HisMindinme

Here! Here! (amen) From where do fightings and divisions among you come, do they not come from the lusts of your flesh? -- James Be sure to check out that telephone pole in your eye before you attempt to pull the sawdust from your brothers eye -- Jesus

In John 4, we find Jesus offering salvation to a woman who is in a deep cycle of MDR. He offers her salvation (living water). He speaks to her knowing full well she'll speak to others and the Samaritan's will hear His good news to them. The heart of Jesus is not about quibbling over the law. The heart of Christ is towards simple core things: 1. Repentence 2. Salvation 3. Healing Read Matthew chapter 4 and 5 to the "Be-attitudes". The focus of Christ is seeking and saving the lost. The focus of the mind of Christ is help and healing, repentence and salvation, of setting the bound free. These are the attitudes of the mind of Christ, which He did in response to what He heard and saw of the Father. Set aside YOUR mind, MY mind -- set them aside. Set aside EVERY human mind and FOCUS on His mind! Read to see His mind and bring your thoughts and hold the thoughts of your mind up against His. See how they stack up. Winnow them out. Separate the wheat (the mind of Christ) from the chaff (your natural carnal mind and thoughts). When you are done doing this go back and read what you've written. Test it. Try it. Examine it. The true measure is the mind of Christ and His thoughts.

Mat 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and you have left undone the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy, and faith. You ought to have done these and not to leave the other undone. You are railing against Christian hypocrisy to justify sin. You're using people as the basis of justification instead of the Word of God as-is. Sin is sin including homosexuality. You wrapping homosexuality in "loving marriage" of two men or two women is simple human justification. It is not what the Bible says, it is not what the Word of God says, it is not what the Spirit says. Simple. The issue is true: what you say of divorce and remarriage. Whereas, a man or woman can be forgiven is a matter of debate, two men living in a homosexual lifestyle are by very definition living out of their natural minds and not the mind of Christ. Hear the Word of the Lord Jesus: Mat 12:31 Therefore I say to you, All kinds of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven to men. So, there is forgiveness for those who repent, whether they claim to be Christians and fall or otherwise. However, the same cannot be said in an attempt to justify an ongoing homosexual relationship. Sin is sin. Simple. Homosexuality is a human debase mental perversion of God's intent in creating male and female. I have walked the edges of this lifestyle and can tell you first hand -- it is NOT the mind of Christ in me. Homosexuality is MY own natural carnal wicked mind, not His mind. By walk the edges, I mean in my past I have participated in homosexual sex. Hanging a label of monogamy on it is like putting a pretty bow on a pig in slop. You can dress the pig up, but it's still a pig. You can dress up my, your and others natural minds, but they are still natural, wicked, enslaved to sin and lust. ONLY the mind of Christ imparted, implanted, inscribed and renewed and born IN me by HIS Spirit working, has the capacity to be free from the sin and lust in and of my flesh (your flesh, their flesh, anyone's flesh). Continue in your mind and you'll die in your sins. Leave off your mind, see the bankruptcy of it, mourn it and walk towards receiving the mind of Christ, His word, mind and thoughts IN you and you'll have the results of HIS mind --> Life, Truth and Peace ... plus so much more of God. Finally, do not say that practicing homosexuals love God and are Christians who attend church as though they are. Anyone practicing these things has NOT the mind of Christ. Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another; males with males working out shamefulness, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was fitting for their error. Rom 1:28 And even as they did not think fit to have God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do the things not right, Rom 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; being full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, evil habits, becoming whisperers, Rom 1:30 backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Rom 1:31 undiscerning, perfidious, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; Rom 1:32 who, knowing the righteous order of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those practicing them. You yourself are in danger of that last verse there (remember this is the Word of God - the mind of Christ). You are having pleasure in those practicing them (see verse 27 -- men leaving the natural use of the woman and burnd in lust toward one another, males with males working out shamefulness ...). You point an accusing finger at Christians committing adultery and divorce and rightfully so. However, you leave out forgiveness and you attempt to justify practicing homosexuals by the hypocrisy of others (I am saying this again on purpose). Yet, you yourself are in deep violation against the mind of Christ in the inspired words of the Spirit written through the hand of Paul, a proven man of God with the mind of God in him. Please, please, please reconsider your position and heart before the Lord! See how what you have written is written from your own bankrupt human mind and not the mind of Christ (realizing I am speaking as a man). The best I can do is point you at the scripture and say to you what I see of it. I am laying aside my mind -- the deepest proof is that I have walked in those homosexual shoes and know it first hand. So, dear brother or sister (I know not which as I have not looked), please reconsider of what mind you are: your own or His. RE: Divorce and Remarriage The ONLY worthy question is: What does Jesus think? What is the mind of Christ on the matter? Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, Give Me to drink, you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water. Joh 4:11 The woman said to Him, Sir, you have no vessel, and the well is deep. From where then do you have that living water? Joh 4:12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his children and his cattle? Joh 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, Whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again, Joh 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Joh 4:15 The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, so that I may not thirst nor come here to draw. Joh 4:16 Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband and come here. Joh 4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have well said, I have no husband Joh 4:18 for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband. In that you spoke truly. In verse 10, Jesus says plainly to this woman His openness to offer her "living water". The living water is the Spirit of God in her for the purpose of putting HIS mind in her. He's offering her salvation. Now -- notice -- Jesus brings up the matter of multiple marriage (divorce and remarriage) DIRECTLY. This is no accident. He knew her. He in HIS mind, speaking from the things and the works of the Father, saw CLEARLY her cycles of divorce and remarriage. Yet, HE offers her living water -- salvation. He is NOT approving or validating her sin. He's operating in His heart -- forgiveness! His message is yet still the same: REPENT! And "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed!" Again -- "Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more!" <-- to the woman CAUGHT IN ADULTERY! My heart is towards you in mercy and in grace. Examine yourself. Test your own self. See the truth of your own self as you are before Him. Try your own self and see if you are in the faith. See if you are speaking/typing from the mind of Christ or from your own mind: naturual, wicked, enslaved to the lusts of your own sin-filled flesh. Of which mind are you? This is the question for you to ask of your own self.

