| Although we could
use many Scriptures AND Biblical examples of
those who had a made up mind, and those who did
NOT have a made up mind, today’s study (Part
3) will conclude our series regarding the MENTAL
aspect of our life. **IF** a person doesn’t
understand by now that the battles of life are
won or lost in our mind FIRST ... before they are
ever fulfilled out on the battlefield ..., then,
I really don’t know what more to say that
may be of any help to them. The sad fact is, if a
person doesn’t have a real good handle on
this one simple truth, their life will probably
be an endless cycle of loss, despair and
frustration because ... As he thinketh in his
heart SO IS HE (Proverbs 23:7).
With that said, let me very quickly add that the
easy believeism ... or name it and claim it stuff
... that is going on in today’s world
won’t cut it either. There is a whole lot
more to having a right relationship with God ...
and living a victorious life IN Him ... than
merely thinking positively. In other words, it is
possible to "think" yourself into
defeat (or sickness, for that matter) but you
cannot merely "think" yourself into
victory. To even "think" you could do
so would be like believing you could have genuine
faith without any works. And, we know that James
2:26 tells us that "faith without works
is dead". Therefore, it takes BOTH thinking
the right things AND doing the right
things to have a right relationship with God, and
to live a victorious life IN Him. Furthermore,
let me add: It is next to impossible to prevent
our thoughts from being reflected by our attitude.
AND, it is next to impossible to prevent our
attitude from being reflected in the things we
say AND the things we do. What’s just
underneath the surface will eventually reveal
itself to others ... whether it is good or bad.
In previous studies, we have learned that a
double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James
1:8), and that we cannot serve God and Mammon
[riches] (Matthew 6:24). Also, 1 John 2:15-17
is a warning for anyone who loves this world. In
addition, many try to resist the devil without
submitting themselves to God, first. And, it just
does NOT work that way, either. They need to go
back and re-read James 4:7 and be sure
they get that first part of that Scripture right
BEFORE they try to resist the devil. Furthermore,
it is safe to say that it is impossible for a
person to truly be humble in the sight of the
Lord **IF** they are feeding the "wrong wolf".
And, what I mean by that is the story I often
refer to about the old Indian wise man who told
the young boy, wanting to grow up and become a
Brave, that we all have two wolves fighting
inside us everyday of our life. One wolf is black.
And, one wolf is white. The black wolf represents
evil (or the flesh). And, the white wolf
represents good (or the Spirit). And, when the
young Indian boy asked the old wise man, "Which
wolf wins?" The wise man’s reply was,
"The one you feed, son". There has
never been a truer statement than that. As a
matter of fact, that one lesson, learned well and
done right, would help each and every one of us
to have a good day, today, and a better day,
tomorrow.
1 Timothy 6:1-21 Let as many servants
as are under the yoke count their own masters
worthy of all honour, that the name of God and
his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that
have believing masters, let them not despise them,
because they are brethren; but rather do them
service, because they are faithful and beloved,
partakers of the benefit. These things teach and
exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent
not to wholesome words, even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is
according to godliness; He is proud, knowing
nothing, but doting about questions and strifes
of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt
minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing
that gain is godliness [the snare AND
deception of materialism]: from such withdraw
thyself. But godliness with contentment is great
gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out. And
having food and raiment let us be therewith
content. But they that will be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and
hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and
perdition. For the love of money is the root of
all evil: which while some coveted after, they
have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God,
flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight
the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto thou art also called, and hast
professed a good profession before many witnesses.
I give thee charge in the sight of God, who
quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus,
who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good
confession; That thou keep this commandment
without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing
of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he
shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate,
the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only
hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no
man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor
can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting.
Amen. Charge them that are rich in this world,
that they be not highminded, nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God, who
giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they
do good, that they be rich in good works, ready
to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up
in store for themselves a good foundation against
the time to come, that they may lay hold on
eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which is
committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain
babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so
called: Which some professing have erred
concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
2 Peter 3:1-12 This second epistle,
beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I
stir up your pure minds by way of
remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words
which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
and of the commandment of us the apostles of the
Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there
shall come in the last days scoffers, walking
after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the
promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell
asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning of the creation. For this they
willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of
God the heavens were of old, and the earth
standing out of the water and in the water:
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed
with water, perished: But the heavens and the
earth, which are now, by the same word are kept
in store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But,
beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that
one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and
a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not
willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance. But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great
noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are
therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all
these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation
and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat?
We all need to have our minds stirred up from
time to time. And, those of you who have sat, or
stood, in front of a fireplace on a cold
winter’s day probably know what a fire poker
is for. As a result, you probably have a pretty
good understanding as to why we all need to have
our minds stirred up from time to time.
