Who can deny the character-changing effects of having the Mind of Christ? It’s not a matter of being religious or belonging to a particular denomination. It’s about having a new identity and a new life; it’s about being a new creation, a new man.
The natural man gives way to a spiritual man, the selfish man gives way to a generous man, the cynical man gives way to a kind man, it’s a huge transformation in all aspects that takes place deep within a person. Having the mind of the Lord Jesus isn’t an option, it is a matter of survival.
“That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)
The human mind is conformed to this world—it is fleshly and as long as a person carries within them this earthly mentality, it is subject to the influence of the ruler of this world, the devil.
The word of God tells us to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
This is what we will be doing throughout this 21 days Fast of Daniel. We will disconnect from all that is secular and apply ourselves to seek to have the Mind of Christ.
Family, financial, marital, emotional, physical problems – whatever the situation or the need of the human being, the Holy Spirit is the solution. This statement was made by Bishop Macedo, during a message that was recently broadcast. According to him, the Holy Spirit is the biggest investment anyone can make. Besides the fact that the Holy Spirit leads one to the Kingdom of God, He also gives people the faith, capacity, strength, and wisdom necessary to overcome every problem in this world. “If you have to invest in something in your life, the most important thing you can invest in is the Holy Spirit”, Bishop Macedo advises. The reason why many people’s lives within the church do not change, is due to the absence of the Spirit of God within them. They do not have it because they do not want to give themselves up. They are guided by their own thoughts and desires, and they live according to their own will. They belong to an institution, but not to the Kingdom of God. The apostle Paul knew that among the converted Romans, there were also false converts who were born of the flesh.
“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Romans 8:9)
“The apostle Paul is incisive in his statement because many Christians were not sincere in their conversion. Though some professed the faith, they still remained committed to the pleasures of the flesh and inclined to be guided by their emotions. This is what happens to many Christians who know the Word of Truth; they have spent years in the church, but fail to make their lives the centre of God’s will. They live in spiritual ‘lukewarmness’, so they cannot receive the Holy Spirit”, Bishop Macedo explains. Unfortunately, this is the reality of most people inside the church. They say they believe in the Lord Jesus, but their behaviour, attitude, and character does not match the Word of God. Their lips keep uttering lies, deceit, and gossip, and so they are weak and inconstant. As long as they insist on immoral behaviour, they will never receive the Holy Spirit. “You can even preach, heal the sick, cast out demons, evangelise – you can do all this and still be full of demons. Because the devil wants to make people believe that these people are servants of God, when in fact they are not. Their behaviour is contrary to the Christian faith”, Bishop Macedo warns. Someone who has the Spirit of God lives an honourable life. They have nothing to be ashamed of, they have good eyes, and they are merciful, tolerant, and compassionate. When this person’s life is consecrated and dedicated to the altar of God, they live happily. There is peace in their house. If you are convinced that the Holy Spirit is lacking in your life, the first step to receiving Him is to abandon what is wrong and start obeying the Word of God. “When one begins to practice the Word of God, he begins to walk towards the Lord Jesus and, walking towards him, he will receive the Holy Spirit”, Bishop Macedo says. Be defined, let go of sin, rid yourself of your desires, of your will; then come before God and put yourself at His disposal so that He may come into your life.