Mat 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and you have left undone the weightier matters of the Law, judgment, mercy, and faith. You ought to have done these and not to leave the other undone. You are railing against Christian hypocrisy to justify sin. You're using people as the basis of justification instead of the Word of God as-is. Sin is sin including homosexuality. You wrapping homosexuality in "loving marriage" of two men or two women is simple human justification. It is not what the Bible says, it is not what the Word of God says, it is not what the Spirit says. Simple. The issue is true: what you say of divorce and remarriage. Whereas, a man or woman can be forgiven is a matter of debate, two men living in a homosexual lifestyle are by very definition living out of their natural minds and not the mind of Christ. Hear the Word of the Lord Jesus: Mat 12:31 Therefore I say to you, All kinds of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven to men. So, there is forgiveness for those who repent, whether they claim to be Christians and fall or otherwise. However, the same cannot be said in an attempt to justify an ongoing homosexual relationship. Sin is sin. Simple. Homosexuality is a human debase mental perversion of God's intent in creating male and female. I have walked the edges of this lifestyle and can tell you first hand -- it is NOT the mind of Christ in me. Homosexuality is MY own natural carnal wicked mind, not His mind. By walk the edges, I mean in my past I have participated in homosexual sex. Hanging a label of monogamy on it is like putting a pretty bow on a pig in slop. You can dress the pig up, but it's still a pig. You can dress up my, your and others natural minds, but they are still natural, wicked, enslaved to sin and lust. ONLY the mind of Christ imparted, implanted, inscribed and renewed and born IN me by HIS Spirit working, has the capacity to be free from the sin and lust in and of my flesh (your flesh, their flesh, anyone's flesh). Continue in your mind and you'll die in your sins. Leave off your mind, see the bankruptcy of it, mourn it and walk towards receiving the mind of Christ, His word, mind and thoughts IN you and you'll have the results of HIS mind --> Life, Truth and Peace ... plus so much more of God. Finally, do not say that practicing homosexuals love God and are Christians who attend church as though they are. Anyone practicing these things has NOT the mind of Christ. Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another; males with males working out shamefulness, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was fitting for their error. Rom 1:28 And even as they did not think fit to have God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do the things not right, Rom 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; being full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, evil habits, becoming whisperers, Rom 1:30 backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Rom 1:31 undiscerning, perfidious, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; Rom 1:32 who, knowing the righteous order of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those practicing them. You yourself are in danger of that last verse there (remember this is the Word of God - the mind of Christ). You are having pleasure in those practicing them (see verse 27 -- men leaving the natural use of the woman and burnd in lust toward one another, males with males working out shamefulness ...). You point an accusing finger at Christians committing adultery and divorce and rightfully so. However, you leave out forgiveness and you attempt to justify practicing homosexuals by the hypocrisy of others (I am saying this again on purpose). Yet, you yourself are in deep violation against the mind of Christ in the inspired words of the Spirit written through the hand of Paul, a proven man of God with the mind of God in him. Please, please, please reconsider your position and heart before the Lord! See how what you have written is written from your own bankrupt human mind and not the mind of Christ (realizing I am speaking as a man). The best I can do is point you at the scripture and say to you what I see of it. I am laying aside my mind -- the deepest proof is that I have walked in those homosexual shoes and know it first hand. So, dear brother or sister (I know not which as I have not looked), please reconsider of what mind you are: your own or His.

