Reprogram Your Mind
The following article is based on the message "Reprogram Your Mind" by Pastor Arthur Green April 1, 2020.
Churches everywhere are relying more and more on technology given our current situation of isolation and social distancing due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Many churches have resorted to prerecorded services and live-stream. Some for the first time ever and it can be complicated. Nevertheless, churches all over the world who physically used to reach hundreds are now reaching thousands across various media outlets on the internet.
The more I watch online the more likely I am to run into the "circle of death". The "circle of death" is a little spinning graphic wheel that shows up on my computer screen whenever my computer is "thinking" about doing something. This usually happens when my internet connection is bad or my computer is trying to run multiple tasks in the background of what I'm telling it to do making my computer unresponsive. It's basically a communication error. Sometimes the only solution is to reboot it and allow the computer to reprogram itself.
When it comes to computers, there's none greater than the human mind but it's also susceptible to its own type of circle of death. Thanks to our fast paced society of multi-tasking and relatively zero down time many of us find ourselves overloaded and stuck in a similar communication error with God. This error prevents us from hearing God and doing what He's telling us to do. A solution to this personal "circle of death" can be found in Romans 12:1-2.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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.
Romans 12:1-2 outlines for us how to become all God has called us to be. Nothing will transform our life faster than submitting to the Lord and reprogramming our mind to the Word of God. Lining up our thinking with God's word will lead us to do the right things. Doing the right things will lead to us to develop right habits and right habits will develop our character. Having the character that comes from God's Word will lead to the fulfillment of that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God for our life. This Holy Spirit inspired plan is guaranteed to work. The steps outlined for us are: (1) know God, (2) get into the Word of God, and (3) call on the name of the Lord. There's no particular order. Just pick one and start the process. It's that simple. I'm not saying it's easy but it is exactly that simple. The truth is, the hardest thing we'll ever do is reprogram our mind to the Word of God but it's also the greatest thing we'll ever do. The good news is we're not in this alone. The Holy Spirit will help us. (John 14:26)
First, let's look at the impact knowing God can have on our life. In Judges 6-8 we find the story of Gideon. Gideon's life reveals to us that knowing God leads to discovering who we are and what God has called us to do. Gideon belonged to a nation of fearfully oppressed people. When we're first introduced to Gideon, we're given the impression Gideon had an identity problem. We find him threshing wheat in a wine press when the LORD appeared to him. Now a wine press is no place for threshing wheat. It's been said before that it's kind of like washing your clothes in your dishwasher. The LORD appeared to him and said "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" (Judges 6:12) Valor means great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. There's not a chance in the world Gideon thought of himself as a man of valor. How could he? He was hiding from his enemies threshing wheat in a wine press! The truth is, Gideon felt forsaken by the LORD in view of his present circumstances. He felt weak, scared, incapable, and alone. Definitely not courageous. The LORD continued to talk to Gideon and eventually convinced him that He would indeed be with him in order to accomplish what He was calling him to do. This made all the difference in Gideon's life. Gideon found peace and a new sense of security from his relationship with God and knowing God was with him. This is what enabled him to become the mighty man of valor God called him to be. God reprogrammed Gideon's mind and transformed his identity from the pitiful image he had of himself into one of Israel's greatest judges and deliverers.
When it comes to hearing the Word of God, Samuel is second to none of the prophets. In Samuel Chapter 3, we learn the importance of not only hearing the Word of God but also being able to properly discern God's voice. Samuel was the answer to his mother's prayer. His mother Hannah was barren. She prayed to God that if He would grant her a son then she would lend him to the LORD's service. God granted her request. When Samuel was just a young boy, Hannah kept her promise and left him to serve with Eli the priest in the tabernacle of the LORD. Samuel didn't know the LORD nor had the Word of the LORD been revealed to him. It was rare to hear the word of the LORD in those days and there wasn't any widespread revelation of God. It came to pass one night as Samuel was lying down that the LORD called him by name. God did this three times and each time Samuel thought it was Eli. The third time it happened Eli told Samuel it was the LORD and if it happened again he should answer and say "Speak LORD for your servant hears." (1 Samuel 3:9) The LORD called again. This time Samuel answered the LORD as Eli told him. This was the first of many times Samuel would hear the voice of the LORD. Samuel learned to recognize the voice of God and grew up to become a mighty prophet. The Lord let none of his words fall to the ground. (1 Samuel 3:19) This means God fulfilled every prophetic word that Samuel ever spoke!
