Showing posts with label renewing the mind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label renewing the mind. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Renewal Not Resolution*
When I saw the thousands of people celebrating the new year, especially in New York City, I had great concern for the nation, including New York City, and for the Body of Christ. It is customary that when the new year begins, people make resolutions to change certain things in their lives and circumstances. However, scripture teaches something different: "...be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Rom. 12:2). Our minds are washed and renewed by one thing- the Word of God. One thing that can prevent the renewing of our minds is a religious mindset that refuses to hear the truth that is revealed in the scriptures, both in the Torah and the Prophets, and in the New Testament.Jesus healed a man on the sabbath of a Feast of the LORD, who suffered from infirmity for thirty-eight years, and was confined to a bed at the pool of Bethesda, by the sheep market. When healing the man, Jesus said to him: "Rise, take up thy bed and walk." (Jn. 8:1-8). The religious Jews who saw the cured man carrying his bed, scolded him saying: "It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed." (v. 9-10). Instead of rejoicing in the healing blessing received by this man on the sabbath, they condemned him for carrying his bed away. They needed a renewing of their minds, because what they condemned as a sinful behavior was really the manifestation of the power and mercy of God. Later, when Jesus saw the healed man again in the temple, He said to him: "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more , lest a worse thing come onto thee." (v. 14). Once we have received the grace of God, we are not to continue in sin. When the religious Jews found out that it was Jesus who had healed the man, instead of seeking Him out as the Son of God, they persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him for doing these things on the sabbath (v. 16). Unrenewed minds are dangerous. However, Jesus confronted them with not just the healing of God, but with the resurrection power of His Father placed into Jesus' hands: "Verily, verily...the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do...For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father...hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honour the Father...He that heareth my word, and believeth on him who sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life...The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live...Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (v. 19-29, excerpt). Instead of believing Jesus, who could bring them everlasting life by the authority given to Him by His Father, those who had not renewed their minds in the Word of God (who was speaking to them) condemned Jesus again, this time for blasphemy for claiming that God was His Father. Jesus finally said to them: "...these things I say that ye might be saved...And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye may have life...But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you...Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (v. 34, 37-47). What Jesus was telling them in no way contradicted the Law of Moses, but confirmed and fulfilled it. All of scripture bears witness of Jesus, as He said. We keep the law because of Christ in us, not legalistically, but by understanding the intent of God. Man's resolutions often fail, but the Word of God, as we are conformed to it, and renewed by it, does not fail. The Bible is unlike any book written by man, because it is living and active, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote that just because the Word of God is not believed, does not mean that it is of no effect: "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true and every man a liar.; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Rom. 3:1-5). God is true, and will judge the world by this truth, and not in injustice (v. 5). Life is not a New Year's Eve party in Times Square NYC, where everyone sings the John Lennon song, "Imagine". Unlike the lyrics of that song, there is a heaven, and there is a hell. As Paul wrote: "There is no fear of God before their eyes." (v. 18). Paul asked if faith makes the law of God void: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." (v. 31). The Law is not being destroyed by faith in Christ - it is being established. The sin that destroys us, and destroys the world, is not done away with by New Year's resolutions. Also, grace is not in place to continue covering a life of repeated sin. Paul wrote about the renewing of our mind regarding sin with this knowledge: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid, How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.. Knowing this, our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin...Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:1-7, 11). We have died to sin in this body, and are alive in Christ in His resurrected body. We are not to continue in sin because we are under grace and not under law: "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 to you. Being made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness...For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (v. 15-18, 23). In this renewal of our minds, we are not to think like the world. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Cor. 3:16-17, 19, see also 1 Cor. 6:5-8, 19). What we were in the world, we are to be no longer by the renewal of Christ: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God...For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 6:9-11, 20). This nation has turned its back on God, being full of abominations, and it cannot be fixed with New Year celebrations and resolutions. The Renewal we need is not in "religion", but in Christ. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/1/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.The ShroudofTurin.org/freebook.
Monday, June 25, 2018
Acts of God or Deeds of Men?
We have read recently about several catastrophic events taking place in our country and around the world: virulent diseases, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and other violent weather phenomenon involving large hail, and devastating floods. Men have labelled these types of events as "acts of God", but what is the real root cause? Scripture points to the deeds of men having a direct effect on the earth. Proverbs 26:2 tells us that the curse causeless shall not come.
