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Knowing the desirous will of God Being Thankful

1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks for this is the desirous will of God in Christ Jesus unto you.

Thankfulness is an attitude of gratitude due to a favorable disposition towards someone. Within the Christian life, thankfulness comes from being filled by the Holy Spirit, while speaking psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to yourself, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, which results in giving thanks in all things to God (Ephesians 5:18-20).

Because humans were not thankful, did not have a favorable opinion of God, even during a time when they all knew God, we see the impact today of the mind turning to futility with theories that are preposterous being presented as factual, such as evolution and false religions, along with the rejection of truth in every aspect of life. These all come from a lack of appreciation for what God provided for them (Romans 1:21). In the same way, when we are not seeking to fulfill the desires of the Spirit, we forget to be thankful for what God provides for us and lose sight of the fact that we have been washed from our sins while going back to wallowing in the filth of the old man like a dog returning to its vomit (2 Peter 1:9; 2:22).

It is a thankful thing that even though we still have a sin nature, that will manipulate us into doing wrong if we seek to live by law, because we live out from faith we have freedom from it in Christ and therefore with the mind we serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of the sin nature (Romans 7:25). Now there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans […]

Knowing the desirous will of God Being ThankfulLuther Walker2023-11-25T07:54:00-08:00

Good (ἀγαθός)

Good is a word that describes activity that is beneficial, wholesome, and sufficient to be acceptable for its purpose. It is used to describe humans, trees, treasures, speaking, and most of all God.

Although humans can do good, only God is good (Luke 18:19), for goodness is an aspect of His nature. However, even though humans are not good by nature, we do know the difference between good and evil and can choose to produce good things in our lives rather than malignantly wicked things (Romans 2:15). The heart is the center of a human, where the person resides. It is within here that we will store up good treasures to use later, or malignantly evil ones to use against others (Matthew 12:35). What we allow to remain in our minds and within our hearts directly impacts our actions; therefore, our weapons are not fleshly, but are mighty in God for the pulling down of those strongholds within us that raise themselves up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-6), by which we destroy the evil treasures, so our storehouse is filled with good.

Although the law is good, we do not live by it because through it is the full experiential knowledge of the sin nature (Romans 7:12-13) and rather than giving us victory over it, it becomes the sin natures strength against us (1 Corinthians 15:56). Trying to do good by law leads us into frustration and the realization that within our flesh no good dwells, for as soon as we desire to do good, we find that we lack the ability to do it through our flesh (Romans 7:18-19), and we end up doing things that lack in character, which we do not […]

Good (ἀγαθός)Luther Walker2023-11-25T07:54:10-08:00

Knowing the Desirous Will of God – The Renewed Mind

As a result of the washing of regeneration and renewing from the Holy Spirit, we now possess a new mind. This renewed mind relates to the Spirit, not fleshly and earthly things; therefore, with this mind we are able to discern Spiritual things because we have a quality of the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). We are instructed in Romans 12 to stop outwardly conforming to this age. Paul is referring to the legal age and those who are putting on a mask of living under law. We live out from faith through grace, not through law, for law is not out from faith.

And stop being outwardly conformed to this age, but to be transformed by your renewed mind, for the purpose to test for approval what is the desirous will of God, the good and well pleasing and mature. – Romans 12:2

Renewing here is not a verb, therefore it is not an act of renewing, but a noun describing the mind. We now possess a renewed mind that, when used, will transform us in a way that enables us to put to the test any situation and identify what is acceptable for us to do according to God’s desirous will for us in all circumstances we face throughout our day.

Since we have a renewed mind, this week let us focus on using it. Starting each morning with setting our mind on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. These things involve who we are in Christ. Not by seeking to fulfill a set of rules that tell us what not to do, but rather by doing things that show who we are in Christ. Our […]

Knowing the Desirous Will of God – The Renewed MindLuther Walker2023-11-25T07:55:26-08:00

Good Courage (θαρρέω)

Often mistaken in translations for confidence, this is the verb form of the word for “courage”. Outside of Scripture it can also be used in a bad sense where a person has an excessive amount of courage; however, typically it is used to express a good courage, based on the reliance of the dependability of someone. Within Scripture this is its only use, in a positive sense.

In Acts 28:15 as Paul is being brought to Rome due to the persecution of the Jews, when he sees the brethren in the area, he thanked God and took courage. Paul was able to depend upon these saints.

“Good courage” is predominantly used in 2 Corinthians referring to Paul’s attitude towards the saints in Corinth. While he is absent from them, he has courage that they will do the right thing, 2 Corinthians 10:1. It is with this courage that he also has confidence in them (2 Corinthians 10:2).

In 2 Corinthians 10:2, many of our English translations imply that Paul was of good courage while with them; however, in the original Greek it is expressing his courage toward them while he is away because he reckoned to them as ones who are dependable – And I implore, while not being present to have good courage in confidence unto you, which I dared to reckon on the basis of some, the ones reckoning us as walking according to flesh. Paul reckoned to them that they were dependable and therefore would do what is right, even though some of them were stating Paul was not walking properly. We also see in this passage good courage being used with confidence, showing they are not conveying the same idea. Confidence is an expression […]

Good Courage (θαρρέω)Luther Walker2023-11-25T07:58:41-08:00

2 Corinthians Filling Up Holiness In Our Lives

Do not become unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what participation [is there] with righteousness and with lawlessness? And what fellowship [is there] with light facing darkness? And what agreement [is there] with Christ and facing Belial? Or what portion [is there] in faithfulness with unfaithfulness? And what putting together [is there] with the Holy of Holies of God with idols? For you are a Holy of Holies of a living God, just as the God said that I will dwell among them and I will walk and I will be their God and they will be My people. Wherefore, you come out, out from the midst of them and be separated, the Lord says. And do not touch from unclean and I will welcome you. And I will be to you for a Father and you will be to Me for sons and daughters, the almighty Lord says. Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleans ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, while filling up holiness in fear of God.

2 Corinthians Filling Up Holiness In Our LivesLuther Walker2023-11-25T08:02:08-08:00

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