How to stop contamination and manifest purity! Spiritual Training (Part 21)
(Document only, with special features)
1. Main question today?
2. How can we stop a storm of contamination and manifest purity?
3. Consider the following portions of God’s word from three translations.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (Bring every thought into captivity)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. NKJV
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (Destroy)
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. RSV
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (Casting down)
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. KJV
Insights
4. Strongholds, arguments, wrong thoughts, are made up of words.
5. Words form thoughts.
6. Thoughts have an agenda.
7. Action needs to be taken against these no matter how they (the thoughts) came.
How to take actions against wrong thoughts!
8. Let me give an example of how this is done using 1 Peter 1:15-16. (My memory verses)
9. Plus, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6. (My memory verses)
10. Please note how I combine my delegated authority and God’s word.
11. Furthermore, notice how I replace the impure thoughts (whatever they may be) with God’s word.
12. “All impure thoughts I take you captive, I destroy you and cast you down in Jesus name.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)
13. For it is written: (Replacing the impure thoughts with God’s word)
1 Peter 1:15-16
15 but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." RSV
14. The same principles can be used in any category.
15. Obeying these verses will manifest our victory (provided by Jesus) not just quoting it.
16. Quoting the verses (knowledge) helps us know what to obey.
17. We need God’s knowledge, and we need to apply it in our life.
18. Consider these portions in God’s word.
Hosea 4:6
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge AMP (2 Peter 3:18 and James 1:22)
James 1:22 (Applying the knowledge of God)
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. RSV
2 Chronicles 15:3
3 Now for a long time Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law. AMP
Proverbs 19:2
2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark. AMP
Proverbs 19:2
2 It is dangerous and sinful to rush into the unknown. TLB
Hosea 4:1
4 Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. NKJV
Hosea 6:6
6 "I don't want your sacrifices-I want your love; I don't want your offerings-I want you to know me. TLB
19. If a person does not act (using God’s knowledge) against evil thoughts, they will eventually come out. (Spoken)
20. Then it will defile or contaminate the person.
21. The opposite is true as well to manifest purity.
22. Once again purity is the goal.
23. As I moved forward in the teaching, I noticed something.
24. There are some insights found in the two verses prior to 1 Peter 1:15-16.
25. As you read them you might be able to pinpoint the insights.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Therefore gird up#328 your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance#52, 15 but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." RSV
26. Before we go any further let us look at “gird up” Greek word #328.
27. Greek definition for “gird up”: NT: #328 Occurs only in 1 Peter 1:13, where it is applied to the mind being held in constant preparation.
(from The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament © 1992 by AMG International, Inc. Revised Edition, 1993)
28. Greek definition for “gird up”: NT: #328
(an idiom, literally 'to bind up the loins of the mind') to prepare oneself for learning and thinking- 'to get one's mind ready for action, to be ready to learn and to think, to be alert.'
'so then, have your minds ready for action' 1 Peter 1:13.
(from Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain. Copyright © 1988 United Bible Societies, New York. Used by permission.)
29. Now let us observe the word “ignorance” Greek # 52.
30. Greek definition for the word “ignorance”; NT: #52: not to know. Want of knowledge, ignorance which leads to mistaken conduct
(from The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament © 1992 by AMG International, Inc. Revised Edition, 1993)
31. Greek definition for the word “ignorance”; NT: #52: want of knowledge, ignorance, especially of divine things
(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
32. My insights are:
(1) Gird up our mind. (Prepare our mind daily)
(2) Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance. (Do not go back)
33. I noticed also that the word “fashioning” in 1 Peter 1:14 KJV, Greek word #4964 is the same Greek word found in Romans 12:2.
1 Peter 1:13-14
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning#4964 yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: KJV
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed#4964 to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. RSV
34. Geek definition for “fashioning” and “be conformed”: #4964: to form or mold one's behavior in accordance with a particular pattern or set of standards - 'to shape one's behavior, to conform one's life.'
(from Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain.)
35. Geek definition for “fashioning” and “be conformed”: #4964: to conform oneself (i. e. one's mind and character) to another's pattern
(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, PC Study Bible formatted Electronic Database)
36. Joining these verses 1Peter 1:13-16 and Romans 12:2 will help us maintain purity in our life.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 So brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed. 14 [Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel]. 15 But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. 16 For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. AMP\
Romans 12:2
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], 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]. AMP
37. Purity is the goal.
Click here. Summary. (PDF)
Click here. Part 22. Conclusion.
“Confessions or statements of faith” Speaking the truth. Change your direction today. from Vince Marino on Vimeo.
Click here. More about the video.