We're a lot like Samuel when it comes to knowing the Word of God and hearing His voice in that we have to learn it. Jesus clearly said "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" (John 10:27) This means the problem isn't hearing God's voice as much as it is discerning God's voice. There are a lot of different voices in the world. If you're home more with your family these days, why not invest the extra time in reprogramming your mind to the Word of God and practice hearing His voice?
Finally, let's look at the benefit of calling on the Lord as it relates to transformation. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we find a man named Jabez who was so named by his mother "Because I bore him in pain." Jabez was more honorable than all of his brothers because he called on the LORD. He made three request from God. First, that God would bless him "indeed". To be blessed "indeed" means to be blessed truly and certainly. The use of the word "indeed" tells us Jabez wanted such a heightened awareness and expectation of the blessing of God on his life that he would be shocked if he didn't see it. Secondly, he asked God to enlarge his territory and that the hand of the LORD would be upon him. Enlarging his territory referred to prosperity and increase in every area of his life. This included authority and dominion. Thirdly, Jabez asked God to keep him from all evil and the way of the wicked so he wouldn't cause anyone else pain. Jabez prayed for transformation and God granted him his request. God transformed Jabez from someone who brought pain to his mother into a man blessed by God "indeed".
When the circle of death shows up on our computer we tend to wonder why it isn't working. When the circle of death shows up in our life we tend to ask the same type of questions. Reprogramming your mind takes time and discipline but it's worth it. Seek to know God, get into the Word of God, and ask the Lord to change your life. It's the most honorable thing you can do. In these times of isolation we ought to refuse to take another step without hearing from God. Many have tried to live apart from God and have failed. My grandmother used to say "Let go and let God." This is a great time to do just that. Be blessed indeed.
To hear this message as it was presented live by Pastor Arthur Green on April 1, 2020, please visit us on Facebook @RiverALIVEchurch.
Churches everywhere are relying more and more on technology given our current situation of isolation and social distancing due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Many churches have resorted to prerecorded services and live-stream. Some for the first time ever and it can be complicated. Nevertheless, churches all over the world who physically used to reach hundreds are now reaching thousands across various media outlets on the internet.
The more I watch online the more likely I am to run into the "circle of death". The "circle of death" is a little spinning graphic wheel that shows up on my computer screen whenever my computer is "thinking" about doing something. This usually happens when my internet connection is bad or my computer is trying to run multiple tasks in the background of what I'm telling it to do making my computer unresponsive. It's basically a communication error. Sometimes the only solution is to reboot it and allow the computer to reprogram itself.
When it comes to computers, there's none greater than the human mind but it's also susceptible to its own type of circle of death. Thanks to our fast paced society of multi-tasking and relatively zero down time many of us find ourselves overloaded and stuck in a similar communication error with God. This error prevents us from hearing God and doing what He's telling us to do. A solution to this personal "circle of death" can be found in Romans 12:1-2.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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.
