Mental Attitude Dynamics
Before you begin your Bible study, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, be
sure you have named your sins privately to God the Father.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Known, Unknown and Forgotten sins)
(1Jn 1:9)
You will then be in fellowship with God, Filled with the Holy Spirit and ready
to learn Truth from the Word of God.
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth.
(John 4:24)
YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK
God, who created the human mind, also holds the key to man’s mind; that
key is omniscience. (Heb 4:12-13) He reads our minds like an open book!
(Psa 139:2) God allows us freedom of thought, as well as freedom of choice;
however, He holds us responsible for what we think or choose, so our
thinking is all-important. (Rom 2:15-16)
For as he thinks within himself, so he is... (Prov 23:7)
You may be judged (By people) by your overt behavior, but YOU ARE
WHAT YOU THINK! You are not what you do! Your mental attitude
determines, motivates, and influences your behavior and actions. The Bible
always relates the thought pattern to the right lobe of the mentality of the
soul. The right lobe is the dominant lobe of the soul, designated in the Greek
by the word KARDIA (Translated “heart” in the English) and in the Hebrew by
the word LEB, in contrast to the left or perceptive lobe, NOUS, (Translated
“mind”) which is the staging area for knowledge. The right lobe or human
spirit has seven areas: A frame of reference, memory center — the final
storage place for all knowledge and the basis for learning new knowledge;
vocabulary storage, categorical storage, conscience — the norms and
standards; momentum, Wisdom and Understanding.
Illustration
And I will give them one heart, (The Mind of Christ) and put a new spirit
within them. (Tit 3:5) And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh (Old
sin nature) and give them a heart of flesh. (2Pe 1:4) (Eze 11:19)
Our objective will be to analyze certain passages of Scripture which teach
that our approach to life, the effectiveness of our soul function, and even our
physical attractiveness and health are dependent upon what we think.
Does not Wisdom call, And Understanding lift up her voice? On top of the
heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, She takes her stand; Beside
the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, She cries
out: To you, O men, I call, And My voice is to the sons of men. O naive ones,
Understand Prudence; [Wise as a serpent] And, O fools, understand
Wisdom. Listen, for I will speak noble things; And the opening of My lips will
reveal right things. For My mouth will utter Truth; And wickedness is an
abomination to my lips. All the utterances of My mouth are in righteousness;
[In fellowship] There is nothing crooked or perverted in them. They are all
straightforward to him who Understands, [Has reached Spiritual Maturity] And
right to those who find Knowledge. Take my Instruction and not silver, And
Knowledge rather than choicest gold. For Wisdom is better than jewels; And
all desirable things cannot compare with her. I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence,
And I find Knowledge and Discretion. The fear of the LORD [Staying in
fellowship] is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the
perverted mouth, I hate. Counsel is mine and sound Wisdom; I am
Understanding, power is Mine. By Me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
By Me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly. I love those who love
Me; And those who diligently seek Me will find me. Riches and honor are with
Me, Enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even
pure gold, And My yield better than choicest silver. I walk in the way of
righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, To endow those who love
Me with wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. [The Temple of God the Holy
Spirit in us, filled with the most valuable jewels, God’s very own Thoughts!]
The LORD possessed Me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of
old. From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest
times of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, When
there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains were
settled, Before the hills I was brought forth; While He had not yet made the
earth and the fields, Nor the first dust of the world. When He established the
heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
When He made firm the skies above, When the springs of the deep became
fixed, When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not
transgress His Command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight,
[God loves His Thoughts] Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in the world,
His earth, And having My delight in the sons of men. Now therefore, O sons,
listen to Me, For blessed are they who keep My ways. [Thoughts] Heed
Instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it. Blessed is the man who listens
to Me, Watching daily at My gates, Waiting at My doorposts.
[Eagerly learning day and night] For he who finds Me finds life And obtains
favor from the LORD. But he who sins against Me injures himself; All those
who hate Me love death. (Prov 8:1-36)
This is a description of God’s Thinking! And His Thinking is talking to us,
and showing us: That He delights in His Thinking! That His Thinking is perfect,
infinite and cannot be improved, does not need advice, or help in any way!
(Mark 8:33-38) In order for God to delight in us: We just need to learn His
Thoughts, on every subject, in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit, and Think
with Them! (John 4:23-24) God automatically receives the glory/credit, and
we are blessed, beyond all our imagination! (Eph 3:20)
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE MIND AND THE BODY
There is a great deal of truth in the common expression, “I’m worried
sick.” Medical science is becoming increasingly aware of the connection
between physical health and the thought pattern. Many illnesses are a direct
result of the psychoses of the mind. In order that we might understand the
correlation between what we think and how we feel, a few moments should
be spent on the subject of psychosomatics. The word itself is made up of two
Greek words: PSUCHE, meaning “soul,” with emphasis on mentality, and
SOMA, meaning “body.” The concept of psychosomatics is very simple. Any
mental attitude of fear, worry or anxiety — any continuous mental tension —
will eventually overflow and affect the body. This frequently results in unusual
behavior. For example, it was discovered during the Korean War that many of
our American boys died in prison camps from what we call “give-up-itis.”
After this mental attitude was perpetuated over a few days, an individual
would simply fold up, lie down on the ground and say, “Leave me alone.” If he
were left alone for two or three days, he would be dead! Our physicians in
the prison camps reported a substantial number of these cases and
diagnosed the cause of their deaths as due to a mental attitude of
hopelessness and despair. It is also becoming increasingly common for
people to suffer from such ailments as eczema, skin rashes, warts, allergies,
asthma, hyper- tension, goiter, ulcers and many other disorders, simply from
the overflow of the pressures from the mind into the body. Interestingly
enough, a change of mental attitude — a stabilizing of the mentality — results
in the removal of the symptoms. I am not trying to explain the cause of a
sudden appearance of some rash on the epidermis and its equally sudden
disappearance as being psychosomatic in YOUR case. I am saying that at
last medical science has discovered what has been known in Scripture for a
long time — that our thought processes are related to our physiological
problems. This brings us to an issue we must face as believers in the Lord
Jesus Christ. When the right lobe of the believer receives Divine Thinking
through Truth, the result is inner peace, a relaxed mental attitude, stability
and inner happiness. But when the right lobe is crammed full of human
viewpoint, (Man’s supposed reality) and when mental attitude sins, such as
pride, worry, lust, jealousy, bitterness, vindictiveness, implacability, guilt
complex, hatred, etc., dominate the mentality of the soul, the result is
inevitably self-induced misery. Mental attitude sins, plus the absence of the
Word of Truth in the soul, (God’s Declared Reality) leads to human viewpoint
and can only produce disorientation and agony of soul!
THE TWO VIEWPOINTS OF LIFE
Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD, (1Jn 1:9) And He will have compassion on
him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. (Isa 55:7)
For My Thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,
declares the LORD. (Isa 55:8)
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways, and my Thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:9)
While there is among people, many different realities, With God there is
only ONE, His! And whether people believe it or not, everything God has said,
will happen just as He has Declared! (Matt 24:35) And there are only two
basic types of thinking — God’s Thinking, the Word of Truth and Satan’s
thinking, (Gen 3:5) evil, (Gen 6:5) that man uses, and is born with.
(Gen 8:21) Not only are these viewpoints completely antithetical, but God’s
Viewpoint is infinitely superior to that of Satan’s. The unbeliever is capable
only of evil human thinking, “being alienated from the life of God” (Eph 4:18)
and the enemy of God in his MIND; (Col 1:21) but the believer who
consistently takes in Truth, and Thinks with it; constantly struggles between
the Divine, and the Satanic viewpoints; until he reaches Spiritual maturity.
(1Pe 1:22) While the believer is “not OF this world,” (Mentally) he is IN the
world, (Physically) (John 15:19) and the norms, principles and thoughts as
well as his sin nature, are of COSMOS DIABOLICUS, (Satan’s world
system) these bombard him on the inside and from all sides. Through
Christian morality, (Gal 3:3; Col 2:20-23) and Christian immorality,
(Gal 5:19-21; Rev 2:22-23) the world expects the believer to stay conformed
to Satanic systems of thinking, and be like the rest of humanity; God desires
for him to “be transformed” to His way of Thinking! (Rom 12:2) Therefore, it
is of paramount importance that we as believers learn God’s Reality, which
should rule, (1Pe 3:15) our Thought pattern. People often tell me they cannot
read every day, (Psa 1:2-3) for one reason or another, but you can always
justify what you do. Your decisions depend on what you think with. If the sin
nature is predominate in your right lobe, it will neutralize your Christian life.
You cannot live God’s way, because you do not think with God’s Thoughts!
That is why so many Christians are trying to be Spiritual by means of
“taboos,” ecstatics, asceticism, and using the Word of God as a system of
morality, memorizing Bible verses, by the power of the old sin nature — flesh.
(Matt 23:23-28; Rom 8:7-8; Php 3:4-6) The false viewpoint is represented by
the fact that you must work for what you get. But this axiom cannot be
transferred into the Spiritual life which God designed to be a life of grace.
(Gal 3:2-3) By grace we simply appropriate all that God provides by the daily
intake of Truth, and staying filled with God the Holy Spirit! Until the cup is
clean on the inside! (Luk 11:40-41; John 4:23-24)
THE SOURCE OF DIVINE VIEWPOINT
For who hath known the Mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But
we have the Mind of Christ. (1Co 2:16)
The Bible is the only source of Divine Viewpoint. It is the very Mind of
Christ, the living Word, (John 1:1) expressed in written form. Therefore, if
you, as a believer, are to have the Divine Viewpoint of life, you must know
Truth. If you do not know God’s Thoughts on any given subject, how can you
possibly think according to the Divine Viewpoint? The Biblical Command is to
“Let this Mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Php 2:5) What
Mind? The Divine Viewpoint! Christ set the pattern of Thinking; we are to
Think with it. (John 3:34; John 8:28) How can we have the Mind of Christ? It
comes only through daily study, and absorption of God’s Word through the
function of Operation Z.
OPERATION Z
Illustration
God has supplied us with everything for learning His Word: the canon of
Scripture, a pastor-teacher, books, the MP3 player, the DVD player and now
the computer, the filling of God the Holy Spirit, rebound, (1Jn 1:9) the human
soul, the human spirit, physical life, the Spiritual life and protection in the devil’
s world. (Isa 41:13) These grace provisions are part of the grace apparatus
for perception, which is “Operation Z” To summarize, the believer filled with
God the Holy Spirit, (1Co 4:20) concentrates on the pastor’s message,
resulting in gnosis, “Knowledge,” in the mentality of the soul. The mentality
has two parts: the human spirit or right lobe, God’s Knowledge. And the
kardia, “heart” or left lobe, human knowledge. (Jer 17:9) And is the home of
gnosis; the right lobe is the repository of epignosis, “Full Knowledge.”
(Eph 3:19) Gnosis in the left lobe is receptive comprehension: “academic
knowledge” which is not usable for application in the Spiritual life. A believer
may be able to quote many verses or talk at length about many Biblical
subjects, but if his knowledge is only gnosis, it is not edifying. Academic
arrogance can exist in Theology as easily as in any other field of learning.
(1Co 1:19-21; (1Co 2:14; (1Co 3:19-20; (1Co 8:1) If Truth is not believed, or
not understood or not used; it is removed! (Matt 13:19-23; Luk 8:11-14) The
application of gnosis Doctrine is misapplication, and the Word misapplied
generates legalism, inflexibility, insensitivity, intolerance, pride and arrogance.
(Heb 3:12; Heb 4:2) The believer clearly perceives a point of Doctrine and
now faces the issue of faith: does he, or does he not believe what he has
learned? (Prov 3:5-6; Matt 7:7-11) If he believes: that Truth is transferred to
the right lobe and becomes Spiritual Thoughts and Spiritual Words!
(1Co 2:13) By means of faith, it becomes genuine understanding of Divine
Truth. (1Co 4:20) Only God’s Thinking can be applied as Spiritual Wisdom
and Spiritual common sense. (2Co 10:5) Epignosis is also the building
material for the edification complex (Temple) of the soul. (1Co 3:10-14) The
process of transferring the Truth from the heart to the human spirit is faith-
perception. Truth always has the merit; we who believe do not!
