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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

RENEWING YOUR MIND

The Word of God says thus,

"I beseech you 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." ~ Romans 12:1-2

And it also says,

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." ~ Ephesians 4:23-24

And so...

In order to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God you’ve got to get rid of (Put Off) your pessimistic way of thinking and study the Word of God prayerfully daily in order to attain (Put On) an optimistic way of thinking. I know it’s easier to say than do but if we “WWJD.” (Walk with Jesus Daily) we’d learn through Him (The Living Word) His way of thinking.

Then the next time you ask yourself, “WWJD?” (What would Jesus Do?) You’ll know that enough is truly not enough because Jesus’ way of thinking will provide you with a more than enough mentality and way of living. Therefore, your way of thinking will be transformed from a carnal mind (conformed to the world) to a spiritual mind from a drifty, condemned and spacey mind to a renewed mind which is fellowship with God-minded controlled (thinking of God's promises and thoughts).

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, our real struggle with sin is exposed each and every single time we bounce it against the Word of God. Jesus pointed out what kind of lives would be required of his followers in the way He lived His life here on earth.

Are you living as Jesus taught?

Allow me to rightly divide it for you with six simple verses from the Logos, like so: It’s not enough to avoid killing, we must also avoid anger and hatred (Matthew 5:21-22 - Murder). It’s not enough to Offer regular gifts with God and others we must also have right relationships (Matthew 5:23-26 – Offerings). It’s not enough to avoid adultery; we must also Keep our hearts from lusting and be faithful, (Matthew 5:27-30 - Adultery). It’s not enough to be legally married; we must also live out our marriage commitments, (Matthew 5:31-32 - Divorce). It’s not enough to make an oath we must also avoid casual and irresponsible commitments to God (Matthew 5:33-37 - Oaths). It’s not enough to seek justice for ourselves we must also Show mercy and love to others (Matthew 5:38-47 - Revenge). You see, we are, more often than not, guilty of avoiding the extreme sins while regularly committing the types of sins with which Jesus was most concerned.

Still confused? (Too much meat)

Good news, I’ve “Got milk?” (Simplified)

It’s as simple a moving an object from “Point A” to “Point B”, or “From and to” not “not to and fro”

Here’s how as follow:

From a Unbelief Minded to a Faith/Victory Minded
From a Carnally Ruled to a Disciplined
From a Worldly Minded to a Reward Minded (seeking God with our thoughts)
From a Lazy Mind to a Word-Conscious Mind
From a Sin Minded to a Righteousness Minded
From a Weak-Willed to a Strong and Determined
From a Grudge Minded to a Forgiveness Minded
From a Passive to a Optimistic
From a Revenge Minded to a Love Minded
From a Idle to a Retrained
From a Un-Worked to a Reprogrammed
From a Self-Pleasing, People-Pleasing Minded to a God Pleasing Minded
From a Untrained to a Jesus minded (praise thoughts and thankful minded)
From a Negative to a Positive/Hopeful
From a Failure Conscious to a Success Conscious
From a Defeated to a Victorious
From a Distracted to a Focused
From a Unstable to a Stable
From a Griping, Critical and Judgmental Minded to a Restructured (both intellectually and emotionally)

And in doing so you’ll be transformed from a devil-controlled mind and into a God-controlled mind (God-controlled mind that supports your spirit man in your walk with God)

Amen.

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About Me

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I'm just, a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about Somebody who can save anybody. First I want to give love to the Father for giving me the opportunity to be an instrument for him to live in and live through for the glory that belongs to only him and Him alone. I served in the United States Navy for twenty one years and retired September 2003. During the last 3 years of my naval career, I served as co-pastor of Greater New Refuge COGIC in Fallon, Nevada under the tutelage of Pastor Gregory L. Brown. While there, I diligently served my pastor and church with the construction of a new sanctuary, and caring for the needs of all ministries, while simultaneously striving to stay focused on the mandate that the Lord had placed upon my life to preach the Word of God without compromise. I was licensed to preach November 2002 and Ordained June 2003. While stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I proudly served and as constituent of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for seventeen years under the leadership of Bishop Elect W. D. Scott, Sr. and presently serve under the leadership of Bishop B. Courtney McBath at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, Virginia.

MY THEOLOGICAL TRAINING:

It brings to my face a unadulterated smile each and every occasion I am asked, “Elder Dre, What Theological Training do you have?”

My heart beams with joy at the opportunity to humbly give full glory to God as I reflect on on how the prophets, patriarchs and apostles of old would have respond: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, King David, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Matthew, Mark, Peter, James, John and the other disciples, not forgetting the Saviour Himself.

How would they have answered the question: “What theological training do you have?”

The words of the prophet Amos also came to mind: “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:” Amos 7:14

I surely am not impliedly decrying theological preparation, education or training: I consider it essential, but not as much as some think. For the fact is, the Almighty raises up believers according to His own standards.

Educational qualifications, wealth, fame, talent, social standing, outward appearance etc. are useful; but they are secondary in His sight. Qualities like faith, obedience, holiness, humility, honesty, absolute loyalty to one’s spouse, the ability to raise one’s family to fear God and keep His commandments etc.; these are the things the Most High values.

“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Only on the Day of Judgment will it be known how truly educated, weighty and effective I have been. That is why I have to smile when the question arise.

The vanity of the question is only matched by the foolishness of my answer.

As the wise man wrote: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1: 2 or as the apostle Paul commented in 2 Corinthians 11:16-30 when rattling off a long list of impressive qualifications “... I speak as a fool.”

Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 1 John 4:14-15 (NLT)

I am a preacher, but most of all, I proclaim that Jesus is the Savior with various applications of that truth in my everyday life. My dear friend, if you are a Christian, you are a preacher also. Whether you have been ordained or not, hired by a church or not, or ever been recognized as a preacher or not is beside the point. All who have God living in them are called to proclaim the Savior to the world. It is a Holy calling, and a demanding one. It will pull you out of your comfort zone, challenge your commitment, and help to develop you into the person God has created you to be.

John spoke as an eyewitness to Jesus' saving power. We speak as heart-witnesses; ones who have not seen Jesus with our eyes, but have experienced Him through personal transformation. I speak, and you speak, as a representative of Christ on earth. The message that we bring is simple, yet profound; that God the Father sent God the Son into the world to save those who are lost to bring them into relationship with Him. As you tell the story, and I tell the story, some will listen and receive the grace that God has sent us into the world to proclaim.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, what a privilege to be a spokesperson for You.

Thank you for stopping by. Stay encouraged and please do come back.