Transforming Your Mind:

These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11

Romans 12:1-2 - Transforming Your Mind:

Biblical Insights on Spiritual Renewal and God's Will

(1) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

New International Version copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

These verses summarize what must occur during the conversion process. The apostle Paul presents our marching orders directly. We are to sacrifice our bodies while we still live, that is, submit ourselves wholly to God and to His way of life, which is only reasonable, since having redeemed us, He owns us completely. In addition, we are to reject this world's attempts to pull us back into its ungodly lifestyles, despite its many allurements. Instead, we are to engage in the transformation of our minds into perfect alignment with God's will.

Paul calls it "the renewing of your mind." This renewing is not making the mind new in the sense of time. For instance, to say one has a new bike suggests that it was recently purchased; someone else has not used it. The renewal of Romans 12:2, however, speaks to quality. We might understand it better by using the terms "refresh," "revive," or "rejuvenate." When a tool—say, a chisel—is old and dull, a craftsman will renew it by cleaning off the rust, sharpening the edge, and perhaps putting on a new handle. Essentially, this is what God is doing in renewing our minds. He is taking an old, ill-used mind, cleaning it, sharpening it, and putting it to use in His work.

Consider that another spirit has had many years to shape our minds to follow his way (Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 12:9). Satan the Devil's way of life is that of pride, vanity, lust, greed, envy, deceit, murder, adultery, and covetousness—all the evil things that we are supposed to be putting off. While he had a hold on us, Satan impressed his ungodly way on our minds, but now God has called us and is now in us by His Spirit, transforming us, refreshing our minds, so that we can change the quality of our minds from carnal to spiritual. The transformation that we are undergoing will take us from the self-absorbed, degenerate, sensual mentality to the outgoing, pure righteousness of God's own mind.

The last part of Romans 12:2 can be paraphrased as "so that you may test or experience all the benefits of His will." Without His mind being formed in us through the Holy Spirit, we would have no way of truly understanding His will or His way. Our minds must be transformed so that we can have even the capacity to understand the differences between God's way and Satan's way, as well as the overwhelming benefits of living as God prescribes. Only then, as it says in Deuteronomy 30:19, can we truly "choose life." This process is happening in us so that we can make the choices that will allow us to live eternally.

— Richard T. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
What Is Real Conversion? (Part Five)

Leviticus 19: 35-37

God's Demand for Honest Weights and Measures in Society

 

Leviticus 19:35-37 - God's Demand for Honest Weights and Measures in Society

(35) "You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. (36) You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. (37) "Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the LORD.""

New King James Version copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

In earlier times, food and other goods were measured out by weight using a balance. A standard weight (typically made of stone) was placed on one side, and the material being measured was put on the other. When the balance was level, both buyer and seller knew that the amount had been measured correctly.

However, human nature being what it is, it did not take long for the unscrupulous to use one stone for a standard when buying and a different one for selling. In this way, they could "tip the balances" in their favor by using weights that were advantageous to them. Using such a "double standard," as it came to be known, might materially benefit the individual, but it was highly destructive to the overall society because it bred distrust and suspicion. Thus, God's Word makes it clear that universal and unchanging weights and other measurements are crucial to the smooth functioning of a group of people:

• Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight. (Proverbs 11:1)

• Honest weights and scales are the LORD'S; all the weights in the bag are His work. (Proverbs 16:11)

• Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. (Proverbs 20:10)

• Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, and dishonest scales are not good. (Proverbs 20:23)

As with most of God's instructions, though, over time the Israelites paid them little heed. Before Israel's fall, these principles were commonly violated, and God links these practices with deceit, violence, wickedness, and oppression (Amos 8:5-6; Micah 6:10-12; Hosea 12:7). Their dishonest dealing was part of the same pattern of unfaithfulness wherein the people were more interested in their own well-being than in their covenant responsibilities to God and man. Whatever the motivation, the overall result was societal breakdown as the individual exalted himself against God and his fellow man.