Although the Holy Ghost comes down from above,
it is like an artesian well -springing up from
within our soul. Except, unlike an artesian well,
we all have a spigot that we can use to shut it
off, at will. I grew up in a main line
denominational church, and didn’t know about
receiving the Holy Ghost the Bible way. I
accepted Christ as my personal savior, joined the
church, got baptized in the "titles" of
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and my name was
put on the membership roll. Although, I was as
sincere as I knew how to be, and felt really good
about what I had done, I had NOT had a spiritual
transformation. And, there is a tremendous
difference between a reformation and a
transformation. At any rate, it wasn't too long
before I got to feeling like there had to be more
to it than what I knew. I just didn't know what
or where. Then, some years later (after I had
gotten married, and got out on my own) I laid
aside all of my preconceived ideas, opinions and
indoctrination, and started very diligently
studying the Bible, with an open heart and an
open mind.
Long story short, I started in the Book of
Matthew and began reading you would read a Reader's
Digest. It was some slow plowing for some time.
But, then God started revealing things to me
through His Word that I had never thought of, let
alone heard about in all my years. The Apostles'
One God Monotheistic Doctrine became crystal
clear to me, and I understood the importance of
being filled with ... and led by ... the Spirit
of the Living God. Alone one night in the middle
of the woods in a little railroad depot near
Roxie, Mississippi, I began to earnestly pray (out
loud). The Spirit of God came upon me, and I
began to shake and tremble. However, my faith
wavered. And, I quenched the Spirit. If I
hadn’t of, I believe God would have filled
me with the Holy Ghost that night. But, I allowed
fear and doubt to cause me to quench the Spirit.
It was several years later before I broke
through the barrier of the flesh and received the
Holy Ghost. You see, "praying through"
is much like the space shuttle taking off down in
Florida. It takes some doing to get that thing
off the ground. But, once it gets up there a ways,
the gravitational pull of the Earth is not so
strong, and it goes on out into another realm ...
outer space. Likewise, when we pray through the
barrier of the flesh, the gravitational pull (so
to speak) is not so strong, and we enter into the
spiritual realm. At any rate, years later I
drifted away from the closeness I had with God,
and ended up drifting away from God. However,
things was NOT the same. Once a person has tasted
that Heavenly gift, and turned aside, it doesn't
matter where they go, what they do, or who they're
with, they will NEVER be the same again. And, let
me add, it doesn't happen over night. It is a
gradual process. Just like a small boat on a pond,
you can untie the rope from the pier and even
though the water may look as smooth as glass, it
will only be a matter of time before the boat
will start to drift. Any how, when I finally hit
rock bottom, I came back to God a very broken man
on December 10, 1985 at mile marker 7 on
Interstate 55 in South Mississippi.
Since that time, I have very deeply treasured,
and very closely guarded my relationship with God,
and purposed in my heart to never allow what
someone else says, does or even thinks to have an
adverse effect on my relationship with Him. While
I don't try to cram anything down someone else's
throat, I simply refuse to allow another human
being to negatively effect my relationship with
God. If a person wants question me, doubt me,
talk bad about me or what have you ... or even if
they decide to establish their faith and moral
conduct, based on the Old Farmer's Almanac, or
worship a stump and howl at the moon, I have
learned how to be friendly to them without
condoning them, compromising my faith, or
participating in any of it with them. As a result
of this, I have been misunderstood by some as to
why I do some of the things I do in the non-denominational
laywork God called me into. By the way, Jesus was
misunderstood by some, too.
At any rate, regardless of how close a person
may feel they are to God, there is ALWAYS room to
draw closer to Him. And, the closer we get to Him,
the less we desire to do anything that would be
displeasing to Him. You and I can walk each and
every day with a full vessel **IF** we make it a
practice daily to gather the manna from Heaven by
way of prayer, worship, praise, study, reflection,
meditation and devotion to God. However, just
like we have to keep going back to the well of
natural water, we must keep going back to the
well of spiritual water. And, I have NOT found
living for God to be mundane, nor a drudgery or a
burden or a chore. However, there have been times
since mile marker 7 that I dropped the ball, felt
really bad about zigging when I should have been
zagging, and, in some cases, felt like I needed
to go straighten some things out with someone
else in order to get back on track, and keep
everything under the blood.
Therefore, it is my advice to anyone to set
aside some very special time, just you and God
... whether it is in your prayer closet, a stump
in the woods or the altar at church ... and, to
pour your heart out to Him. If we do this, we can
have peace in the midst of the storm and have
victory in our life. However, that does NOT mean
that we won't still have troubles, trials and
temptations to endure. But, the neat thing of it
is, we won't be tossed to and fro. And, turning
back will NOT be an option that we would even
consider. And, although the devil can ... and
will ... come against a made up mind, he simply
can't conquer, or over throw, it. It is like a
cork in the water, it will just keep popping back
up every time. Consume the Word of God. That's
where your strength (meat and potatoes) comes
from, too. In it, you will find everything you
need. I promise.
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