June 8, 2021

Two kinds of people walk the earth, one with darkened understanding, alienated from God; and the other in fellowship with God, having renewed spiritual minds… having been “born again.”

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” eph 4:17-24

Proverbs 12:1 nkjv teaches us; “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.”

Notable to consider, I think this scripture is speaking to God’s people as well as outright pagans. Note that we are talking “hating” correction, not just uncomfortable in our struggle to yield ourselves to the expectations Yahweh has of us. I think the line has been crossed… loving knowledge no longer exists.

One thing about stupid, unlike ignorance, is that it’s un-treatable, without the willing desire of the confused person to seek correction… which in my view, must include accompaniment of the divine work of God’s Holy Spirit. Paul the Apostle, above, admonishes those alienated from God to put off former conversations of the old man, and be renewed in the spirit of their mind [in Christ]… exactly opposite of so many today; they have chosen the ways of the world, rather than repentance and restoration [correction by God’s truth and cleansing of their minds].

Just looking around us, nearly in all venues, stupidity truly prevails in most news outlets, entertainment industry, educational institutions and their leadership, political activity, and in many pastors and religious leaders words and actions. The root problem is with their hatred for God and His Word… They simply do not intend to be corrected by God telling them how to think (renewed mind) and what to do (turn from their wicked ways). Unless they repent and get their priorities “God centered,” their end is the lake of fire (rev 21:8).

The message I hope to inspire us with is that we must keep our focus and thinking on the truth, which is under attack; the wicked and perverse rampage of stupid people want to make us relinquish our lifestyle of faith and confidence in a Holy and Righteous God… with a renewed mind in Christ. The Battlefield is in our mind. When Paul talks of the “armor of God,” he makes mention of the “helmet of salvation,” (our active knowledge of the sanctifying Word of God and its power to protect our spiritual mindset). eph 6:10-18 kjv

I can feel the pressure that evil powers try to afflict me with, you probably can too. And when I do my daily prayer and Word study, I am refreshed, actually renewed, in the mind war, and I am sufficiently strengthened for the time… One of the verses of the Lord’s Prayer says, “give us this day our daily bread.” The Torah Word of God is known as the “bread of life.” Yeshua (the Word in the flesh), referred to “partaking of Him,” to have eternal life, which offended some of His disciples. jhn 6 kjv

Yes, we live day by day, and with the “daily bread” of Christ in us, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, we have the “greater one” in us, than him who is in the world… and as a closing thought, Satan, in his rebellion against Yahweh [God], really achieved the full measure of stupid, being consumed in himself in the vanity of his mind… giving up everything in Heaven’s Glory for an eternal place in the lake of fire. The evil forces of this world want to conform us to stupid… as misery loves company. And he hates you and I because God loves us… and he works very hard at trying to get men to follow his rebellion. Disobedience is a sure pathway to destruction, because it can grow into rebellion, and manifested stupidity that destroys us and our future.

Israel’s first king, Saul, and his failures, is a true tragedy of great measure; note the Prophet Samuel’s words to him when his disobedience had ran its course.

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” 1 sam 15:23 kjv

Shalom… John