The problem is, we may be doing it with a lot less money, after they get their grubby paws into our wallets. Not to mention the other changes. Yes, life will go on, just differently, and that wouldn't be a good thing. I don't believe this is true. I believe everyones lifestyle is going to change no matter who is elected. But it is not going to be the same. Bill cannot be VP because in the event of incapacitation of the President, he is unqualified to assume that post. His tenure and twice President does disqualify him from being VP.

One final word from me on this matter: For all of you offended, I apologize and ask your forgiveness if I have wronged you in sin. Lastly, I am happy to read your responses if you choose to make any. I will not respond on this thread again. Enough has been said. I canot at this present moment express what is in me more clearly, so until I can and we can have unity in the Spirit of God within us all in this matter, anything said by me from this point will CERTAINLY be coming from my flesh and natural carnal mind. So, if you choose, I am done and you have the last word(s) as the Lord leads you.

I am grateful and thankful not only for your words, but for your heart, mind and spirit. You have encouraged me and uplifted me, you are a peacemaker and one who loves. I have read every word of your heartfelt post. It has come across to me as direct and loving. I see how the moderators are doing their best. I am not upset that the post was locked and I do quite understand people going overboard. It is a trait and matter I battle within myself -- if it seems to be there in my now, it is and what's more -- not so long ago -- IT WAS WORSE! (thanks to my ignorance of my own working and carnality). It is true that I am as others -- moving from glory to glory, change to change -- as I know you are as well. Again -- I am encouraged, uplifted, helped, guarded and rightfully put to mind of being watchful for my own flesh, natural mind and lust working out through this. I regret pointing at a particular man (Brother Washer) because folks have become hung up on it rather than seeing through to the general thing I was hoping to point at. Forgive me for the blunder. Nevertheless, thank you again! The Lord richly bless you as seems evident He has done already.