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master
builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be
careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the
one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [Salvation] Now if any man builds on
the foundation [Growth to maturity] with gold, silver, precious stones, [God’s
Thoughts] wood, hay, straw, [Satanic and human thoughts] each man’s work
will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with
fire, (Mark 9:49) and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If
any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
(1Co 3:10-14)
REBOUND, RECEPTION, RETENTION, RECALL, RESIST SIN and our will,
and REPEAT!
THE SOURCE OF HUMAN VIEWPOINT
Many factors influence our human thinking, such as environment or
background; training in the home, through both observation and teaching;
education; culture, history, traditions, attainments, way of life to which we
adhere and religion: Any system of faith and worship from cults to
Christianity. However, human viewpoint did not originate in the human mind. It
began with Satan at the time when he revolted against God. (Isa 14:13-14)
Since Satan cannot indwell believers, he attacks all people through their
minds. He uses his demons, as well as the sin nature, believers and
unbelievers, to expedite his schemes. We ALL are born with Satan’s thinking,
(Eph 2:3) when we become members of the family of God; by faith in Christ,
(Gal 2:16) we still think with the same false thoughts! The Bible is written to
believers, and we as believers are Commanded to be renewed in our
Spiritual Thinking. (Eph 4:22-24) Until this happens we are still moral and or
immoral degenerates. (Rom 3:10-12) Human viewpoint was launched into the
human race when Eve was seduced by the subtle suggestion that she could
be as smart as God, if she would eat from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil. So convincing is the devil’s viewpoint of life that entire nations are
deceived by his philosophies. (Rev 12:9; Rev 13:14) For example, when the
unbeliever tries to solve the world’s problems, he automatically thinks in terms
of internationalism or universal brotherhood. He looks to such international
organizations as the United Nations and the World Council of Churches for
help. Their panaceas sound so beautiful and broad-minded that most
believers fall for them. What has happened? Satanic viewpoint is human
viewpoint; and this now pervades human thinking. From the human viewpoint
of the “brotherhood of man,” it is but a step to the “brotherhood of nations.”
Yet every attempt to unify all nations throughout history has failed — from the
Tower of Babel, (Gen 11:1-9) to the present-day United Nations. Has the
latter been successful in maintaining world peace? No matter how sincere
man’s attempts may be to make this a better world, he will fail. (Matt 24:4-6)
This is Satan’s world, and no created being, not even the evil genius of Satan,
has the omniscience or the omnipotence to bring about a perfect world. Until
Jesus Christ returns to reign over this world, there can be no successful
attempt at internationalism. God has divided the world into nations,
(Gen 10:30-31) for its own preservation and that there may be freedom to
evangelize. The Satan-inspired view that man is basically good is another part
of his strategy to trap the mind of man. How does this measure up to God’s
estimate of man?
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23)
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived
me. (Psa 51:5)
The heart [The old sin nature] is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer 17:9)
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the
willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. (Rom 7:18)
God declares that man is a sinner. His old sin nature makes him deceitful
and desperately wicked! If you have always thought that if you were just
good enough, you would eventually make it to heaven, you are wrong! You
have borrowed human viewpoint straight from the mind of Satan! Jesus said,
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes to the Father, but
Through Me.” (John 14:6) We are saved by faith in Christ, not by being
“good.”
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may
boast. (Eph 2:8-9)
THE VICTORY OF DIVINE VIEWPOINT
The general view today seems to be that when people become Christians,
they should stop using their minds and, instead, operate on their feelings.
They think they are supposed to work themselves up into an ecstatic lather
and speak in gibberish. This is commonly known as “speaking in tongues” and
is mistaken for the Spiritual life; such gross misunderstanding, and
misapplication of Scripture, comes from a lack of Spiritual Thoughts. Instead
of learning the Word of God, believers substitute programs and mental
sublimations, such as the “power of positive thinking,” this is a system of self-
hypnosis, in exchange for the Holy Spirit filled Christian way of life! It is
WHAT you Think that counts, not HOW you think! We often assume that
someone who has physical strength and pushes his weight around is tough.
However, the toughest people are not the muscle-men, but those who never
give up mentally, even when facing defeat! Toughness is always a mental
attitude — it has little to do with the physical body. Many people give up, as
the old expression says, “When the first shot is fired.” They give up simply
because of what they think. The only answer is found in the Bible. A nucleus
of believers with Divine Viewpoint can turn the tide. Just recently at a political
convention, some of the people in a certain party were ready to give up and
surrender Principles they knew were right; but the mental attitude of a few
turned the tide. You may be physically exhausted; you may be completely
defeated, as far as the odds are concerned; you may be deprived of your
liberty; but no one can stop you from THINKING those Thoughts which
eventually will overcome the pressures and adversity of your situation. The
Christian way of life is so designed that a believer can THINK AT ALL TIMES!
(Jer 1:12; (2Co 4:16) One of the by-products of the Spiritual life is the ability
to discern the real issues. To see life habitually from the Divine Viewpoint is
one of the greatest stabilizers for the believer in time. I have discovered that
those who study every day learn to concentrate; and they learn to Think
categorically; and have Spiritual discernment. Those who do not study
consistently, live by emotionalism and human viewpoint. An academic
education is not the important factor, or even a prerequisite to accurate
Divine Thinking; this comes from the use of the Biblical Thoughts of the Word
of God, by the one who is born again, and who is positive toward the Word
of Truth. (Col 3:9-10)
THE BIBLE; A CRITIC OF THE THOUGHTS
For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged
sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and
marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb 4:12)
The Bible is the only accurate discerner of what you Think, and it is the
only source for straightening out your mental attitude. Let the Bible “umpire”
your Thoughts; it is your most constructive critic.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious
thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way [False Thinking] in me, And lead
me in the everlasting way. [True Divine Thinking] (Psa 139:23-24)
Ask yourself: Does what I Think line up with the Word of God? If so, you
will have the impact, the power, the peace, the strength, the stability and the
inner happiness which God has provided for every believer and which cannot
be disturbed by adversity or prosperity. In short, you will have reached
Spiritual maturity! However, should our Thinking fail to line up with God’s
Thoughts, it needs to be honestly evaluated and straightened out quickly.
Confusion lies in a misunderstanding of certain areas of God’s Thinking.
AREAS OF MENTAL ATTITUDE
Worldliness
And do not be conformed to this [Thinking of the] world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the
will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:2)
This verse constitutes a Command: “Be not conformed to this world’s way
of thinking — be transformed by and with God’s Thinking!” In other words, do
not be worldly! How? By cutting out the high living and the honky-tonking? Is
that what it says? No! By the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. Worldliness is
not something you do; it is not an overt act. Worldliness is a mental attitude
of human viewpoint! In order not to be conformed to this world, you must
have a new Spiritual mental attitude. Contrary to the often-held view of
Fundamental Christianity, worldliness is not the wearing of makeup, although
in some areas of the United States you would be considered “worldly” for
using cosmetics’ You can paint yourself up until you look like an Apache on
the warpath or you can use no cosmetics and look as if you had stuck your
head in a flour barrel; whether you put on makeup or take it off is a matter of
personal judgment and taste. The Bible teaches “live and let live.”
(1Th 4:11-12) Worldliness is a mental attitude! You can sit in a church with
the most pious expression and roll your eyes heavenward as though you
were deep in prayer or meditation, or you can give the impression you are
intent upon the message and be thinking something else. Many of you
practice this. It is an excellent way to plan ahead — to think about getting
your wardrobe ready for spring or to think about where you will go on your
summer vacation. Of course, someone would be sure to call you worldly if
you stayed at home for the same reason. If you have learned to “play poker,”
you can go to church, fold your hands and think these things but maintain
such a saintly facade that no one would ever call you worldly. Yet God’s
Word says that you are! (Matt 15:8) Now there may be a time when
someone will correctly accuse you of being worldly because he discerns
human viewpoint behind your actions. The tragedy is that there are thousands
of Christians who are very worldly, but they are totally unaware of it because
they have no understanding of the Word of Truth (God’s Thinking on every
subject) Consequently, they assume their overt activities are the key, and
they never realize they are worldly because of what they think! “This world”
refers to every thought and action which is contrary to the absolute Standard
of the Word of God. Worldliness is the operation of the human viewpoint of
Satan’s thinking in the right lobe. Worldliness includes slavery to
circumstances, as well as “Spirituality” through legalism.” The believer must
learn Spiritual Thoughts, (1Co 2:13-14) in order to distinguish between human
sin nature “good” and Divine good. This is one of the great conflicts in the
issue of worldliness. “Be transformed” (Present passive imperative, a
Command!) is a continuous process involving rebound, (1Jn 1:9) and Bible
study. Truth must be in your right lobe as the basis for “transforming” and
“renewing” the Spiritual Thought processes. The mechanics of “renewing the
mind” is the function of the grace apparatus for perception. (Operation Z)
After rebound, (1Jn 1:9) Truth is understood in the left lobe through the filling
of God the Holy Spirit and then transferred automatically to the human spirit
BY FAITH. (John 14:26; John 16:12-15; (1Co 2:9-16) As Truth is cycled into
the right lobe — to the frame of reference, memory center, categorical
storage, vocabulary, conscience and momentum — now Divine Viewpoint is
on the “launching pad” ready for application to experience. Consequently,
Divine Viewpoint in the right lobe is the defense against the mental attitude of
worldliness.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things
[Thoughts] above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your
mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Col 3:1-2)
The “above things” (Or literally, the “upward Thoughts”) constitute the sum
total of the Divine Viewpoint of life. Things on the earth are the sum total of
the human viewpoint of life. “Set your affection on” is literally, “keep Thinking
with God’s Thoughts,” and indicates the continual struggle in the realm of
mental attitude between human and Divine Viewpoints. Don’t concentrate on
people, circumstances, things, or self. Just remain in Spirit,
(Fellowship; Zec 4:6) and Concentrate on Christ and His Thinking! (1Co 2:16)
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so
that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you
are standing firm in ONE SPIRIT, [In the Spiritual life] with ONE MIND [The
Mind of Christ] striving together for the faith [Spiritual life] of the gospel; [The
Truth concerning God’s ONE Reality] in no way alarmed by your opponents--
which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation [Deliverance] for you,
and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not
only to believe in Him, but also to suffer [Sin nature, Thought, people, System
and disaster testing] for His sake. [Glory] (Php 1:27-29)
I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I
permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, Here am
I, here am I, To a nation which did not call on My name. I have spread out My
hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in the way which is not
good, following their own thoughts. (Isa 65:1-2) Quoted in (Rom 10:20-21)
Inner Happiness
Make my joy complete [Sharing the happiness of God] by being of the
same mind, [The Mind of Christ] maintaining the same love, [Personal love for
God, Impersonal love for all mankind] united in spirit, [In the Spiritual life]
intent on one purpose. [To reach full maturity] (Php 2:2)
“Joy” (CHARA) in the Greek refers to inner happiness. With the addition
of the possessive pronoun, it is actually PLUS-H, or God’s happiness — the
penthouse of the “Edification Complex” (Temple) of the soul. (1Co 3:16) This
Edification Complex is an immaterial “structure” in the soul of a Spiritually
mature believer, and is composed of seven “floors” faith rest, grace
orientation; a relaxed mental attitude; mastery of the details of life; the
capacity to love God Personally and others as our-self, sharing God’s
happiness and Occupation with Christ. The Edification Complex is the
backbone of the soul and the bridge to full Spiritual maturity. Even though the
believer is positionally perfect at the point of salvation, (Eph 2:6) his soul has
a deficiency. (Rom 7:18) God’s Plan of Grace calls for this deficiency to be
filled through Truth. This is the meaning of “fulfill.” (PLEROO) As Truth fully
possesses and fully influences the believer, God fills his soul with top quality
happiness. However, this condition is potential, depending on whether or not
the believer functions under daily rebound, reception, retention, recall,
resisting of sin and own plans and repeating; this erects the Spiritual life in his
soul! A completed Spiritual life in the soul produces the capacity for Divine
Thinking in life.
