MATTIE'S CHRISTIAN PAGES

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Chim'sWRITE
7/1/ 2001

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The Redemption of the Mind.

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"Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking." 2 Peter 3:1

Peter says here that his goal is to bring his readers to wholesome thinking. Perhaps the main source of most of our problems is our mind. We lack whole minds. But what more can be expected from men and women born and groomed in a fallen world like ours. Many of the attitude and character problems we struggle with have their roots in the unwholesomeness of our mind. So then the task of renewing, or should I say redeeming our minds must be given priority if we are to become all that the Lord has called us to be.

The problem of the mind can sometimes become a stronghold. That is what Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 10: 5 (KJV).  "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against
the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

An unrenewed mind (whether it be manifest through an inferiority complex or a wrong belief that performance is the source of significance) can grow to become a stronghold in that it now dominants and controls the individual completely making it impossible for him to see right. Of course strongholds might also at times include the influence of demons who enter in as one sinks deeper and deeper into this wrong mindset. In such cases we will need to take authority over these influences before light can even have access in to redeem the mind. Sometimes there are people who are bound so deeply that others may need to pray for them.

The redemption of our mind comes from the renewal that the word of God brings. Jesus said "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set thee free". As we open ourselves to the word, the Spirit of God would shine his light into the dark recesses of our mind to reveal our state to us. For firstly, to know the Truth is also to know how far from it we are - to know the truth about ourselves. If we would humbly receive this light and begin to head towards it, then we will "know" the Truth in the sense of intercourse with It. The
knowledge Jesus says sets free is not mere head-knowledge or even the reception of light. It is the knowing that comes from responding to the light. That comes from obeying the truth.

This work of Truth on our mind is not a one-day job. Some confuse deliverance ministration to be an end in itself. Whereas in actual fact it is just a means of dislodging demons so that the mind can now have access to intercourse with the Truth. And this intercourse must continue on a daily basis. As we spend time meditating on God's word and obeying it's light. Then bit by bit our minds will become whole.

That all the nations may praise Him,
Chimezie Onyebilanma
cross-cultural missionary with CAPRO in Togo.

To learn more about the cross-cultural missionary work of CAPRO Togo
send any email to caprotogo@bibway.com

To learn more about supporting missionaries please visit www.adopt-a-
missionary.org

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