God wants you to grow up (4)
The mind is the door through which the message of salvation is received. This makes the mind a very important factor in the journey of spiritual growth. See how Apostle Paul puts this:
2 Corinthians 4:3-4:
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
This is the state of a person who has not believed the gospel, the God of this world has blinded his mind. Therefore, when we preach the gospel, we shine light into such a mind, the veil and closed vision is taken off. We torch hearts.
We can also see the same thing in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”
We pull down strongholds – these are all imaginations that happen in the mind of the unsaved when we preach the gospel. Since the imaginations are in the mind, the pulling down also is in the mind and our weapon is the message of the gospel. Repentance also takes place in the mind.
Repentance simply refers to a change in one’s way of thinking.
It is from the word ‘Metanoia’. “Meta” meaning to change and “noia” meaning to think. We see it used in (Acts 2:38, 5:31 Luke 15:7, 24:47)
Repentance is to see clearly and turn around.
We can see that salvation is a function of the mind, and if it is, then spiritual growth follows that same pattern all through. That’s why we feed our minds with the knowledge of our nature which is in our Spirit, not with unnecessary jamborees that can be readily got from men without the spirit.
The church hence is a place where we come to grow and a place where we keep thinking. A place where we come to renew our minds again and again.
In conclusion, spiritual growth is a deliberate action not automatic, it initially happens in the mind and reflects on our conduct. Right thinking produces the right actions.
The believer must decide and desire to grow, to always come to church, which is the ground and pillar of truth.
1Tim. 3:15; But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
The church is referred to as the mainstay for truth, where the word is received, and where the mind is fed. Quite vitally, we must always put a check on ourselves. Ask yourself, “WHAT IS ACTUALLY THE DOMINANT KNOWLEDGE IN MY LIFE?”
If it’s not the knowledge of the word, then that would not count for spiritual growth. Our minds affect our conduct, so we must always feed the mind with what is best for spiritual growth, which is the word of God. That would mean not forgetting and always acting on the word – who you are and what you have. You are that perfect man, born of the incorruptible which is the precious blood of Jesus through the resurrection.
Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Bible Reading – 2 Samuel 19-20
TEACHING OF THE DAY
Different Kinds of Miracles (1)