PROLOG 1 – Seeking the Sound Mind of Christ.

As we begin this study about God and His foreknown and predestined thoughts and plans for His creation, I believe the first thing that jumps out at me is God’s intellect as found in His Word. It is so far beyond our human intellect that we MUST find a spiritual way of “leveling the mental playing field” between us and God i.e. a way to understand and implement His thoughts and plans – His concept for us as found in His Word.

Jeremiah 29:11 {God the Father speaking} For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you {When did He formulate His thoughts and plans/His concept for not just man BUT for ALL of His creation? Find answer in Titus 1:2 below.}, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. AMP

Titus 1:2 {God says His hope for our final outcome is our} [Resting] in the hope of eternal life, [life] which the ever truthful God Who cannot deceive {lie} promised before the world or the ages of time began. AMP

Following is a discourse where Kingdom of God teaching includes BOTH physical and spiritual morsels for man to chew on.

Isaiah 55:8-11 {God the Father speaking spiritually} For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth {God’s home in the 3rd heaven is possibly 13+ billion miles beyond the earth.}, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 {Now God the Father speaking about His physical creation} For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,  [2 Cor 9:10.] 11 {God the Father again speaking spiritually about the power and effect of what His Word will accomplish}  So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. AMP

Where do we start to put God’s Kingdom teachings into their proper perspective?

Matthew 6:33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. AMP

There are Scripture texts that admonish us NOT to love the world nor the things of this world, but too many Christians are NOT listening to nor abiding by God and His Word! They believe they can worship and serve God AND be dabbling in the world and the things of the world at the SAME time because they think that God says it is okay, BUT it is NOT!!! His Word is VERY clear – a Truly Born Again Christian cannot be connected to the world any more than is absolutely necessary in our daily living, and we MUST know that difference!!!

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him {other translations read 1 John 2:15 If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him – a very contrasting comparison! NASU}. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things] — these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. 17 And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. AMP

Romans 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh {cf. 1 John 2:15 above} and are controlled by its unholy desires set their {secular} minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit {cf. 1 John 2:17}. AMP

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers {those of different religions, in marriage, business partners, even social connections, etc.} [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?

15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

16 What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  [Ex 25:8; 29:45; Lev 26:12; Jer 31:1; Ezek 37:27.]

17 So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, [Isa 52:11.] 18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.  [Isa 43:6; Hos 1:10.]

Chapter 7:1 THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God. AMP

2 Corinthians 1:20 For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ] {There are an estimated 37,000 promises in the Bible.}. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God. AMP

You can ONLY have a proper Kingdom perspective by having a Godly intellect i.e. the “sound mind of Christ.” IF you constantly study your Bible and pray for it, God will give it to you! But you have to learn to properly discern what God the Holy Spirit is sharing with you and apply it to your daily living!

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. NKJV

1 Corinthians 2:16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. NKJV

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude {as found in the Bible}], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. {What does the renewed and transformed mind have available to it?} AMP

Isaiah 11:2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him Jesus Christ — the {Holy} Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the {Holy} Spirit of counsel and might, the {Holy} Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord — {This is the mind of the Son of Man – Jesus Christ that is also available to YOU! Put w/Colossians 2:3 below.} AMP

Colossians 2:2-3 [For my concern is] that their hearts {His adopted children} may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One). 3 In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. {You can have this!!! PRAY FOR IT!!!} AMP

James 1:5-8  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man {he believes he can serve God and the world and the things of the world at the SAME time – more on this later}, unstable in all his ways. NASU

You can “level the mental playing field” between you and God by praying for and seeking the sound mind of Christ!!! Please do NOT short change yourself! As you pray for the “sound mind of Christ” and as you read your Bible, learn to enjoy the beautiful way God the Holy Spirit instills and imparts His Love and His knowledge and wisdom to you to help you navigate this mine field on earth that is called “life.”