Food for Thought July 25th

Francis Frangipane
"We must allow the increase of His presence to be so absorbed into our spirits that we not only believe in Him, we believe like Him. His thoughts, His love, His desires flow out from within us, as naturally as fruit from a vine."

Not only do we believe "in Him we believe like Him". Galatians 2:20 (KJV) puts it this way.
" I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." this verse compels us to not only have faith in Jesus Christ but I take on the literal faith of Jesus, the faith of Jesus. His faith becomes my faith. Philippians 2:5 says "have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" nasb The literal translation is "Let this mind be in you" Let the very mind of Christ be in you" His faith replaces your faith, His thoughts become your thoughts. You say how can this be? Well I have been married 23 years this past July 9th and I can assure you that often Ellen's thoughts have become my thoughts and my thoughts, hers. How many times have we completed each others sentences or finish each others thoughts. If this happens in an earthly relationship, how much more can it happen when I walk in the fullness of the Spirit of God, that is the Holy Spirit.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit I am able to take my thoughts captive which lets His thoughts begin to dominate more of my thinking. Before you know it I'm believing like He believes. As I take on more of the mind of Christ the more I take on the faith not only in but the very faith Of Jesus. It affects my actions to the point that I begin to reflect his actions in every area of my life. Paul states in verse 2 of Philippians 2 "Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintain the same love, united in spirit intent on one purpose."

In John 8:28 Jesus says "I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these thing as the Father taught Me." This implies a will, Jesus says He does nothing on His own initiative which implies that He could if He wanted to but He chooses not to. This is an active act of humility and obedience. When asked how we should pray? Jesus says "Thy will be done". Jesus walked in a place of obedience and humility before the Father. The will of the Father was His priority in all of life. This takes a lot of the mystery out of Jesus. So often we excuse our lack of obedience by saying well Jesus did this and Jesus did that because He Is God. And He is. But the fact of the matter is "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross"
So to we must be willing to (yield) maybe that word is not strong enough, how about die to our will in Order to carry out His will. "Thy will be done" !!! Our expectation of His will being done when we pray this is that Heaven is going to open up and some great force will flow out of the heavens and cause the rivers to flow backwards and gravity to cease. The real miracle is what takes place in our hearts.Thy will be done, not my will, the miracle is that I begin to die to my will so that His will might be carried out all the more. Proverbs 3:5-6 states it clearly "lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him."

Lord Jesus let me die this day to my will so that Your will will take preeminence over mine. That my mind may become completely submitted to the mind of your Son, Jesus. That my weak and faltering faith would be replaced by the strong and reassuring Faith of your Son Jesus Christ. In order that your kingdom may come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.