Christian! Are You Dressed? Part 7

Good day. Today we are posting the newsletter Christian! Are you Dressed? Part 7 written in 1996 by our dear brother, fellow steward and ambassador of the mystery of Christ, Larry Gazelka, Our prayer is that you will be blessed and encouraged by this newsletter. Have a very blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. ***You can download a copy of the writing for personal use only by clicking on the Built Anew Ministries Archive page link above and scroll down to the year 1996.

Christian! Are You Dressed?               V18n23
 Gotcha Covered! Part 7
  
Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. (KJV)

We, as Christians forget where the battle ground is at. It is all in our mind. We have to take the time to renew our minds with the Word of God. When our mind is renewed by the Word, then God's Word will bring about change in our life; it will bring into existence the things that we have need of. The mind is what wants to pull you back into your old way of thinking. It is going to react to what it hears the most. If you are constantly watching and hearing things that are contrary to God's word, you are going to have troubles. Not because Larry says so, but that is what the Word of God says.

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. (KJV)

Matthew 12:34 …For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (KJV)

Luke 6:45 …for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (KJV)

The scriptures here, are referring to the mind of man. Wherever your thoughts are dwelling at, that is what will come out of your mouth. Not because I say so, but as we can see from the Word of God, this is what it says.

All you have to do is to listen to anyone for a few minutes, and it will give you a good indication of where, or should I say, what their mind has been meditating on. As Christians, we are to be meditating in the Word day and night. It should be the last thing on our mind when we go to bed at night, and the first thing that we think on in the morning.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, (KJV)

Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (KJV)

Psalms 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. (KJV)

Psalms 119:15-16 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word. (KJV)

1 Timothy 4:15-16 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. (KJV)

Who is the defender who encircles your head? We have a choice as to who and what we listen to. If we are constantly listening to, and giving ear to the conversations that are contrary to the Word, guess what will happen to you? You have to study to show yourself approved unto Father, not anyone else. All my thoughts, actions, and speech should be according to the Word. No one said that it would be easy. It is a full-time job, just to keep oneself in line with the Word.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupts good manners. (KJV)

We hear people all of the time tell us, that it does not make any difference where they go or what they do, because they know the truth. Yet, Paul is very clear to tell us, that if we allow the wrong things to constantly be around us, that it will cause corruption. It is of the utmost importance, of where we place ourselves, and what we allow ourselves to continually hear.

Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, (KJV)

Gotcha covered! But what is your mind covered with? What are the thoughts and ideas that are the controlling factors in your mind? How much time do you take with the Lord, and His Word each day?

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

How much time does Father get of your day? Is it the prime cut of your time? Or does Father get the leftovers? Have you yet figured out where the battle ground is?

So many questions, but do you have the answers? Or, better yet, maybe it should be answer, singular!

Why is it such a big deal what we renew our minds with, God knows my heart! How often do you hear that statement being made? We use that as our primary excuse for not taking time with Father. But, the fact remains, that unless a man be born-again, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God!

So, what does it take to be born-again? You have to have a personal relationship with the Son of God! You have to make the Son of God the Lord of your life. But who is the Son of God? Do you really know? Or are you going by what someone else told you?

If you have noticed, that as we are going through the armor of God; that each piece better establishes our relationship with Father through Jesus Christ. It gives us the proper foundation on which we are to build. And we should all know that there is only one foundation; and that is Jesus Christ, the cornerstone!

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief comer stone, (KJV)

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (KJV)

How is the inward man renewed day by day?

Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him; (KJV)

What is knowledge?

Knowledge= a clear perception of a truth or a fact!

We need to take the time with Father, to get a clear perception of what God’s Word has to say to us. Notice, that it says a clear perception, not clouded and foggy. You have to renew your mind; you cannot have someone else do it for you.

Galatians 6:8-9 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (KJV)

5351 phtheiro-to corrupt, to destroy
a) in the opinion of the Jews, the temple was corrupted or "destroyed" when anyone defiled or in the slightest degree damaged anything in it, or if its guardians neglected their duties b) to lead away a Christian congregation from that state of knowledge and holiness in which it ought to abide; c) to be destroyed, to perish d) in an ethical sense, to corrupt, to deprave

With all of the garbage around us, we need to try to stay away from anything or anyone that would attempt to lead us down the wrong path.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (KJV)

Father never tells us that it is an easy task to serve him. But he has given us the means, the gift of Christ, which enables us to remain faithful, if we continue in the Word!

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (KJV)

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, (KJV)

You have to take (accept, receive, grab onto) the helmet (the defender who encircles) of salvation! No one can force it on you! If our mind is always renewed by the Word of God, we will have the mind of Christ! It is when we allow our mind to wander, that we find ourselves meditating on the wrong things. Then, the end result is that we say or do the wrong things.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (KJV)

Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient; but rather, giving of thanks. (KJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. (KJV)

Where do you have your mind hanging out at? What thoughts encircle your head? Take the time to hear Father and allow his Words to lead and guide you today, and every day! Open your Bible and establish a better relationship with the Father and Son, today!

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,… (KJV)

That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ
Larry Gazelka

​renewing = a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better