Renewing Your Mind (series): Satan's Great Deception

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them."

So many THINK they are intelligent, intellectual, and quick witted, they use logic and reason instead of faith to live out their daily lives. They may be wise according to man's standards, but not to God's!

And all the while they walk in a spiritual blindness and darkness that only Jesus can deliver them from.

What's worse though is those who THINK they know God but in reality they do not!

That's how the Pharisees and Sadducees were in the days of Jesus earthly ministry, and the same is true today with those who profess to be Christians but have never been truly converted to Christ.

Satan's first deception of mankind happened in the garden of Eden and what did Satan do to Eve? He deceived her into believing a lie that she would become like God when she ate the forbidden fruit, but she didn't understand that she was already like God!

The same is true today, Satan deceives people into believing that this life is all there is, so live your best life now, do what you want, live how you want, you only get one life they say.

All the way's of Satan and man lead to the death of the soul (separation from God in Hell) if they die in their sins, and eternal separation from God in the lake of fire if their name is not written in the Lamb's book of life.

Psalm 94:11

"The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile."

1 Corinthians 3:19-20

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

Proverbs 14:12

"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death."

Very few understand how the enemy of ALL our souls operates, but God opens the minds and the hearts of those who are true followers of Christ and those who seek after Him and His wisdom.

Do you understand that Satan has the power to deceive the whole world?

Revelation 12:19

"So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

That's why Paul told the Ephesian saints to put on the WHOLE armor of God!

Ephesians 6:10-11

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

Will you stand in the truth of God with the mind of Christ? Or will you fall under the great deception of the master deceiver?

In Jesus,
Tyrone

Renewing Your Mind (series): You Are What You Think!

What do you think about all day? Do you meditate on the word of God? Or is your mind on the cares of this world?

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, and David the second king of Israel, understood how important the mind is, they knew the secret to overcoming this world, Satan, and the flesh that our souls inhabit.

Proverbs 23:7

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Psalm 119:15-16, 97, 99

I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.

No wonder David was a man after God's own heart!

If you spend your day thinking about your job, your spouse, kids, finances, your favorite T.V. show, hobbies, or who's leading in the standings of professional sports, then your mind needs to be renewed! Especially if you're a professing Christian!

Martha was worrying about her sister not helping her in the house, but she should have been doing what Mary was doing, listening and meditating on the words of Jesus!

Luke 10:38-42

"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Even Peter's mind was still in need of renewal after years of being taught by Jesus Himself!

Matthew 16:21-23

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Are you mindful of the things of God? Or the things of men?

As you think in your heart and mind, so you will be!

In Jesus,
Tyrone

Renewing Your Mind (series): The Immortal Soul

Matthew 10:28

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."

Did Jesus give us a clear distinction between the body and the soul in the above scripture? Yes He did!

The first century Christians understood that life did not end after their bodies were killed, the scriptures tell us they were beheaded, sawn in two, fed to lions, and tortured to death, but they looked forward to a better resurrection!

Hebrews 11:35

"Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection."

How could they face such persecution and death like they did? Their minds were renewed to the truth of who they really were in Christ!

If today's Christian would understand that they are immortal souls just inhabiting a physical fleshly body then they could begin to live life in a completely new way, they would have a different perspective on the world and every thing in it!

That's why Paul said we no longer regard anyone from a fleshly point of view!

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

"Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

The first century apostles understood the makeup of a human being and knew that after their bodies died their souls would live on!

2 Peter 1:12-14

"For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed

me."

The KJV translation uses the word 'tabernacle' instead of 'tent'. Both words come from the Greek word 'Skenoma' which means:

The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon

Strong's Number: 4638
Original Word Word Origin
skhvnwma from (4637)
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Skenoma 7:383,1040
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
skay'-no-mah Noun Neuter

Definition

1. a tent, a tabernacle
      a. of the temple as God's habitation
      b. of the tabernacle of the covenant

    *c. metaph. of the human body as the dwelling of the soul

2 Corinthians 5:6-8

"So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

The Greek Interlinear bible says in verse eight:

"We are assured, then, and think it good rather to go away from home out of the body, and to come home to the Lord."

Did you know that we will be judged according to what we have done while IN the body?

2 Corinthians 5:10

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in (through) the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

John 11:25-26

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

In Jesus,

Tyrone

Atheists Taking A Stand!

Washington (CNN)

Thousands of atheists turned out Saturday on a muggy Washington day to take part in "Reason Rally," dedicated to boosting the political power of the growing number of non-religious Americans.

"We are here, we are one, we are joined and we are celebrating our secular movement and we want more of this in our government," said rally attendee Doc Gregory, from Hagerstown, Maryland.

Signs and slogans bearing atheist slogans -- "I think therefore I'm Atheist" -- proliferated on the National Mall as musical guests and promotional videos played on stage. A small group of protesters stood nearby, holding signs that said "God Doesn't Believe in Atheists."