Peace and or Confidence
The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts
in You. (Isa 26:3)
The mind fixed on Christ — Occupation with Him and His Thoughts — is the
basis for perfect peace. You can neither know Christ nor love Him apart from
Truth in the right lobe. Only the constant, daily intake of Truth can produce,
the peace of God, which surpasses all [Human] comprehension, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Php 4:7) The word “peace”
(EIRENE) has the connotation of prosperity, benefit, welfare and tranquility.
This peace reflects the Truth stored in the soul of the Spiritually mature
believer. The blessings God has provided for Spiritual maturity, through Truth
in the soul far surpass human comprehension. (1Co 2:14)
Peace from God in Spiritual maturity acts as a stabilizer for all kinds of
circumstances encountered in the Christian life. This stabilizer makes it
possible for the believer to face both catastrophe and great prosperity with
the same grace functions: freedom from worry (1Pe 5:7) and confidence for
living as well as for dying. (2Co 5:1; (2Co 5:6-8) You must have peace of
mind along with drive and energy in order to have the by-products of
confidence and stability. What happens to you when the pressure is on? Do
you break down and cry? Do you run around and look for a crutch? If you do
not have peace under pressure, there is something wrong with your mental
attitude. (Prov 24:10) The Christian way of life is designed for believers to
have peace in their right lobes, not only in times of prosperity, but also when
the going is rough. Perhaps you do not realize it, but there are dangers in
prosperity as well as in adversity. The peace resulting from Truth in the right
lobe produces a confidence which will sustain you through the prosperity
without your becoming arrogant, and through adversity, without your falling
apart!
Stability
For God has not given us a spirit [Spiritual life] of fear; but of power, and
of love, [Personal love for God, Impersonal love for all mankind] and of a
sound mind. [The Mind of Christ] (2Ti 1:7)
The sound mind is a direct result of the Mind of Christ — a mind free from
worry or fear. “Fear” is human viewpoint caused by a lack of faith-rest.
(Heb 3:18-19)
Therefore, let us fear if, while a Promise remains of entering His rest,
[Spiritual Maturity] any one of you may seem to have come short of it.
(Heb 4:1)
It is not what you DO that stabilizes circumstances — it is what you
THINK! A person who can think under pressure is one who has a stabilized
mental attitude. (John 16:32-33)
Giving
The greatest giver is God the Father, (Rom 8:32) the greatest gift is God
the Son, (Heb 6:4) the greatest presenter is God the Holy Spirit! (Heb 9:14)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich,
[God] yet for your sake He became poor, [Human] so that you through His
poverty might become rich. [Become God’s children] (2Co 8:9)
True Biblical giving, first of all is modeled after God’s Own Thinking and
Nature; and is His Mental attitude. (Luk 11:40-42)
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return;
and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He
Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. [All of us] (Luk 6:35)
Giving was always to the poor, believer or unbeliever, (Matt 6:2;
(1Co 16:1-2) Paul the apostle (Sent to Command) made it very clear; He
would not accept money for the teaching of the Word! (1Co 9:14-19;
(2Co 12:14)
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you,
not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore
be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I
did not cease to admonish each one with tears. And now I commend you to
God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up [To Spiritual
maturity] and to give you the inheritance [Full reward] among all those who
are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You
yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the
men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in
this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord
Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
(Acts 20:29-35)
You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become
kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we
also might reign with you. For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles
[Commanders] last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have
become a spectacle [Theater] to the world, both to angels and to men. [The
Angelic conflict] We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ;
we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without
honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly
clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with
our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we
endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the
scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. I do not write these
things to shame you, but to admonish [Warn] you as my beloved children. For
if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many
fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. (1Co 4:8-16)
All production in the Spiritual life is a result of growth, not the cause! God
gives us 24 hrs. a day for us to redeem, (Eph 5:14-18) by staying in
fellowship, by learning, and Thinking with Truth! This offering to God is
acceptable, and everything else in the Spiritual life is a result of our giving
back, what He gives us. (Time, energy, effort, sharing, money, thanksgiving,
praise, hospitality; Virtue) You may not always have money; but you can
always have the basis for giving — a willing mind, which is literally positive
volition based on Truth. (2Co 8:12) This switches giving from what you give,
to what goes on in your right lobe. Old Testament tithing was tantamount to
an income tax for believers and unbelievers alike; it had nothing to do with
giving or “offerings.” (Neh 10:36-39) The New Testament Principle is to give
“as God has prospered.” (2Co 9:8) The next time you are guided by the
Lord, to help someone, remember, that giving is what you are Thinking before
you give and while you are giving. If it is giving for the praise of men and or
under pressure, it is an abomination to the Lord. (Psa 66:18) Until believers
reach Spiritual maturity they cannot understand when to and when not to
give! God has and UNLIMITED AMOUNT to give to us; to give to others!
(Psa 50:10-15)
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he
who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he
has purposed in his heart, [Spiritual Thinking in fellowship, and lead by God]
not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
[A Spiritually mature believer with inner happiness] (2Co 9:6-7)
If you give with thanksgiving in fellowship, and out of Virtue love for the Lord,
it is acceptable to Him.
Love
And He said to him, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH
ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR
MIND. This is the great and foremost Commandment. The second is like it,
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. On these two
Commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets. (Matt 22:37-40)
cf. (Deut 10:12-22; Lev 19:18)
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is
not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; [Not arrogant towards others] it
does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong
suffered, [Not arrogant about himself] does not rejoice in unrighteousness,
[Being out of fellowship] but rejoices with the Truth; bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1Co 13:5)
Two Greek words confirm the Principle that the true Concept of love in
the Bible is a mental attitude: AGAPE and PHILOS. AGAPE-type Impersonal
love is found only in the Spiritual life of the soul. It is the capacity to love
which comes from the filling of God the Holy Spirit and knowledge of the
Truth. It is the relaxed mental attitude of Spiritual maturity, and reflects
freedom from mental attitude sins toward God and toward people.
(1Ti 1:5-6) It is impossible to sustain a relationship with the Lord or with any
human being and be filled with mental attitude sins. The Command to love
other believers is not an order to demonstrate your love in an overt manner,
or even to love everyone with the same intensity of love. It is strictly an order
to maintain a relaxed MENTAL ATTITUDE, although mental attitude love often
prompts overt manifestations or expressions toward the object loved.
(John 3:16) Capacity for love begins with mental attitude AGAPE. Through
the function of Operation Z, it spreads throughout the soul and becomes
PHILOS, a total soul love. PHILOS-type Personal love directed toward God,
and Impersonal love toward man can fully exist only through the Spiritual life
at Spiritual maturity!
THE CRITICAL MENTAL ATTITUDE OF THE CORINTHIANS
Second Corinthians 10 is one of the great mental attitude passages in the
Word of God and relates our Spiritual conflict to the Thought pattern.
Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ--I
who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!
(2Co 10:1)
The word “meekness” means “gentleness of mind” and is a word for a
mental attitude of grace. “Gentleness” is literally “graciousness” or grace-
application. At the very outset of this passage, the Apostle Paul cites the
tremendous mental attitude of our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace Orientation and
grace-application. Why? The critical mental attitude of the Corinthian
believers toward Paul was a satanic attempt to destroy Paul’s own mental
attitude of grace. Paul answers his critics in this passage as a man with the
authority to settle the account. It is not the time to “turn the other cheek.” The
last phrase of verse 1 is generally misunderstood. Paul not only fights back,
but he quotes his critics with sarcasm. He caustically remarks that these
legalists claim he is submissive and timid in their presence but bold and
courageous in his epistle. This is a reference to First Corinthians in which
Paul blistered the Corinthians with an exhortation concerning their carnality.
(Being out fellowship)
But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that
confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if
we walked according to the flesh. [In Carnality] (2Co 10:2)
Paul is requesting a change of mental attitude on the part of his critics,
and he appeals to their grace orientation. The nit-picking and bullying gave
Paul no freedom to communicate Truth. However, Paul was not afraid. He
could handle the legalists, if necessary. Through Truth, he had great Spiritual
courage, and whether present or absent from them, he would be faithful to
Truth. The greatest expression of love by a pastor-teacher for his sheep is
the communication of Truth! The carnal thoughts of the legalists express
emotional revolt of the soul and reversionism. In deeming Paul carnal, they
are actually ascribing to him their own condition of soul.
For though we walk in the flesh, [Human body] we do not war [In the
angelic conflict] after [According to] the flesh. [Old sin nature] (2Co 10:3)
With his characteristic humor and sarcasm, Paul makes a play on words
and uses the word “flesh” in both its literal and Spiritual meanings. It is true
that Paul’s soul is walking IN the sphere of the flesh, (The human body) but it
is not true that he is living or teaching ACCORDING TO the standards of the
flesh. (The old sin nature) Just because Paul “braces” the Corinthians does
not mean he is out of fellowship. He possesses legitimate authority;
(1Co 4:19-21) thus, his hard-nosed teaching is not carnality. The criticism of
Paul by the Corinthians is not valid. It represents the self-righteousness of
human viewpoint and legalism. Our warfare in the Christian life is neither
physical nor carnal; it is Spiritual! Though we live in this world, we do not
engage in the Spiritual conflict according to the standard of this world. We do
not use our human energy or talents, our human personalities or ingenuity.
We use our God-given Spiritual assets. The Lord has provided information
whereby we can begin at “home base” — our Thinking — and advance
victoriously toward overt production compatible with Divine Viewpoint. This is
a very important Principle, for it will explain Paul’s mental attitude dissertation.
OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, [Human thoughts] but
Divinely powerful [God’s Thoughts] for the destruction of fortresses. [Areas of
false thinking] (2Co 10:4)
In our Spiritual warfare, we do not pick up an M-1, load it and shoot down
the devil, nor do we toss a few grenades and blow up the world! Since we do
not fight according to the flesh, we must have Spiritual armament for combat
in the angelic conflict. “Flesh” in this verse refers to the system of earthly
standards. Our weapons in the angelic conflict do not belong to the physical
realm. Rather, our weapons are powerful through the instrumentality of God.
The devil’s fortification system can resist all attacks of human viewpoint,
human ability and human power; but God has provided in grace Divine
Thoughts, equipment, and weapons to demolish the cosmic thinking of Satan.
What are these weapons which enable us to launch an attack against the
world, the old sin nature and the devil? They are DIVINE THOUGHTS! The
greatest weapon we have in both Spiritual warfare and in life is what we
Think. No matter how you slice it, the factor that motivates, empowers and
strengthens a believer is his Thought pattern. If the believer is thinking with
human reality or viewpoint, he is under satanic infiltration. Furthermore, he is
useless, miserable, and indistinguishable from the unbeliever. On the other
hand, the believer with Truth in the right lobe has God’s declared Reality, and
if he Thinks with It, as if it were really True! He has the ability to assault the
defense system of Satan in this intensified stage of the angelic conflict. Such
a believer has moved into the mature Spiritual life, and therefore has the
capacity to understand that “God causes all things to work together for the
believers good” and he “casts all his cares on the Lord” this believer cannot
be defeated! Like a truly courageous person in the human realm, he cannot
be conquered. You can beat him up; you can tear him to shreds; but as long
as he has the Divine Viewpoint in the right lobe which says, “I will fight and
Think with God’s with Thoughts to the end,” cannot be overcome!
(Rom 8:28-37)
THE MENTAL ATTITUDE IN THE CONFLICT
We are destroying speculations [Satan’s thoughts] and every lofty thing
[Arrogance] raised up against THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and we are
taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. [THE MIND OF
CHRIST] (2Co 10:5)
The Concept of bringing every Thought into captivity for Christ has been
interpreted in many ways. The “meditators,” the “agonizers,” the “positive
thinkers,” all think they are bringing their thoughts into captivity for Christ. Yet,
when the interpretation is analyzed in the Greek, it clearly reveals that every
phrase in this verse relates to military function. “Destroying” (KATHAIREO)
indicates the power of a Divine Thought to attack and demolish the cosmic
thought of Satan! Not human thoughts, Satan knows more than any human.