Actual balances are rare these days, and Western civilization has seen to it that we have standard weights and measures, so the instructions in Leviticus may seem to have little relevance now. However, godly principles are timeless, and though the application may not be the same, honest weights and scales are still crucial for a smooth and peaceful society. When God re-gave the law to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land, He broadened His instructions regarding honesty in measurement:

You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 25:13-16)

The fact that one's "bag" (pocket or purse) and one's "house" are specified indicates that not just the measuring at the shop or depot is important. Honest and balanced measuring is needed everywhere—in the home and anywhere else one goes with a "weight" in one's pocket. Anytime something must be weighed, God demands that the scale or balance we use must be as accurate as possible. He does not use "abomination" lightly, yet that is how He consistently describes using varying standards when weighing or measuring. Thus, we must take great care not to use a lenient standard to measure ourselves or our friends and a harsher one for someone else. Having differing standards will contribute to the breakdown of society through distrust, suspicion, disunity, or even oppression.

Our carnality moves us to weigh things in our own favor or according to our preferences. We are inclined to cherry-pick evidence that tips things to our advantage and discard or minimize facts that could tilt matters away from us. But with God's Spirit and the new heart and eyes that He has given, we have the wherewithal to use honest weights in relation to others.

Anytime there is a group—such as a church—it is natural and easy to "weigh" it, especially in relation to any group we are not part of. When such measuring is done, great care must be taken not to use differing standards—a light one for our particular group and a heavy one for another. After all, the "society" at risk for disruption is not some human enclave but the spiritual Body of Christ! The relationships in it must be protected if the Body is to grow, and that begins with not despising. A "just weight" is God's delight, as Proverbs 11:1 says, because it indicates that the individual is working for the good of all and not just the good of one.

— David C. Grabbe

To learn more, see:
A Just Weight Is His Delight

That Islam is “peace and tolerance” is the most popular lie in the world today.

 

Islam

That Islam is “peace and tolerance” is the most popular lie in the world today. Intellectuals in the West who defame Christ parrot the most fatuous praise of Muhammad, in spite of his legacy of murder, pillage, and rape. A Sesame Street-type Arabic TV program features children training to be suicide bombers and chanting “Death to Israel”—for peace, of course. 

That our leaders promote this lie, and that so many believe it without one fact to support it, bodes ill for America and the world. We only ask Muslims for one example of where and when Islam ever brought peace and tolerance—and please don’t threaten us with death (the standard Islamic persuasion) for asking!

Westerners naively accept Allah, who inspired Muhammad, as the God of the Bible. Yet Allah has no son, and rejects the Trinity (Surah 4:171, Qur'an), is unknowable, and was the pagan idol/god of Muhammad's tribe before he was born. Allah tells Muslims, "Take not the Jews and Christians for friends...slay the idolaters [infidels] wherever ye find them. ...Fight against those who...believe not in Allah nor the Last Day" (Surah 5:51;9:5,29,41). But the triune God of the Bible wants men to know Him (Jer:9:24
), a knowledge essential to salvation (Jn:17:3
). Jews are His "chosen people" (Ex:6:7; Lev:20:26
; 1 Chr:16:13
; Ps:105:6
, etc.) and Christians are His dearly loved children (Rom:8:16
, Rom:8:21
; Gal:3:26
; Eph:1:5
; Eph:5:1
, etc.). —Dave Hunt, TBC "Islam's Peace," March 2003 and "Islam and the Gospel," April 1999

Key Scripture verses related to "Islam"

• Matthew:4:3-6
  ; Mat:8:29
  ; Mat:14:33
  ; Mat:26:63-64
  ; Mat:27:54
  
• Mark:1:1
  ; Mar:15:39
  
• Luke:1:35
  ; Luke:22:70
  ;
• John:1:34
  ; John:3:18
  ; John:8:58
  ; John:9:35-37

What the Bible says about Reconcilation with Brother

 What the Bible says about Reconcilation with Brother

(From Forerunner Commentary)