From Leviticus 18, we read, "Defile not you yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomitteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statues and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue (spew) not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you." v. 24-28
The beginning of this chapter in Leviticus instructs the children of Israel that they are not to continue in the ways of Egypt, the land they have recently departed, but "ye shall do my judgments and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God." v. 2-4
Following this, there is a description of defilements and abominations, or uncovering (to reveal, advertise, disclose) nakedness (nudity:both physical and spiritual, shame, uncleanness, indecency, improper behavior). The defiling behavior, or the uncovering of nakedness, by its meaning is also associated with being exiled, or taken into captivity. There is a captivity, spiritual and natural, that comes through these defilements, including an exile from the land. These defilements cause the land to violently spew out the inhabitants, like vomit is forcibly spewed from the body. The LORD first prohibits these defilements and abominations within the family, then the outer family, and then outward again from there to neighbors. Defilement does not remain contained to an individual, but spreads to the family (including the spiritual family), and then the whole community. These defilements by nature take captive man's most intimate behaviors, manifesting in sexual deviation (v. 22-23). The LORD exposes the ultimate intimate deviation and defilement: "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD." v. 21
The nations that inhabited the land before the children of Israel practiced the sacrifice of their children to fire to appease and appeal to their chief deity, Molech (meaning king). Israel, though strongly warned by the LORD never to follow this practice, did get involved with this savage form of idol worship. The LORD connects this practice to the profaning (polluting, defiling, desecrating) of His name. He proclaimed that this child sacrifice is something "which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind." (Jer. 19:5). It is not a "choice", but a exiling and profaning defilement.
Child murder, both before and after birth, practiced widely in this nation, defiles the individual, the land, and the name and character of God Himself. Many churches have shamefully partnered with secular government in agreeing with this most defiling behavior, as well as the other intimate defilements of body and soul mentioned in Leviticus. Is it any wonder that the very land upon which we have established our homes, our lives, and our livelihoods, is spewing us out most violently. We have become a defiled people, and we have defiled the land.
Even as the LORD instructed Israel not to be conformed to the ways of Egypt, out of which they were miraculously delivered, the Apostle Paul warns us not to be conformed to the ways and mindset of the world:
"I beseech ye, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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." Rom. 12:1-2
We are not to follow the pattern set by the world and its understanding, but we are to be changed into something else. This change comes by the renewing (renovation, demolishing the old and rotten, and rebuilding the new) of the mind. The only way to renew the mind is to do it with the washing of the Word of God (Eph. 5:26).
We as a nation, have consciously turned away from the judgments and ordinances of God, and turned to the pattern of the world. As a result of this, we have been taken captive by moral, ethical, and spiritual bankruptcy on a scale that we have never before seen. Again, the Apostle Paul warned that these are the consequences that follow when a people know God, have the proof of God all around them, but turn away from His Word and His ways, denying His truth:
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate (worthless, unapproved, unfit) mind, to do those things which are not convenient (becoming, fit). Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful..."
Not only do they do these things themselves, knowing it to be worthy of judgment, but they encourage others to join them in the behavior (Rom. 1:28-32). Again, these defiling behaviors are not just confined to the choice of an individual, but are spread to others.
The defilement begins in the mind, as Paul said, in the choices that the mind makes. Do we retain God in our knowledge? Are we transforming and renewing our minds in His Word? It is the foundation of our spiritual warfare:
"(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 though to the obedience of Christ, and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
2 Cor. 10:4-6
In these end times, we look for the prophesied event of the Antichrist exalting himself as God, against God, in the Temple of God, defiling it with the abomination of desecration, profaning His name. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and like the Antichrist, there are forces in the form of thoughts, reasonings, and imaginations that attempt to exalt themselves in, and defile this temple. If we, His people, humble ourselves, pray, turn away from those wicked things, seek His face, He will hear from heaven and heal our land (see 2 Chron. 7:14).
To Contact/Support the Ministry/Submit Prayer Requests/Order the new book, "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To Hear the Complete Message:
https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10211949556116076/
Special request:
If someone knows a child named Bethany, who needs healing in her body, please contact this ministry. This child's name has come forth in a word of knowledge to Dr. Stevenson, and we would like to send her a prayer cloth. Thank you.