And our thoughts are useless!
And again, THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS [Thoughts] of the wise,
THAT THEY ARE USELESS. (1Co 3:20) from (Psa 94:11)
Man in his pomp, [Arrogance] yet without understanding, [God’s Thinking]
Is like the beasts that perish. (Psa 49:20)
I said to myself concerning the sons of men, God has surely tested them
in order for them to see that they are but beasts. (Eccles 3:18)
The strategic victory of the Cross, followed by the resurrection, ascension
and session of Christ at the right hand of the Father; has now placed Satan in
a defensive rather than an offensive position. Before the Cross became an
historic fact, Satan had operated on the more advantageous principle of
offense; but now that his doom is sealed, he can only employ delaying
tactics. Believers are the assault troops designed by the Lord to demolish his
defense system. When they fail, it is because of being negative toward Truth,
and or not Thinking with Truth under temptations to sin, resulting in the
malfunction of Operation Z and the opening up of the MATAIOTES, causing
scar tissue of the soul, and finally, reversionism. Under these conditions, the
mind is the prisoner of Satan. (2Ti 2:25-26) To attack and smash the unseen
satanic fortifications requires a heavy concentration of Truth!
What are Satan’s fortifications? “Speculations?” Not at all! Satan is far
too clever to function on the basis of speculations. The word, incorrectly
translated “speculations,” is LOGISMOS — systems of thought or reasoning’
s — and refers to the reasoning powers of cosmic Truth. (The Thoughts of
the Bible used out of context, and or not in the filling of God the Holy Spirit)
Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the
pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw
Yourself down; for it is written, HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS
CONCERNING YOU; and ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO
THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE. Jesus
said to him, On the other hand, it is written, YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE
LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST. (Matt 4:5-7)
And also every other form of religion, and false thinking. (1Ti 4:1)
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves
as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an
angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise
themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to
their deeds. (2Co 11:13-15)
God is allowing Satan to demonstrate any and every way to live apart
from the Will and Thoughts of God! So that God can bring many angels and
men to His family, to share His infinite Love and Truth with forever! And at the
same time Satan is proving beyond any doubt; he and every demon and
every man who refuses God’s Will of Salvation and or Obedience, is justly
sent to the lake of Fire! And every believer who has the same mental attitude
as these BELIEVERS will be judged:
And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and sensible steward,
[Spiritually Mature believer] whom his master will put in charge of his
servants, to give them their rations [The Word of God on every subject] at the
proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he
comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
But if that slave says in his heart, [Believer, thinking in favor of the old sin
nature] My master will be a long time in coming, and begins to beat the
slaves, [Arrogance, pride of life] both men and women, and to eat and drink
[Wrong priorities, lust of the eyes] and get drunk; [Lust of the flesh] the
master of that slave [Spiritually mature Believer] will come on a day when he
does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in
pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. (Jud 1:11-16) And that
slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with
his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and
committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone
who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted
much, of him they will ask all the more. (Luk 12:42-48)
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be
false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies,
[The Bible without the filling of God the Holy Spirit] even denying the Master
who bought them, [Carnal believers] bringing swift destruction upon
themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, [Staying out of fellowship] and
because of them the way of the Truth will be maligned; and in their greed
[Preaching for money] they will exploit you with false words; their judgment
from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2Pe 2:1-3)
These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the
black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity
they entice by fleshly desires, (Matt 15:18-19) by sensuality, those who
barely escape [Became believers] from the ones who live in error,
[Unbelievers] promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of
corruption; [To the old sin nature] for by what a man is overcome, by this he
is enslaved. (John 8:35) For if, after they have escaped the defilements of
the world [Sin nature thinking] by the Knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, [The Mind of Christ; God’s Thinking] they are again entangled in them
[Human old sin nature thoughts] and are overcome, the last state has become
worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have
known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the
holy Commandment [Divine Viewpoint] handed on to them. It has happened to
them according to the true proverb, A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,
and, A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." (2Pe 2:17-22)
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO
HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS
COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE
PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are
all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Rom 11:33-36)
We are destroying speculations [Satan’s thoughts] and every lofty thing
[Arrogance] raised up against THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and we are
taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. [THE MIND OF
CHRIST] (2Co 10:5)
Satanic attacks are launched, if someone, anyone has never #1 believed
in Christ, and or #2 never learned the Word of Truth or is not Thinking with it;
they are a mental prisoner of Satan, we are born in this condition! (Gen 8:21)
On the other hand, when believers are Thinking with Divine Viewpoint, they
have established a successful counterattack against cosmic viewpoint, and
“bring into captivity” “or make a prisoner of every thought” — literally, “every
system of satanic and human thought.” We have held off the attack, and
Satan has been repulsed! LOGISMOS [“Speculations” or systems of cosmic
thought] is Satan’s successful attempt to capture our system of Divine
Thinking; NOEMA [Every system of Thought] is the believer’s successful
attempt at assault. In other words, LOGISMOS denotes human viewpoint;
NOEMA, Divine Viewpoint. Every system of thought sponsored by Satan can
be captured by the believer and defeated! Making a prisoner of every human
viewpoint system of thought must be accomplished under the Principle of
“obedience to authority.” Assaulting and demolishing all cosmic systems of
thinking, and every obstacle of pride, temptation, distraction and memory that
is attacking against the objective Spiritual Thinking of God, and making a
prisoner and captive every human viewpoint system of thought; TO THE
AUTHORITY OF CHRIST’S THOUGHTS. (Literal translation of; 2Co 10:5)
The obedience of Christ is Truth — the Mind of Christ. (1Co 2:16) Under this
Concept, if enough believers in a national entity consistently maintain Divine
Viewpoint, [Living and Thinking by the Will, and Word of God] that nation will
be a light (Matt 5:14) and recover the freedom, prosperity and impact
designed by God. Obviously, then, the answer is in the function of Operation
Z. Rebound, Reception, Retention, Recall, Resist sin and our own will; and
Repeat! (Mark 8:33-38; Php 2:21)
HUMAN ADJUSTMENTS TO LIFE
What are some of these systems of thought used by Satan in an attack or a
counterattack?
1. RATIONALIZATION
This is a form of self-justification, on the basis of scar tissue, a warped
conscience, and or lack of the Word of Truth in the human spirit, such a state
of mind justifies human traditions, religion, sentimentality, human security,
social life, family life, hobbies, sports, occupational life, the lust of the eyes,
the lust of the flesh and or the pride of life as more important than Thinking
God’s Thoughts on EVERY SUBJECT! You cannot be involved in such a
negative system of thought and possess God’s happiness. The Divine
Viewpoint is: But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a
good conscience and a sincere faith. [Pure Divine Thinking] (1Ti 1:5)
But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said,
Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests,
[Thoughts] but man’s. (Mark 8:33)
For they all seek after their own interests, [Thoughts] not those of Christ
Jesus. (Php 2:21)
2. DIRECT ATTACK
In this system, a person adjusts to the problems and frustrations of life
through anger — a fit of temper, a tantrum or physical aggression. This
mental attitude stems from one of the lust patterns: approbation lust; (To get
attention) power lust; (To control people and the environment around them) or
from emotional revolt of the soul and mental attitude sins, of vindictiveness
and implacability. (To be spiteful and seek revenge) The Divine viewpoint is:
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away
from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted,
forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
(Eph 4:31-32)
3. DEFENSE MECHANISM
When the soul is confronted with pressures, the person protects himself
by reverting to human viewpoint in order to block out God’s Reality. This
change of thought pattern leads to a change of behavior pattern. For
example, a believer may become disillusioned with people, self,
circumstances or things; and then uses any excuse to “live by the old sin
nature” and reverts to human realities. The Divine Viewpoint is: Therefore,
since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
Thinking, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so
as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but
for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have
carried out the desire of the Gentiles, [Unbelievers] having pursued a course
of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable
idolatries. (1Pe 4:1-3)
4. DENIAL
This is a human viewpoint adjustment that ignores or attempts to ignore
some difficulty, problem or danger. Know this first of all, that in the last days
mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and
saying, Where is the Promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell
asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. (2Pe 3:3-4)
The Divine Viewpoint is: For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the
knowledge of the Truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
(Heb 10:26)
For we know Him who said, VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY. And
again, THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE. It is a terrifying thing to fall
into the hands of the living God. (Heb 10:30-31)
5. SUBLIMATION / ESCAPISM
When a person becomes bored, lonely, discouraged or filled with mental
attitude sins, he seeks an outlet for his frustrations through a frantic search
for happiness in fornication, alcohol, drugs, sports, hobbies entertainment,
social life, etc. He becomes a slave to the details of life (1Jn 2:16) and loses
his capacities for life, love, and happiness; he therefore sublimates. One of
the most common and subtle sublimations is the escape into dream world.
You visualize in your mind a place to retreat where you can compensate for
the frustrations, adversities and disappointments of life. These believers avoid
Divine Reality through some fanciful form of escapism. There are many novel
ways to compensate, but they all constitute dream world. In this way, we can
often escape the reality of disappointments and heartache. Yet there is a
Divine Plan by which you can advance and out-maneuver Satan all the way
and gain victory in the devil’s world! This Plan is Divine Viewpoint — God’s
Thoughts on EVERY SUBJECT! Every battle in life can be won if you follow
the Divine Instructions. Each time you face a bitter situation in life, or fail at
work, or make mistake, or sin, you will either retreat into one of the human
adjustments to life, or advance into Divine Viewpoint, by using God’s
Thoughts. (1Jn 1:9; Rom 8:28) If you retreat from God’s Reality, to the
human viewpoint of escapism, or any other form of false thinking, and get out
of fellowship and then get back in fellowship, and out again, back and forth,
you still possess your bitterness and frustration. You are still upset! Instead,
you must advance from your experience to the Word of God and then apply
the Divine Thinking to experience. By Thinking with these Divine Thoughts
under pressure you WILL advance in the Spiritual life; guaranteed! OR YOUR
WORRY, DOUBT, SINNING, FUSTRATION, ETC. BACK, GUARANTEED!
But we have this treasure [The Spiritual life] (2Pe 1:4) in earthen vessels,
[Human bodies] so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God
and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, [People and
circumstances] but not crushed; perplexed, [Thought testing] but not
despairing; persecuted, [Family and organizations] but not forsaken; struck
down, [Disaster testing] but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body
the dying of Jesus, (Rom 6:4 ) so that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our body. (Gal 2:20) For we who live are constantly being
delivered over to death (Rom 8:13) [Experiential death] for Jesus’ sake, so
that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (Col 3:10)
So death works in us, (Col 3:9) [Experiential death to the production of the
old sin nature’s will and desires] but life in you. [Spiritual life] (2Co 4:7-12)
Now you are on the offensive; you have overcome human reality! The
more Truth you know, the more you will find strength, comfort and power
when facing the realities of life, God’s Reality, and the satanically inspired
human false realities.
But He answered and said, It is written, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON
BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE
MOUTH OF GOD. (Matt 4:4)
MAN SHALL NOT LIVE IN HUMAN REALITIES ALONE, BUT IN GOD’S
ONE REALITY! Jesus was forty days without food, and He was hungry,
[Human reality] the temptation is to use His Deity as God to solve the
problem. Instead He trusted in the power of His Spiritual life, Truth, God the
Holy Spirit and God the Father to feed Him when it was time, [God’s Reality]
and He Thought and said. (Matt 4:4) We are tempted to try to solve our
problems by using our old sin nature. Christ experientially died to His will, and
desire for food! We follow the same example with our life! (John 12:24-26)
6. SUBJECTIVITY
The best illustration of subjective thinking is the present-day emotional
sensitivity programs conducted in every area of life — in the military,
business, academic, medical, family and social life. However, subjectivity is
not confined to organized activities. Many believers, who wear their feelings
on their sleeves and are constantly upset about something or someone,
constitute a large majority of subjective thinkers. Another form of over-
sensitivity is self-pity. You assume no one loves you; you feel left out, and it
depresses you. There is no excuse for any of this for believers. Our lives
were designed by God to have peace, happiness and blessing: Objectivity
When you arrive at the place of maximum Divine Viewpoint, you become
Occupied with the Person of Jesus Christ, and at that point you have just
moved into a place of perfect happiness. As long as you remain stabilized in
that Mental attitude, nothing can move you. (Psa 16:8) This is a part of the
Concept of inner beauty, the filling of God the Holy Spirit and the Spiritual life.