Isaiah 1:4 The prophet Isaiah is saying the same thing in more detail as what Peter says in Acts 3:19:"Repent." That is how the breach, the separation, between God and man will be healed. That is how atonement is made. Atonement is not all something that Christ does. There will never be oneness with God until man does something with his free-moral agency. The problem in Isaiah 1 is a hypocritical people just going through the motions. They were observing the rituals: burning incense, making the sacrifices. Yet, at the same time, their daily lives were filled with all kinds of unlawful acts—business shenanigans—that, according to God's law, is taking advantage of others. They were lying about the weights and balances, selling shoddy products, and as a rule, not conducting business in an upright way. They were murdering one another's reputations through gossip, and lying to one another using charm and deceit. God is saying that their lives were full of hypocrisy. In the same way, people who today claim to be children of God, who attend Sabbath services and holy days yet have a heart full of greed, covetousness, anger, hatred, bitterness, envy, and so on, are simply hypocrites. As it pertains to us, what we see in Isaiah is that there must be a relationship between worshipping God and our character in its practical aspect out on the streets, in our homes, in the way that we conduct business. We might say our character away from church, out of the eyesight of God's people, must reflect what we profess to believe. How can those who treat their fellows with contempt, greed, envy, jealousy, anger, hatred, and revenge, do those things through the week and then come to church services before God, thinking that somehow or another they are not separated from Him? Jesus says in Matthew 5:23-24, "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." That is quite plain. Because of all these things, God treated His people Israel in the same way as pagan idols treated their worshippers. Remember, the idols are not alive; they do not have ears that can hear, eyes that can see, or mouths that enable them to speak. So idol worshippers made their lamentations, their prayers, and their praises to their idols, and the idol never responded. God says, "I am going to be just like an idol to you. When you talk to me, I am not going to talk to you, and when you look at me, I am not going to look back at you. I am not going to see you." So in this way, He became as one who is dumb and deaf. He did not respond to their prayers. It is essential to note that God, in His wisdom, knew before creating mankind that mankind would sin. If there were to be both reconciliation and character building, He would have to provide a means that would not only satisfy the legal requirements, but also contain within it the moral and spiritual influences that would motivate a man to cooperate on his own. We play a major part in this because God has given us free-moral agency. By and large, the Protestant world has convinced Americans, Canadians, and Western Europeans that Christ did it all for us. It is a bald-faced lie! But sometimes, we who know better act as though it all depended on God. God gave us free-moral agency so that we can respond to Him, put His Word into practice, and exemplify before others what God is like. It would be nice to say that we live lives like Christ so much that we could say of ourselves what Christ said: "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father" (John 14:9). There is a Person who was really at one with God. What God is trying to do with the things that He has provided—namely, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of His Holy Spirit—is to motivate man to repent—to change, to turn to God, to resist the desire to continue in sin—to work at building character and learn to live by faith. John W. Ritenbaugh Reconciliation and the Day of Atonement

Understanding Wisdom's Beginning & Call – Proverbs 1, Verse By Verse

Mar 12, 2025

The Book of Proverbs

Welcome to Pastor David Guzik's first video in an in-depth study of the book of Proverbs. Throughout this series, Pastor David exposits through a full chapter of scripture with you - verse by verse, point by point. Each part in this detailed series culminates by highlighting some of the many ways each chapter parallels or points to the majesty and mission of Christ Jesus. What are your thoughts on this portion of scripture?

- Have a seat at the LORD's table

 

Watch this! ✝️ - Good Stuff for sure...
ood https://t.co/iFwzvJNTYj via @YouTube

— AJ (@Rooofer) March 25, 2025

 

Consequences of a Wrong Focus (Part One)

by Clyde Finklea
CGG Weekly, December 7, 2012

---

"If God commands something, that is the highest evidence that we can do it."

—Charles G. Finney

---

Most of us realize how important it is to concentrate on what we are doing. We have to focus on our work, our study, our conversations, our driving, and so forth, so that we get the most out of them—and in the last case, so that we arrive home alive! Clearly, there are benefits that come from maintaining a proper focus, but it is equally plain that there are consequences for having a wrong focus. While a right focus leads to progress, endurance, and growth, the consequences of a wrong focus is a downward spiral that can end tragically.