First, the word is: βαπτίζω baptizō bap-tid'-zo From a derivative of G911; to make whelmed (that is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptist, baptize, wash. It just literally means dunked. So, not sprinkled or sprayed or swabbed or hit with water baloons and such things. Just simply dunked completely in. Now, the next question I have is this: What is required? Water baptism or baptism of the Holy Spirit or both? Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. But He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire; John the (Southern) Baptist is pointing at a distinction between what he does and what Jesus will do. I think this is an important distinction. What we have to do is determine which baptism is being pointed at when we see the word in scripture. Mat 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him. What I find interesting is how the mind of God, the mind of Christ submitted Himself to this process. Mat 3:14 But John restrained Him, saying, I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me? Mat 3:15 And answering Jesus said to him, Allow it now, for it is becoming to us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him. The question I have here is: Allow it now? Was His action then for a purpose only for Him in that moment and not something we were to follow Him in? I don't think that is what He is saying. Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth. Mat 28:19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen. So, what is the word baptizing pointing at? Water baptism? Baptism in the Spirit? Both? Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Act 8:14 And the apostles in Jerusalem hearing that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them; Act 8:15 who when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Act 8:16 For as yet He had not fallen on any of them, they were baptized only in the name of the Lord Jesus. Act 8:17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Here we see BOTH baptisms being pointed at. The Samaritans' were baptized most likely in water baptism, but not yet in the Spirit. So, we see how the apostles "sealed the deal" with baptism of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. Interesting this "laying on of hands". Compare this to water. What it means to me is the word is a pointer and not just to water. In one instance it is pointing at water and another at the Spirit (mind) of God in a man (this is the Born Again process happening -- I know this will completely open a can of worms in saying this). Nevertheless, what is clear is there are two baptisms: 1. Water by emersing 2. Spirit of God by laying on of hands Both are in scripture. Both have a precedence. Both are important. Yet, the scripture seems clear that baptism of the Spirit of God in a man (me, you, anyone coming to Christ) is THE prime thing. God in me by His Spirit, changing my mind from natural, carnal, corrupt and so on -- TO -- The obedience mind of Christ -- THIS is the important matter above all. If I read what is written in John, I see water baptism is a baptism to repentence and baptism of the Spirit is a baptism to renewal of the mind. On one side is letting go and an awareness of sin, an awareness of a need of Jesus and a willingness to agree with God about my state. On the other side is God doing what He promised (covenanted) to do: Put His mind in me (the Mind of Christ). So, I find that both baptisms serve a distinct purpose in the life of a believer. Moreover, I think they are the marks of endings and beginnings: The Door and then the Path (thank you Brother Paul Washer for pointing this out). The Door is the starting of the journey and the Path is the walking out and continuation of what was started at the Door. 1. Repentence (water baptism signifying) is on one side of the Doorway (ending of old man, old life, old way, natural mind, carnality, flesh, lust and so on). 2. Spirit baptism (laying on of hands) is the other side of the Doorway (beginning of new life, new mind, new mind, new ways, righteousness, Born Again, Born from above, etc). The Pathway is a continual repentence + Spirit combination as the natural mind is reveal and the mind of Christ is applied, imprinted, imparted, inscribed, transformed and renewed upon our inward man. The Doorway signifies the mark of beginning, but it was NEVER meant to be the end of the story. This is a NARROW path and we can fall off of it (fall away, slide back, etc, etc, etc). The Doorway signifies the tone or process of the Pathway. It is the blueprint of the Pathway of the believer following Christ. Jesus didn't need the repentence part, but WE DO! Jesus walked the righteous and obedient "Mind of Christ in me" part because THAT is Who He is! We walk both because THAT is who WE ARE. Our pathway is the path of "denying the flesh daily and following after Him." Make sense? Thus, I believe in baptism (water and Spirit) wholly and fully as an integral part of our walking out of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Take comfort, Brother. Jesus knows the pathway He called us to. He's not dismayed by our stumblings as we are part-minded in the natural and being changed to the mind of Christ in us. This is Hebrews: Heb 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, Heb 10:27 but a certain fearful looking for judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. ἑκουσίως hekousiōs hek-oo-see'-oce Adverb from the same as G1595; voluntarily: - wilfully, willingly. This is an adverb (verb helper or describer). Willfully or voluntarily sinning; fully, completely, throwing off our commitment to Christ and seeking His mind in us to be formed by God and a commitment to walk the walk daily (I have walked SO close to this line). Nevertheless -- our life with Christ in this life is a Doorway and a narrow Pathway, and few there are who truly find it and remain on it. We can get lost in the "Once Save Always Saved" arguments and debates, but why? The simple matter is: Don't mess with eternity! Quit you like men! Stop playing around with Salvation just because your flesh loves to feed and sin! Stop it! Set your mind and affections on Christ! Baptism of water and of the Spirit are key in the life of a believer! There are probably LOTS of people here with lots to say about it. That's what I see so far. I don't know it all. I will learn as I go. The mind of the Lord will be formed in me if so I submit myself to Him. Yet, here is what I see so far (above).

What is meant by the true law? τέλειος teleios tel'-i-os --> True (KJV), perfect (MKJV, Literal Trans., RV), complete(Strongs), faultless (Amplified) νόμος nomos nom'-os --> Law, esp. Law of Moses or of the Gospel (good news) of Christ. Please take note of what James says at the end of this verse: "... , this man will have a [supreme] bessing on his acts [deeds, doing]." What we do is blueprinted by our minds, hearts, thoughts and emotions inwardly. To change what we do outwardly in deeds requires the changing of our minds from our corrupt natural mind to the imprinting and inscribing of the mind of God on us inwardly. This is the "True Law" that James is asking us to look in to. NOTE: This is NOT just a call to memorize scripture, or walk about, continually repeating and quoting scripture like some magic incantation or spell. This is Jame's way of summarizing the working of God, through Christ, by the Spirit (mind) of God inwardly in us. James starts by pointing at what we're to pay close attention to: The perfect Law of Liberty (the work of God renewing our minds) and then to live life where our awareness is always being cast upon what the Lord has and IS doing inwardly in us. We are to live FROM the mind of Christ in us. When we do this (i.e. not being a forgetful hearer), when we deny the carnal natural mind and live from the mind of Christ renewed, imprinted and inscribed on our minds, hearts and thoughts -- THEN -- the blueprint is made, the die is cast and our actions (deeds, acts, doings) follow the blueprint. Because the blueprint IS the mind of God, which is supremely blessed, how can the actions be not likewise supremely blessed? This is the basis of II Cor 10:5 ... pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ; The obedience of Christ is not US obeying Christ. This is LITERALLY the obedience of Christ Himself dwelling IN US, His mind in us, which DOES OBEY God just like Jesus did as He walked amongst us. Please get this point! This is NOT US obeying or our capacity to obey -- We are INCAPABLE of obedience! This IS the obedient mind of Christ being imprinted on our minds, renewing and transforming us from children of disobedience to children of the obedience of Christ. Only the obedient mind of Christ imprinted in us has the capacity to obey God and form the basis for doing His righteousness through our bodies resulting in our actions (words and deeds) being in line with God (without sin). THIS is the perfect Law of Liberty; there is NO other. I hope this clarifies what you were asking for.

