What Does the Word Say?
Dear Teammate,
“LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS:” PHILIPPIANS 2:6
The apostle Paul commanded us to “LET THE MIND OF JESUS BE IN US!” If there has ever been a day or an hour when we (the church) need to activate this commandment it is right now. There are so many voices that we are hearing today. We can just get on our iPhone, laptop or computer and listen to “whatever” we want to. There are so many opinions from news outlets; ministers; political leaders; friends and family. But what we should be listening to? What should we be seeking? We should be seeking one thing and asking one thing:
“WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?”
WE NEED TO LET THIS MIND BE IN US, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS! Jesus has always desired GOOD for us. That’s His will for us. That’s His desire for us. That’s His prayer for us.
“BELOVED, I WISH (WILL, DESIRE, PRAY) ABOVE ALL THINGS THAT THOU MAYEST PROSPER AND BE IN HEALTH, EVEN AS THY SOUL PROSPERETH.” 3 JOHN 2
“THE THIEF COMETH NOT, BUT FOR TO STEAL, AND TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY: I AM COME THAT THEY (YOU) HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.” JOHN 10:10
The problem is NEVER with God. The problem is ALWAYS with us. Oftentimes, we fail simply because we do not have the mind of Christ. We choose to allow the WORLD to make our decisions for us, instead of the WORD! Today, there’s a whole lot of confusion going on; there’s a whole lot of division going on; there’s a whole lot of contention going on! But, to me, the sad thing is that much of the confusion is in the church!
“NOW I BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, BY THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT YE ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING, AND THAT THERE BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU; BUT THAT YE BE PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER IN THE SAME MIND AND IN THE SAME JUDGMENT. FOR IT HATH BEEN DECLARED UNTO ME OF YOU, MY BRETHREN, BY THEM WHICH ARE OF THE HOUSE OF CHLOE (THE CHLOE CHURCH), THAT THERE ARE CONTENTIONS AMONG YOU.” 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-11
Paul said, “You all need to be speaking the same thing. You all have the mind of Christ. What does the Word (Jesus) say?” When we allow the Word to be our final authority then it is impossible for “strife” to get in through contentions, divisions and dumb opinions! What is happening today, without question, is we have “backed off” the Word and allowed the World to tell us what we can and will do as Blood Bought, Born Again Believers. “Are you kidding me?” Nope, it’s as simple as that. Paul wrote many of his letters while serving time in prison. Do you know why? He wouldn’t stop preaching the Word of God no matter what government official told him not to. He was not going to be intimidated by demons speaking lies through men. We wouldn’t have much of the New Testament “if” Paul didn’t resist government officials. But Paul was never confused; He just stuck to his security; “what does the Word say?”
“AND ELIJAH CAME UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, AND SAID, HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM (WORD): BUT IF BAAL (WORLD), THEN FOLLOW HIM. AND THE PEOPLE ANSWERED HIM NOT A WORD.” 1 KINGS 18:21
Elijah just threw the hammer down on these “wishy-washy” people. Elijah challenged their faith, “People, what are you going to follow; the Word, or the World? You guys need to make a decision. Choose something for goodness sakes; Word or the World; God or man? But jiminy cricket, choose one or the other!” Look at what the people said after Elijah asked them to make a decision; NOT A WORD! Why? Because they were just like the people of today; full of fear, doubt and unbelief; and not knowing who or what to believe. It took Elijah’s faith (miracle) to see the WILL of God; which again is always THE WORD.
Throughout this “panic-damnic” I have been shocked at how many believers have chosen the WORLD (opinions from the “wishy washy” so-called experts) and have declined the WORD. The Bible is either Truth or it’s not. The promises in the Bible are either Truth or they are not. Almost every time people failed in the presence of Jesus He pointed to their faith; not His! The Word is His will! There is so much confusion when there shouldn’t be; just DO the Word!
“FOR WHERE ENVYING AND STRIFE IS, THERE IS CONFUSION AND EVERY EVIL WORK. BUT THE WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE (THE WORD) IS FIRST PURE, THEN PEACEABLE, GENTLE, AND EASY TO BE INTREATED, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS, WITHOUT PARTIALITY, AND WITHOUT HYPOCRISY.” JAMES 3:16-17
What does the Word say? That’s all we need to ask. When we water-down, avoid, and draw back from the Word then we are in serious trouble; and I mean serious trouble!
“NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH: BUT IF ANY MAN DRAW BACK, MY SOUL SHALL HAVE NO PLEASURE IN HIM.” HEBREWS 10:38
Teammate, these are exciting days for WORD people and sad days for WORLDLY people. What side are you going to choose? How long are you going to halt between two opinions? It’s time for the church (Christians) to believe and trust the Word (Jesus). As Believers, we know who is keeping and sustaining us to the very end! He is the WORD; His Name is JESUS!
Speaking the Same Thing,
Thad Reece