The Mind of Christ.
For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. (1 2:16 NLT)
Matthew 17:1-13
The Transfiguration
1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and do not be afraid.8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?11 Jesus answered and said to them, Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 2:4-7
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
The requirement for transformation is faith (trust)
We already have the mind of Christ.
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 3:8 NKJV)
Your Identity in Christ.
Where the devil attacks you, realize that is their tactic. Usually, it is something that they get the most foothold on you, keeping you from growing in that area.
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28 NKJV)
We were created to subdue satan, the third of angels, and the demonic host outside the garden.
To subdue is to violently overtake and put something under our dominion.
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 3:8 NKJV)
Jesus came with the authority that we forfeited in the garden; only, he walked in it, not giving up that authority. Therefore, he disarmed all powers and principalities and made a spectacle of them. He reset us into the identity that we had to begin with. The sin nature was not a part of us at creation. It came from outside the garden.
We have been reset to Genesis 1 status through what Jesus did on the cross.
We were created to walk in close intimate relationship with God and to subdue the enemy.
We are designed to constantly take ground by putting more love into people, therefore disarming the enemy.
We are not meant to dwell in one place, geographically, and physically.
Genesis 11:1-9
The Tower of Babel
1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.3 Then they said to one another, Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly. They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.4 And they said, Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.6 And the Lord said, Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one anothers speech.8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21 NKJV)
As God sent Jesus to do, now we can do. We are in Christ. Our identity is in Christ. The position the Father has reserved for Jesus is the same exact permission He has for us.
We are only built to be offensive players. We are supposed to make the devil anxious, fearful, worried, etc. Everything he tries to put onto us, we are meant to put onto him.
With a lack of identity, we accept what he gives us. In our identity, we have full authority to tell him to shut up, go away, and subdue him.
We set people free by showing them the love of God. We can express patience, and be fighting the enemy.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)
The more fruits of the spirit that we live in, the more we remind the devil what he lost. We use these as the weapons of warfare to destroy the devil’s kingdom.
Angels do the work of God. We get to exercise God’s will. We get to be like God.
As we walk in peace, for example, we help others to walk in God’s peace, taking ground. Another person gets to express and give away the kingdom of God. We destroy the devil’s kingdom by living in the fruits of the spirit in our identity.
Put to use what Jesus died to give us. We don’t have to try to “do”. We just have to look at who we ALREADY ARE!!!!!!!
Remind the devil of his place. Subdue him by walking in the realization of who you are!!
As we gain ground with victories in parts of our lives, show others how to punk the devil as well. It takes his kingdom away part by part.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)
Faith
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)
So faith comes from hearing,that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. (Romans 10:17 NLT)
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:1, 3-5 NLT)
Jesus is the word of God
Faith comes by hearing the word of God
As you read the word, it is Christ being unlocked.
Replace the word “faith” with Jesus.
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NLT)
Bearing Each Other’s burdens
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. (Galatians 6:1-5 NLT)
The burden is the process of our minds being renewed in who we already are in Christ: righteous, holy, seated in heavenly places. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to do this.
A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give Me a drink.8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.10 Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.11 The woman said to Him, Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?13 Jesus answered and said to her, Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.15 The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.
(John 4:7-15 NLT)
Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit.
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, `Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.) (John 7:37-39 NLT)
What Jesus prophesied was fulfilled, which means we should never be thirsty. We have become the fountain of water.
Why do we thirst spiritually?
When we go through the “wilderness” season, we have the living water we can drink from. We can fellowship with the Holy Spirit. The key is believing, and living by faith, not by sight.
It is our job to remind others that they have water to drink from. This is what it is to bear each other’s burdens.
It is important to God to bear each other’s burdens, and we get built up in doing so.
Anointing
Also Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. (Leviticus 8:10 NKJV)
Anointing sets apart and allows it to be in the Holy Place.
The anointing is the Holy Spirit.
The deception is that we are not like God. On the contrary, we are like God because of what Jesus did. Therefore, the Holy Spirit indwells in us.
The temple (tabernacle/Holy of Holieys) transformed from a building to a person. Us. The process was the anointing. Being set apart as holy unto the Lord.
