Mind Renewing through 2 Corinthians 10:5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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; {imaginations: or, reasonings} (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV)

When we bring a thought or an imagination or our reasoning’s into captivity we make it a prisoner. This also means we must be the guardian of our mental faculties. We must guard not only what enters our mind but what we imagine, reason and justify. This is not only a good practice for renewing our minds but watching over our motives to serve God. Oswald Chambers says in “MY Utmost for His Highest”,

“How much Christian work there is today which has never been disciplined, but has simply sprung into being by impulse!” “This is a day when practical work is overemphasized, and the saints who are bringing every project into captivity are criticized and told that they are not in earnest for God or for souls. True earnestness is found in obeying God, not in the inclination to serve Him that is born of undisciplined human nature. It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not bringing every project into captivity, but doing work for God at the instigation of their own human nature which has not been spiritualized by determined discipline.

We are apt to forget that a man is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation; he is committed to Jesus Christ’s view of God, of the world, of sin and of the devil, and this will mean that he must recognize the responsibility of being transformed by the renewing of his mind.”

We must remember that Jesus did His Father’s will and said “The Son can do nothing of Himself” (John 5:19). When we line up with God’s will we will do God’s will. Whether it is in word, thought or deed. Sometimes our projects are of a religious spirit. I want to please God by doing … You may think it is okay to do work for God, no matter what, but let us look at Aaron’s sons, they had this religious spirit. They thought they could offer up sacrifices for God, which He had not commanded the priesthood to do, and God would be pleased by their offerings. Maybe they also were thinking they could be thought of more highly if they offered up additional sacrifices to God.

Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them not to do. And there went out fire from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, It is that which the LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. (Leviticus 10:1-3 MKJV)

Aaron’s son were offering up what they thought would be well pleasing to God, but it was an unholy offering. God is Holy and only a sanctified offering will be accepted. If we start to offer to God what is only common then it is strange, unholy, not sanctified and is out of the will of God. Let us make sure that our hearts and minds line up with God’s will, so we can bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ and prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Let us offer up sacrifices well pleasing to Him i.e. “let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15 KJV)

In Christ,

Greg

Humility

Humility must be nurtured. The best example is Jesus.

Humility is the denial of self. When we start off with our focus on, I, I, I. I want to do this or that. I will not do this or that. It’s all about me, (self-centeredness), then humility is nowhere to be found. It is only in the realization that I am not perfect and can fail at any point that I can say, “I need help, or I cannot do this on my own.” Self has all the vices of the human fallen nature. Pride fullness, defensiveness, selfishness, it’s my way or the highway. I’m in control. These attitudes make you a dam, which stops the living water to flow in and through you. These view points lead to idolatry and atheism. Let me define these two words first;

Atheism: disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. Also, A rejection of belief in deities or a deity.

Idolatry: the worship of an idol, an idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. Like self.

When we hold ourselves above God we become idolaters and atheistic. Idolaters as we worship self before God and atheistic as we lack faith in God and His promises. One example is simply revenge. (!) I cannot believe that so and so did that to me! I am going to …and get him back for that. This is human nature crying out. Pride, defensiveness angry, wrath and malice. But God’s word says in Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord (KJV). Therefore if we take matters into our own hands we do not believe. We have a lack of faith in God. We do not believe God’s Word. Humility is smashed and self is risen above. It is atheism and idolatry of self… It grieves me to think that I, I, I can still raise its evil head within me knowing it is like denying Christ and God the Father. (!) Yet it is this grief that opens the door to humility once again, and lets the Son’s light back into my life that I may remember the joy and hope God can bring when I humble myself and let God’s revenge repay those who have despitefully used me… God knows best, I will submit to Him because if I don’t I am calling Him a liar. I will become atheistic, that is lacking belief in His Word, even rejecting His Word. So self is then both atheist and idolater. Atheist because we reject God; and it is idolater because it is its own idol.

Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”(KJV). We must deny self even as Christ denied Himself. He put Himself under the authority of God the Father. He left His position of complete deity and was made a little lower than the angels, fashioned in the likeness of man; His own creation to serve and deny self, to become obedient even to the death of the cross for all mankind. True humility, a total denial of self for others… I hope a glimpse or a glimmer of humility is piercing through self even now. Let it so shine into your heart.

We must take some steps to let humility in and push self out.

