PART TWO
I have found over the years that we are confronted by constant situations where we have to make a choice between ‘fact’ and ’truth,’ and need to decide which of these is more true? The carnal mind always gravitates toward fact. ”Well this is what I see and how I feel.” The Spirit always gravitates towards biblical truth. “But this is what the bible says.” The fact was that my mind was shot and I had the evidence to prove it, but the truth of the word said. “I have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 “The memory of the righteous is blessed.” Proverbs 10:7
I found that the Spirit was calling me to renew my mind by biblical meditation and as I did this, God prospered me and began to heal my mind.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8
Our minds are so important. Many Christians think we should down play the mind, but our minds are incredibly valuable to God and us. The Devil wants to destroy our minds and nearly did this to me. Today our minds are being bombarded by the media with so much filth and so many lies. Our minds are being poisoned by the world and its producing a harvest of depression and suicide. We spend so much time watching TV and so little time in the word and then wonder why we aren’t getting victory over sin and sickness. F.F. Bosworth said;
“Some people wonder why they can’t have faith for healing. They feed their body three hot meals a day and their spirit one cold snack a week.”
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” 1 Peter 2:2
We need to stop kidding ourselves and take check of what we are doing with our lives. We are called to renew our minds and this can be done by His word and the Holy Spirit’s help. God doesn’t want us to throw our minds out, but renew them.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-12
God wants us to wash our minds constantly with the word, day and night so that we might prosper and have good success. I have been doing this with the help of the Holy Spirit and have seen a change, especially when I have given Him my full attention. When our eyes are single our whole body will be filled with light.
I started my Christian walk with dark years and as I got more of the word into me it was whittled down to dark months, then there were dark weeks and dark days. Now it’s the odd dark hour and finally just the odd dark minute during the day. Praise God.
I know its my responsibility to keep this experience alive and like a garden we need to keep pulling the weeds out. Rev Kenneth E. Hagin said.
“Your mind doesn’t stay renewed anymore than your hair stays combed.”
Even as a Pastor I was taking anti-depressants and I needed them for awhile and am thankful for them, but eventually my faith grew and my mind was renewed so that I didn’t need them anymore. The word became my delight and became life to me and health to all my flesh.
“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-22
It’s the word that has transformed my mind, for it is quick and powerful and I now love it so much. It is my food and my drink. I am addicted to it and it has prospered me in so many ways, as it says it would in Joshua 1:8.
I have over the years learned to fix computers and paint landscape paintings. Cartoon for newspapers with lots of fun and laughter and played a strenuous sport like squash. It seems that all I put my hand too prospered. Biblical meditation fills our mind with truth, and God invites us to start thinking according to biblical reality. He wants us to use our minds. He wants to paint His impressions on our heart and minds like a master artist paints on a canvas, painting His perspectives into our lives.
Something I believe the Spirit is trying to get us to do is to fall in love with His word. This can change everything for us as the word will become like nuclear fuel that energises our souls. If you love the world too much, that misplaced love will drain you of energy. God’s word can become light that will fill your mind with revelation and give you heavenly perspectives. God’s word can be a constant meal to feast on every day. I'm not saying that you should read through the bible just to gain a lot of knowledge (although there is nothing wrong with that) but rather to meditate on portions of scripture and use them in your prayers. As far as I am concerned I am painting one of my best paintings ever and this masterpiece is growing on the inside of me stroke by stroke as I confess and believe God’s word. One of the most awesome scriptures I have found is that, not only are we crucified with Christ, and resurrected with Him, but we are co-heirs as one with Him in His Glory. How wonderful is that? Yes it is too big to get your head around but I’m praying that I will.