You will become a different person. (Gal 4:19) Your whole life reflects what
you Think! (Psa 119:124-135)
THE GARRISON IN THE SOUL
And having in a readiness [The fortress of Divine Thinking] to revenge and
punish all disobedience, [False thinking] whenever your obedience
(Rom 6:17-18) is fulfilled. [At Spiritual maturity] (2Co 10:6)
Satan has many clever systems for controlling the mind and soul of
believers, but God has provided a security system to protect the soul.
“Having in a readiness” is a military term denoting security and could be
translated, “to garrison troops at a certain point to prevent revolution.” This
verse is a warning against revolution in the soul. How can the believer have
revolution in his soul? When he goes negative toward God’s way of Thinking;
through emotional revolt, reversionism, human viewpoint or apostasy, causing
scar tissue in the soul and or hardness of heart, his soul is in revolution. At no
time in your Christian experience are you invulnerable to emotional revolt in
the soul. It may be temporary carnality and last only as long as it takes to
rebound, (1Jn 1:9) or it may be permanent and lead to reversionism. Emotion
is the basis for every response and reaction in life. When the emotion is
dominated by the Spiritual life and responds to Divine Thinking, there is
capacity for life, love and happiness. On the other hand, when the emotion
takes over; it causes irrational behavior and breeds unhappiness. Since
people in emotional revolt crack up easily, the soul must have a garrison. If it
does not, they become vulnerable to all the emotional activities in Christianity
today — the one-shot rededications, “Spirituality” through old sin nature
morality, “tongues” the health and wealth movement or the “divine” healing
counterfeits. “Having” is “to have and to hold,” and indicates a certain way of
life. Your way of Thinking and life should maintain a continual guard mount in
the soul. (2Pe 3:17) When any military organization is on the move, it must be
protected by a “point” — a small outfit placed in front of the main column.
There must also be flank and rear protection. (Isa 52:12) When the troops
rest or bivouac, they must set up a perimeter of sentinels with outposts for
security. (Psa 62:6) It is Satan’s objective in the angelic conflict to make your
soul a battlefield. He already has an ally in the body — the old sin nature
which, under carnality or reversionism, (1Co 3:1-3) controls the soul.
However, the sin nature can produce only carnality, human old sin nature
good and or evil. It takes an outside attack force of Satanic false Biblical
thoughts and or the “doctrines of demons” (1Ti 4:1) to completely destroy the
effectiveness of the soul. In the angelic conflict, there are two types of
security provided by God: Eternal security, (John 10:28) and temporal
security; the maintenance of a garrison in your soul. (2Co 10:6) This
protection against the takeover of the soul, by what is false, is Spiritual
Thinking in the soul. (John 7:16-18) “All disobedience” connotes “deviation
from obedience or authority.” You must mount a guard in your soul to
“revenge all disobedience to the authority of Truth,” which is emotional revolt
in the soul. “Revenge” denotes punishment and indicates that all these revolts
must be punished or put down. As you learn categories of Truth, the “troops”
move in, and a fortified town is set up in your soul! When you know enough
Truth through the function of Operation Z, you can crush every revolt in your
soul.
Illustration
This is the point at which “obedience is fulfilled.” Truth in the frame of
reference of the Spiritual life, is primary sentry Post Number One — your
greatest protection. From there, you move to the outer perimeter — the
memory center, vocabulary, categories, the conscience, and the Thinking of
Truth, resulting in the Edification Complex, (A new Spiritual heart) (Eze 36:26)
in the soul and the beginning of the Spiritually mature Christian life! The fact
that you are a believer does not mean your soul is automatically garrisoned
— this is potential. What does a new believer do until he develops a garrison
in the soul? He fights with a slingshot, bows and arrows or fists; in other
words, he uses the faith- rest technique, (Memorizing Verses and Thinking
with them) as a holding force until he builds a stronger and more permanent
defense. Faith-rest is designed simply to Think Promises and Principles in the
Word. The full-strength garrison is the “Full Knowledge” of the Doctrines of
the Word of God, put on the launching pad in the Spiritual life. (Eph 4:13-14;
Heb 5:14)
Take pains Meditate [Keep Thinking and speaking to yourself] with these
Thoughts; be absorbed in them, give yourself wholly to them; that your
profiting [Progress] will appear and be evident to all. Pay close attention to
yourself, and to the Truth; continue in these Thoughts: for in doing this you
shall both save [Deliver] yourself, [From old sin nature thinking] and those that
hear you. [Those over whom you have influence] (1Ti 4:15-16)
Holding in readiness [The fortress of Truth] to punish all deviation from
obedience to Divine Thoughts, whenever your obedience [Deficiency of Truth]
has been fulfilled, so as to fully influence our Thoughts! (Literal translation of;
2Co 10:6)
THE DANGER OF SUPERFICIAL EVALUATION
You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in
himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just
as he is Christ’s, so also are we. (2Co 10:7)
The first phrase of this verse is the biography of the believer without a
garrison. In the Greek it is a statement, not a question. It says literally, “You
are in the habit of looking at things according to the standard of superficial
appearance. Indicates a soulish revolt in the Corinthians. Although no demon
can enter the body of a believer, (1Co 6:19) Satanic twisted Scripture can
infiltrate the soul when the garrison goes to sleep, through neglect of the
filling of God the Holy Spirit and Thinking with the Mind of Christ. One of the
great dangers we face in the Christian life is to assume that we know
something when we know nothing! People in this category inevitably reveal
the nothingness in their souls by superficial evaluation. Circumstances are
viewed completely through human viewpoint — the outward appearance.
(1Sa 16:7) Such people get their eyes on other people, circumstances, things
or self and have no discernment relative to Divine Reality. They are souls
without a garrison, overrun or neutralized by the devil. They “plead the blood,”
agonize in the closet, dedicate, rededicate, and call this “the victorious
Christian life.” Where does God look? On the EMOTIONS? No! God
evaluates what goes on in the heart — the Spiritual Thinking! That is where
the garrison should be. “If anyone — any of you Corinthians — has
confidence [And you do] regarding himself that he belongs to Christ...” The
Corinthians have not gone so far into reversionism that they think they have
lost their Salvation, but that is about all they remember at this point. How will
they recover? Paul knows they cannot Think Truth while in emotional revolt
and reversionism; therefore, he directs their Thoughts to his authority. First,
he reminds them that when they criticize him, they are criticizing a member of
the Body of Christ. Furthermore, he has authority over them by Divine
appointment. As the communicator of Truth, Paul, as well as all pastor-
teachers, have special authority. (Heb 13:7; Heb 13:17) Therefore, in
(2Co 10:8) Paul defends his authority and his right to judge on the basis of his
Spiritual gift of communication. (Eph 4:11; (1Th 5:12)
THE ISSUE OF AUTHORITY
For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord
hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be
ashamed. (2Co 10:8)
Paul, including all three communicators who had ministered to the
Corinthians — Timothy, Titus and himself — says literally, “For if I (Maybe I
will and maybe I won’t — third class condition) should boast a little too much
concerning our authority...” Paul’s critics were saying that he was a great
braggart and that authority had gone to his head. They insisted that he was
abusing his authority by keeping them under his thumb. Yet this is exactly
what the legalists were doing while attributing their own tactics to Paul. But
Paul, knowing that his authority was from God, and was neither ashamed nor
afraid to use it, In fact, he would have to become a “drill sergeant” and
“smash” them with his rank! The gift of pastor-teacher has been sovereignly
bestowed by God the Holy Spirit, for believers to reach Spiritual maturity.
The PRIMARY objective of the communication of Truth, is the construction of
the Spiritual life in the soul. The ULTIMATE objective in Phase Two, (In time
after Salvation) is for believers to reach Spiritual maturity. Even though the
pastor-teacher may find it necessary to severely admonish his flock, it is not
for their “destruction” to the contrary, it is to keep them from reversionism! No
believer ever builds the Spiritual life in the soul or moves into Spiritual maturity
without accepting his pastor-teacher’s authority, which has graciously been
provided by God the Holy Spirit and which is employed through the teaching
of the Word of God. (2Ti 3:16-17)
For I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.
(2Co 10:9)
Paul’s critics also claimed he was trying to terrorize and intimidate the
Corinthian believers with his letters, so they rejected his Epistles as a source
of Divine Viewpoint. Therefore, it became necessary for Paul to defend the
authority issue through the Doctrine of inspiration. As in communication, so in
inspiration, the authority of the Message is provided by God the Holy Spirit.
God the Holy Spirit used the writers of Scripture to record God’s complete
and connected Thought toward man. (2Pe 1:20-21) Obviously, First
Corinthians was an epistle of reproof. But this hard-nosed rebuke was
conducted in the ministry of the Holy Spirit under the principle of Divine
inspiration. Certain portions of the Bible are designed to be harsh in order to
warn believers against reversionism. Whatever the subject, every portion of
Scripture is vital and necessary! (2Ti 3:16-17)
For they say, His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal
presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible. (2Co 10:10)
Again his critics are quoted as saying that his letters are “severe and
vehement.” (Literally) These words imply that Paul is tyrannical and lacks love
and compassion. They resent his dogmatism and authority in teaching. From
the critical attitude toward his message, they move on to ridicule his personal
appearance and public speaking ability. When anyone rejects the Doctrinal
message, he will inevitably find something to reject in the person of the
communicator: “his personal presence is unimpressive, and his speech
contemptible.” Those of you who understand Greek culture will be amused at
this because there were two things which were highly revered: a beautiful
body and a skilful orator. Since most of the heroes of ancient Greece were
either strong, muscular men or people with eloquent tongues, the Greeks
worshipped these two attainments. The critics were pointing out that Paul did
not meet any of the heroic specifications for Greek culture. They were
suggesting that he would have no influence in a Greek city like Corinth
because of his regular body and his short-comings as a public speaker. A
fourth-century manuscript, ascribed to Lucian, portrayed Paul as the “bald-
headed, hook-nosed Galilean.” The legalists made an issue of his
appearance. There is apparent reason to believe he did not make a good first
impression, and frankly, I am delighted that he did not. Paul is a good
illustration of the secret power in the Christian life. To serve the Lord, it is not
necessary to work out with barbells and develop muscles. Nor is the secret in
eloquent speech. Apparently, Paul had some type of speech impediment; yet
he never seemed to be disturbed or hampered by his human handicaps for
quite an obvious reason: he depended on the POWER OF GOD! He knew
that the power of God not only provided a more than adequate substitute for
any human deficiency, (2Co 12:10) but that it was the only source for a
successful ministry. Human viewpoint said, “Paul, you will never make a
preacher; you are an unrefined public speaker; you have no presence, and
your appearance detracts. You simply will never be able to hold an audience;
so don’t bother to come to our seminary or apply to our pulpit committee.
You do not fill the bill!” Human viewpoint demands a tall, attractive, eloquent
gentleman — someone who will be a social lion, have the right kind of a
personality and who can raise money, if necessary. What is the Divine
Viewpoint? Does he teach the Word of God? Does he use Divine power?
(Zec 4:6; John 4:23) Paul illustrates in this passage the difference between
Divine and human viewpoints. He is declaring that from the human viewpoint
he could not serve anywhere as a pastor, but God has graciously given him
the gift of authority — apostleship. Further, God has given him the gift of
teaching; and regardless of his lack of eloquence, Paul is unsurpassed as a
teacher, as well as one of the greatest believers who ever lived. From the
human viewpoint, he was totally handicapped. From the Divine Viewpoint, he
tapped grace to the maximum. (1Sa 16:7) In addition to his unattractive
physical appearance and lack of eloquence, Paul was constantly in pain.
