a year and that's enough. We can't believe that we only need to think of our Savior and live for Him once a week.  In all we do we have to be aware that in the very real spiritual war we are fighting in, that Satan is vying for our attention. Satan isn't going to stop attacking us, and we need to be aware of our vulnerabilities so we can constantly keep alert to the attacks when they come. We need to recommit to Christ constantly. With every temptation we face we need to make the choice for Christ, and by His grace we will.

Once more let's read what Watchman Nee has to say from his book- The Spiritual Man, about our minds needing renewal.  Don't forget to truly pray and study God word as you read the following, God must be first before any man's words.

'The Mind Renewed

God desires not only a change in the mind of His children at the time of conversion; He desires also a mind that is totally renewed, which is transparent as crystal.

We find this commanded in the Word of God.

The reason Satan can work is that the Christian has not been liberated entirely from a carnal mind. He may start out with a narrow mentality which cannot tolerate others or a darkened mentality that cannot comprehend deeper truth or a foolish mentality which cannot bear any important responsibility; and afterwards he slips into deeper sins. This is because “the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God” (Rom. 8.7). 

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

Once knowing the teaching of Romans 6 many Christians see themselves as having already been freed from their carnal mind.

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 

Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  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. 

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 

Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 

Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 

Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 

Rom 6:16  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? 

Rom 6:17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 

Rom 6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 

Rom 6:19  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 

Rom 6:20  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 

Rom 6:21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 

Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

What they do not appreciate is that the cross must operate minutely in every area of the man.

“Consider yourselves dead to sin” must be followed by “let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies” (Rom. 6.11-12).  Following the change of mentality there must be the bringing of “every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10.5). The mind must be renewed completely, since any residue of its carnality is hostile to God.

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ'

Excerpt The Spiritual Man- by Watchman Nee

bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

'The Mind Renewed

God desires not only a change in the mind of His children at the time of conversion; He desires also a mind that is totally renewed, which is transparent as crystal.

We find this commanded in the Word of God.

The reason Satan can work is that the Christian has not been liberated entirely from a carnal mind. He may start out with a narrow mentality which cannot tolerate others or a darkened mentality that cannot comprehend deeper truth or a foolish mentality which cannot bear any important responsibility; and afterwards he slips into deeper sins. This is because “the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God” (Rom. 8.7). 

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

Once knowing the teaching of Romans 6 many Christians see themselves as having already been freed from their carnal mind.

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 

Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  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. 

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 

Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 

Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 

Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 

Rom 6:16  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? 

Rom 6:17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 

Rom 6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 

Rom 6:19  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 

Rom 6:20  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 

Rom 6:21  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 

Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

What they do not appreciate is that the cross must operate minutely in every area of the man.

“Consider yourselves dead to sin” must be followed by “let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies” (Rom. 6.11-12).  Following the change of mentality there must be the bringing of “every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10.5). The mind must be renewed completely, since any residue of its carnality is hostile to God.

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ'

Excerpt The Spiritual Man- by Watchman Nee

The Renewing of Our Minds.

Please read the following, and by the Grace and Will of God we will study it more in-depth tomorrow.
 

May God open our hearts and minds to all truth and give us all we need to follow in that truth! Please Lord, help us, save us!

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'The Mind Renewed

God desires not only a change in the mind of His children at the time of conversion; He desires also a mind that is totally renewed, which is transparent as crystal. We find this commanded in the Word of God. The reason Satan can work is that the Christian has not been liberated entirely from a carnal mind. He may start out with a narrow mentality which cannot tolerate others or a darkened mentality that cannot comprehend deeper truth or a foolish mentality which cannot bear any important responsibility; and afterwards he slips into deeper sins. This is because “the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God” (Rom. 8.7).  Once knowing the teaching of Romans 6 many Christians see themselves as having already been freed from their carnal mind. What they do not appreciate is that the cross must operate minutely in every area of the man. “Consider yourselves dead to sin” must be followed by “let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies” (Rom. 6.11-12).  Following the change of mentality there must be the bringing of “every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10.5). The mind must be renewed completely, since any residue of its carnality is hostile to God.

For us to have our intellects renewed we must draw near to the cross. This is plainly called for in Ephesians 4. The Apostle Paul describes the darkness of man’s carnal mentality in verses 17 and 18; but in verses 22 and 23 he informs us how the mind can be renewed:

“Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” We know our old man has been crucified with the Lord already (Rom. 6.6). Here we are exhorted to “put off” so that our  mind might be renewed. This brings the cross into view as the instrument for its renewal. A believer should understand that his old brain too is part of that old man which God wants us to put off

entirely. The salvation which God imparts through the cross includes not only a new life but the renewal of every function of our soul as well. The salvation which is rooted deeply in our being must gradually be “worked out.” A serious lack among Christians today is in not perceiving the need for their minds to be saved (Eph. 6.17); they conceive salvation in general and somewhat vague terms. They fail to recognize that God desires to save them to the uttermost in that all their abilities are to be renewed and fit for His use. The mind is one of man’s natural endowments. God calls His own to believe that their old man was crucified on the cross; thereafter they need to accept single-mindedly God’s judgment towards the old man and exercise their will to resist or to put off its deeds including their old thoughts. They must come to the foot of the cross, willing to forsake their traditional mentalities and trusting God to give them a new mind. Brethren, the old one needs to be thoroughly put off. Yes, its renewal is God’s work, but the putting off—the denial, the forsaking—of your old organ of thought is what you must do. If you perform your part, God will fulfill His. And once you put off specifically, you should just as thoroughly believe that God will renew your mind, despite the fact you know not how.

