Seeking His Mind, C. R. Oliver [phonics reader txt] 📗

upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. 12 He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple

Saint's minds are capable of receiving vastly more than what is available to the world. We are able to communicate on a higher plain, to receive revelation at an expanded level and envision that which is not as though it was. We have the mind of Christ! 

We are NOT those who build upon the sand (the wise man built upon the rock. Matthew 7:24). We are NOT among the five foolish virgins, who let their lamps exhaust to a flicker (the wise virgins had their lamps trimmed and oil supply in abundance Matthew 25:4). We are the wise servants who have done the very best with the resources trusted to us (Matthew 24:46)! 

It is through us that God destroys the wisdom of the wise and frustrates the intelligence of the intelligent (I Corinthians 1:19). We are the recipients of Jesus' teaching.

Matthew 11:25-26
25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."

We have the right to press into God and seek His mind. Paul, whose education excelled, wrote the following:

1 Corinthians 1:27-31
7 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

We have already been entrusted with the secrets of God and must prove ourselves faithful.

1 Corinthians 3:18-4:2
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness;" 20 and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." 21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. 

1 Corinthians 4 4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful

It is our sacred duty to walk in the higher realms. We must walk on the level of the throne and stop reacting to the muddling affairs of this world. The following verses speak to both you and me.

Ephesians 5:15-17
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 

James 3:13-14
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

(For further study, look at the multiple verses of Solomon's writings in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes focused on the word "wise.")

There is a simple verse in Revelation which speaks to the mind-set of wisdom. As a matter of fact, it all but declares it impossible to understand Revelations content apart from it.

Revelation 17:9
"This calls for a mind with wisdom."

(Incremental to "the mind of wisdom" is the spirit of discernment, and the source of both is the Holy Spirit. So interwoven are the threads of these elements that they are inseparable in our being.) 

Paul did a treatise on this kind of mind, and it beautifully describes the mindset of the believer vs. the unbeliever.

Romans 8:5-9
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.

Scripture catalogues the mind of sinful man. This mind-set is antithetical to yours as you are the saints of God. Perhaps at one time you had this kind of mind, but now it is foreign and despicable. Maybe you have been separated from such for so long that you look at these descriptions and are amazed how many of your relationships display this worldly thought mechanism. (When the guiding light within leaders and officials is only characterized by the following can one see how twisted and ill functioning are their plans and designs? They become like ravenous wolves instead of creatures designed after God. Nebuchadnezzar found this out the hard way.)

l. Paul says to Timothy: (1 Tim 6) men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth. 

2. Paul to the Colossians: (Col 2:18-19) Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, 

3. (Rom 8:7-8) the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 

4 ( Rom 1:28-29) He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 

5. The Psalmist called the sinful mind a "cunning mind."
(Ps 64:6-8) They plot injustice and say,
"We have devised a perfect plan!"
Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning. 

6 But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down.

7 He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

Fortunately, I can end this segment on Wisdom with a more favorable passage, which can be introduced at this time because the whole purpose of the study has been leading up to it.

2 Timothy 3:12-17
2 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Today, I heard a dear mother in the church give her testimony about events in her life that proved how the Spirit lives within a person's life. She gave witness to a time when a robber entered her home and held a gun to her head and how the Spirit told her what to do. She actually drove the robber from her home with no harm to herself. She told of being maimed on a mission's trip to Africa and how the Spirit told her what to do and how He would heal her leg. She revealed how she relied on Scripture and said, "It says this and this Lord, and I believe you are in me and will bring it to pass." He did. The glory of God surrounded this precious saint during her message to the church, so much so, that many came to trust the Lord and all were edified and uplifted. That is what church is all about 

Until Next Month, 


Dr. C. R. Oliver, PhD 

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Publication Date: 06-04-2013

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Dedication:
Thanks to C. R, Oliver and the newsletter Division of Zadok Publishing for allowing Gospel Outreach Association to use his newsletter for this study.