Ephesians 4:17 – 25 “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” (KJV)
Before we consider the idea stated for this discourse there are some fundamental principles that must be understood and upheld.
a) We do not know it all.
Isa 55:8 – 9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (KJV)
1Co 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”(KJV)
b) God is our source
Our relationship with God must be the primary source of our spiritual impartation. We must understand that there is an impartation of God’s grace that comes through relationship.
1Pe 1:13 – 16 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
We must be willing to embrace a new thing that God is doing. The word of God and His Spirit must be the standard we use to decide whether to embrace or fore-go ideas & philosophies. We must fore-go our cognitive biases that hinder us from really understanding truth.
Refocusing & Retooling
Our focus affects our desires. It is very important to be focused and committed to the direction and leading of the Lord. Changing our mental models and thought patterns require us to embrace something that is higher and better. Embracing that which is higher demands that we shift our focus from the desire to attain approval from man but approval from God.
Acceptance of a new revelation
Our allegiances to a revelation have become a resistance to the whole counsel of God. A revelation is not the totality of the counsel of God. Our mentality, philosophies and understanding must align with the word of God and not the other way round.
Repentance
There has to be repentance of our sins. All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. What we justify in our minds as not sin will remain as sin according to the word of God. There is no way that we can convince God to change his mind that what we did was not sin even though rationale and logic might say otherwise. Needless to say, no matter how brilliantly reasoned and refined our logic is sin is sin and it must be repented of.
Re-evaluation & renewed understanding of our identity
Our prevailing humanistic cultures and preferences can not define who we are. Because identity ultimately determines behavior and our thoughts tend to align with our identity. We must be willing to let go of our old identities and embrace our true identity not as determined by men but according to the designs and purposes of God.
Because He said, “Let us make man in our own image and in our own likeness”, we are not the resultant of an evolutionary process, but we were made in the image of God and will be conformed to the image of His son.
Re-evaluation & understanding of our destiny
Without a proper understanding of identity there can be no proper understanding of destiny and purpose. The world has created a dominant paradigm to conform us to the kingdom of darkness. Where we are void of purpose but only the drive to fulfill carnal desires. But we are not flesh but spirit (made in the image and likeness of God) and our destiny is spelled out in Genesis 1:26 (“dominion and authority in the earth”)
Change our measurement standards
Doctrines and philosophies can not be measured against human experiences. These must be measured against the word of God according to the revelation that has been given by the Spirit of God
