Greetings in the Name of Jesus and welcome to the PLN Sunday Night Bible Fellowship!

 

Good evening and welcome to our third week of discussion on the subject of how Christians can overcome the HARD TIMES the World is trying so hard to deal with these days. As you know the World's difficulties aren't just financial; they're in every area of life. Non-believers have little choice but to try to deal with these things on their own. Believing Christians on the other hand have options: we can live like the folks in the World do or we can live in the Kingdom of God where there's faith and hope and solutions and victory, along with the Holy Spirit to help and teach us.

 

It's remarkable that the worldly media has convinced so many people that they're helpless in the face of the HARD TIMES. We're told that life now has so much SCARY stuff to it that no one can possibly deal with it all. Indeed, there's only one chance to escape it which is to wait and hope and beg for the government to come to the rescue. While they wait for someone to do something, many people are literally glued to their co-dependent television news programs to hear the latest updates from the EXPERTS and then gather together to evaluate all the latest "information." Discussing the HARD TIMES is one of the main social activities to be involved in these days.

 

In a previous article we mentioned that there's some really comforting news to be shared that the secular media hasn't reported on yet: if you've received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you don't have to be a victim of the HARD TIMES. God has ALREADY done something; He's ALREADY come to the rescue! And the truth is, born again Christians can CHOOSE where they want to live life. We can live in the World where there are always HARD TIMES; or, we can live in the Kingdom of God where there are only GOOD TIMES. In the World there's agitation and fear and defeat; in the Kingdom of God there's peace and faith and victory.

 

Unfortunately most Christians aren't paying enough attention to this issue even though scripture clearly WARNS us not to be too closely involved with the World (1 John 2:15-17). Since we DO have to live physically IN the World, many of us stay too close to it and wind up doing things and saying things the way worldly folks do which produces anxiety, defeat and death. In sum, MANY Christians are being robbed of the peace and victory they could have by being too involved with the World. Even worse, they don't realize that it's happening and tend to manifest about the same worries and concerns and fears as non-believers.

 

What We Think Makes Us Who We Are

 

In Part One of this series we discussed that Christians must RESIST the World if we want to live in the Kingdom of God on a regular basis. And we also talked about various ways to make that happen (if you missed Part One, click on the Archives link at the top of this article). But in addition to what we've already said on this, there's still an underlying factor to deal with: the Bible says that as a man THINKS within himself, so IS he (Proverbs 23:7). In other words, the present condition of our lives is largely a function of what we've THOUGHT about over the years leading up to the present. If our THINKING comes out of a prevailing Kingdom of God mentality, we'll see ourselves victorious and prosperous; but if our main frame of reference has been/still is the World, we'll find ourselves actually experiencing the defeat and HARD TIMES that reside there.

 

This is a really important factor that many of us have been overlooking. Success in life is about the way we THINK. The way we are is the way we THINK. It's a MIND thing. So we need to answer a key question: individually, why do we each THINK the way we do? In other, words why do some Believers THINK success for themselves while others are THINKING failure? Why are some folks THINKING peace for themselves while others are full of anxiety and worry and fear? As you might guess, there's a key verse about this principle we need to THINK about to help us get the answer:

 

Romans 8:6 = "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace."

 

Notice that the MIND is THE factor that determines whether we experience the negative things of the World (death) or life and peace which are ONLY available in the Kingdom of God. The MIND is where we do our THINKING. So where do we direct our thoughts? Do we THINK about the things of the flesh that we've received from the World? Or do we occupy our thoughts with the Word of God and the things of the Holy Spirit?

 

In addition, this scripture clearly shows us that we've been given the ability to make the related choice: we can THINK about either the flesh or the Spirit; it's the Believer's CHOICE. We can SET our minds either way, in either direction. We WILL think on one or the other because there are only two options. But we have the ability to choose which one to focus on and we have the ability to DECIDE to change what we're THINKING about.

 

The fact is, Believers have to pursue the things of the Kingdom in order for them to be operating in our lives. That's the way the Kingdom system works: we have to choose to want peace and then pursue it (Psalm 34:14). If we make the right choice we can live life in total peace EVEN IN THE MIDST OF HARD TIMES. Jesus has given us peace (John 14:27), He went to the Cross so we can have it. Indeed, one of the principal attributes of the Holy Spirit is peace (Galatians5:22). But we have to put our MIND on the things of the Spirit, to SET our focus on them in order to actually receive and use and enjoy what He has for us.  

 

Change the Way You Think

 

Friend, if you're afraid and concerned about the HARD TIMES the media keeps talking about, you need to change the way you've been thinking. You can start by turning off the media so you can reduce the influence of the World in your life. Then separate yourself as much as possible from associates and relatives who constantly talk about HARD TIMES and all the other negative things from the World. You can follow that up by changing the way you speak so you stop agreeing with what the World says and start speaking in agreement with the Word of God. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). In other words, you choose death or life for yourself by the words you speak.

