Power in Christ Jesus

Reading Time:  8 Minutes

Up until this point we have learned about being born again and receiving the gift of the holy spirit, God's incorruptible seed that He placed within us. With God's spirit in Christ in us we are now complete and made whole. We have been given the tools to build the Word of God in our lives and it starts with our minds.

Unfortunately, when we were born again we didn't get a perfectly renewed  mind that only thought the things of God and confessed His promises routinely. We didn't instantly stop thinking evil and stop murmuring and stop disputing. We didn't instantly stop listening to our old-man nature and start listening to God. Unfortunately. But, we have been given tools to do so. In order to manifest the power of God in our lives we must renew it to the Word of God. 

Remember "What's Available, How to Receive and What to do with it After You've Got It?"  First we must know what is available.

Romans 12:
:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, 
        by the mercies of God, 
    that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, 
        holy, acceptable unto God, 
        which is your reasonable [religious] service.
:2 And be not conformed to this world: 
    but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, 
        that ye may prove 
            what is that good, 
            and acceptable, 
            and perfect, 
        will of God.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The end result will be "that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,  and perfect, will of God."

What is renewing one's mind?  The Word "renewing" is the Greek word metamorphoo which is to be transformed or transfigured. As the caterpillar changes into a butterfly so must we stop being conformed to this world and its evil influences and transform our minds into harboring God's Word. Pay attention to the contrast of the "old man," our nature prior to being born again, and living spiritually.

Ephesians 4
:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, 
        which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
:24 And that ye put on the new man, 
        which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

How to Receive It

It takes a conscious effort on our part to stop thinking the negative, unbelieving thoughts of the world (the habit of our old man) and put into our minds the exceeding great and precious promises that God has served to us with great grace and mercy. This new man that is spiritually minded appears when we take an active part in renewing our minds to the Word of God.

 This will take some work. This has nothing to do with our salvation, for salvation is not of works lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8 & 9). This pertains to our state, our status, with God. If we are doing God's Word we are reaping the benefits of God's Word. If we are doing anything else than the Word we are against God and His Word and we will receive the consequences.

How are we to renew our minds?  In Romans 13 God has Paul handle some physical matters of conduct and he concludes in verse 14 with, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." How are you going to put on the Lord Jesus Christ but in your mind? He is a great example of walking with God. Granted, we cannot be perfect as he was but what did he do? He was always about His Father's business studying His Word and speaking it to others. He recognized the power that he had been given and exercised that by healing the sick and casting out devils. The same shall we do. We cannot do it if we are not walking spiritually, listening to God and putting His Word in our minds.

Ephesians 4
:25 Wherefore putting away lying, 
    speak every man truth with his neighbour: 
        for we are members one of another.
:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: 
    let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
:27 Neither give place to the devil.
:28 Let him that stole steal no more: 
    but rather let him labour, 
        working with his hands the thing which is good, 
    that he may have to give to him that needeth.
:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, 
    but that which is good to the use of edifying, 
        that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, 
    whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
:31 Let all bitterness, 
        and wrath, 
        and anger, 
        and clamour, 
        and evil speaking, *
    be put away from you, with all malice:
:32 And be ye kind one to another, 
        tenderhearted, 
        forgiving one another, 
    even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

You have to make a decision to think the thoughts of God and do His will. You must let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you. When you replace those behaviors with the those from the Word you then let the ungodliness be put away. So many riches have been bestowed upon us and we can realize them if we will live our lives and make our decisions according to the Word of God. Do not grieve the holy spirit by living according to your natural man. You parents, you can teach your kids your wisdom and when they utilize it they benefit. You can probably think of specific incidents where you have told your kids how to do something or what not to do and they don't obey and get in trouble or things don't turn out well. If you don't have kids you were a kid!! God had His Word written so that we may know and prosper and be in health.

God continually reminds us to renew our minds.  Even when circumstances around you try to draw you off of the Word of God you must look at things in light of God's Word, you will have the best outcome.

Philippians 2
:5  Let this mind be in you, 
        which was also in Christ Jesus:

What was in Christ's mind?         Do take a moment and stop and think.

Colossians 3
:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; 
        fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,  **
    which is idolatry:
:6 For which things? sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
:7 In the which ye also walked some time, 
    when ye lived in them.
:8 But now ye also put off all these; 
        anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  **
:9 Lie not one to another, 
        seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
:10   And have put on the new man, 
            which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
:11   Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, 
        circumcision nor uncircumcision, 
        Barbarian, Scythian, 
        bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
:12 Put on therefore, 
        as the elect of God, 
        holy and beloved, 
    bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  **
:13 Forbearing one another, 
    and forgiving one another, 
    if any man have a quarrel against any: 
    even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
:14 And above all these things put on charity, [the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation]
        which is the bond of perfectness.

What to Do With It After You've Got It

:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, 
        to the which also ye are called in one body; 
    and be ye thankful.
:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; 
        teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ***
    singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, 
    do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
        giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

To renew your mind you must confess Jesus Christ as Lord in your life and believe that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9 & 10 see Faith Cometh by Hearing). Then you must put God's Word in your mind; read it, and study it, and confess it. Unless you know the Word you cannot walk by the Word. You must spend time in the book. Get around other Believers and speak the Word to each other as well.  I was told when I first started learning the Bible that if I was to get rid of my reading material for three months and devote that time to reading and studying the Word I wouldn't know myself afterwards, I would be a changed person. At the time I was reading a rather engaging book (I love to read) and thought to myself, "Well, maybe later, I'll finish the book first." However, the excitement of the Word overtook me and I put down that secular book and found myself reading the Bible and teachings because I wanted to know His Word and how I could use the power that had been given me. I was a waitress at the time and a lady stopped me asked me if I had just gotten married because I was rather radiant. The only beau I had was Jesus Christ and the light of God's Word is what made the difference in my life. When she said that I remembered what I was told and realized what I had done. 

Do you want to walk with the power of God in your life?  Read the Word and put on the mind of Christ. Live the Word. This is a deliberate process that takes a conscious effort. The world would have you act otherwise. You are confronted with negatives and facts that seem to negate the promises of God. When you stand strong on God's Word and confess His promises you will see His Word come to pass. It is a moment by moment decision.

You have to decide what you are going to feed your mind.  Is it the nightly news, movies and shows that glorify the devil and his evil acts or will you make a difference in your life and those around you and turn off the TV?  It is your decision.

*  The figure of speech Polysyndeton, "many ands" is used here. It is the listing of items separated by "and" to get the reader to pause and consider each item. The emphasis is on each item in the list.     Return to text.

** The figure of speech Asyndeton, "no ands", is used here. It is the listing of items without separation and pause. The emphasis is on the words before and after the list, not on each item individually.             Return to text.

*** The figure of speech used here is Synonymia, or "synonymous words." "It is a repetition of words different in sound and origin, but similar in shades of meaning. . . . God uses synonymia to emphasize His wisdom, power, or purpose, when words of similar meaning are heaped together to attract the attention, and impress the mind." (Bullinger, 324).    Return to text.

The figures of speech information is taken from Figures of Speech Used in the Bible" by E.W. Bullinger,  D.D. Published by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids Michigan,  1979. pp 208 and 324.