What Are We Thinking?!

These days I really have to be looking at my heart and mind as I ask God to show me if there is any wicked way in me. I am sure I have some wickedness in me, but I do want to have a pure heart and clean hands. Therefore, I have to be continually calling on God to create a clean heart in me especially when I see what is going on in Christianity these days. The Church is to be in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle, but holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:27) prepared for the return of Jesus, the Bridegroom. But, we the Church, don’t seem to be ready yet. For many of us, our ways are not God’s ways and out thoughts are definitely not His thoughts. I am not sure what we are thinking because many of us don’t seem to be walking in God’s Spirit.

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 1 Corithians 2:10-13

We have to have renewed minds to understand God’s will and He will reveal His truth to us through His Holy Spirit and His Word. And, God’s Spirit doesn’t go against His Word. Seemingly, many members of the Church are going the way of the world and are employing human wisdom. This would explain why we are so divided as the body of Christ as most of us rather to follow man’s doctrines rather than God’s truth. If we are walking in God’s Spirit, then we will be of the same mind and His Spirit does not bring confusion.  

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians 2:1-2

Can we truly say that Christians are of the same mind, united in spirit, intent on one purpose? I know I am not seeing that right now with Christians having so many different political agendas, doctrines and ideas. We are not of the same mind and spirit and our purposes are disparate.  This is not what Jesus prayed for in John 17. He desired the unity of believers. But if this is what Jesus wants, you better believe that Satan wants the opposite, and he will do everything to achieve his goal of division among the believers. From my perspective, he seems to be doing a good job as I watch Christians fight over doctrinal beliefs, political views, and even cover-ups of abuse in the Church. What is going on? Why are we leaving so many wide-open doors for the enemy to have his way in the Church? This would not happen if we were truly walking by God’s Spirit.

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  Galatians 5:13-17

The issue in Paul’s day appears to be perpetuating these days as there seems to be a lot of biting and devouring of each other in the worldwide Church these days. This cannot be walking by God’s Spirit as this is very fleshly. Therefore, it is imperative, that we are careful of the voices we hear because it may sound good, but it may not be of God. Paul told his protégé, Timothy, in his first letter to him that the Spirit explicitly said that in latter times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. It’s happening. People are using the Bible in a fleshly manner to create demonic doctrines that are deceiving those who are listening keenly to these deceptive words. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul expounded on this.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  2 Timothy 4:3-4

What are we thinking in the Church? Do we really expect our prayers to be answered by a holy God when we have turned away from His truth.  Adding “In Jesus’ name” to our prayers is not a mystical incantation to have our prayers answered the way we would like. It means we are praying according to God’s will and walking in His Spirit who leads us to all truth. It means our purpose is His purpose and we are surrendered to His way and aligned with His heart and His thoughts.