 

Now some people will say that this is denying reality but that's only true if your "reality" is limited to your five physical senses. What are you going to do with the scripture that says: "for we walk by faith (and) NOT by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7) and another one where the Apostle Paul says we should LOOK at the things which are NOT seen instead of the things that ARE (2 Corinthians 4:18)? How are we supposed to LOOK at things that are NOT seen? Friend, what the Word of God is showing us is that the New Testament redefines "reality" for those who will receive it so that we no longer limit the Holy Spirit to what we can assess and verify with only our physical senses. No, He's not limited to our puny carnal abilities and has a great deal more to offer to our lives according to our willingness to perceive this new reality, the real reality, the reality of Truth, by FAITH. If we can come to an understanding of the reality of Truth and set our MINDS on the Spirit, then peace comes and with peace comes victory in every single instance of life, no exceptions.  

 

How to Change the Way You Think

 

For a whole lot of Believers the next question ought to be: how do I change the way I've been THINKING? It's a good question because you CANNOT change your thinking by the force of your own will alone. Rather, the Bible says that instead of being conformed to this World, we should be transformed by the RENEWING of our minds (Romans 12:2). Another scripture says we are to be RENEWED in the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 4:23). So our minds must be RENEWED, and by that process of RENEWAL then we change the way we've been thinking.

 

Friend, there's only one way to do this: we're cleansed (renewed) by the washing of the water of the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26). It's the Word of God, and ONLY the Word of God, that will RENEW our minds and change the way we THINK. The more time we spend studying and meditating on the Word, the faster we'll be transformed. Transformed into what? We'll be transformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) and by that process we become increasingly victorious in every area of life.

 

Following are a few more scriptures for you to look up and meditate on tonight along with my related comments that support the conclusion that an increasing knowledge of the Word of God is the key component to living and enjoying a victorious life in the very midst of HARD TIMES:

 

Joshua 1:7-8 = mediate on the Word day and night to make your way prosperous and have success.

Isaiah 26:3 = putting your mind on God will keep you in perfect peace.

Matthew 4:1-11 = Jesus EASILY defeated the devil in the wilderness with the Word of God. So can you!

Matthew 22:29 = those who do not know the Scriptures are in error and don't know the power of God.

Romans 12:2 = by the renewing of your mind you'll be able to manifest understanding of the will of God.

Ephesians 4:17-18 = ignorance of the Word causes us to walk in futility.

James 1:25 = we must be doers of the Word in order to be blessed in all our ways.

1 Peter 2:8 = we stumble when we disobey the Word of God.

1 John 2:5 = the love of God is perfected in those who keep His Word.

1 John 4:18 = perfected love casts out fear (otherwise fear overcomes our faith and brings about our defeat.

 

Some Final Thoughts

 

According to Scripture if you want to be victorious in the very midst of HARD TIMES, you'll have to THINK right. And to think right, you'll need to have a RENEWED mind. And if you still need to RENEW your mind like most of us, you'll HAVE to study and devote time to and MEDITATE on the Word of God. Mind renewal happens when we come to UNDERSTAND what we're reading which then produces a change in the way we're THINKING.

 

Most of us are lazy and try to minimize the investment of our limited time in the Word, but there's only ONE path to victory: we have to cast down the influence of our flesh and commit ourselves to what has to be done to make a change. The Bible says God's people perish because they lack KNOWLEDGE (Hosea 4:6) but you can change that picture for yourself by making a commitment to the Word of God. As you acquire real knowledge by understanding what you're reading, you can apply it in your life. Then your THINKING will change and you WILL experience "life and peace." In doing that you will have overcome the World by the power of Christ who ALREADY overcame it a long time ago (John 16:33).

 

Thanks for stopping by tonight. We'll be looking for you again NEXT Sunday night on August 10. In the meantime may the Lord bless you with every spiritual blessing, compelling you to PROSPER in every area of life!

 

Sinners' Prayer

 

If you've never invited Jesus to be the Lord of your life, you need to and you can do it today just by saying out loud the following simple prayer:

 

Jesus I declare today with all my heart that I believe in you and that God raised you from the dead. I acknowledge that my sins have been forgiven and I ask you to come into my life today and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for salvation and eternal life.

 

If you were sincere as you prayed this prayer, God has already come into your life and you are a new creation, a totally new species recreated in His image. Now ask the Lord to lead you to a good faith-based, bible-teaching church where you can be equipped to fulfill your potential in the Kingdom of God.

 

And, when you get a chance have someone help you look up the following scriptures because they confirm what you've done by saying this prayer today and believing what you said:

 

Romans 10:9

2 Corinthians 5:17

Ephesians 2:8

 

Prayer Requests

 

If you have a Prayer Request, please connect to the Link below and follow the promptings. The PLN staff members pray over Prayer Requests every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM eastern time. Agree with us for God to answer your petition.

 

http://www.creditcounseling.net/prayer-request.aspx   

 

Donations

 

If you've been edified by Prosperous Life Newsletter, you may want to consider making a SEED FAITH offering to support the Ministry (Galatians 6:6-7). God has instructed us to simply provide folks with an opportunity to sow seed into good ground so in due season you'll be eligible to reap a harvest and the rest is up to you as the Spirit leads. For your information PLN is a nonprofit gift to the Body of Christ so your financial offerings will usually be tax deductible (consult your tax advisor). Just go to the secure Shopping Cart on the Cornerstone web site by connecting through the following link. We appreciate your support and generosity.

 

http://www.creditcounseling.net/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1 

 

 

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