(2Co 12:7 — the “thorn in the flesh”) This is a significant factor. Yet, once
again, we see that the important factor is God’s Word. When one uses Truth,
and God’s power — the filling of God the Holy Spirit — all the handicaps of
life cannot hinder anyone, from fulfilling the responsibility for which the Lord
has left them in this world! It is not how you look — and don’t take this to
mean that you should be sloppy in your appearance. It is not how you speak;
it is not your personality; IT IS WHAT YOU THINK! All the physical disorders
and handicaps in the world are inconsequential, if you have God’s Thinking in
the right lobe of your soul! Although the critics cannot permanently damage
Paul’s ministry, they are permitted by God to continue their activities to test
the discernment and volition of believers who appear to be positive to Truth.
Are we Occupied with Christ, or with people? Do we truly love the Word, or
something, someone or anything else!
He who is faithful in a very little thing [Divine Thought] is faithful also in
much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in
much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth,
who will entrust the true riches to you? [Spiritual Maturity] And if you have not
been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which
is your own? [No reward] No servant can serve two masters; for either he will
hate the one [God and His Divine Viewpoint] and love the other, [Human
viewpoint wealth] or else he will be devoted to one [God and His Thoughts]
and despise the other. [Human old sin nature reality] You cannot serve God
and wealth. Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to
all these things and were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, You are
those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but GOD KNOWS YOUR
HEARTS; [It all depends on WHAT WE THINK] for that which is highly
esteemed among men [The lust of the eyes, flesh, pride, human reality, living
by the old sin nature] is detestable in the sight of God. (Rom 8:13;
Luk 16:10-15)
We are to: Work, eat, have money, have a family, social life and
entertainment, etc.; To live! — Not live to: Have money, eat work, have a
family, social life and entertainment, etc.! The only way this is possible is
living in Spirit & Truth, as the number one priority! (Matt 4:4; John 4:23-24)
Let such a person [The critic] Consider [Think] this, that what we are in
word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we
are present. (2Co 10:11)
Paul comes back at his critics with a declaration of his consistency. Let
the critics and Judaizers consider the facts. Paul has been consistent whether
present or absent, he lived in the Spiritual life Thinking with Truth! Paul
preferred to present God’s Word in a gracious manner; but when the
occasion called for it, he could lower the boom. (2Ti 4:2) “Who are these
people who are criticizing me? And what is the source of their viewpoint?”
(The old sin nature)
THE INCONSISTENCY OF HUMAN VIEWPOINT
For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those
who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by
themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without
Understanding. [Divine Thinking] (2Co 10:12)
To “compare ourselves” means “to judge ourselves in the same place or
rank.” “I do not have the boldness,” Paul says, oozing sarcasm, “to judge
ourselves worthy” In other words, the legalists are so superior to him,
(Sarcasm) Paul now adds humor to sarcasm: “to compare ourselves” is a
paronomasia. However, the play on words is lost in the English. He says,
“We do not have the boldness to either EGKRINO — “to judge ourselves
worthy” — or SUGKRINO — “to compare ourselves favorably with certain
ones who constantly recommend themselves favorably.” They have found in
Paul and others a common target for criticism, and they malign and judge
them, while flattering each other and stimulating their own approbation lust.
Paul is completely ostracized from their mutual admiration society; yet from
the Divine Viewpoint, to use another believer as your criterion is a very subtle
form of carnality. Do you know why? Because it involves a mental attitude of
pride, and pride is one of the most insidious of mental attitude sins.
For you have died [Dead people do not compare themselves!] and your
life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, [Now] is
revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider
the members of your earthly body as dead [To the old sin natures’ thoughts]
(John 12:25) to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which
amounts to idolatry. (Col 3:3-5)
And have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge
according to the image [Thinking and Virtue] of the One who created him--
[Jesus Christ our Lord] (Col 3:10)
THE STANDARD OF TRUTH
But we will not boast beyond our measure, [Thinking of Truth] but within
the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, [The
Mind of Christ] to reach even as far as you. (2Co 10:13)
“But” is a conjunction which sets forth a contrast between the human
viewpoint of the mutual admiration society of verse 12 and the Divine
Viewpoint of believers with Truth in the right lobe. The Greek says literally,
“But we will not boast with reference to a thing; not measured...” What are
these things? We must remember our context — human versus Divine
Viewpoints. Paul is saying that the maligning and approbation lust of his
critics does not line up with Truth; therefore, he will not glory / boast, or fear.
(1Pe 3:14-15) God has not left us in the dark regarding the Divine Thoughts
for our life: they are found in the Canon of Scripture and nowhere else! Most
of these people were believers, but they were minus Truth in the soul. The
next conjunction of contrast describes that which Paul will glory in: “but
according to the Standard of the measure of the sphere; of the KANON” —
KANON, a ruler or measuring stick, from which we derive the word “Canon,”
is often used for the Word of God. While in their state of emotional revolt and
reversionism Paul’s critics have rejected the Canon or Rule, God has not:
“which God [Through the Holy Spirit] has distributed to us [In the Canon: The
Mind of Christ]...” It is shared with us through the human writers of Scripture.
“A measure” is the Divine Viewpoint, the absolute Criterion for the believer.
But this time, in contrast to being distributed in the Canon, it reaches us
through the COMMUNICATION of Truth. “to reach even as far as you.” The
reversionistic believers have received the Divine Standard, but they have
rejected it for the persuasiveness of the Judaizers. (False teachers)
RESULTS OF DIVINE VIEWPOINT
For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for
we were the first to come even as far as you in the Gospel of Christ.
(2Co 10:14)
In order to understand the Divine Viewpoint in this verse, we must pick up
a little background. When Paul first came to Corinth, (Acts 18:1) he
communicated pure grace from the absolute Standard of Truth. The
Corinthians responded positively to his dogmatic presentation of the Gospel
of grace and then to his continued grace teaching of Truth. After Paul left
them, they became carnal; (Living outside of the Spiritual life) and he was
equally dogmatic about their carnality, as expressed in the First Corinthian
Epistle. This is the reason that First Corinthians was so unpopular. The
Corinthians reacted to his rebuke with emotional revolt. Now, in (2Co 10:14)
Paul uses the illustration of their Salvation to explain the Divine Viewpoint. He
says, literally, “For not reaching toward you, [With the Gospel] as we did not
overextend ourselves; for as far as you also we have advanced in the Gospel
of Christ.” What is Paul saying? When I first came to Corinth, none of you
were believers. I came in and dogmatically laid Spirit & Truth on the line!
(John 4:24) Did I overextend myself? You have been criticizing me for being
too dogmatic; you claim I am going too far! Because he stepped on their
toes. He is now a bully and a dictator! Yet Paul is actually consistent — they
are inconsistent and out of line. If Paul had gone beyond the bounds of faith in
Christ and taught Salvation by works, none of them would have been saved.
But Paul neither went outside the boundaries of grace in Salvation, nor
beyond the limits of Truth in reproving them to get back in fellowship and
learn Truth. (Gal 3:1-3) Paul advanced in his ministry with them by rebuking
them in regard to their carnality. Their advance at this point is to take the
reprimand and to accept the discipline under the authority of the Word of
God. We cannot advance Spiritually unless we accept the entire realm of
Scripture — by the teaching ministry of God the Holy Spirit. We cannot reject
what we do not like without retreating into emotional revolt, scar tissue and or
reversionism!
Not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with
the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged
even more by you. (2Co 10:15)
Boasting is dependent on human ability and human accomplishment and is
therefore related to human sin nature good and human viewpoint. Paul
refuses to boast in human viewpoint or in anything which lacks orientation to
the grace of God. Even though he founded the Corinthian church, he does not
boast about it. But he has a right to have confidence regarding them as the
fruits of his labor. He anticipates that they will recover from emotional revolt
or reversionism through a change of attitude toward Truth and that they will
grow up Spiritually as a result. His ministry will thus be extended in their lives,
and Truth will be enlarged or magnified. (Psa 138:2) It is possible for a child
to do certain things as an adult would do them, but we do not consider that
child an adult. He is still a child! Children have changeable behavior patterns.
One moment they may act like a child, and the next, like an adult; but we
hope that eventually their actions will be consistently adult. What causes a
child to mature? Not by occasionally doing something like an adult but by
growing up mentally. Maturity is primarily in the realm of Thinking, both from
the standpoint of human life and the Spiritual life. There are periods in the life
of a Christian when he will do something Spiritually right, but that does not
constitute Spiritual maturity. I am going to make a dogmatic statement — and
I hope you will never forget it: NO CHRISTIAN CAN EVER BE SPIRITUALLY
MATURE APART FROM A MAXIMUM KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WORD!
“So then faith [Salvation and or Spiritual maturity only] comes by hearing, and
hearing by the Word of God!” (Rom 10:17) Faith can be increased only by
the absorption of the Word through the function of Operation Z.
OPERATION Z Illustration
God has supplied us with everything for learning His Word: the canon of
Scripture, a pastor-teacher, books, the MP3 player, the DVD player and now
the computer, the filling of God the Holy Spirit, rebound, (1Jn 1:9) the human
soul, the human spirit, physical life, Spiritual life and protection in the devil’s
world. (Isa 41:13) These grace provisions are part of the grace apparatus for
perception, which is “Operation Z” To summarize, the believer filled with God
the Holy Spirit, (1Co 4:19-20) concentrates on the pastor’s message,
resulting in gnosis, “Knowledge,” in the mentality of the soul. The mentality
has two parts: the human spirit or right lobe, God’s Knowledge. And the
kardia, “heart” or left lobe; human knowledge. (Jer 17:9) And is the home of
gnosis; the right lobe is the repository of epignosis, “Full Knowledge.”
(Eph 3:19) Gnosis in the left lobe is receptive comprehension: “academic
knowledge” which is not usable for application in the Spiritual life. A believer
may be able to quote many Verses or talk at length about many Biblical
subjects, but if his knowledge is only gnosis, it is not edifying. Academic
arrogance can exist in Theology as easily as in any other field of learning.
(1Co 1:18-23; (1Co 2:14; (1Co 3:19-20; (1Co 8:1) If Truth is not believed, or
not understood or not used, it is removed! (Matt 13:19-23; Luk 8:11-15) The
application of gnosis Doctrine is misapplication, and the Word misapplied
generates legalism, inflexibility, insensitivity, and intolerance, pride and
arrogance. (Heb 3:12; Heb 4:2) The believer clearly perceives a point of
Doctrine and now faces the issue of faith: does he, or does he not believe
what he has learned? (Prov 3:5-6; Matt 7:7-11) If he believes: that Truth is
transferred to the right lobe and becomes Spiritual Thoughts and Spiritual
Words! (1Co 2:13) By means of faith, it becomes genuine understanding of
Divine Truth. (1Co 4:20) Only God’s Thinking can be applied as Spiritual
Wisdom and Spiritual common sense. (2Co 10:5) Epignosis is also the
building material for the edification complex (Temple) of the soul.
(1Co 3:10-14) The process of transferring the Truth from the heart to the
spirit is faith-perception. Truth always has the merit; we who believe do not!
According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master
builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be
careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the
one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [Salvation] Now if any man builds on
the foundation [Growth to Spiritual maturity] with gold, silver, precious stones,
[God’s Thoughts] wood, hay, straw, [Satanic and human thoughts] each man’
s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be
revealed with fire, (Mark 9:49) and the fire itself will test the quality of each
man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will
receive a reward. (1Co 3:10-14)
REBOUND, RECEPTION, RETENTION, RECALL, RESIST SIN and our will,
and REPEAT!
The tragedy of many believers is that they resist Truth. Though they are
truly born again, their entire emphasis is on experience. They are legalists,
using the Bible as a system of moral behavior, and they will never mature!
When we should know by now, it is what we Think! (Eph 4:23-24) Spiritual
maturity is when you habitually Think with God’s Thoughts! Not what you do!
It matters not what we think is true, but what God Declares to be Truth!
(John 14:6) Nor what we want to do, but what God commands us to do!
(Luk 13:24-28) You often see someone who, as a result of some mental
retardation, develops physically, but whose mind never catches up. Mentally,
he will always be a child, even though he has an adult body. Just as a person
is not an adult on the basis of the maturity of his human body, so the believer
does not become an adult on the basis of his actions. Spiritual maturity is
directly related to Truth in the right lobe of the soul; and time in fellowship
with God the Holy Spirit; in the Spiritual life.