The first step is to place yourself under the authority of another. This step gives humility a glimmer of hope. It allows the son (s o n) to shine in and change our view point from I, I, I myself and self-centeredness to deny, deny, deny myself and Christ–centeredness. The more we deny self, the more authority we give to Christ, the more God can deploy us to do His work. The more work we do for God, the more joy we will receive. Which leads to the vision of hope. Hope that I can overcome self, the world and the devil with God.

Second we must arm ourselves with the Word of God, so when self raises up we have the arsenal to knock it back down.

1. I hate that guy. “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15 KJV). Checkmate! Self be quiet and listen to God’s Word.

Humility helps our faith be place God’s Word before us, to worship God and His Word so faith can hear and obey it. Humility leads us in the knowledge of ourselves. We recognize we can do nothing good without God because self is prideful, defensive and self-centered. Humility helps us to cry out to God. Help me Lord from my own self. In essence we are crying out for salvation. For a Saviour. For authority to be placed over us so we can win and not lose.

I don’t know about you, but usually when my pride gets in the way it pushes others out and may even dissolve friendships, relationships, business partnerships and my relationship with God because I have become atheistic and an idolater. I must remember that I lose when I do this. I must place myself back under God’s authority, His Word, and His promises. Then and only then can I overcome self, the world, and the devil and become victorious for God and His Kingdom.

Let us become Christ-centered and not self-centered. Remember to place self under the authority of God and His Word. Open your heart to humility, pick up your cross and die daily to self. Let humility shine into your heart. It will be the door which allows the living water to flow in you and through you. (!) It will strengthen your faith, lead you to Christ, and lead others to God.

In Christ,

Greg

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.

Mark 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Jesus tells His disciples to watch and pray. We need to take this seriously. If we walk about day to day only thinking about the matters at hand, we will miss out on what God is doing. A day may start out wrong and the next thing your day is a continual episode of putting out the next fire. You may reflect on the fact that God is with you and maybe even think He is watching over you. Here we can see the first scriptural example, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

We can see where the temptations and circumstances of life creep in and cause us to sink, as Peter did when he walked on water and was distracted by the storms of life. Jesus was right there watching with Him, but Peter was not watching with Jesus. He did not see what Jesus saw. The ability to have the spiritual authority over the natural creation. We need to learn how to watch with Jesus. Lord, help me to see life and its circumstances, situations, trials, and temptations both good and bad as You would see them; so I can learn to overcome the evil of this world and enjoy the good with You. When we see each advent with Jesus, we will be watching from an unlimited spiritual view point instead of a limited natural view point.

Jesus also tells us to watch and pray for we do not know when the time is or in context when the end will come. I believe we can see the end here from two points of view. First, the end of the world as we know it and Jesus’ second coming. Second, as our physical end. We do not know the hour or day when we shall pass from physical death to eternal life with Jesus. It is Important to watch and pray so we can make the most out of the time we have. Living each day, each moment, watching and praying with Jesus to take heed of our spiritual purpose in our life and not be limited to just our physical being.

There is yet another scripture which points us in this same direction, Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (KJV). This point is made after we are told that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual principles and so on… and we should put on our spiritual armor. Watching with Jesus and praying is the last part of the armor that we miss sometimes. We may pray our spiritual armor on and then go out into the world never giving Jesus another thought. That is like a soldier putting on his uniform and leaving his battle plans behind. We must walk, watch and pray with Jesus to overcome our physical and spiritual circumstances and have victory with Jesus.

Learn to put on your spiritual armor [Eph 6:12-19], watch and pray with Jesus so you can walk in the unlimited spiritual potential of the abundant life Jesus has for you.

In Christ,

Greg

Where are you today when it comes to serving the Lord?

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Revelation 7:15 KJV)

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22:3 KJV)

Heaven is an example for us to serve God day and night. If we remember to do everything unto the Lord as Colossians 3:23-25 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” (KJV) Even here, there is the spiritual principle of reaping what you sow. But more importantly is the attitude of whatsoever you do, do it unto the Lord. How can we serve God today? By doing everything as we would do unto the Lord.