[Please read my LAST post at the end of this thread] In the post I left regarding the Paul Washer, the post has been locked with a message akin to "we're not going to allow criticism". I am leaving the matter of the original post alone, but I do want to get feedback on the matter of being "critical". Instances of one Christian being

Neither one of the parties has a corner on morality and virtue. Both parties blame the media, both don't keep their promises, and both care more about keeping power than governing for the common good. That is why the political dialogue continues to get more mean-spirited, and why both parties are lower in the polls than they have ever been. There is no great surprise in any of this. What you say is true: both "parties" are peopled by people, people of natural carnal minds and very little of the mind of Christ is at work in our political system. Get the mind of God back in people and the unity will form, love will return, respect and brotherhood. I am doing my part and reaching out to God for His mind in me so that I can follow Him to whatever end He desires and will; His good pleasure. My prayer is we all join in the work of seeking Christ, denying the flesh and living out the mind and heart of God inscribed on us.

While there are many things about my first 20 years as a Christian where I was living mostly in and from my own mind, the Lord was there! He was working. My Pastor at the time challenged me with the following words because I was new and refusing to be a part of the people of God. He said, "Larry, you might have the truth and I might have a lie, but my lie has changed more lives than your truth ever will. You come to church for two weeks -- everything -- if at the end of two weeks you do not see God Himself moving in these people, I will pack my bags and walk out with you. We'll go to the bar and get drunk because if God is not in these people, moving in them, changing them, then we're all wasting our time!" That church was a very small church in a little store-front shop in Denver, Colorado. The carpet was torn, the folding chairs were a mix-master of colors, age, style, rusted and old. The little platform where the pulpit was had rotten wood under the cheap carpet and you dared not jump or walk to heavy, because it might have broken clear through. Nevertheless, the people were just like you. We were all just kids. Some of us from the streets, some of us middle class, but all of us young and hungry. We became instant friends, brothers and sisters and in spite of our flesh, our lusts, our natural carnal minds, the Spirit of God was there, in us, speaking to us, transforming as He found willingness in us to cooperate (some of us more than others, and none of us with good realization of what was going on). Some of us were out jails, off the streets, drugs users, prostitutes, the angry, the lonely and the ones it seemed like society had forgotten and ignored. I myself have spent time in jail -- I know what it is like. Still, this is not the point, there's no "contest" of who has the worst "testimony to share." That's not what this is about. The simple thing comes down to this: ALL human beings are wicked and corrupt in us. There's no good thing to be found, no power, no capacity to be like God, to follow after in our own minds, our own wisdom and our own strength. BUT -- what we lack, He is quite sufficient and to whom He calls, ready, able and willing to imprint and inscribe His mind, thoughts, ways (Law) on our hearts and minds for the express purpose of transforming us from glory to glory in to His likeness, to be our God and we His people and sons. This is about being His son -- His! Belonging because He worked in me, changed me, transformed by His power according to His will and good pleasure and not my own. I am thankful for each person, including yourself, who walks in this change by His Spirit in them. I am thankful to God for His mercy to save us all -- great, small, rich and poor. I pray God richly bless you inwardly in the eyes of your understanding to fully know His working in you.

The unquestionable result of the mind of Christ formed in me is obedience. Jesus said: Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and revealed them to babes. Mat 11:26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Mat 11:27 All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son will reveal Him. Mat 11:28 Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:29 Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. Mat 11:30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Rest? Rest from what? Trying to live up to being like God (godly) based on what is in me: sin-filled flesh, natural carnal enslaved mind and thoughts and all that attends to these (including the working of satan himself and the world about me). What makes the yoke and burden light? It is because God does the work of re-forming, re-newing and imparting, inscribing and imprinting his Mind on mine. This is His working in me. Christ opened the door with payment-in-full. The covenant leapt to life in the work and life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The way opened for the call of God to come to my heart and yours. Here is the rest for my soul because God has done and does in me what I could not do for myself: put his Mind in me. So -- obeying is coming to Him for His mind and then choosing to do my part in the covenant. What is my part? "Deny myself and take up my cross daily" --> Luke 9:23 And He said to all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "Arm yourselves with the same thought" --> 1Peter 4:1 Therefore, Christ having suffered for us in the flesh, also you arm yourselves with the same thought, that he suffering in the flesh has been made to rest from sin, ... "bring thoughts into the captivity of Christ" --> 2Co 10:5 pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ; There are quite a few things the Lord instructs me to do, including: 1Th 5:5 You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. 1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm. 1Th 5:7 For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night. 1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be calm, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet. There are so many parts for me to play in the working out of His covenant in my life. The same is true of each of us.

