2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude) so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
The above scripture is very familiar, to anyone who is hearing and reading the Word. Reading this Verse and classifying in as "just another scripture," is the very thing Paul says not to do. In Verse 1 of the same chapter, Paul writes about "making a decisive dedication of our bodies, as a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable and spiritual worship." We've fought against our bodies (our flesh) for centuries, in order to try and "make it" behave." Like a spoiled child, the body refuses to obey and simply continues on its own course.
We've never really understood the power of the mind (the soul), so we keep trying to deal with behavioral modification, by an extreme act of our will. We fail to realize though, that willpower also comes from the soul of man. The soul is made up of the mind, the will, the emotions and the intellect. In order to train the flesh (which is controlled by the brain), we must change the information we're putting into the brain. We must feed it with spiritual knowledge and understanding.
Man's soul has been man's only input of information, since Adam's fall in the Garden. When's man's spirit was severed from the Life of God, because of Adam's transgression, Godly Wisdom and guidance was absent. Man then, needed to learn how to live on his own and care for himself, with only his senses or soulish man. For centuries, the soul has held control and mastery over mankind. It was man's only source of life.
Adam's fall resulted in satan's controlling the things God had given to Adam (mankind) and satan became the god of this world. Man's knowledge derived from the wisdom of this world, which was under the control of the outlaw spirit (satan).
The world and the earth aren't to be used as though they are the same thing. What Paul refers to as "the world" or "this age," is the Babylonian system that satan established to control and enslave mankind. This was an academic system that denied God and forced man into a dependence on that system. Satan was the puppet master or god over this system. He positioned his generals and dignitaries over every city, state and nation, in order to control, manipulate and force his will upon the people. Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified) says, "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents) but against the despotisms, against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
Man's natural, unrenewed mind has been controlled by the world's system, that it has adapted and adopted it. The untrained mind has accepted this as being, "The way it's supposed to be." When we are born-again, we again, become part of the Spirit realm of God. Our spirit has now been placed in communication again, with spirit things, as well as what we were taught before. The training we received as mere men, is in direct opposition to the Spiritual Truth and Wisdom of God. We struggle to make sense, out of our new Christianity and the things happening to us in our new creation persons. Our minds have been trained against God's Kingdom, so it's difficult to understand God's will or His purpose in our lives.
The carnal, unrenewed mind of the world will always in opposition to the Truth of God's Word and His will, because satan is still controlling the world system. In order for satan to maintain control of God's children, he must convince a Christian's unrenewed mind that the same lies are true.
Now, when satan brought sickness and disease upon men, he only changed the lies he used. He told us that, "God is using these things to teach you" and because we were unlearned and untrained in God's Wisdom, we continued living like we did before being born-again. We accepted and blamed God for the heartaches and calamities that befell us, just like nothing had changed in our lives.
We became like those James writes about in James 1:8 (Amplified), saying, "(For being as he is) a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute) (he is) unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything (he thinks, feels, and decides)." Paul said that "our warfare was with Spiritual wickedness and demonic power and demonic rulers of this present age." Many in the Church still seem unwilling or unable to believe that satan has anything a man, after he has been born-again. Many teach that satan can only operate in a Christian's life, with God's consent and approval.
Now you can see the necessity of renewing your mind and not being adapted to this age (or world's) way of thinking. If you spend time speaking with other Christians, then you'll witness how diffuse and double minded they are, concerning the Father's will for us. You will then understand why the Church doesn't have much faith in deliverance and victory. Most of cannot differentiate between the Father and the enemy. Some say that the devil puts things on us, in order to kill us. Others says that God is the One putting these things on us, in order to teach us. How is the Church to be anything other than double-minded, uncertain and unreliable in what we feel, think and decide, when we're being taught such differing things?
If we go to learn about the Father from the world, then we are asking to be deceived. It's like being puppets, in the puppet master's hands and allowing the enemy to continue orchestrating the play.
Your new creation spirit man is once again in contact with the Father and filled with His Spirit. Wisdom and Truth are now made available to every believer. There are only two sources of wisdom available to us. One Source comes from Above, while the other is the wisdom of the world and they are in complete opposition. James 3:13-17,18 (Amplified) says, "Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? then let him by his noble living show forth his (good) works with the (unobtrusive) humility (which is the proper attitude) of true wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambitions) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth. This (superficial) wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal) even devilish (demonic) For wherever there is jealousy, envy, contention (rivalry and selfish ambition) there will be confusion, unrest, disharmony, rebellion and all sorts of evil and vile practices. But the Wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled) then it is peace-loving, courteous, considerate, gentle (It is willing to) yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; It is whole hearted and straight forward, impartial, and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity)." Verse 18 continues, "And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God's will in thought and deed) is (the fruit of the Seed) sown in peace by those who work for and make peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals with undisturbedness (in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts)."
"Wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore, get Wisdom, and with all your getting, get understanding."
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