April 16, 2018 THE LIMIT OF THE MIND
Ephesians 4:17-18: “This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
Ephesians 4:20: “But you did not learn Christ in this way,”
Man has a propensity to live according to his mind. However, as the above verses point out, living solely according to the mind is futile, resulting in a sub-standard life. The one that does not know God as Savior is indeed limited to living according to his mind, missing the abundant life that is available to those who know God. We see that the futility of the mind and the ignorance that is present in the non-believer, is a reality that comes as a result of having a hardness of heart toward God. God gave man an amazing mind, but this mind is incomplete in and of itself. It is when the mind and the Spirit of God or both operational in the individual that leads to abundant life. The Spirit of God in man brings clarity, understanding and wisdom, enabling the believer to see beyond the natural-to see truth. So, man, apart from God is incomplete. In verses 21-32 of chapter 4, Paul goes on to describe the life that is available to the believer-the life experienced as a result of having the Spirit of God. In this section, we find that we can lay aside our former manner of life, and in exchange, we can put on the new man which is in the likeness of God; that we can be renewed in the spirit of our mind; that we can speak wholesome words-and the list goes on. Ephesians 5:1 actually tells us “to be imitators of God!” It is utterly impossible for one to live the life God calls us to live-to imitate Him-apart from the work of the Spirit of God in us. As believers, let us be aware of the danger of living according to the mind only-let us know that only as we work with, listen to, and obey the voice of the Spirit within us, will we be complete.
2 Corinthians 2:12-13: “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Ephesians 4:17-18: “This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
Ephesians 4:20: “But you did not learn Christ in this way,”
Man has a propensity to live according to his mind. However, as the above verses point out, living solely according to the mind is futile, resulting in a sub-standard life. The one that does not know God as Savior is indeed limited to living according to his mind, missing the abundant life that is available to those who know God. We see that the futility of the mind and the ignorance that is present in the non-believer, is a reality that comes as a result of having a hardness of heart toward God. God gave man an amazing mind, but this mind is incomplete in and of itself. It is when the mind and the Spirit of God or both operational in the individual that leads to abundant life. The Spirit of God in man brings clarity, understanding and wisdom, enabling the believer to see beyond the natural-to see truth. So, man, apart from God is incomplete. In verses 21-32 of chapter 4, Paul goes on to describe the life that is available to the believer-the life experienced as a result of having the Spirit of God. In this section, we find that we can lay aside our former manner of life, and in exchange, we can put on the new man which is in the likeness of God; that we can be renewed in the spirit of our mind; that we can speak wholesome words-and the list goes on. Ephesians 5:1 actually tells us “to be imitators of God!” It is utterly impossible for one to live the life God calls us to live-to imitate Him-apart from the work of the Spirit of God in us. As believers, let us be aware of the danger of living according to the mind only-let us know that only as we work with, listen to, and obey the voice of the Spirit within us, will we be complete.
2 Corinthians 2:12-13: “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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