As I understand it, Buddhism "... is about freeing ourselves from psychological restraint and responding to each situation." The author I found went on to say, "Their view of ethics is different from that of Christianity whereas Buddhist views of ethics is about contributing to one's own well-being and that of others, including in sexuality." In one sense, Buddhists actually have it right. Our "psychological restraint" (mental enslavement) is to our natural and carnal mind. So, what I am suggesting is that you find common ground with your mother. Her religion (such as it is) is teaching her that her mind is a self-made prison of thoughts. In this one small point, her Buddhism is correct and perhaps you can use this much as Paul did when he said: Act 17:23 For as I passed by and saw the things you worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Not knowing then whom you worship, I make Him known to you. Paul was doing precisely what I am suggesting you to do. He took note of something in what they already found acceptable that was actually correct within Christianity and then used it as a point of agreement to get their attention and deliver the gospel (good news of Christ). You have a similar situation. Your mother believes her mind and thoughts are imprisoning her. She wants to step away from her thoughts, become the watcher and observer and in the state of "presence" or "the moment" she feels deep peace and enlightenment. What she does not see is the rest of herself, her flesh, the lusts of her flesh, her carnal mind enslaved to her flesh, the thoughts producing emotions and her feeding on them. She doesn't see what God is offering her chiefly because she thinks that by meditating she can "fix herself." (i.e. she doesn't need a Savior -- she can be her own savior through meditation). Nevertheless, you have a point of truth in what she believes: Psychological Restraint and getting free from it. The only TRUE freedom is that offered by God through Christ and Him writing, imprinting, inscribing and transforming our minds to be like His own and from THIS mind then comes the capacity for being godly (like God), which is what she wants anyway (whether she knows it or not). So, that is what the Lord has placed in me and stirs in me as I read your words and respond.

I have read what you've written and the heart of the Lord in me is certainly towards you. One thing I see in what you write is: " ... the spirit of god hits you ..." I have heard such things. For myself, I will not say such a thing. You are free to say as you will and it is between you and the Lord. However, for myself, "... the spirit of god hits you ..." <-- I recall hearing this PRECISE phrase (cliche) in church for more than 20 years. No where in scripture do I find the Spirit of God "hitting people" (emotional or feeling "jolt"). I find no expression of this event shown. Perhaps, I have missed it. Please point it out. What I do know is this: My experience in church for 20 years of the Spirit of God "hitting me" was an emotional jolt. Preachers shouting, "Do you feel that? Do you feel that? That's the Spirit of God!" Horse-hockey and hooey! The Spirit of God is not an emotional hyper reaction or experience. The Spirit of God at work in people is not emotions, which in turn produce chemical releases in my body for my flesh to feed on. There is no evil emotion, but emotions come as the result of thought. The question is: What is the source of the thoughts -- Natural Carnal mind -- OR -- Mind of God/Christ (Spirit - mind) in me? Which is the source? Answer that in yourself, for yourself and before the Lord in yourself and you'll have your answer. I am not anyone's bible-answer-man and won't pretend to be. I am just a man, with a natural fallen self, who God invited to be a part of His covenant, who did His part for me and will do and can do His work in me. He asks me to do my part of the covenant and I exercise myself in the choice He has provided to me. Otherwise -- the mind of God in me finds unity and agreement with what you've written. God be praised and thanked brother.

Well said! The Spirit (mind of God) in me bears witness together with you. I see the unity of the Spirit in what you've written.

Excellent quote!