How many of God’s children, although hitherto saved and possessed of a new life, still carry about them an old head. Nothing of their former theories, thought processes, or prejudices has been altered: only a Christian casing has been added. They use their old brain to search, to accept and to propagate spiritual truth. Is it any  wonder they fall into countless errors and precipitate endless conflicts in the church? just as God is displeased with the wicked man who uses his own strength to do the Lord’s work, so He is displeased with the wicked man who uses his own mind to apprehend God’s truth. An unrenewed mentality is spiritually dead; hence everything which proceeds from it is likewise none other than dead. Many may boast in the depth of their Bible knowledge and in the excellency of their theological tenets, but those with spiritual discernment are aware that it is dead.

Upon recognizing the staleness of his mind and being willing to put it off by the cross, the Christian now should practice denying all carnal thoughts daily. The renewal will otherwise be impossible. For how can God ever succeed in His responsibility of renewing the believer’s mind if the latter still thinks according to the flesh?

Patiently and decisively must the Christian examine every one of his thoughts—but in the light of God. Whatever is not of Him or is contrary to His truth must be “squeezed” or “pressed” out of his head. Mere mental understanding of truth similarly must be rejected. Paul has mentioned how our unrenewed mind is filled with arguments and proud imaginations (2 Cor.10.5) . These prevent men from arriving at true knowledge of God. Christians must bring all these thoughts captive to obey Christ. The Apostle says “every thought”; consequently one must not allow so much as a single thought to escape such treatment. He should not rest until every idea is brought into subjection to Christ. The examination of his thought should determine whether (1) it comes from his old mind or (2) it

emanates from the ground given away, and whether (3) it will yield new ground to the evil spirits or whether (4) it issues from a normal or renewed mind. He should inquire why his thinking is confused, prejudiced, rebellious, or infuriated—why he opposes certain truth before he even examines it—why he is against some Christians whom he has merely heard about (does he have sufficient warrant for so withstanding or does he detest them purely out of a natural mind?). During such a period of investigation every idea and imagination needs to be scrutinized so that those which arise from the old creation may be detected and discarded. To those who live out their days foolishly such a regimen no doubt appears to be unbearable. Being managed by the powers of darkness, their mind is loose and wild. But we must face the fact that a war is on. And unless we fight, how can we retake the fortresses of the enemy which are in the mind? The enemy is very real; how then can we be less vigilant?'

Excerpt from the Spiritual Man  - by Watchman Nee

Evil Still Exists.

From all we've been studying these last few days, can you tell me you don't believe that evil spirits can attack you?

If that's what you firmly believe then I'm telling you right now that you cannot believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, your King, your Redeemer.

Whoever you are believing in, it's not the True Savior, but a deceiving deity masquerading at your Christ.

The True Savior not only believed in evil spirits attacking us, but He released people from the possession of evil spirits, He healed people from the illnesses some of the evil spirits caused. He loosed those captive to evil spirits over and over again. He talked with the unclean spirits-

Luk 8:27  And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 

Luk 8:28  When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. 

Luk 8:29  (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) 

Luk 8:30  And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 

Luk 8:31  And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 

Luk 8:32  And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 

Luk 8:33  Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. 

Luk 4:33  And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 

Luk 4:34  Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 

Luk 4:35  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. 

Luk 4:36  And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. 

We CANNOT let ourselves believe that evil spirits were done away with, that they no longer exist, isn't that what we'd have to believe if we don't believe they exist and attack us today?

Evil still exists and as long as it exists then the evil spirits will exist.

Let's read more from The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee- May God bless us and lead us ONLY to His truth! All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR now and forever!!!!!!!

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'Once knowing the truth and acknowledging that his mind has never been released or only partially released from the power, of darkness, the child of God naturally will rise up to do battle against the evil spirits in order that their stronghold in him may be overthrown. Then and there he learns that the weapons of war must be spiritual, for fleshly ones avail him nothing.

 He cannot free himself by making resolutions or by adopting measures to improve his memory or thinking. His mind is captive to supernatural powers that cannot be cast out or destroyed by carnal devices.

The believer never dreams that the powers of darkness could have so profoundly

usurped his head until he learns the truth for himself and prepares to retrieve the lost territory which these wicked powers will accordingly be stirred to defend.

The child of God thus comes to see how dark, dull, passive, and out of control his head truly is. The devil will use every means to torture his mind, threatening him not to take any action to recover the lost territory. This convinces the believer more than ever that his mental life is definitely a stronghold of the enemy and that he has not had complete control over it.

He perceives how the enemy attempts to prevent it from understanding truths he desires to learn, for he is able to remember non-essential matters but is totally powerless to comprehend or recall the vital ones. He senses that there is an opposing force in his head which is against the truth to which he already has given consent.

Now begins the war for liberation of the mind. Is the Christian content to remain the stronghold of the evil spirits? If not, then who must solve the problem? God? No, it is man himself. He must choose whether to offer himself wholly to God or allow his thinking apparatus to remain a concession of Satan’s.

 Will the powers of darkness be permitted to utilize his mind? Are they going to be permitted to pour forth their perverted thoughts through the mind of the saved? Will they be allowed to fill his head with the fire from hell? Can they propagate at will their teachings through his mind? Is it henceforth going to be possible for them to resist God’s truth by manipulating him in his intellect? Can they harm and torment him via the mind? The Christian himself must decide the issue. Is he willing to be a permanent puppet of the evil spirits? He must make

the choice, else there can be no possibility of deliverance. To be sure, any decision for God does not then signify he has already overcome. It only indicates whether he is really opposing the attack of the enemy.