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By renewing our minds with the Word of God, we are able to bridge the gap between the physical, natural mind and our spirits, which respond to God. "Let this mind (attitude) be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5 KJV). If we don't display Christlike attitudes we will display negative attitudes. Since our brains control everything our bodies learn, sense, know, and do, it is essential that our minds are renewed to respond by the Spirit. As David wrote: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me (Ps. 51:10-11).

Our spirits and our minds think and respond differently, but we need them both working together to walk in the Spirit. The mind is used to gather and process information and knowledge from the natural intellectual realm.

Therefore, our minds have to be renewed by the Spirit of the Lord to help us process impressions we receive in the Spirit intuitively so that we have the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ allows us to move into a higher realm of understanding with a positive attitude as we strive for the high standard of perfection in Christ. Jesus is our prize.

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained (Phil. 3:14-16).

God is able to adjust our attitudes as we allow Him to renew the spirit of our mind. Our spirits will sense the movement of the Holy Spirit, including any resistance, warnings (checks), or burdens in the Spirit. The more our minds are renewed by the Spirit of wisdom, the knowledge of God, and revelation, the more we will be able to move in and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We are called to live according to the will of God. It is God's will that His word quickens us in the spirit to make us alive in Christ.

For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God (1 Pet. 4:6).

Eyes of Spiritual Understanding

The eyes of our spiritual understanding will be enlightened to know intellectually (gnosis) and mentally the calling God has placed on us. To acquire knowledge spiritually through revelation or a rhema word from God is (epignosis).  This type of experience or encounter brings forth light, eternal change, and spiritual fruit that remains. A new pattern of truth is established, and our minds are renewed. When the word of God is received and then applied it is able to save our souls (see James 1:21).

The Spirit of Revelation (apokalupsis) communicates a spiritual disclosure, an appearing, a coming, or an enlightening or manifestation of revelation to be revealed to our spirits.

To know (eido) means "to see (either literally or figuratively) to be aware of, to behold, consider, look on, perceive, see, to be sure of, to tell with a knowledge that brings understanding to the mind."  But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Eph. 4:20-24).

To truly walk and see in the Spirit, every part of us must be dedicated to God. We must be totally renewed in the spirit, soul, and body or our vision will be obscured in one of these areas. We need the peace of God to sanctify us entirely. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass (1 Thess. 5:23-24).

The battles we experience begin in and are waged in our minds. The Bible tells us to cast down vain imaginations, temptations, negative thoughts, and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ. Human speculations and lofty imaginations cause pride which conflicts with the knowledge of God. When pride enters our heart God resists us until we repent. We must submit to God and walk in total obedience to his purposes.

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete (2 Cor. 10:5-6).

Renewing Our Minds

Think of the mind as a high-powered computer with a lot of memory that can recall recorded data and respond according to the programs we have installed on the hard drive. Sometimes our environments and life experiences have programmed us to respond in error or in an inappropriate fashion. If our minds are not renewed with the Word of God and we don't install spiritual programs, our minds will reject the spiritual truths God sends us. They simply will not compute to the natural mind. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:14-16). Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so (Rom. 8:7).

Our natural or carnal mind does not agree with God, but it is at enmity with Him. The natural self says one thing and the spirit says another, causing us to be confused or be double- minded. The spiritual training we receive through the Word will enable us to make the right decisions when situations present themselves. "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6).

When we are able to align our spirits with our spiritually renewed minds, a supernatural transformation takes place in God's kingdom of light. When God's light shines, our hearts will be illumined to make the correct choices as He guides us upon the right path. We will shine in the darkness bringing God's eternal light to bear. The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness (Matt. 6:22-23).

When our spiritual eye is clearly focused on God it shines like a lamp. Spiritual harmony, transfiguration, and transformation take place, releasing great light. The light of God's presence and power increases in our lives when we move from the good, to the acceptable, and finally manifest the perfect will of God. Jesus' face and clothes shone with the glory of God's light. And He was transfigured [metamorphoo: "to transform, change, transfigure or transform] before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him (Matt. 17:2-3). And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed [metamorphoo] by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2 NKJV).

If our eyes are focused on the rhema Word of God's kingdom, which brings light, we won't be distracted by the natural ways of the world, but we will be full of God's light. When our minds and spirits are united, we are able to receive and release the blessings of Heaven. If we walk in the light as He is in the light we will have true fellowship with God. He will cause all of our enemies to be at peace with us. They may attack us on one way but God will defeat and scatter them in seven different directions. The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways (Deut. 28:7-9).

When we follow after God He will establish and command His blessings on us.

Enlightened Understanding

God's light shines in the soul in accordance with our level of spiritual understanding, consciousness, or the awareness that God is with us wherever and in whatever state of being we may be at that time. We will always gain more of His light if we are faithful with the little God has given us. Seers are shown premonitions of future events. Righteous people are given advance notice of the future through dreams and visions. This insures that they have plenty of time to prepare and align themselves for success and advancement. Therefore, it seems that the dreams of the righteous are delayed, but the dreams of the wicked happen quickly. They are not allotted time to change because their hearts are rebellious and hard. We are not to despise the small beginnings (see Zech. 4:10). If we despise our small beginnings, we will never get to the abundance and overflow. God is continuously creating us anew; His divine providence is always looking after us. We grow in understanding from glory to a higher level of glory and understanding. Seers who pursue greater spiritual perfection will receive knowledge of great importance.

Seers have the ability to see divine intervention at all times if people are truly living in the measurement of God's righteousness. People of merit are able to ascend above and see the things God wants them to see. If people are not virtuous or pure, they can be seized or pulled aside into a false dark realm. God says, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).

He has called each one of us to be that light. You are the light of the world.

Light symbolizes the earthly service of the tzadik, or righteous individual, who is described as God's chariot or messenger in this world. The prophet Elijah was nothing more than a revelatory vessel that God used to communicate His heart and plans to people. Elijah was not of greater value than Nehemiah, who stood in the presence of King Artaxerxes as a cupbearer and then restored the wall of Jerusalem. Each of us is important because we have an individual calling that no one else can fulfill. We are righteous because of the blood of Jesus Christ that covers us. In God's wisdom, He gradually reveals the unknown, hidden mysteries as we are prepared to seek His heart and mature in our understanding. Everything that has been said behind closed doors will one day be revealed in God's light.

But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops (Luke 12:2-3).

God creates a strong foundation of unified faith within us. Faith draws the knowledge of Jesus to us. Faith enables us to obtain an increased measure of spiritual maturity within our hearts. The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of Heaven is given to believers in abundance. Earthly circumstances cannot limit eternal spiritual beings that are controlled by faith. People do not live on bread alone, but by the creative, proceeding word from the mouth of God.

When we pray, God hears us. When we decree, God establishes it for us so His light continually shines on our path.

You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; and you will pay your vows. You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways.

When you are cast down, you will speak with confidence, and the humble person He will save. He will deliver one who is not innocent, and he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands (Job 22:27-30).

In time and space, there are dimensions of the past that try to imprison and define us. The present dimensions try to limit and contain us, while the future calls us to operate in eternity where there are no limits prohibiting us from becoming who we are destined to be in Christ. As eternal beings, we will continue to evolve throughout the eons of time into the expanses of eternity transforming into His image from glory to glory.

Barbie Breathitt