I knew the fires would be stoked and stirred with my "negative" assertion. The feedback presented here so far certainly confirms it. So, with that said, I will respond. However, before responding, I am inclined to offer a prayer, asking the Lord to direct in His mind, for in His mind and His mind ALONE is unity and in no other. All else is the natural minds and corrupt minds of me, of you or of any man. My deepest prayer is the revealing of His mind deeply imprinted on my mind, my thoughts, my heart and my inmost understandings as well as each of you, that we would all walk in the unity of the Spirit of God from Him. First of all, I will start by saying a couple of things. Jesus commanded us to love other AS our own selves. I am to be careful in my judgement of others because the same judgement will be applied to me. So, I am cautioning myself here before you all to remind myself to speak only from that which I know the Lord has imparted and no other. Moreover, my first commandment of the Lord is to believe all things, hope all things and especially to the household of faith: this very much includes each of you, myself and most certainly Paul Washer. Jesus pointed out how we will know them by their fruits. Paul Washer made this point in his preaching and he is as accountable as any. What I will say now is how I know Paul Washer ONLY by this one serman. So, that being said, I am not here to condemn, attack or to judge brother Washer personally in any way. If the Lord ever grants me to know his fruits personally, then that will be the case for such a time as the Lord wills. That is not now. What I can speak to at great length is the affect of His serman on me and my experience in times past hearing MUCH preaching along the same lines. Of those people I was intimately involved and did know their fruits. Most of all -- I know my own; both now and through the course of my life. So, please permit me to break this out (rightly divide) on this basis of both my own life, experience and what the Lord has placed in me of His mind. I invite you to judge for yourselves as best you can based on the words you're reading here or elsewhere I have posted on this site. Paul delivered his preaching as a man. Paul is like me: he started out completely as a sinful fleshly natural and carnal minded man. If there is anything good in Paul Washer it is because of the gifting and working of the Spirit of God in Paul to renew his mind to be imprinted and inscribed with the Law of God on his heart, mind, thoughts and inmost understanding (Galatians 10:16). So, as I am deeply suspicious and watchful of my own self, looking for the working and thoughts of MY natural carnal mind, I am equally suspicious of ALL other people, looking for the same in them and of them (albeit from the outside by way of fruits) and to the affect of their words and actions on me, my mind, my flesh and the Spirit of God in me. Paul delivered his preaching as words. He had emotional content. Somewhere, his flesh was most likely involved. The Mind of God was involved as well to some degree (large or small). He lifted his voice, he cried, he made doctrinal statements, exercised his understanding and any number of other things were going on in him and through him (that is his body) as he preached. Please take careful consideration of where my words are pointing. Be aware. Watch. Look. Challenge your own thinking. Be suspicious of your own thoughts, that you are not confused to believe or see the doctrine or dogmas (understandings) of your natural mind and hang a label of "Mind of God" on it, when it is indeed coming from your own natural mind. We all do it. I do it. You do it. Paul Washer does it. The key is: Do you know it? Jesus said, "Don't go about looking to pull the speck from your brothers eye. Focus on the telephone pole in YOUR own eye." I am going to listen to Paul Preach again. I am going to be looking for where Paul points directly to the action of God working salvation in us as He does it: Implanting, imparting, imprinting and inscribing His mind, His way and thoughts on the mind of a man (me, you). I am going to look for where he understands how the denial of the flesh happens as a result of the mind of God at work in us. The mind of God does not produce thoughts, which yield emotions for the flesh to feed on, nor for the flesh to use as a blueprint for acting out to the fulfilling of the lusts and appetites of the flesh. I am going to re-examine Paul Washers words and look for the direct pointing towards these things. The danger of NOT directly pointing at this working of God, this covenant of salvation is that indirection is a sign of not knowing. Not knowing is dangerous because if I do not know, then how can I work with God to do His will: His will is to impart His mind in me so I can be like Him. Anyone can stand up and tug at people's emotions. Anyone can preach eloquent words and stir our feelings, which in turn feed our flesh. This is NOT the mind of God at work. This is simply flesh feeding in the trappings of religion. Anyone can cry and lift their voice and make people feel bad. Yeah, we're all sinners. I think the world gets that every day. I knew it from day one. I knew I was wrong, no matter how much I said I was right, good, ok, not too bad, not a bad person, not a murderer and blah blah blah. Anyone can hoist aloft great swelling words that generate thoughts in the hears, which stir emotions and feed the flesh. Stirring emotions isn't evil. I am not suggesting that having emotions is evil. Yet, I am not ignorant of how I work either. I have fed on anger most of my life. I have had long periods of time where I needed an endless stream of swelling sermans to stoke my emotions so I could "get high on God." I have fed on the emotions of depression, guilt, shame, playing the victim and so on. I have been an emotional addict all my life. Even my ex-wife said to me in her parting words, "Larry, you're in love with being in love." as I left her for another woman. So, I am not moved my Paul Washer's swelling words. They're ok. They're fine. They're not bad. They're NOT evil, wicked -- OR -- perhaps they are. It depends on where they are coming from from within Paul Washer (only he can answer that -- I am implying nothing). I am suspicious, but I am ok. No, there's something more important to notice. I wonder about things happening around Paul Washer. Paul touted his missionary work in the same serman where he's bashing "carnal Christians." You know -- I wonder how many of those "carnal Christians" put up their money to pay for Paul to be a missionary. I wonder how many of those carnal and natural minded "Christians" prayed for Paul, helped Paul and did things in obedience to the mind of Christ in them to facilitate Paul being able to carry out the mind of Christ in him to be a missionary. I wonder about such things. I am NOT saying I believe in being a carnal Christian. I happen to agree with Paul Washer on this matter: there's no such thing, and -- yet -- isn't there? Is my entire mind changed or am I in the process? If I am entirely changed, then why the need to bring my thoughts in to the captivity of Christ over and over again? (2 Cor 10:5). If I am entirely changed, then what of the scripture where the Spirit writes, "If we say we have no sin, we a liars and the truth is not in us." What of this? Isn't part of me still carnal and the work of the Spirit carrying me from change to change, glory to glory as the Spirit of God imprints Himself, His thinking, His thoughts and mind on my mind, my heart, my thoughts and my inmost understanding? I am not arguing against Paul Washer and neither am I defending him. My hope is to have the mind of God in me, to be changed and transformed in to His likeness. My hope is the same for Paul Washer, for you and indeed for ALL men everywhere! This is what I say and talk about to ANYONE who'll stand still long enough to hear -- forgive me this boasting. I merely point out the compelling of the mind of Christ -- it is His heart towards us to have His heart IN us. Is Paul Washer right? Somewhat -- where the Mind of God is in him -- yes. Does Paul Washer have his own natural and carnal mind still being changed and do some of his words and actions still bear out the fruit of that mind? You bet! As do I. This is the task before us brothers and sisters. This is the source of being sober and watchful. Jesus commands us to pay really close attention to the telephone pole in our own eyes. I am not here to judge Paul Washer, God is his judge. I am searching for God in the man's words is all. If God, the Lord Jesus, His mind and His thoughts are present in the words of Paul Washer to some degree or extent, then say on! I remind you, however, be suspicious. Believe not EVERY spirit (mind) that raises it voice in a man and begins to speak. Eloquence of delivery, displays of emotions no matter how apparently sincere may seduce you away from the Spirit of God (His mind in you). I caution you together with myself -- watch!