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, forgive me, and fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
From Leviticus 18, we read, "Defile not you yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomitteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statues and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue (spew) not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you." v. 24-28
The beginning of this chapter in Leviticus instructs the children of Israel that they are not to continue in the ways of Egypt, the land they have recently departed, but "ye shall do my judgments and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God." v. 2-4
Following this, there is a description of defilements and abominations, or uncovering (to reveal, advertise, disclose) nakedness (nudity:both physical and spiritual, shame, uncleanness, indecency, improper behavior). The defiling behavior, or the uncovering of nakedness, by its meaning is also associated with being exiled, or taken into captivity. There is a captivity, spiritual and natural, that comes through these defilements, including an exile from the land. These defilements cause the land to violently spew out the inhabitants, like vomit is forcibly spewed from the body. The LORD first prohibits these defilements and abominations within the family, then the outer family, and then outward again from there to neighbors. Defilement does not remain contained to an individual, but spreads to the family (including the spiritual family), and then the whole community. These defilements by nature take captive man's most intimate behaviors, manifesting in sexual deviation (v. 22-23). The LORD exposes the ultimate intimate deviation and defilement: "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD." v. 21
The nations that inhabited the land before the children of Israel practiced the sacrifice of their children to fire to appease and appeal to their chief deity, Molech (meaning king). Israel, though strongly warned by the LORD never to follow this practice, did get involved with this savage form of idol worship. The LORD connects this practice to the profaning (polluting, defiling, desecrating) of His name. He proclaimed that this child sacrifice is something "which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind." (Jer. 19:5). It is not a "choice", but a exiling and profaning defilement.
Child murder, both before and after birth, practiced widely in this nation, defiles the individual, the land, and the name and character of God Himself. Many churches have shamefully partnered with secular government in agreeing with this most defiling behavior, as well as the other intimate defilements of body and soul mentioned in Leviticus. Is it any wonder that the very land upon which we have established our homes, our lives, and our livelihoods, is spewing us out most violently. We have become a defiled people, and we have defiled the land.
Even as the LORD instructed Israel not to be conformed to the ways of Egypt, out of which they were miraculously delivered, the Apostle Paul warns us not to be conformed to the ways and mindset of the world:
"I beseech ye, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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." Rom. 12:1-2
We are not to follow the pattern set by the world and its understanding, but we are to be changed into something else. This change comes by the renewing (renovation, demolishing the old and rotten, and rebuilding the new) of the mind. The only way to renew the mind is to do it with the washing of the Word of God (Eph. 5:26).
We as a nation, have consciously turned away from the judgments and ordinances of God, and turned to the pattern of the world. As a result of this, we have been taken captive by moral, ethical, and spiritual bankruptcy on a scale that we have never before seen. Again, the Apostle Paul warned that these are the consequences that follow when a people know God, have the proof of God all around them, but turn away from His Word and His ways, denying His truth:
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate (worthless, unapproved, unfit) mind, to do those things which are not convenient (becoming, fit). Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful..."
Not only do they do these things themselves, knowing it to be worthy of judgment, but they encourage others to join them in the behavior (Rom. 1:28-32). Again, these defiling behaviors are not just confined to the choice of an individual, but are spread to others.
The defilement begins in the mind, as Paul said, in the choices that the mind makes. Do we retain God in our knowledge? Are we transforming and renewing our minds in His Word? It is the foundation of our spiritual warfare:
"(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 though to the obedience of Christ, and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
2 Cor. 10:4-6
In these end times, we look for the prophesied event of the Antichrist exalting himself as God, against God, in the Temple of God, defiling it with the abomination of desecration, profaning His name. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and like the Antichrist, there are forces in the form of thoughts, reasonings, and imaginations that attempt to exalt themselves in, and defile this temple. If we, His people, humble ourselves, pray, turn away from those wicked things, seek His face, He will hear from heaven and heal our land (see 2 Chron. 7:14).
To Contact/Support the Ministry/Submit Prayer Requests/Order the new book, "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To Hear the Complete Message:
https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10211949556116076/
Special request:
If someone knows a child named Bethany, who needs healing in her body, please contact this ministry. This child's name has come forth in a word of knowledge to Dr. Stevenson, and we would like to send her a prayer cloth. Thank you.
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, forgive me, and fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
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