1)
Forasmuch then as Christ
hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind:
for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
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order for us to get the full benefit of the Lord's thought for us, today, we
need to thoroughly understand what the verse is saying to us. The writer wants
us to understand that Christ has denied Himself (suffered) in the flesh and
that because of this, we need to have the "same mind" (that is, inclination
and determination) to do the same. The definitive part of this scripture goes
on to explain to us that one who denies himself in the flesh no longer sins!
This is why it is critical for us to conduct ourselves as our Savior conducted
Himself.
By
now, whether we have accepted this fact or not, we should understand that
conducting oneself as the Lord means that one must accept that one's
"choices" are to be made by the Lord and one's "rights" are
"...hid with Christ in God." Until and unless we learn this, it will
be impossible for us to be happy in salvation.
A
prevailing attitude and opinion in these last days is that the life in Christ
should be one in which we are "blessed," but not
"challenged." So widespread is this deception that Man practically
refuses to be forbidden anything! Therefore, by the masses, men are claiming
their "freedom" and forsaking the apostle's doctrine in favor of
popular "Christian" teaching. Things have gotten so "bad"
that those who adhere to the unadulterated truth have now become those who are
"wrong" and in "need" of pity and prayer.
So,
in light of the escalating "confusion" in the Church world, today,
what could possibly be the Lord's "point" in continuing to strive
with the Church and those who would be loyal to Him? Well, God knows that Man
is bent upon his own destruction. He knows that without a change (that is, a
"turn" from his own way), Man is lost. This applies not only to
un-redeemed man, but redeemed man, as well.
Every
event that is happening and will happen to us, particularly in these last days,
is expressly for the purpose of teaching us the absolute necessity of forsaking
our human mind. One should look at this as a "last-ditch" effort by
the Lord to teach those who would belong to Him that we have no more time to
"decide" to submit ourselves to Him.
We
absolutely will not survive in the service of the Lord unless we determine to
operate in a different kind of mind! Some of us are determined not to
change-and you can accept as fact that you will end up with more trouble than
you handle.
People
are falling away from Lord as never before because of the feeling of
"pressure" that the devil makes sure to impress. You see, when one
fights against submitting to the requirements of the Lord, he will experience
an unbelievable sensation of pressure. This contributes greatly to the
"migration" of many saints from church-to-church.
Exactly
how much do we really think that we would ever change if it were not for the
things that the Lord allows in order to get us to "change direction?"
It is not as if we are required to strike out on our own into uncharted
territory-at least, in the estimation of the Lord. Nothing to Him is every
unknown. This is exactly why He came to us, before us. He did this that we
might have a model for enduring anything! We have not been given the Spirit of
Victory, itself, that we might then stumble at every trial and test. We have
this Spirit that we might be able to face the situation, take authority over it
and go on to success!
The sooner
we accept that there is nothing that we can do, or obtain for ourselves, the
greater our "chances" will be for making heaven. There is nothing to
be gained outside of the Lord and therefore, no answers that can be obtained
outside of Him.
Is there any help for us? Of course, as long as there is a God, there is help and hope. But, a God is no "good" to anyone if He is not allowed to be God. Therefore, the only hope that remains for us is really to learn Who the Lord is. Once we do, we will discover and develop in ourselves new speech, new thoughts and a new revelation! What is that "new revelation?" Simply one which we have yet to accept: Jesus Christ is able, sufficient, "right" and an Anticipator of all of our needs. So, what is there really left for us to do? Cultivate a "right mind" capable of accepting it.