What this man is doing and saying is headed down the right trail. There are problems with it. Please feel free to add your comments here to what is being said. I really want to hear folks feedback around it.

Confusion is not the mind of Christ. Seek counsel. Consider what people say and hold it up to the scripture. Then go with the still small voice inside. Mat 5:39 But I say to you, Do not resist evil. But whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. Mat 5:40 And to him desiring to sue you, and to take away your tunic, let him have your coat also. Mat 5:41 And whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. Mat 5:42 Give to him who asks of you, and you shall not turn away from him who would borrow from you. Mat 5:43 You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." Mat 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, Mat 5:45 so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. In all these Jesus never says, "Offer the other to him also IF he's a really good person." He never says, "let him have your coat also, IF he's a responsible financial person." He never says, "Give to him who asks of you IF you're sure he won't max out his credit cards and if you've got extra to spare and no bills." The mind of Christ is this: He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Honestly, I am stricken to the core with my own heart pricked with shame at the times I have NOT given. Even now -- inside me there is the still small voice saying, "Would you? You goad this person to give and would you?" God forgive me!

I just ignore people who call themselves prophets and live my life according to the bible as best as I can. Sometimes, a prophecy may come into realization well after its oracle has passed from the earth. Discerning true from false is difficult, but we can use the bible, and that is one of the only ways to know a priori and assuredly whether or not the prophecy is true. " ... as best I can." <-- The honest truth is: your capacity for your best is STILL far to short. The answer is not your best, or mine: The answer is His Mind in us. Only His thoughts in us, His mind formed in us and lived out has the power to rise to His commands. I heartfully commend your effort, but realistically point out how I made this vain attempt for 24 years myself and got only misery as the result. Now, however, has come REAL change: Where I was once unable to measure up, the Mind of the Lord IN ME, and working on the basis of His mind, thoughts, precepts -- in THIS the working out of righteousness is the realized fruit. I do not live in confusion, angst, anxiety, frustration or the like. On the contrary -- My purpose is to put off my own natural mind with the thoughts I have produced over 44 years and have them replaced by the very Thoughts and Mind of God Himself, in my, by the work and as the gift of Jesus Christ, through His Spirit dwelling in me. I do not live in perplexity or fear, wondering when I will fall next. I am held solid not of my own self, but by the simple surrender to walk in His mind and not my own. God bless you and keep you in His mind, Spirit and grace. My heart is towards you as a fellow servant of Christ.