DIVINE VIEWPOINT IN WITNESSING
So as to preach the Gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to
boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. (2Co 10:16)
When Truth is magnified in a body of believers through the daily function
of Operation Z, there is an increase in effective witnessing to unbelievers,
communication of Truth to believers and a greater missionary outreach. The
“regions beyond” refer to any place from next door to ten thousand miles
away. Again Paul says he will not boast in, or cater to the false teaching and
standards of the Judaizers, who have gone far afield with their legalism and
human viewpoint. But he knows that when reversionism is cured, by a change
of mental attitude toward Truth, and the daily function of Operation Z, the
Corinthians will then move out with the Gospel and make the Salvation issue
clear. Both personal witnessing and evangelism must be Biblically accurate
and presented on a grace basis. Legalists (2Ti 3:5) never start their own
work but tear down another’s. Their thoughts are prepared through human
viewpoint. In other words, they have a public relations “Madison Avenue”
approach which, though appealing, is non-Spiritual life and therefore
satanically inspired. There is no place for witnessing by the flesh out of
fellowship with God; or gimmicks which become substitutes for the ministry of
God the Holy Spirit. (John 6:44-45) Gimmick-witnessing is a false standard
prepared from human viewpoint by those who are ignorant of, or are in revolt
against, Truth. God does not need our help! He wants us to grow-up, then we
will see, the people we know are already believers that have never learned
how to grow to Spiritual maturity; so they have given-up or re-dedicate all the
time, or try morality and became self-righteous because of what they “do” for
God! Those who criticized Paul were boasting of others who evangelized via
the satanically inspired human viewpoint method. (2Co 11:12-15) No believer
in emotional revolt or reversionism can effectively communicate Truth. He
always has an ax to grind, such as legalism and morality; he invariably adds
something to the Gospel and confuses the issue for believer and unbeliever
alike. He wants the unbeliever and believer to give up certain sins which he
personally dislikes. Or he thinks you must believe AND be baptized . . .
believe AND confess your sins . . . believe AND join the church. But the issue
is faith plus NOTHING: “BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and you
will be saved.” (Acts 16:31) And for the believer. (Matt 23:26; Rom 8:4-8;
Eph 4:23-24)
DIVINE COMMENDATION
But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. (2Co 10:17)
This is a quotation from, (Jer 9:23-24) which warns believers of the
danger of reversionism. The context of the Jeremiah passage describes the
national disintegration of Judah which had reached its peak following an
eleven-year period of rejecting Truth. These people had all the categories of
prosperity stated in context: human wisdom, great bodies, great wealth,
success in economic prosperity and some Spiritual prosperity in which they
had functioned under Operation Z for a period of time and falsely assumed
they had completed the Spiritual life. (Rev 3:16-18) Instead, through neglect
of Truth, they were in emotional revolt and reversionism and had become
“wise in their own conceits” — they thought they knew it all! In prosperity, the
believer is more vulnerable to reversionism than under adversity and
pressure, for in prosperity there is a tendency to neglect Truth and to seek
happiness from another source. Through pride of their success, the Jews
started down the road toward reversionism. They boasted of their
achievements and wealth; but without a completed Spiritual life and Spiritual
maturity, these attainments are meaningless!
But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me,
that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness
[Integrity] on earth; for I delight in these things, declares the LORD. (Jer 9:24)
Although God has a prosperity package for every believer, the capacity for
Spiritual blessings come from Spiritual maturity.
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, that I will punish all who
are circumcised [Believers] and yet uncircumcised. [Still living by the old sin
nature] (Jer 9:25)
Few people can pass the prosperity test! Paul now makes the same
application for the Jews of his day. “If you feel you must boast,” he says,
“change it to ‘glorying’ in the Lord.” (2Co 10:17) This does not mean that you
run around saying “Praise God, God bless you, Amen, hallelujah, isn’t Jesus
wonderful?” That can be as phony as a lead nickel. People use these
phrases like an amulet worn around the neck for good luck in the hopes of
fending off failure. How do you keep on glorying in the Lord? (1Co 1:26-31)
To keep on doing something, and it must be done every day! To glory in the
Lord, Truth must be taken in daily, transferred to the human spirit by faith, so
that you keep on building the Spiritual life; then, as it is transferred to the right
lobe through the filling of God the Holy Spirit, it goes into the frame of
reference, memory center, vocabulary, categories and finally to the launching
pad for application to experience. You cannot neglect Truth even for a day.
Glorying in the Lord is THINKING WITH GOD’S THOUGHTS!
For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the
Lord commends. (2Co 10:18)
The Corinthians were commending or recommending themselves for
favorable attention because they thought they had arrived at the epitome of
Spiritual and economic prosperity, (Rev 3:17) in reality, they, like their earlier
counterparts in Judea, were in emotional revolt and reversionism. You will
find “Corinthians” wherever you go who are in the business of commending
themselves. At every opportunity they will tell you what a great battle they
are fighting for the Lord. They make it very clear that they are doing “great
things for God” around the church or in some Christian organization. What do
they seek? Approval! It is possible to do a right thing in a wrong way. What
trips people up? Mental attitude human viewpoint! (John 4:24) If you do your
job as unto the Lord — another phase of the faith-rest technique — you just
leave the commendation in His hands and to His discretion and Wisdom.
Forget the “brag sheet,” the “Monday morning” pastors’ conference, the
attendance record, the number who went through the baptismal “tank,” and
all the other “one-upmanship” activities. The believer cannot be blessed under
these conditions. God does not approve the believer who promotes himself or
takes credit to himself. If the Lord does not promote you, you are not
promoted. (Psa 75:6-7) Human gimmicks will never cut it. All evaluation is in
the Lord’s hands. Judging is a Divine prerogative only. Criticizing, judging or
slandering another believer is, in effect, an attempt to promote yourself and is
indicative of emotional revolt, negative volition toward Truth and reversionism.
(1Co 4:19-20) Perhaps no one in the Bible so perfectly illustrates the
Principle of (2Co 10:18) as David, and no treatise on mental attitude would
be complete without a mention of his rise to prominence.
THE ASCENDANCY OF DAVID
David began his career not only from an obscure position but as a
nonentity. If you want to know what a nonentity is — it is the eighth son in a
family! The other seven were being promoted, pushed along and educated.
This took all of the father’s resources, which when vested in sheep. Someone
had to take care of the sheep to keep the other seven boys in school and
moving along in their careers. David, being the eighth boy, was the logical
one! He was on the bottom rung, the forgotten son of the family. He lived
more with the sheep than he did in his father’s home in Bethlehem. From this
anonymous place as a shepherd, David went all the way to the highest
position in the land. He was truly a great man in history, from both the Divine
and human Realities, and was one of the greatest rulers of all time. You are
familiar with his many courageous acts: how he alone challenged and killed
the giant; how he became the highest general in the land; how he became the
most popular man in the court; how, in exile, he forged a band of fugitives into
a crack military outfit; and finally, how he became king. In fact, we often
become so lost in the action of the story; we forget that action is based on
mental attitude. All the time that David was engaged in an overt act, he was
not simply doing — he was Spiritually Thinking! The Principle which made
David great and gave such tremendous vitality and power to so many of his
actions was what was going on in his right lobe. This is extremely important.
It was the secret of his success.
THE CONTRAST BETWEEN HUMAN AND DIVINE VIEWPOINTS
In contrast to David, two other men, Samuel and Jesse, did some
erroneous thinking. In, (1Sa 16:1-7) God instructed the great prophet,
Samuel, to go to Bethlehem to anoint the-next king of Israel. Saul was to be
superseded by a son of the family of Jesse. When the seven sons were
paraded before Samuel, we discover that the eldest appealed to Samuel.
Tall and handsome and wearing his new uniform as a second lieutenant in the
infantry, he was preparing to go to war against the Philistines, who had
invaded Israel.
When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, Surely the LORD’S
anointed is before Him. (1Sa 16:6)
But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at the
height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man
sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the
heart. [And sees His Own Thinking being used] (1Sa 16:7)
Notice the contrast stated: “man looks on the outward appearance, but
the Lord looks on the heart.” From the human viewpoint, here was a tall,
handsome, personable individual which anyone might have selected to fill a
job. But God said, “No! You can go up and down that line as much as you
want, but I have rejected these seven boys — even though they are all fine
looking!” Immediately Samuel hit a stone wall. Where was the answer to this
dilemma? The “answer” was out with the sheep! The answer was faithfully on
the job: he stayed with the sheep; he cared for the sheep. When one of the
lambs was caught in the cactus, he retrieved it. When a wild animal took a
sheep from the flock, he gave chase and killed the animal! Why? He had
some Truth; and as a result, he had the right mental attitude — the Divine
Viewpoint of life. He was Occupied with the Person of Christ. (Psa 23:1-6)
When he heard that Samuel had come to town, he did not run into town for
the great holiday; he stayed with the sheep. He had a mental attitude of
faithfulness. And Samuel said to Jesse, Are these all the children? And he
said, There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep...
(1Sa 16:11) Jesse said this in derision, for he was implying that the youngest
was of no importance. Yet this was the son whom God had chosen! Do you
see the contrast? Human viewpoint: pick one of the tall, good-looking boys —
any one of them would make a fine-looking king! Divine Viewpoint: there is a
boy out with the sheep who is faithful and who has Truth in his soul. How do
we know? Look for a moment at, (1Sa 17:34-37) where David recounted two
incidents which illustrate the Spiritual Thinking he had been storing up.
But David said to Saul, Your servant was tending his father’s sheep.
When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock. (1Sa 17:34)
He was out there full time. What makes people keep on keeping on, even
when they are tired, worn out, discouraged, hurting or sick? God’s Thinking in
the right lobe! If you have Truth in your soul, you will be consistent as was
David: in every situation! What were the two incidents which occurred out
there among the sheep, even before Samuel came to anoint David? First of
all, a lion, which can run the hundred-yard dash in five seconds, came in
among the sheep and picked out a choice lamb from the flock. As far as
human viewpoint is concerned, this crisis was now over. The lion had come;
the lion had departed, and David was still in one piece. What else mattered?
Do we read that David sat down, mopped his brow, and let his nerves
unwind? Not at all! The sheep were HIS responsibility. David could have
thought, “That is just one little lamb, and I want to live a little longer.” It would
have been easy for him to throw in human viewpoint at this time. But Divine
Viewpoint told David, God is for us, who is against us? There was a job to be
done, and he should be faithful. Undoubtedly, David learned the Principle that:
All this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or
by spear; [Human wisdom, might, or riches] for the battle is the LORD’S and
He will give you into our hands. (1Sa 17:47)
While he was still with the sheep: “the battle is the Lord’s.” And since
David believed it, he knew the Lord could whip the lion, just as he knew he
could not do it by himself. Without a second Thought, he moved out, killed the
lion and delivered the lamb back to the fold! Notice that the emphasis is not
on the great feat that he accomplished. God’s Word very clearly and carefully
stresses what he Thought. Unlike the modern sportsman on safari, David did
not have a .357 H and H Magnum, nor did he have a gun-bearer as a backup
in case he missed! He went after that lion with anything but lion-hunting
equipment, but he bagged himself a lion! Yet he did not do it — the LORD
DID IT! Now David received another test — this time, a bear. A bear is a
rough character also. One whack with his paw, and he can disintegrate your
backbone. The bear picked out a choice lamb and took off for the feast.
Before the bear could get the lamb “on the table,” David was hot on his trail.
Again, David could have rationalized and said, “I’m the only young boy who
has ever killed a lion, so I think I’ll just stand on my laurels and sit this one
out” Not David! He knew he had a responsibility before the Lord, (Heb 10:38)
and he did his job as unto the Lord. David could not whip the bear, but he
knew the Lord could. He would go after the bear and let the Lord take care
of the details. The Lord did, and David rescued the lamb! The Spiritually
mature believer does not quit in the middle of the testing. (If we quit we lose)
Having passed the test of the lion, David did not shirk the test of the bear.