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.6 But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast.7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.8 For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant.9 Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed.10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
(Isaiah 61:1-11 NKJV)
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8 NKJV)
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20 NKJV)
If you can live in the anointing of peace, you will be reminded that satan is under your feet, and will see this in the correct perspective.
Our Lot in Life as a Believer
And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:6 ESV)
What is my lot in life as a believer?
How special am I really?
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV)
For us to be joyful, we have to have joy available. There is joy available for us to be “joyful always!”
Walk around acknowledging God’s presence wherever you go. If God is with me, everything is feasible
To be thankful, we need something to be thankful for. We should always have the right perspective.
We are created and built to meet these requirements. God set this up that way, to live abundantly. Because we are in Christ, we always have access to joy, be grateful, and the awareness of God’s presence.
This is out standard (baseline) of living.
This is why Jesus was sleeping during the storm:
23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. (Luke 8:23-24)
He was in the midst of the circumstance, had joy, spoke against the storm, and was aware of the Father’s presence.
We are meant to strengthen ourselves in the Lord always. There is no separation between us and God.
We need to upgrade our thoughts about ourselves, how we are viewed by God, who we are in and through Christ.
Our standard of faith and expectation needs to be viewed in that perspective.
We need to be continually filled by the Spirit to the point of overflowing day in and day out.
Our life as a believer is not correctly viewed as it is shown in the Old Testament. We live in the new covenant, and being new creatures in Christ, we carry the promises, blessings, and power of God through our resurrection in Christ.
Our circumstance does not define us. We can, and should, speak to it to change it.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)
We are a completely NEW creation. Something that did not exist before. Realizing this important truth is how we live in freedom and our identity in Christ, and how we receive joy and a new perspective.
We should pray in communion with God instead of separation from God, ie: pray receiving X from God instead of asking for it. We already have all that we need through our oneness in Christ! We have the ability to change our circumstances by speaking to them to change them.
That is our lot in life.
Do not own thoughts or actions that are contrary to who we are in Christ. We grow in our knowledge of who we are already in Christ by not identifying ourselves as (frustrated, angry, lustful, etc.) something that is not of the fruit of the Spirit.
Praying without ceasing is done by acknowledging God’s presence as we live our life daily.
Not knowing an outcome:
We may not know the answer, but we know the person who is the answer. When our focus shifts to God, our perspective of the circumstance changes, as we are filled with joy, peace, strength, etc. all day long. Never ending.
If God is with me, this circumstance is doable.
Being a son of God
For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! (Romans 8:15 AMP)
I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.] (John 15:15 AMP)
What does our sonship in Christ encompass?
We have to have a perspective that we already have everything we need. All of our needs are met. What we might need might not be manifested yet.
As a son of God, we have full access to God. We get to explore different aspects of God.
We have the gift of sonship from God, and we get to explore each aspect/side of the gift.
We should approach not from need, but from desire to experience God.
Our talents and gifts are not the purpose of life. If we live thinking that they are, we can get frustrated, etc.
Our purpose is to explore our sonship in God. The circumstances we encounter should not affect our relationship with God.
Take time to develop, pray, spend time with God. Investing in our relationship with God gets more done than the way the world views “doing things.”, and this is the way the Kingdom of God works.
What is God’s view on us?
For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit]. (Romans 8:3, 4 AMP)
Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until the sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook [identifying certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the Law until all things [it foreshadows] are accomplished. (Matthew 5:17, 18 AMP)
All of the law is fulfilled over our life because of Christ. God sees you, and you have met every requirement in God’s eyes.
Every blessing and favor God has had in fulfillment of the law is upon our lives.
Most of us have been trained to approach our relationship from the standpoint of a slave from the church.
Everything God has called us to do is provided completely through God’s grace and power.
The law is fulfilled in my life. How can I be more complete?
As a complete person, how do I see/interact with other people?
They cannot add or take away from my completeness by what they say or do to us.
We only get offended if we believe we are something that we are not. Recognizing who we are, there is a sign of maturity when we embrace the growth without becoming offended.
We no longer need to do things to get acceptance, completion, or need, as we already are accepted, complete, and have all we need.
But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (Matthew 6:33 AMP)
We seek the kingdom and righteousness by dwelling on our sonship.
We are already right with God.
