Michael The Disciple
09-20-2011, 01:43 AM
Hi All,
A very important topic is often neglected. The thought life of the disciple. Our inner life ought to be the same as the outer life. What men see on the outside should be the reflection of the inside. Many times this is not true!
What we THINK ABOUT inwardly is the true measure of who we are. Outward actions can fool men but not the Lord Jesus!
What should our thoughts be like?
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Tim. 4:15-16
If we meditate WHOLLY on the doctrine of Christ, our profiting will APPEAR to all.
To meditate is to think upon. If we are full of his word it will transform us into oneness with him.
2 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. 12:2
Those who meditate on the scriptures are the ones who CHANGE to be like him. Allowing worldliness to keep a stronghold in our mind will leave us carnal to the degree it still remains.
When one receives the Spirit he receives in a measure THE MIND OF CHRIST.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:12-16
We can have as much of his mind as we are willing to receive. If we allow our thought life to be CONTROLLED by Christ, soon we will be thinking the same thoughts he is thinking! Your opinions and judgments will be the same as his. Friends this is deeper discipleship. Being able to know Gods will. Being led of his Spirit. When our mind is one with his we can ask what we will and it shall be done! Why? Because our will is ONE with his.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
1 John 5:14-15
This is the true meaning of asking in Jesus name. It is asking AS HE WOULD ASK.
Also have you ever found yourself doing a certain thing and it turns out GOD WAS IN IT? That happens as we go about our lives and do things that HE is actually wanting us to do unconsciously. We are doing them simply because HE is doing them. Your mind has become his. At least for that moment of time.
Our inner life can and should become so much JESUS that we can say the same thing Paul said.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20
The life in Pauls flesh was the life of Christ. This was the standard he taught for all disciples to attain.
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph. 4:13-15
The disciple is to grow up into HIM in all things. This cannot happen without a sanctified mind. Only when we are willing to put on HIS mind are we ready for MATURE discipleship.
No wonder satan tells Christians, "Dont get TO spiritually minded"! If one just dabbles with consecration and holiness he does not mind.
What he fears is the disciple who comes to God and the scriptures with the attitude "I want all God has for me, both his holiness and his power, and I am willing to pay any price to get it"!
Friends it is what is INSIDE YOU that Jesus is observing. That is bad news for many! How FAR from Jesus do our minds get sometimes? When evil thoughts are entertained it is SIN.
God expects better things from his people. Should our minds be pure?
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 Peter 3:1
To have a consistently pure thought life is the key to seeing God.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matt. 5:8
A very important topic is often neglected. The thought life of the disciple. Our inner life ought to be the same as the outer life. What men see on the outside should be the reflection of the inside. Many times this is not true!
What we THINK ABOUT inwardly is the true measure of who we are. Outward actions can fool men but not the Lord Jesus!
What should our thoughts be like?
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 1 Tim. 4:15-16
If we meditate WHOLLY on the doctrine of Christ, our profiting will APPEAR to all.
To meditate is to think upon. If we are full of his word it will transform us into oneness with him.
2 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. 12:2
Those who meditate on the scriptures are the ones who CHANGE to be like him. Allowing worldliness to keep a stronghold in our mind will leave us carnal to the degree it still remains.
When one receives the Spirit he receives in a measure THE MIND OF CHRIST.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:12-16
We can have as much of his mind as we are willing to receive. If we allow our thought life to be CONTROLLED by Christ, soon we will be thinking the same thoughts he is thinking! Your opinions and judgments will be the same as his. Friends this is deeper discipleship. Being able to know Gods will. Being led of his Spirit. When our mind is one with his we can ask what we will and it shall be done! Why? Because our will is ONE with his.
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
1 John 5:14-15
This is the true meaning of asking in Jesus name. It is asking AS HE WOULD ASK.
Also have you ever found yourself doing a certain thing and it turns out GOD WAS IN IT? That happens as we go about our lives and do things that HE is actually wanting us to do unconsciously. We are doing them simply because HE is doing them. Your mind has become his. At least for that moment of time.
Our inner life can and should become so much JESUS that we can say the same thing Paul said.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal. 2:20
The life in Pauls flesh was the life of Christ. This was the standard he taught for all disciples to attain.
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph. 4:13-15
The disciple is to grow up into HIM in all things. This cannot happen without a sanctified mind. Only when we are willing to put on HIS mind are we ready for MATURE discipleship.
No wonder satan tells Christians, "Dont get TO spiritually minded"! If one just dabbles with consecration and holiness he does not mind.
What he fears is the disciple who comes to God and the scriptures with the attitude "I want all God has for me, both his holiness and his power, and I am willing to pay any price to get it"!
Friends it is what is INSIDE YOU that Jesus is observing. That is bad news for many! How FAR from Jesus do our minds get sometimes? When evil thoughts are entertained it is SIN.
God expects better things from his people. Should our minds be pure?
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 Peter 3:1
To have a consistently pure thought life is the key to seeing God.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matt. 5:8