As a young boy, I was walking home from school one day when I heard the sound of a small airplane flying nearby. Being somewhat fascinated with airplanes, I naturally stopped to look for it in the sky. I saw it coming just over the tree line in the distance. I stood watching it fly around for a few moments, and as I turned to walk away, there was sudden silence in the sky. Returning my eyes to the sky, to my surprise the plane was falling in a slow downward spiral. As I lost sight of it beyond the trees, I braced myself to hear the crash.

Instead, I heard the noise of the engine firing up again. I thought, "Whoa! How lucky!" Seconds later, the plane came flying up. It circled a few times, and then the engine died again! Down it went in that slow downward spiral. So much for lucky! As I lost sight of it beyond the tree line, I was certain it would crash this time, but I heard the engine come back to life. Back up it came, flew around a couple of times, lost power, and down it went for a third time. In fact, this continued for a half-dozen times or more. My younger self thought, "How stupid! What if the engine didn't start back up? It would crash into the earth, and the pilot would face certain death!" This descending spiral illustrates what happens to us when we lose our focus, when we take our eyes off Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God and focus on our problems instead. If we fail to restart our engines, that is, regain our focus, we will invariably crash in flames into the world. In other words, we will begin to be controlled by the spirit of the world, which will lead to certain separation from God, and if allowed to continue, spiritual death.

As an aid to memory, we will use four words that begin with c to explain the downward spiral when we are focusing on the wrong things:

1. Concentration on the problem;
2. Contempt for the problem;
3. Contrivance to solve the problem; and
4. Conformed or controlled by the world, which invariably occurs rather than our being transformed into the image of Christ.

I Corinthians 10:6, 11 teach us that God's dealings with the people of Israel form examples or analogies for us to use today to avoid their mistakes. Here are these statements in context:

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. . . . Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (I Corinthians 10:1-6, 11-13)

Paul concludes his teaching here by saying that God is always aware of what we are going through and that He never leaves nor forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5), even though it may sometimes seem that way. Despite how difficult our trials may be, we can never let ourselves forget that God is faithfully working with us through it all.

With that in mind, recall that the first step of the downward spiral is concentrating on the problem. Numbers 11:1-2, 4-6, alluded to in I Corinthians 10:6, provides an example from the Israelites in the wilderness:

Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the LORD, the fire was quenched. . . . Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: "Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!"

When we start complaining about our plight, it is usually because our focus has shifted off the Lord, who is leading us, and on to our problems, the details of life. It usually involves something we think we ought to have but do not, so we feel as if He has given us the short end of the stick.

For instance, we think that, if we only had more money, a bigger home, a better job, better health, or some other advantage, we would be happy or satisfied. So we focus on these details and become ungrateful, dissatisfied, and bored with spiritual things or God's purposes. God tells us in Deuteronomy 8:3-5 that He fed Israel with the manna to discipline and train them that they might understand an important truth, but their focus and desire was only on what they were missing and thought they needed. So they complained.

Manna was a perfect food and precisely what Israel needed at that time. It was healthy and nutritious, and it was not a boring food, since it could be cooked in a number of ways. It also provided a perfect spiritual picture, as it represented Jesus Christ, the true Bread from heaven (John 6:32-35), the only One who can give abundant life. But because the people were focused elsewhere, because they thought happiness came from things like cucumbers and garlic, they considered it to be boring and became ungrateful for this miraculous food from God.

Do we get bored with the spiritual food we receive? 

Think about it. 

Complaining is generally the first sign that we are concentrating on our problems or the details of life rather than on Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. 

We will take up the other consequences of a wrong focus in Part Two.

https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/weekly/id/612/consequences-a-wrong-focus-part-two.htm

Christ is truly the only means of atonement / salvation

We discussed the story of Herod and Peter in Chapter 12 and discussed some of Paul's initial ministry journey in Chapter 13.