Romans 12:1-2 outlines for us how to become all God has called us to be. Nothing will transform our life faster than submitting to the Lord and reprogramming our mind to the Word of God. Lining up our thinking with God's word will lead us to do the right things. Doing the right things will lead to us to develop right habits and right habits will develop our character. Having the character that comes from God's Word will lead to the fulfillment of that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God for our life. This Holy Spirit inspired plan is guaranteed to work. The steps outlined for us are: (1) know God, (2) get into the Word of God, and (3) call on the name of the Lord. There's no particular order. Just pick one and start the process. It's that simple. I'm not saying it's easy but it is exactly that simple. The truth is, the hardest thing we'll ever do is reprogram our mind to the Word of God but it's also the greatest thing we'll ever do. The good news is we're not in this alone. The Holy Spirit will help us. (John 14:26)
First, let's look at the impact knowing God can have on our life. In Judges 6-8 we find the story of Gideon. Gideon's life reveals to us that knowing God leads to discovering who we are and what God has called us to do. Gideon belonged to a nation of fearfully oppressed people. When we're first introduced to Gideon, we're given the impression Gideon had an identity problem. We find him threshing wheat in a wine press when the LORD appeared to him. Now a wine press is no place for threshing wheat. It's been said before that it's kind of like washing your clothes in your dishwasher. The LORD appeared to him and said "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" (Judges 6:12) Valor means great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. There's not a chance in the world Gideon thought of himself as a man of valor. How could he? He was hiding from his enemies threshing wheat in a wine press! The truth is, Gideon felt forsaken by the LORD in view of his present circumstances. He felt weak, scared, incapable, and alone. Definitely not courageous. The LORD continued to talk to Gideon and eventually convinced him that He would indeed be with him in order to accomplish what He was calling him to do. This made all the difference in Gideon's life. Gideon found peace and a new sense of security from his relationship with God and knowing God was with him. This is what enabled him to become the mighty man of valor God called him to be. God reprogrammed Gideon's mind and transformed his identity from the pitiful image he had of himself into one of Israel's greatest judges and deliverers.
When it comes to hearing the Word of God, Samuel is second to none of the prophets. In Samuel Chapter 3, we learn the importance of not only hearing the Word of God but also being able to properly discern God's voice. Samuel was the answer to his mother's prayer. His mother Hannah was barren. She prayed to God that if He would grant her a son then she would lend him to the LORD's service. God granted her request. When Samuel was just a young boy, Hannah kept her promise and left him to serve with Eli the priest in the tabernacle of the LORD. Samuel didn't know the LORD nor had the Word of the LORD been revealed to him. It was rare to hear the word of the LORD in those days and there wasn't any widespread revelation of God. It came to pass one night as Samuel was lying down that the LORD called him by name. God did this three times and each time Samuel thought it was Eli. The third time it happened Eli told Samuel it was the LORD and if it happened again he should answer and say "Speak LORD for your servant hears." (1 Samuel 3:9) The LORD called again. This time Samuel answered the LORD as Eli told him. This was the first of many times Samuel would hear the voice of the LORD. Samuel learned to recognize the voice of God and grew up to become a mighty prophet. The Lord let none of his words fall to the ground. (1 Samuel 3:19) This means God fulfilled every prophetic word that Samuel ever spoke!
We're a lot like Samuel when it comes to knowing the Word of God and hearing His voice in that we have to learn it. Jesus clearly said "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" (John 10:27) This means the problem isn't hearing God's voice as much as it is discerning God's voice. There are a lot of different voices in the world. If you're home more with your family these days, why not invest the extra time in reprogramming your mind to the Word of God and practice hearing His voice?
Finally, let's look at the benefit of calling on the Lord as it relates to transformation. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we find a man named Jabez who was so named by his mother "Because I bore him in pain." Jabez was more honorable than all of his brothers because he called on the LORD. He made three request from God. First, that God would bless him "indeed". To be blessed "indeed" means to be blessed truly and certainly. The use of the word "indeed" tells us Jabez wanted such a heightened awareness and expectation of the blessing of God on his life that he would be shocked if he didn't see it. Secondly, he asked God to enlarge his territory and that the hand of the LORD would be upon him. Enlarging his territory referred to prosperity and increase in every area of his life. This included authority and dominion. Thirdly, Jabez asked God to keep him from all evil and the way of the wicked so he wouldn't cause anyone else pain. Jabez prayed for transformation and God granted him his request. God transformed Jabez from someone who brought pain to his mother into a man blessed by God "indeed".
When the circle of death shows up on our computer we tend to wonder why it isn't working. When the circle of death shows up in our life we tend to ask the same type of questions. Reprogramming your mind takes time and discipline but it's worth it. Seek to know God, get into the Word of God, and ask the Lord to change your life. It's the most honorable thing you can do. In these times of isolation we ought to refuse to take another step without hearing from God. Many have tried to live apart from God and have failed. My grandmother used to say "Let go and let God." This is a great time to do just that. Be blessed indeed.
To hear this message as it was presented live by Pastor Arthur Green on April 1, 2020, please visit us on Facebook @RiverALIVEchurch.
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