Month: September 2023

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given to us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and a sound mind.” What is a sound mind? The word, as used here, can also mean an orderly or disciplined mind. In fact, we need to be disciplined in all areas of our life, not just the mind, although that is a good place to start.

A disciplined mind is one that is under control, it does not flitter around like a hummingbird. To have a disciplined mind indicates that one is in the process of renewing it to the Word of God so that it does not think contrary to what God desires.

Can you see the word ‘disciple’ in discipline? One who is a disciple of Jesus will need to be a disciplined person to be able to resist the flesh, worldly thoughts, and one’s own ideas as to how God should act.

One who has a disciplined mind will be one whom God can trust! I had the privilege to teach at Dr. Lester Sumrall’s Bible College and make a few speaking engagements with him. Riding back in his plane, he told me how the Lord appeared to him in Jerusalem about starting the Joseph program where American pastors and churches would partner with third-world pastors and pray for and give finances to help them. He said to the Lord “I am 75 years old and why are you just now directing me to do this?” And the Lord responded, “I have just now gotten you to the place that I can trust you!”

God can use anyone who will submit to His Lordship, but those who are disciplined are the ones who last decade after decade because they are disciplined and know that good times and bad times happen but God remains faithful to Himself, His Word, and His children!

Can God use us? Perhaps an inventory of our life will reveal a need to be more disciplined in the Word, prayer, church attendance, finances, taking care of our possessions, and life in general. If areas need to be improved, I suggest starting by renewing the mind with the Word of God, specifically with those “great and precious promises” He has made to us!

Science says there are at least four dimensions, length, width, height, and time. But I suggest there is another one greater than these, and that is the dimension of the spirit. The Scriptures tell us that God is Spirit (John 4:24) angels are spirit (Heb.1:14) and human beings are spirit (1 Thess.4:23-24). The Spirit of God and angels dwell in the spirit realm but can materialize and interact with the natural realm, while humans live in the natural realm but interact with them in the spirit realm.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:1 that we should live according to the Spirit. He further says that ‘the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom.8:2). He says that those “who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Rom.8:5). He also says if the Spirit of God dwells in us then we are in the Spirit (Rom.8:9).

Paul further says “Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the spirit against the flesh, these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Gal.5:16-17). The flesh produces adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like (Gal.5:19-21). And he says that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Some will suggest that this person will not be saved but I would interject this means he will not at this present time enjoy the benefits of the kingdom of God now in this life, for the kingdom of God exists in our midst now as well as in eternity.

But the fruit of the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal.5:22-23). If we examine our life we can determine which dimension we have been obeying!

The dimension of the spirit not only affects character issues but power issues as well. 1 Corinthians 12:4-l0 reveals the nine gifts of the Spirit and workings of the Spirit given by God as He wills (1 Cor.12:ll). Anytime we see one of these manifested, we have seen the Spirit realm invade the natural realm! Going a step further, any time one of the five ministry gifts is seen operating, one has seen the spirit dimension invade the natural realm (Eph.4:7-16). The fruit of the Spirit reveals godly character, and the ministry gifts reveal godly power, and all of these are from the dimension of the Spirit.

There is another type of being from the spirit realm that invades the natural realm known as demons. They are fallen spirits that attempt to influence us away from God and godly things thereby attempting to stop God’s work on the earth. But we have someone greater living in us (1 Jn.4:4, Col.1;27) through whom we have the victory. Standing on God’s promises we overcome the devil and his demonic hord in this life!

Disciples of Jesus have victory over the flesh and demons because of the victory won for us on the Cross and Resurrection in this life and for time and eternity!