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Two Minds?

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1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

This is a profound promise. It’s truly intriguing when you compare 1 Corinthians 2:16 with Romans 12:2. Romans 12:2 states: 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],….

Since we have the Mind of Jesus according to the promise of 1 Corinthians 2 why do we need to renew our minds, or our thought processes? How can a born-again, follower of Jesus have the perfect, untainted mind of Jesus and have a mind that needs to be transformed (metamorphosised), and renewed to the Mind of Christ? James 1:8 echoes this: [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything…To make matters worse the Apostle Paul states: Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].7 [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot. In this passage in Romans 8:6-7 Paul states that not only do we have the Mind of Christ, we have the Mind of the Holy Spirit. In fact verse seven states in some translations that the mind of the flesh or soul is at enmity with God. It’s at war with God, hostile toward God, and is His enemy.

How can this be? According to the Bible you can deduce we are triune in similar ways the Godhead is Triune. We consist of body, soul, and spirit. Now I can’t speak for you but my experience has shown that even after I know I have been born-again, and have a personal relationship with the Godhead, I have done, and said things that were not Christ-like. How can this be? I have Jesus living in me. One day my body is going to die. Does that mean Jesus dies with my body or is there a more powerful explanation to the paradox? I have experienced some pretty demonic, dark, and evil thoughts in my mind and at times those thoughts seem to override anything I know in Scripture, and seemingly even Jesus Himself. How can this be since Jesus lives in me? Other questions arise: How can one be a born-again follower of Jesus and still be sick: mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically? The answer is simple when you include the trichotomy of man: body, soul and spirit. My spirit possesses the Mind of Christ; it is sanctified, saintly, and holy; its seated in heavenly places with Jesus; it is not guilty, washed in the Blood of Jesus; brought to life through Jesus. BUT my soul fights against the things of God; houses unclean things; needs the transforming power of the Spirit and the Word. The mind of my soul needs to come into conformity to the Spirit and Word of God. But not the mind of my spirit.

So what is the solution to this paradox? 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. To know Jesus and Him crucified is more than knowing the facts of Jesus’ Crucifixion. It is to know the crucified life Jesus was born into and lived every day of His human existence. To know this aspect of Jesus is to seek to live it. In other words to be crucified with Jesus; or to pick up your cross daily and live the crucified life with Him. To embrace the Truths of His Word by putting them into practice and obeying them – all of them. Quite simply if you were to disregard the “Thou Shalt Not’s” and make your focus the “Thou Shalts” you will have plenty of opportunities to die with Jesus, and see that soulish, rebellious mind submit to the Mind of Jesus. The good news? Resurrection awaits each death and you never out give God. You reap what you sow into: soul or spirit. You become more fully alive spiritually to Jesus, Who has lived, and in some respects presently living the crucified life. (He is still long-suffering for us in prayer)

Christmas Dishes

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Romans 1:5-7 It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favor) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the nations,6 And this includes you, called of Jesus Christ and invited [as you are] to belong to Him.7 To [you then] all God’s beloved ones in Rome, called to be saints and designated for a consecrated life: Grace and spiritual blessing and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jackie Hill Perry, from Outreach Magazine writes: There’s a sermon by Pastor Tony Evans in which he uses an illustration involving dishes to make sense of the term “holy” or “sanctified”. In his home, there are two types of dishes. There are the regular dishes. Those dishes that contain the average meal, on normal days, for your ordinary and unimpressive breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some of them are chipped, maybe even cracked. Then there is another type of dish. These dishes don’t even see the light of day until a tall green tree with multicolored lights flicker. Something significant has to be happening under the roof to make their use a necessity. When all is normal again, the multi-colored lights are unplugged, the wrapping paper collected, and the guests have finally gotten up from the table – these “Christmas” dishes, after being cleaned, aren’t placed in the cabinets with the normal, average, unimpressive dishes. No, absolutely not. They’re placed in an entirely different cabinet, that may be in an entirely different room, separated from everything unlike them because there is nothing in the house like them. They are set apart, unique, different, other, distinct, cut off from what’s considered common. To put it metaphorically, these dishes are “holy.”

Called to be saints? The word saint comes from a root word from which we obtain our word “sanctify”. To be sanctified is to be set apart, and holy. What does it mean to be holy? To be above average, uniquely different from all that is normal, average, and expected. We refer to God as being Holy, and obviously He is above average, and uniquely different from all that is normal, average and expected. But guess what? Because of Jesus’ Blood, and anyone who trust’s in what it accomplishes, God sees them as holy, sanctified, saints. In fact I can confidently say, Saint Robert is writing these words to Saint (whomever is reading this – that is trusting in Jesus’ Blood). It’s not our confidence, or trust in our performance that distinguishes us as such. No, absolutely not. It’s our ongoing confidence, and trust in what Jesus did on the cross that qualifies, verifies, and validates us. Notice I say, ongoing. It’s not simply a past tense event. It’s an ongoing process till you see Jesus face to face. You weren’t simply saved from your past. You are in the process of being saved. The same can be said of sanctification.

