Posts Tagged ‘mind’

Reason 4: So that the word of God abides in you

” So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32, ESV)

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7, ESV)

“I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” (1 John 2:14, ESV)

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;” (1 Peter 1:22-23, ESV)

The word of God is an abiding word (1 Peter 1:23). The word of God is truth (Romans 10:17) and brings about the new birth (1 Peter 1:23) and brings faith (Romans 10:17) and enables us to overcome the evil one (1 John 2:14, see also Reason 3 of Reasons to Memorize Scripture).  Although memorizing scripture is one method of to have the word of God abide in you, it is not and should not be considered the only means to abide in the word. By nature abiding in the word of God includes spending time in it through reading, mediation, and study.

The abiding word of God brings us within reach of a few of Jesus’ promises. There are a few different kinds of promises. Some are unconditional like when God appeared to Abram and promised to give his offspring the land, while other promises are conditional like when Jesus say’s “if” you abide in my word then ask whatever you wish or then you are truly my disciples. The promise Jesus gives us is a conditional promise. He will not give the result of the promises unless we meet the required condition.

It is important to understand what the promise is. Often times people will create a false promise by taking a verse out of the context of the passage. In the case John 8:31, the promise of abiding in His word, is that we are His disciples. That is important but it does not stop there. It continues to say that we will know the truth and will be set free by the truth. Unless we abide in the word, we are not disciples and we will not know the truth or be set free by the truth. Additionally, John 15:7 indicates that if we abide in the word we can ask God whatever we wish and it will be done for us. Taken out of context this verse fits almost any bad theology. Therefore, we must keep reading. Verse 8 say’s “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” The asking whatever you wish is directly related to bearing fruit and glorifying God the Father. If we abide in the word our desires will be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:1-2) so that we can bear much fruit. The asking is for the bearing of much fruit.

Memorizing Scripture will help us to abide in the word of God when we are living our daily lives, running errands, having conversation at work, in a meeting, paying bills, going to the hospital, and reading the test results. If we want to bear much fruit, be disciples, fight sin, defeat Satan and love one another we must abide in the word.

Abiding in the word,

Pastor Ray

Reason 2: The word of God brings hope.

” My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:81, ESV)

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:114, ESV)

“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.” (Psalm 119:147, ESV)

Psalms 119 is one of my favorite chapters in the bible. It is the longest chapter in the bible and it is the longest sustained meditation and praise of God’s word in the bible. For those of you who struggle with the desire to read the bible, or memorize scripture, or meditate on God’s word, or have never read Psalm 119; I highly commend it to you.

The word of God is hope. It is our hope in the time of trouble, trial, pain, suffering, anxiety, decision making, triumph, joy, weakness and strength. The word of God guards our heart from fainting in times of weakness and satisfies the soul when longing for eternity with Jesus. Time spent in the bible, the word of God is sure to be the best investment of our day. We should be memorizing everyday so that when we are at work, school, around the house, on the phone, in a meeting, driving the car, or on the ferry we are able to depend on the promises of God given in his word. Scripture sustains us, but only when we have it with us. If the word is not with us to sustain us, we will substitute God’s word with something else. It is impractical to open the bible every time you need it. However, memorized scripture is always there when you need it. Memorized scripture never fails, it always strengthens!

In need of more memorized scripture,

Pastor Ray

Reason 1: It helps you meditate on Scripture.

As I have been working and memorizing the first part of Ephesians, I spent a significant amount of time with verse one. Not because it is difficult to memorize, rather it is because when memorizing you spend more time in what you are memorizing.  Therefore, when memorizing Scripture we are better enabled to meditate on the word of God, which helps us to understand a word, verse, passage, chapter, book and the Bible. Meditation is required to memorize. You must spend time thinking about, repeating and perhaps writing the words you are memorizing. To memorize we are forced to slow down and this allows us to see things we generally pass over.

Perhaps you may be encouraged to hear my experience with verse one and seek for similar experiences. This one verse is profound. When you slow down you may be impacted the way I am. Read and think about the first part of the verse.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God… Eph 1:1

Paul was an apostle because of the will of God, no other reason; and certainly not because of Paul. Now, put yourself there. Ray a Pastor of Christ Jesus, by the will of God. _________ a disciple of Christ Jesus by the will of God. Contemplate your testimony, trails, pains, struggles, and your circumstances. Now praise the Lord for who you are, where you are and what you are, because you are what you are by the grace of God. 1 Corinthians 15:10

Praying for you all,

Pastor Ray

In the introduction to Proverbs (chapter 1, verses 2-7), Solomon shares the purpose for his wisdom text, the audience he believes would benefit from his wisdom text, and the source of any knowledge he may possess.

As for purpose, Proverbs is written so that the reader may “know wisdom and instruction” and “understand words of insight.” The stated categories of instruction are “wise dealings, righteousness, justice, and equity.” This collection of wisdom sayings becomes very practical in the transformational process of “renewing your mind.”

The target audience for Proverbs would be the simple, the youth, the wise, and the one who understands. Solomon realized the multiple layers of insight available in these inspired words. A person may gain benefit in every developmental stage of their life. No one is too immature or too mature to profit from exposure to this wisdom text.

Solomon also realized the source of his own wisdom. Verse seven states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.”  Those that don’t fear the LORD won’t benefit from these sayings because they are fools and despise wisdom and instruction.

I believe these same principles apply to all of God’s written Word; Paul describes it as the “All Scripture is profitable” concept when he writes to Timothy. Let’s all be “God-fearers” and allow the Word to transform us.

 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV)

Christmas often brings up anxious thoughts and feelings. Paul’s teaching may assist you during this “Peace on Earth” season; he reminds all of us how God wishes to be with us and to guard our hearts and minds. Practice rejoicing and demonstrating a thankful attitude, combined with true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praise-worthy thoughts. May the God of peace be with you!

 A quick search of Scripture for the words “mind, meaning, believe, truth, understanding, know,” and “knowledge,” yields over 3,000 separate references. God’s Word has much to say about our minds. At times, I look in the Bible and wonder how the disciples could miss obvious meaning in words spoken by Jesus Christ. In Luke 18:31-33 the Twelve are specifically told of the approaching death of Jesus, but we are informed that they didn’t understand any of what was said. “Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” (How often is the meaning of God’s Word hidden from us?)

After the resurrection and all the rumors of Christ being alive again, the disciples received another opportunity to hear the teaching of the Messiah. Luke 24:44-45 says, “He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”  Christ then reminded them of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit from the Father, and told them to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they were clothed with power.

The beauty of worshiping God in spirit and in truth is that God is the originator of both. Pray that he will open our minds to the understanding of the Scripture, and that he will clothe us with power to do his will and bring him glory.

Pastor Steve recently mentioned that the world doesn’t always see a difference between Christians and non-christians. Are we truly changed beings, or just a social club pretending to be different?

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

Are we collectively imitating Christ or the world? What evidence could be compiled to convict AICF of either of those alternatives?  Which sins do we identify as “not that bad” or “just a little thing?” Are we sold out and radically changed into His likeness?

I praise God for the progess He has made in us; I pray that He will continue to change us more and more.