How Christ is truly the only means of atonement/salvation and it is interesting to see how much of the initial workings of the church were parallel to the path of redemption pointed to in the 12 step program.  
One thing is for certain, whatever God wills shall happen and he certainly won't be mocked. 

The Bible links here are for the end of ACTS Chapter 13 and beginning of Chapter 14. 

The remainder of Chapter 13 will bifurcate between the Jews and those who chose salvation, where we can really see how idols of self can inhibit any spiritual growth (isn't a new story by any means). 

Chapter 14, on the other hand, is an interesting mix of stories (outsiders worshipping the messenger rather than message, surviving certain death, and the planting of churches).  

The variety of topics should create some endless discussions.
The remaining outline of the Acts is provided below:

1. THEIR WITNESS TO THE END OF THE EARTH (Act 13:42-28:30-31)
   1. THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL (Act 13:1-14:28)
   2. THE ISSUE OF CIRCUMCISION AND THE LAW (Act 15:1-35)
   3. THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL (Act 15:36-18:22)
   4. THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL (Act 18:23-21:17)
   5. THE ARREST OF PAUL AND JOURNEY TO ROME (Act 21:18-28:31)

31 Biblical Affirmations To Encourage Your Faith

31 Biblical Affirmations To Encourage Your Faith

I am heard by God. (1 John 5:14)
I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)
God has chosen me. (Romans 8:30)
I am victorious in Christ. (1 John 5:4)
I am a newborn of the King. (1 Peter 2:9)
I am God’s masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10)
I am fully accepted by God. (Romans 15:7)
Nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)
God is my strength and my shield. (Psalm 28:7)
I am strong and courageous. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
With God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)
My life has been rescued by Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:6)
God will never fail me or abandon me. (Joshua 1:5)
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
I have hope and a future in the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:11)
I am chosen, holy, and dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12)
I am clothed with strength and dignity. (Proverbs 31:25)
I trust the Lord will make all things new. (Revelation 21:5)
I am adopted by God into His royal family. (Ephesians 1:5)
I have been set free from the bondage of sin. (Romans 6:23)
God has fully and completely redeemed me. (Colossians 1:14)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ends. (Lamentations 3:22)
God provides the refuge and shelter my soul seeks. (Psalm 91:4)
He will order His angels to protect me wherever I go. (Psalm 91:11)
I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. (Romans 8:37)
God is with me always, even when it doesn’t feel like it. (Matthew 28:20)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
I have nothing to fear because the Lord is always with me. (Isaiah 41:10)
When I am overwhelmed, God alone knows the way I should turn. (Psalm 142:3)
The Lord equips me for every good deed and lavishes His grace upon me. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Encourage

Encourage Your Faith & Trust

I am heard by God. (1 John 5:14)

I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

God has chosen me. (Romans 8:30)

I am victorious in Christ. (1 John 5:4)

I am a newborn of the King. (1 Peter 2:9)

I am God’s masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10)

I am fully accepted by God. (Romans 15:7)

Nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)

God is my strength and my shield. (Psalm 28:7)

I am strong and courageous. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

With God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

My life has been rescued by Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:6)

God will never fail me or abandon me. (Joshua 1:5)

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

I have hope and a future in the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:11)

I am chosen, holy, and dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12)

I am clothed with strength and dignity. (Proverbs 31:25)

I trust the Lord will make all things new. (Revelation 21:5)

I am adopted by God into His royal family. (Ephesians 1:5)

I have been set free from the bondage of sin. (Romans 6:23)

God has fully and completely redeemed me. (Colossians 1:14)

The steadfast love of the Lord never ends. (Lamentations 3:22)

God provides the refuge and shelter my soul seeks. (Psalm 91:4)

He will order His angels to protect me wherever I go. (Psalm 91:11)

I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me. (Romans 8:37)

God is with me always, even when it doesn’t feel like it. (Matthew 28:20)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

I have nothing to fear because the Lord is always with me. (Isaiah 41:10)

When I am overwhelmed, God alone knows the way I should turn. (Psalm 142:3)

God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

The Lord equips me for every good deed and lavishes His grace upon me. (2 Corinthians 9:8)