TODAY’S DEVOTION (Sunday 25th October 2020)
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:12-18 NKJV
WELCOME TO THE 297th DAY OF OUR YEAR OF REJOICING
When I look at everything that has happened this year, I can see why the LORD called it a year of rejoicing. Personally, if not for the mercies of God in that prophetic word, I don’t know what my life would have turned by now.
If you are thoughtful, you will realize that the same is true of you.
The LORD has indeed made it a year that we rejoiced in His unending mercies, given peace, unfailing love, amazing forgiveness, eternal compassion, loving kindness, fresh word, revelation knowledge, established will for our lives, and righteous ways.
Obviously, many have moved a step further in their walk and talk with God as individuals, and as a spiritual family this year. To God be the glory for His mighty works in our lives.
It’s been our season of Schooling in the things of the LORD, a kingdom season that does not come to an end in the lives of those who tremble at the word of the LORD. Yes, spending their days at the feet of Jesus Christ to learn and unlearn does not come to an end in their lives.
If you are truly saved, it is important that you make up your mind not to be part of the generation that does not take delight in sitting at the feet of Christ to learn and unlearn. As we get closer and closer to the consummation of all things, let us all become irrevocably committed to be faithful in taking our seats at the feet of Christ until our time on earth is over.
The place called the feet of Christ is the place of obedience, submission, schooling, unlearning and re-learning. It is the place of reconfiguration, renewal and revival. Yes, it is the place of developing fatness and increasing in dominion. The lessons in this realm do not come to an end, because the curriculum is eternal.
THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IS NOT NATURAL BUT SUPERNATURAL.
The classes are not just in a natural building but in the realm of glory. The sessions are unending. The reason for all these is simple. That is the only realm we can fully participate and intermeddle with the wisdom that is out of this world as we fulfill our days and step out of this world.
Apostle Paul wrote saying;
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33 NKJV
You cannot be schooled in the things of this kind of GOD in a secular setting. You can only be schooled in them in a supernatural setting. The reason is simple. It is naturally impossible to access the depth of the riches of both God’s wisdom and knowledge with a natural mind set.
The Bible says “How unsearchable are His judgment and His ways past finding.” Meaning, there is no natural mind that can grasp them except the Holy Ghost act on it.
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:6-8 KJV
There is a spiritual heart position to come into for effective schooling in the things of God to take place. No one can come into the “feet realm of Christ” if you do not have the Heart position for it.
Most of the things we have been sharing in these devotionals are not things you understand except you have the heart position for them. The Bible says to be carnally minded is death. Meaning, if you are carnally minded, you cannot be admitted into the school of the unsearchable riches or judgments of GOD.
The Bible says,
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14
THE NATURAL MIND IN THIS SCRIPTURE IS THE CARNAL MIND.
It cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God (the unsearchable judgments of God and ways that are past finding) because they are foolishness to it. Neither can it know them when they are taught because they are spiritually discerned.
That means you do not learn things that are past finding with a carnal mind. The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. That is why the Church today has become very ignorant.
Our local assemblies are full of empty people – empty of the mind of Christ but full of carnal mindedness. We present carnally minded men and women (whose minds are in enmity against God and cannot be subject to His laws or principles) as ‘BORN AGAINS.’ Very sad!
One thing about a carnal mind is that it can drift easily towards false doctrines, teachings rooted in the depth of Satan, secular humanism, motivational talks and related things. That is why you see the Church easily understanding everything you tell them about Satan but finding it difficult to understand the things of God.
You don’t really need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to grasp the depths of Satan when preached to you. Being carnally minded is just enough.
Check the local churches that teach about Satan, or stir their members towards what they call spiritual warfare, by giving them the names of demons or demonic concocted reasons for one affliction or the other to fight against in prayers. If you look at the spirit nature of this people, you will find out that they are all carnally minded. That is from leadership to followership.
THE CARNAL MIND CANNOT ACCESS THE THINGS OF GOD.
That is why if you try to be spiritual with a carnal mind, what you will is the spirit realm of the demonic world. You will never access the realm of God; where His unsearchable judgment or deep wisdom exists. You will just be floating with all about Satan and man.
The spiritual position you need to come into to be properly schooled in the things of God, is not the carnal mind. There is another mind, and we must discover that mind!
To start with, in the Kingdom of GOD, we have THE MIND OF CHRIST and we have THE MIND OF THE FLESH called the CARNAL MIND. The Bible describes the carnal mind as “sense and reason without the Holy Spirit.” You cannot access the realm of God with a sense and reason outside the Holy Spirit.
The Bible describes the mind of Christ as the Spiritual mind. In other words, sense and reason with the Spirit of Christ or the Holy Ghost. It is the mind of the sanctified human spirit created in us by the power of the Holy Ghost. That is the mind we need to be schooled in the things of God.
It is the only mind that can access the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, His unsearchable judgments and ways that past finding out.
That brings us to our devotional text. A major highlight of it says;
But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
When you have the mind of Christ it will show in two ways! The first way is, you will be spiritual, judging all things. And the second is, you will be rightly judged by no one.
Now what do all these mean?
It means you will have the Spiritual capacity and grace to examine, investigate, inquire into, question, and discern all things before accepting or rejecting them. You will be able to read the spiritual meaning of everything with precision and accuracy, but no one will be able to properly discern, appraise or get an insight into you.
THAT INCLUDES SORCERERS, MEDIUMS, DIVINERS, AND ALL FALSE PROPHETS AND PROPHETIC WITCHES AND WIZARDS. HALLELUJAH!
That is how the Christian life was originally designed to be lived! But sadly speaking, the reverse is the case today. Our local assemblies are full of carnal people who are trying to be spiritual. You see them engaging in what they call “spiritual warfare” fighting and fighting, but if you look deep into whatever they may be doing, you will find “soulish warfare!”
Friend, it is dangerous for carnal people to fight evil powers! They will come under the counter attacks that the Sons of Sceva came into in their days! That is why you see the lives of those engage in such warfare scattered.
You see them living very miserable and oppressive lives.
What is the word of the LORD today? The word is simple. You need the mind of Christ, you need to have what it takes to understand and gain access into the things of God. You do not need one more moment with a carnal mind.
Now, how is the mind of Christ imparted?
The mind of Christ is imparted by the entrance of God’s word and Spirit. In simple terms, it comes through divine encounters with God in His word and by His Spirit. God does not want you to spend one more moment living a carnal life. It will keep ruining you. Ask Him for the mind of Christ and He will not deny you.
Sadly, what have really been ruining the lives of over 95 percent of us today is our attempts to relate with GOD (who is Spirit) with a carnal mind. It is the foolishness of praying, giving, fasting, and exercise spiritual authority with a carnal mind. It is very dangerous. The Bible makes it clear that it brings death and destruction. That was what the sons of Sceva did not know!
MAKE THIS SCRIPTURE AN ADDITIONAL MEDITATION FOR TODAY!
Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.” Acts 19:14-18 NKJV