Truth is as good for one type of combat as for another. Later, Truth would
deliver him in hand-to-hand combat with a giant. The loud-mouthed giant was
not as tough as either the lion or the bear!
And David said, The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and
from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.
And Saul said to David, Go, and may the LORD be with you. (1Sa 17:37)
This is success, especially to one so young; but David did not suggest
that it was in any way due to his power, ingenuity or ability. He did not take
one ounce of the credit to himself, nor did he become arrogant about his
victory. He did not call out the news media of his day to photograph the
carcass and ballyhoo himself. In fact, he did not tell anyone about it at the
time. Why? Because he persisted in habitually looking at life from God’s
Reality and Divine Viewpoint says:
For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the
Lord commends. (2Co 10:18)
The lion and bear victories were dress rehearsals for the Goliath crisis.
Unseen by human beings and without human encouragement, David had
defeated both adversaries. If he had flunked the lion and bear incidents, he
would have failed in the Goliath test. GOD PREPARES HIS MAN IN SECRET
FOR VICTORY IN PUBLIC! The public victory is won in the secret places of
the Most High. (Psa 91:1) Wouldn’t Jesse sit up and take notice if he knew
that this young lad who “keeps the sheep” had already killed a lion and a
bear, and that he had in his Spiritual life that which would make him the
greatest ruler of all time, apart from Jesus Christ? If you want to know some
of David’s Thoughts during those years while he kept the sheep, read the
Davidic Psalms. Note how many times the Divine Viewpoint is expressed:
“The LORD is my light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the
strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psa 27:1-4) Humanly
speaking, everyone has some area of fear; but David had conquered fear.
(Psa 56:3) Why? Because he looked at life from God’s Reality. And where
did he get God’s Reality? From the daily intake of Truth, as provided at that
time: Rebound,
I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, I will
confess my transgressions to the LORD; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah. (Psa 32:5 )
Reception, retention, recall, resisting sin and our will and repeating.
(Rom 8:4; Gal 5:16) In every Psalm David wrote, you will find that beautiful
picture of God’s deliverance and power. Do you get into “Panic Palace” every
time you read the newspaper or hear some rumor on the radio? Do you come
unglued at the slightest provocation? What goes on in your mind? Why do you
become upset every time you face some difficulty in life? Why do you fall
apart? I’ll tell you why: No Truth in the soul, or failure to Think with the Truth
that you have learned! (Matt 26:75)
THE PROSPERITY TEST
Let us see one or two other instances of Divine Viewpoint in David’s life.
King Saul was suffering from demonic depression, (1Sa 16:14) and the
“psychiatrists” recommended musical therapy. The problem was that
everyone around the court played the “guitar,” and they needed classical
music played skillfully on the psalter the old ten-string harp. One of Saul’s
servants knew of a boy out in the hills of Judea who was an accomplished
harpist, and so it was that David was brought into Saul’s court to begin the
therapy. “God causes all things to work together for good, to those in
fellowship! ” He does not need our help, just our obedience! And this is the
reason Saul is suffering, and ends up, killing himself! 90% obedience is
disobedience! (1Sa 15:13-23)
Samuel said, Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices [Ritual and actions] As in obeying the Voice of the LORD? Behold,
to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For
rebellion is as the sin of divination, [Demonism] And insubordination is as
iniquity and idolatry. [Sin and demon worship] Because you have rejected the
Word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king." [Under demon
attack and no reward, at best!] (1Sa 15:22-23) God deals with everyone by
the same Standard HIS!
Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; [Stay in fellowship] be
very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in
unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe. (2Ch 19:7)
David played day after day, and Saul improved. In appreciation, Saul
appointed David his armorbearer. (1Sa 16:21) That may not sound like much
to you. You may picture him weighted down with heavy “boiler plate” and
assigned to a tough job. But this was an honorary position. David had
servants to carry the breastplate, helmet and other accouterments. A person
who was the armorbearer of the king would one day be a general or a prime
minister or would hold some other high office in the land. It was a guarantee
of future prominence. From the human viewpoint, David had reached the
heights as armorbearer of the king. “But David went and returned from Saul
to feed, his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.” (1Sa 17:15) Now most people
would have told David that he was out of his mind — he had just kicked over
the greatest opportunity he would ever have. I can just see Jesse when David
showed up! He probably said, “David, what are you doing home? You are the
armorbearer of the king. I have told everyone what a great job you were
doing. Did the king send you back?” David would have replied, “No, the king
did not send me. I came back to take care of the sheep; that is my job!” His
father would have “blown his top.” Why? Human viewpoint! But Divine
Viewpoint said, “God did not release me from those sheep; God did not say
for me to stay at the palace. Therefore, I will stay with the sheep until God
promotes me!” And that is exactly what happened: God promoted him! David’
s head was not turned by prosperity! The Spiritually mature believer passes
the prosperity test. Most people would have been too proud to go back to the
humdrum of daily routine after success in the king’s court; but David returned
to the sheep to wait for God’s time. Spiritually mature believers do not get
ahead of the Lord!
THE MAN FOR THE CRISIS
We now come to the incident for which God had been preparing David —
a crisis designed by God to introduce His candidate for king of Israel.
Goliath, the nine-foot-nine-inch giant of Gath, represented the military crisis
which Israel faced in reversionism. Daily, he had bellowed out his challenge
for someone to fight him, while the soldiers of Israel trembled in their tents for
forty days. On the fortieth day, who should come into camp but David! As the
king’s armorbearer? No! As a boy carrying ten cheeses for the battalion
commander, (1Sa 17:17-18) plus a month’s rations for his three brothers.
David hears the challenge of old “loud-mouth.” Does David say, “Who is this
uncircumcised Philistine that he should dare stand in front of Saul’s imperial
guard and make such remarks?” No! David says, “ ...For who is this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies OF THE LIVING
GOD?” (1Sa 17:26) David regarded the Philistine as an unbeliever rather
than as a powerful giant. He considered it disgraceful and dishonorable that
forty days had elapsed without anyone’s accepting the challenge when they
belonged to the LIVING GOD! This was the first expression of Divine
Viewpoint in Israel that day. Goliath was not defying Saul and his army — he
was defying God.
THE ATTACK OF HUMAN VIEWPOINT
As David went to meet the challenge, he had to fight his own brother before
he could fight the giant. Eliab accused him of arrogance and branded him as
a deserter of his “few sheep.” (1Sa 17:28) Ignoring the insults of his brother,
(Psa 82:5) David won his first battle against subjectivity, pettiness and
reversionism. David was a Spiritually mature believer known to God but
unknown by his family or anyone else in Israel. Eliab was under demon
influence, and is thinking is evil: The mental attitude sins of pride, jealousy,
anger and criticism. God allowed Satan to test David, to win this battle, David
was objective and retreated; (Prov 19:11 ) to defeat the giant, David would
advance. (Psa 138:1-3) Not all battles in the Spiritual life are won in the same
way. If David had lost his temper with his brother, he would have lost this
battle and not been qualified to fight Goliath. Your victory over pettiness
today, will result in your killing the “giants” of tomorrow. Although Eliab’s
remarks were inaccurate, unfair and uncalled for, David did not stop to
defend himself. (1Pe 2:23) He recognized that this was a Doctrinal issue.
Satan and Eliab put David down, but God built David up!
THE ATTACK OF WORLDLINESS
King Saul had once been a courageous soldier, but reversionism had
turned him into a coward. Now, during a crisis that he could not solve, a
subtle plan took shape in his mind, and Saul offered David his armor.
(1Sa 17:38) Here is yet another test before David can get to Goliath — an
attack of worldliness. The armor of Saul on David represents worldliness
from two standpoints: (1) If David were “lucky” and won, Saul could take
credit for the victory because David was wearing his armor. (2) The armor
represents a Principle that ignores the Spiritual connotation of the giant’s
challenge: good weapons and armor would not destroy Goliath, but the
power of the Spirit & Truth, of God could! No weapon or armor forged by the
world will ever replace the Thinking and power of God! Divine power excludes
human ability, human equipment and human help. Truth had taught David to
be independent of COSMOS DIABOLICUS (Satan’s world system) in every
thought, word and action. (John 3:34; (1Pe 4:11) David stayed in fellowship,
and Thought with the Truth in his soul, by refusing the armor of Saul;
(Rom 8:12-13) therefore, he rejected the worldly means of facing the crisis.
After all, what good had the armor done Saul? It was not the armor but the
attitude of soul. David would face the crisis with Truth in his soul, not fancy
armor on his body!
THE MENTAL ATTITUDE OF A MATURE BELIEVER
As David walked out on the battlefield, Goliath, armed with spear and
shield, could scarcely believe his eyes. Face to face with this measly offering
from the Jewish camp, he began to bully David, shouting, “...Am I a dog, that
you come to me with sticks?” (1Sa 17:43) Goliath viewed the situation this
way: they had sent out a mere boy to do combat with the greatest gladiator
of the Philistines! The Jews must have had a low opinion of him indeed! What
was David carrying? He held the shepherd’s crook in one hand and a sling in
the other. (1Sa 17:40) Goliath implied, “You might fight a dog with a stick, but
you will never defeat ME with such a flimsy defense! You had better go back
and get yourself a javelin, boy, because you are going to need it!” Human
REALITY! (Matt 19:26) Then we read that Goliath cursed David by “his gods”
— not by the Philistines’ gods but by David’s God — ELOHIM. Goliath said to
David,
Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the
beasts of the field. (1Sa 17:44)
Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, a spear,
and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of
the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. (1Sa 17:45)
David, as a mature believer, is quick to express the true issue, and to
identify himself with the Victor — Jesus Christ. DIVINE REALITY!
This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you
down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the
army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of
the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
(1Sa 17:46)
By this time, Goliath was probably standing there with his mouth hanging
open. No one had ever spoken to him like that! He had never heard such
words. Did David say them to demonstrate his muscular prowess in that
arena? Oh, no — but to make known “that there is a God in Israel!” In the
telling of the story of David and Goliath, the emphasis is always on what
David DID — how he hit the giant with a stone, knocked him out and
beheaded him. Where does God’s Word focus our attention? If you
understand, (1Sa 17:45-47) you can see that God’s Word emphasizes what
David was Thinking as he stood there, not on what he accomplished a few
minutes later.
And that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by
sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our
hands. (1Sa 17:47)
In this magnificent declaration is one of the greatest Principles in the
Christian life: THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S! Spoken under maximum
pressure, we see the total Concept of the mature believer! Having made his
decision based on Truth in his soul, he moved with cheerful willingness to
carry it out. David ran toward the army of the Philistines to meet Goliath.
(1Sa 17:48) As he went forward, David “cranked up” his sling and released
the stone, which hit Goliath squarely in the middle of his forehead. Down went
the giant! David then stood on his chest, pulled out Goliath’s own sword and
decapitated him. The action of the story is well known. But before there was
any action, there was a mental attitude based on Truth. It was his Thought
pattern, (The Mind of Christ) that distinguished David from all the rest of the
men in Israel, not just his ability to fight. (Many men in Israel were successful
warriors) The mature believer has no hang-ups, no subjectivity, (Human
reality) no fear. David had no qualms about killing the enemy; no guilt complex
after the battle was over. He was a perfect combat soldier, because his soul
was prepared by Truth long before his body advanced into battle. David was
the only one there that day who had enough Truth in his soul to meet that
challenge! Now we see the same example: Of Christ defeating Satan at the
cross, and we as believers taking part in His victory, as Israel did in David’s!
(1Sa 17:51-53) The action of the Spiritually mature believer is in harmony
with his Spiritual Thinking so that he is perfectly coordinated in body, soul and
spirit. David personified the Principle of: (2Co 10:5-6)
Assaulting and demolishing all cosmic systems of thinking, and every
obstacle of pride, temptation, distraction, and memory that is attacking the
objective knowledge of God, and making a prisoner and a captive of every
human system of thought to the authority of Christ. And having in readiness to
revenge and to punish all disobedient thinking, now that your obedience has
been fulfilled! Memorize this and Think with it under any pressure, and it will
work every time!
END
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