Sanctified, set apart to Who or what? Well obviously to the Godhead: the Father, the Son – Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (He is not an IT). But there is more: Romans 1:17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith. You, and I, like Christmas dishes, are set apart to grow in faith, through faith, leading to more faith. If you believe in Jesus’ Blood you believe in what that Blood is doing for you, and in you. When you believe that – trust that – you seek to be sanctified, and you grow in faith, through faith, leading to more faith. One compliments the other. Like His Christmas dishes you are set aside to display the Bread and Water of Life – Jesus. During the Christmas season the atmosphere shifts and changes. People change reflecting the reminder of the reason for the season. Now the question becomes, What do you believe about Jesus, His Blood, and His cross? The deeper that work goes the greater the faith grows. Is your faith growing? Are you growing – spiritually? Is your way of thinking aligning more and more with the Word of God? Is your life becoming centered progressively around Jesus? Progressively centered around His Word? Then you can look at yourself in the mirror and say, Hello saint of Jesus. Merry Christmas!

Happy Yom Kippur!

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What is Yom Kippur? The Bible refers to it as the Day of Atonement or becoming “at-one-in a moment” with God. An article on the website of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews reminds us, in more detail, why Yom Kippur was instituted by God. It states: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the Jewish year and is the culmination of the High Holy Days. In 2024, the observance of Yom Kippur starts at sunset on October 11 and concludes on the evening of October 12. In Jewish tradition, Yom Kippur marks the final opportunity to repent before God before the Book of Life is sealed for another year. This day marks the culmination of the High Holy Days or Ten Days of Repentance, which began ten days earlier with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur offers Jews the final opportunity of the holy season to repent of their sins. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year or, as the Bible describes it, the “Sabbath of Sabbaths.” The Bible states, “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or an alien living among you—because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance” (Leviticus 16:29–32).

The Yom Kippur Goats

“Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats — one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.” — Leviticus 16:7–8 Today, Yom Kippur is marked with a day of fasting and worship in the synagogue. However, when the Temple stood, the people observed an elaborate service, culminating when a red thread representing the sins of Israel would miraculously turn white when they were forgiven. The service that once took place in the Temple was based on the commandments regarding two goats. Today, we only read about that service; however, it is imperative that we understand the meaning behind this ritual. Once we do, we can still benefit from the message. The Bible instructed the High Priest to select two goats and then cast lots to determine each one’s fate. By way of the lots, God would determine which goat would be consecrated to Him and which would become the scapegoat sent into the desert to die. The commandment required that the two goats be identical in appearance, size, and value. These goats would look like twins – the same on the outside – but their destinies would be completely different.

A Reminder of Jacob and Esau

The idea of twins that are opposite in nature is familiar in the Bible. Although twins, Jacob and Esau could not have been more different. Ultimately, as adults, they took very different paths in life, and Jacob became the father of God’s people while Esau became the father of Amalek – the nation designated by the Bible as God’s archenemy. The twin goats on Yom Kippur are meant to remind us of Esau and Jacob. The message of the twin goats is that while their appearance may fool men, there is no fooling God. He only determines their appropriate fate. “People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). On Yom Kippur, we have an incredible opportunity for forgiveness. But in order for that to happen, we must admit our errors and resolve to be better. We can only do that if we are willing to uncover our greatest shortcomings and confront our hidden vices. We can fool others and even ourselves, but there is no deceiving God. Yom Kippur is a time to come clean. We need to take an honest look inside the places that only we can see. We have to determine where we have gone wrong and make amends. Only then can God cleanse us of our sins.

Through Jesus we are no longer under obligation to observe most of the Feasts and Festivals (Sukkot or Tabernacles will be celebrated during the Millennial Reign of Jesus). The Old Testament sacrifices were never enough to rid the people of the stain of sin and guilt from their hearts, nor did they have the power to change hearts. Hebrews 10:1-10 echoes this thought: For since the Law has merely a rude outline (foreshadowing) of the good things to come—instead of fully expressing those things—it can never by offering the same sacrifices continually year after year make perfect those who approach [its altars].2 For if it were otherwise, would [these sacrifices] not have stopped being offered? Since the worshipers had once for all been cleansed, they would no longer have any guilt or consciousness of sin.3 But [as it is] these sacrifices annually bring a fresh remembrance of sins [to be atoned for], 4 Because the blood of bulls and goats is powerless to take sins away.5 Hence, when He [Christ] entered into the world, He said, Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but instead You have made ready a body for Me [to offer];6 In burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no delight. 7 Then I said, Behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O God—[to fulfill] what is written of Me in the volume of the Book.8 When He said just before, You have neither desired, nor have You taken delight in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings—all of which are offered according to the Law—9 He then went on to say, Behold, [here] I am, coming to do Your will. Thus He does away with and annuls the first (former) order [as a means of expiating sin] so that He might inaugurate and establish the second (latter) order.10 And in accordance with this will [of God], we have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ (the Anointed One). AMPC