What is Atheism?

"Atheism is, in the broadest sense, the absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is the rejection of belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities. Atheism is contrasted with theism, which, in its most general form, is the belief that at least one deity exists." (Wikipedia)

"Atheism is usually defined incorrectly as a belief system. Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.

The only common thread that ties all atheists together is a lack of belief in gods and supernatural beings." (American Atheists)

Psalm 14:1-3

"The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one."

Psalm 94:8-19

"Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man,That they are futile. Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law, That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked.

For the Lord will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance. But judgment will return to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence. If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."

In Jesus,
Tyrone

School Of The Spirit

Matthew 4:18-20

"And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him."

We are living in a time where the bible is the best-selling book of all time, the scriptures are quoted, studied, memorized, expounded, and preached on, but still misunderstood by many and not applied to the lives of those who claim to be ministers of God and followers of Jesus Christ.

Did you know there is not one scripture in the New Testament, where you find any disciple of Jesus going to a seminary school or bible college to become a minister or servant of God. On the contrary, what we read in scripture is Jesus personally calling His disciples, teaching them and training them over a period of three and a half years. Once they were taught, trained, and cleaned by the Lord then they were empowered by the Spirit of God and the words that Jesus spoke were fulfilled.  

Jesus said "Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of men". Today Jesus is not here physically in bodily form to go out and choose His disciples, but we have the Holy Spirit of God who is Christ in us the hope of glory, another Counselor to be with us, teach us, train us, and help us to become like Jesus.

There are so many deep spiritual truths and revelations of God that no man can teach. Paul the apostle, received his revelation of Jesus through the Spirit, look at Galatians 1:11-12

"But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."

How many of those who call themselves ministers and pastors (who oversee hundreds and thousands of souls) would receive a man who said nobody taught him the gospel and that he received it by revelation? How many today would give him the right hand of fellowship and accept Paul into their congregation?

It's very likely they would look at him as if he were out of his mind and escort him to the door!

Yes dear soul, it's the school of the Holy Spirit that we need to attend, it's the school of tests, trials, temptations, sufferings and afflictions that we need to pass. They don't teach that in seminary, and you can't exegete a test of your faith in the face of evil and opposition when you witness Christ to an unbeliever.

John 4:15-18

"If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."

Isn't that an amazing truth! Once we are converted to Christ by being baptized in water and the Holy Spirit, we are literally indwelt by God! The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit enters the heart of our soul and makes their home within us. All glory be to God!

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone

Wake Up Neo!

The Matrix has (in my opinion) many biblical parallels. One of them is Neo being told by an unseen person through his computer to wake up because the Matrix has him.

The scriptures tell us to wake up and arise from sleep and Christ will shine on us. The word also tells us that satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers and that the carnal mind is hostile to God and spiritual matters.

Galatians 5:14

"Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. "

Revelation 12:9

"So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

Understand that those who are true Christians are at war with an evil being who has deceived the whole world!

Morpheus told Neo in the Matrix, "anyone that we haven't unplugged is potentially an agent", and "If you're not one of us, you're one of them".

The world that we live in is very similar to the Matrix, it's a world designed to fulfill all your fleshly lusts and desires, and the only way out of it is to be unplugged or converted to Christ. Only then can the veil of darkness be lifted from the eyes, heart, and mind of a soul.

Neo asked Morpheus "why do my eyes hurt", when he was first unplugged and raised up from the waters (baptism). Morpheus answered, "because you've never used them before".

Once the Lord wakes you up and opens your eyes, you begin to see the 'real'.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18

Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”

Are you ready to wake up and live the real life that Jesus promises to those who come out of this world to follow Him?

Wake Up People, The World Has You!

In Jesus,
Tyrone

Why Are You Afraid?

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Is there anything that makes you afraid? How about the death of your body? Or physical persecution for being a Christian, maybe you fear a confrontation from an unbeliever, or speaking the truth when you know there will be disagreement.

If you have any fears, be encouraged! The Lord has promised to deliver us from ALL our fears!

1 John 4:18

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

Fear is from the devil, period! What happened when Adam and Eve first sinned? They hid from God when He was walking in the garden of Eden calling for them. And why did they hide from God? Because they were AFRAID!

Genesis 3:8-10

"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

When Adam and Eve sinned, darkness entered into their souls and instead of running to God when He called, they ran away from God!

That same thing can happen to us if we commit a sin and turn away from God instead of going to Him for help, healing, and forgiveness. Don't allow sin to deceive and entangle you, pushing you further and further away from God. Run to Him!

David was a man who knew God, even though he committed a grievous sin he still ran to God for forgiveness and deliverance. He knew that God would deliver him from evil, his enemies and ALL his fears!

Psalm 34:4-7

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them."

In Jesus,
Tyrone