If we serve the world we may find that its service is grievous. Men and laws become a burden. Luke 11:46 says, “And he (Jesus) said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.” But if we walk in the spirit we find liberty. As we desire what God desires and love what God loves we find that all the worries and worldly burdens melt away when we are serving God, because we are walking in His loving kindness and service.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:3 KJV)

When we see God’s commandments as not grievous we know that His ways lead us to freedom. Freedom from the burdens of sin, freedom from mankind’s expectations, freedom to walk in a new life consecrated to His service. That is free. Free from bondage of the worldly notions of freedom. God’s commandments are not burdensome they are there to help us walk in the paths of righteousness which are free from the burdens of this world and their consequences. God loves us and His love never fails.

When you are walking in God’s love and find that His commandments are not burdensome it is easy to do everything as you would do unto our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

This is continuous service and I dare not say it will be 10,000 more times blissful in heaven to serve God night and day because it might be an infinitely blissful to serve our Lord night and day. O what a joy so divine, continuous service unto God.

In Christ,

Greg

Nation of Priests

What does a nation of priests look like? We must first see an example of a priest.

• Priests were Chosen, ordained by God.
• Were taken from mankind because they were subject to the temptations and weaknesses of the flesh and could have compassion on their brethren and the ignorant.
• They are interceders for God through offering up gifts and sacrifices for sin.

Aaron was chosen by God, “Hebrews 5:4 says “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.” And Hebrews 9:4 says, “Which [the Ark of the Covenant] had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;” Aarons rod that budded was a sign to the Hebrews that Aaron was the chosen priest, (see Numbers 17 and Exodus 28:4).

Aaron was chosen from mankind. He must know and feel the infirmities of his brethren and be tempted in all points so he can have compassion on them to qualify as a priest.

Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. (Hebrews 5:2 KJV)

The third qualifier is the priest had to offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Hebrews 5:1 says, For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Aaron was chosen and anointed by God to serve Him, Numbers 8:1, 9-12, 18-26.

To intercede as a mediator between God and His people, to offer up sacrifices for sin, (see Numbers 8:19).

God chose Aaron as the high priest and his kin, the Levites, to be priests to help preform the ministries ordained by God. Together they formed one body and shared the authority to appear before God, to perform the duties God had given them, and to intercede for His people. They formed a nation of priests.

Now we have a better and New Covenant with a faithful and true High Priest Jesus Christ.

Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him [Jesus] to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Jesus was made like unto His brethren. God the Son became man. Philippians 2:6-8 says, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”(KJV).

Jesus was Chosen by God Hebrews 5:5 says, “So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.” And God choose Him to be a High priest in Hebrews 5:10 “Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”

First, he was a chosen man. (See also Hebrews 5:1, 10 above and 5:5, 6; 7:11, 15, 17-25; made a priest after the order of Melchisedec).

Second, He felt the infirmities of mankind through obedience and death. (Philippians 2:8). Hebrews 4:15 backs this up, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.”

Third, Hebrews 2:17 says “to make reconciliation to God for the sins of the people. He was ordained a High priest. Hebrews 8:3 says “For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.” His priesthood is far superior as He has an “unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

• So we can see these three qualifiers in the priesthood.
• Priests were Chosen, ordained by God.
• Were taken from mankind because they were subject to the temptations and weaknesses of the flesh and could have compassion on their brethren and the ignorant.
• They are interceders for God through offering up gifts and sacrifices for sin.

So what about the Nation of priests?

The Levitical tribe was a good example of this. Aaron the high priest and the other priests formed the nation of priests. They all had separate duties to perform. After they made it to the Promised Land the priests were placed throughout the land to intercede for God’s people.

How does this look today?

God’s people are His chosen priesthood today.

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

He has made us priests and together we form a nation of priests. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5 KJV)

We are a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We have been sent as His ambassadors to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.” (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

Christ is with us our High Priest who has called, ordained, and sends us out to intercede for His people. How are you fulfilling your priestly duties? No excuses we all have the ministry of reconciliation.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit,[know], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV)

Just as the Levitical tribe was a good example of a nation of priests. Aaron the high priest and the other priests formed the nation of priests. So is Jesus our High priest and we are His priests which form a nation of priest for God. The Levites all had separate duties to perform and so do we. After they made it to the Promised Land the priests were placed throughout the land to intercede for God’s people and now we are to go out into all the earth and intercede for God’s people through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is our High priest and we form the nation of priests today. Intercede for other as His ambassadors and priest, start today.

In Christ,

Greg