What does this mean for you and I? Romans 3:23-25 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. 24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. AMPC

Jesus made atonement for our sins – making us one with God in a Moment! Jesus’ perfect sacrifice has reconciled all of us, who were enemies of God, to being rightly related to God. Jesus has made peace between God, the Father and all those who are willing to receive and trust God’s Gift of His Son. Paul reminds us that because of Jesus reconciling us to God you and I have been given a ministry and mandate to seek out others who need Jesus’ Atonement and be reconciled to God: 2 Corinthians 5:18 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]. AMPC

Today we are reminded to give thanks for all the wonderful blessings Jesus’ Atonement has secured for us; to be reconciled to God through repenting of thoughts and actions that are an offense to God; to be reconciled to others, making a fresh commitment to seek to bring others into harmony with God (it’s our ministry). Set aside time today to seek God and draw near to Him, and as a reminder realize this is the day we are to Come Up Here in order to enter His Throne Room to worship, and seek Him for what is to come for the new year.

Confession & Declaration 19

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Just as a review. We have learned how we overcome satan the accuser, through the Blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony. This testimony of what the Blood has done reveals how we overcome satan as the devil, dragon, serpent, seducer, and accuser. 

Next we have been learning how the Blood secures for us cleansing – which is continually washing away your sins – past, present and future; propitiation, and atonement, having been brought near to the Mercy Seat of Jesus; justified – made as if you’ve never sinned, guiltless, innocent, and you’ve been freed from the power of sin; fellowship with the Godhead, and a co-sharing with all They are; you’ve been brought into the Eternal Now where your past and future have been severed by the Now of the Blood of Jesus; redeemed, ransomed, and purchased back from satan, death, hell, sin and the grave. You’ve been let go from imprisonment, and your debt has been paid; brought near and into His embrace reconciling you to do the good works Jesus does, brought into Israel’s covenant promises, tearing down the dividing wall between you and Him; Peace, and harmony have been restored between God the Father and you. You have  been reconciled to God, and now have entered God’s Shalom and Rest; your conscience has been cleansed and purified. All your guilt, shame and condemnation has been washed away; you have entered into a covenant with Jesus which has been sealed by His Blood, a new creation, and a living scroll or letter of the covenant you’ve made; you enter the Father’s Presence through holding fast your confession about the Blood; you are being saved (sozo) in mind, body, will and emotions; and you have been made complete – strengthened, perfected, and the way you ought to be. 

Now let me introduce you to a new thing which has happened as a result of Jesus’ Precious Blood: Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city’s] gate in order that He might purify and consecrate the people through [the shedding of] His own blood and set them apart as holy [for God]. 

At this point we need to be reminded you of two things: we are to be transformed in our thinking, and overcome the enemy through our confessing. The two things: transformed thinking and communication. Proverbs 23:7 states: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. And that is our problem. What we think in our heart comes out of our mouths sealing the deal. What’s even scarier is the devil and his demons believe this more than you and I. You and I have to get our thinker and feeler to coincide with the Truth. Remember Truth is a Person! His Name is Jesus.

My goal has been to write these confessions, and declarations in order that you might reset your thinking, and talking. To get you back to the Garden. Back to who God made you to be in the first place. You were made for more and you haven’t understood the treasure you are to Christ. We need to begin fighting forward to the Victory that has already been secured by Christ and His Blood.

Thus along with all the other riches found in our salvation – you have been made sanctified or holy. This is really amazing you’ve been rendered sacred, hallowed, and consecrated to God. You and I have been separated from the common things and have been dedicated to Jesus – for His purposes. Involved in this meaning is the word reformed. You have not only been reborn – you have been reformed, cleansed, washed clean and made holy. You are holy. I dare you to say that out loud. Say: I am holy by the Blood of Jesus!  Doesn’t that feel weird in your mouth? Let’s declare it.

Declaration 19: Almighty God, and Righteous Savior, again I stand amazed. How could you love me this much? Yet, You went to the cross for me to make me appear before You holy. I am holy by the Blood of Jesus – my Lamb, and my God. I am holy. It sounds so weird to say it but yet you are transforming me even as we speak. You are “metamorpho- sizing” me. You are changing me into Your image. Thank You Jesus! You have sanctified, consecrated, hallowed and made me sacred to You, for your purposes. I overcome the accuser of the brothers through this fact that I belong to Jesus, and He is using me for His purposes. I’ve been separated from all that is common and ordinary – dedicated to Jesus. I am holy by the Precious Blood of the Lamb! And Lord Jesus I rededicate my self to You. Grant me Your Grace and the Power of Your Spirit to rise above the ordinary, and mundane; to be uniquely different from all that is average, ordinary, and plain. I don’t want to go through the motions any more. I don’t want to be a casual Christian. Baptize me afresh, and anew in Your Spirit so that I burn with Holy Fire. Be the Fuel to my flame. I love You Jesus. Thank You so much. Again, and again, thank You!

Who’s Your One: Day 15 Monday, January 27