Understanding the Mind

The mind is very powerful. The medical trade is again recognizing the importance of the mind in overall mental and physical health, although through secular and worldly religious methodology. It is known that the state of mind directly impacts physical and psychological health and will dramatically influence healing. The importance of the mind is expounded on within Scripture in detail, providing a vast amount of information concerning the uses of the mind and its impact on our everyday lives. What exactly is the mind? The mind is an aspect of intelligence and consciousness manifested as combinations of thoughts, perceptions, memories, emotions, imaginations, desirous wills, and determinations distinct to an individual. Understanding the mind begins with comprehending the human nature. The human nature is comprised of three parts: body, soul, and spirit. The soul and spirit are the sources of emotions and logic within the human nature. Therefore, the mind is a product of the immaterial elements of a person through which there is a balance between emotions and reason to coordinate the properties of the soul and spirit for the well-being of that individual in any circumstance. Hence, the mind is the stream of individual consciousness within a being. This is not limited only to humans. All intelligent beings, spirit and human, possess a mind.

https://wordofgracestudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Understanding-The-Mind-Pastor-Luther-Walker.pdf

Understanding the MindLuther Walker2024-09-26T20:32:03-07:00

The Fall of Cain

In Genesis 4:7, God instructs Cain concerning the rules of his household. After God rejected the work of Cain’s hands as an offering, Cain was very angry. In response, God lays out the rule by which Cain is expected to govern his life.

And if you do good, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do good, sin lies at the opening, and its desire is unto you, and you are to rule over it – Genesis 4:7.

This is the first time in Scripture we are introduced to the sin nature. The sin nature describes the human nature bent by Adam’s fall. Through Adam’s trespass and sin, his nature became bent towards doing what is wrong, for although Eve was thoroughly deceived, Adam was not, 1 Timothy 2:14. Adam passed on this bent nature to his offspring, Genesis 5:3. Therefore, even though as humans we now inherently possess the knowledge of good and evil, we are all born with a nature that is separated from God in our spirit and bent towards wrong. However, with this knowledge, we are also to rule over our nature, not permit it to rule over us.

After Cain does not heed God’s instructions and slayed his brother as a sacrifice, he was punished. The works of his hand will no longer produce good, and he is to wander the earth, never possessing a homeland to reside in. In Cain’s response, we again encounter the sin nature when he states, “My perversity is greater than I can bear.”

And Cain said to the LORD, “My perversity is greater than I can bear.” Genesis 4:13.

In Genesis 4:7, the word for sin is in a specific […]

The Fall of CainLuther Walker2024-04-25T06:26:34-07:00

Image and Likeness

In the first chapter of Genesis, Scripture records that God states He would make man in His image and likeness, Genesis 1:26. However, by Genesis 5:3, after the fall of Adam, the likeness and image of humans is that of Adam, for he passed on his corrupt nature to his children, Genesis 5:3.

The concept of image (צֶ֫לֶם – tsĕ-lĕm) is that which has a similar appearance. When examining God’s appearance, we find that He dwells in light, 1 Timothy 6:16; therefore, when God created Adam, He wrapped him in light so that Adam would have a similar image. When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, they were stripped of this image, Genesis 3:7. It is worthy to note here that the word used in Genesis 3:7, often translated as naked (עֲרוּמִּ֔ים), actually means stripped (עֵֽירֻמִּ֖ם). They both knew they were stripped, for they could visibly see that they had lost their covering. However, this does not mean that the similarity to God was lost entirely to humans, for Adam was made in the image of God. This is why, after the Noahic flood in the dispensation of government, a new rule is placed upon the household that if a man sheds the blood of another man, his life is to be forfeit, Genesis 9:6. Although Adam was created in a state of innocence (not knowing good and evil) and resided in the garden during a time when there was no sin upon the earth, his offspring inherit his corrupt nature resulting from the penalties of spiritual and physical death for his trespass and sin, which brought death into this world, Romans 5:12, 17.

In the realm of false religions, an image refers to the […]

Image and LikenessLuther Walker2023-12-14T08:08:24-08:00

The Definition of Love – Kindness

Love is longsuffering, love is kind … 1 Corinthians 13:4

Another aspect of God’s quality of love is kindness. One who is kind is described as having a good or benevolent nature or disposition, which will put others at ease. This is not an aspect of the human nature.

All turned away. They altogether became useless. There are no doers of kindness, there is not even one. – Romans 3:12

Unlike anywhere else in Scripture, here in first Corinthians Love is defined as a verb, where all other times it is a noun or adjective. Kindness is expressed in how we make others feel at ease around us not so much in an emotional sense, but an ease of mind, due to expressing a benevolent nature. This is the kind of person you feel comfortable around, not because they agree with you, on the contrary they are typically the ones that will call you out for doing wrong, but they do not judge, they do not speak harshly, mock, make fun of, or embarrass others. They are just good people to be around who understand the importance of having a benevolent disposition towards others.

If we want our lives to have a big impact on others, we need to pay attention to what God does, for it is the kindness of God that leads us to a change of mind, not hell, fire and damnation.

Or do you think little of the riches of His kindness, and tolerance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the kindness from God leads you into a change of mind – Romans 2:4

Without God showing us kindness, we would not be saved; therefore, this should be our same attitude and actions towards […]

The Definition of Love – KindnessLuther Walker2023-12-14T08:36:19-08:00

Pastor’s Notes

Pastor’s Study

Truth is very powerful. When we see things as they really are and accept the truth concerning our lives as Christians and God’s purpose for us, every aspect of our life is affected.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman cutting straight the Word of Truth

Resources

Communication with God

The twenty-four elders fell down before the One sitting upon the throne and worshiped the One living into the ages of the ages and cast their victor’s wreaths before the throne saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the inherent ability because You created all things and through Your desirous will we are and were created.” Revelation 4:10-11

And that which if we should ask, we receive from Him, because we guard His commandments and we do the things pleasing before Him. 1 John 3:22

We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, worshiping always concerning you , Colossians 1:3

Therefore, because of this let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to the God; that is, the fruit of our lips confessing His name, Hebrews 13:15

If perhaps we should confess our sins, He is faithful and just in order that He should forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9

And the vow of the faith will save the mentally ill and the Lord will raise him up and also the sins he committed will be forgiven him, James 5:15

Be anxious for nothing, but in all by worship […]

Pastor’s NotesLuther Walker2024-12-06T12:32:58-08:00

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