“And since we are his true children, we qualify to share all his treasures, for indeed, we are heirs of God himself. And since we are joined to Christ, we also inherit all that he is and all that he has. We will experience being co-glorified with him provided that we accept his sufferings as our own.” Romans 8:17 TPT
We are like the Tardis in ‘Doctor Who,’ for we are a lot bigger on the inside than we are on the outside. In fact the Kingdom of God is within us. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ and He is in us.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
We are also like the Tabernacle in the wilderness that was covered in badger skins. On the outside the Tabernacle was all dark and plain, but on the inside it was filled with silver and gold and the awesome Presence of God. We are the Temple of God. We are His House.
Our hearts are like a garden where we can plant His word. The Song of Songs shows us this, and so does the parable of the sower and the seed.
I may be useless at gardening in real life but I'm trying to excel in hiding the word in my heart where it can be conceived and bring forth an eternal harvest. We can build and plant things there and expand our territory. Our treasuries can be filled with eternal treasures as we embrace wisdom and ask God to enlarge our hearts so that we can take in more, for to Him who has, more will be given.
In the Lord’s Prayer we are told to pray that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is an Apostolic prayer. In Roman times, after they had conquered a people they would then send someone to oversee the changing of that place to look like Rome. They would change the language, their dress, the roads, the buildings and their culture until it all looked and acted like home. Then the Emperor would come and have a visit. This is what the Holy Spirit is wanting to do on the inside of us. He is creating in us the image of God.
When I am quiet, especially in the night I can easily see Heavenly realities with my imagination and I pray heaven will be duplicated in me. We are changed into the image of what we reflect, according to 2 Corinthians 3:18. I am gradually being able to see the Lord more and more in His splendour by using the word, for Heaven would not be Heaven without Him. May my heart be changed so that the King will find His resting place in me. It says that if we love the world too much the love of the Father will not be in us.1 John 2:15. I’m sure this means that we will not be able to sense the Father’s love.
I always wanted to be like a Prophet, and had this idea of being like Elijah or something. I wanted to see visions. I would often fast and pray about it, but this type of ministry seemed to allude me. Recently the Lord showed me the verses in Numbers 24:3-4, where Balaam the Prophet spoke amazing words over Israel. He declared that he was the man whose eyes were opened, who heard the voice of God and saw visions. It would be great to have visions for people, but there is something even far more important and valuable too God, and that is to have visions of God. If we have this vision in us I’m sure that the Church will then qualify to do amazing things. John 14:12.
If we are to be His Bride all prepared for His coming then more than anything we need to have our eyes opened by the Holy Spirit. We need to have a vision of the Lord and also a vision of who we are.
We need to hear His voice like Balaam, especially to hear Him saying “I love you.” Do you really hear Him saying that He loves you? We often don’t act like we do. If we did, worship would be our top priority, as Worship comes from affection towards Him.
The last revelation of the Church in the Bible is that of a Bride. She calls out for Jesus to come back. She is a Bride who is in love with Jesus and not just in a movement, a doctrine or a denomination. Because she has undivided devotion for Him, she has such power with God like Queen Esther did with the King. The Bride is the one who calls out for the return of the Lord. Both the first chapters of the bible and the last, speak of the Bride without spot and wrinkle. Eve was originally perfect before the Fall.
My journey so far has brought me to this place where I realise that we need our minds renewed so that the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus will flood our thought life. Don’t you think that the Bride of Christ should be in love with her royal husband? Shouldn’t she be setting Him always before her? I know from personal experience that Christ can renew our minds so that we can fill our thoughts with a fervent love for Him. The bible says that we were once enemies of God in our minds. May that be reversed so that we are now lovers of God in our minds.
“And you who once were alienated and enemies in your mind.” Colossians 1:21
I thank God He has had mercy on me and healed my mind so that I can fill it with thoughts of heaven. We are to set our minds on things above.
“Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority! Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm. Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God in Christ. And as Christ himself is seen for who he really is, who you really are will also be revealed, for you are now one with him in his glory! “ Colossians 3:1-4
There is light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not the train coming. God’s word can renew your mind and fill your hearts with light.
“The entrance of your word brings light.” Psalm 119:130.