Romans 8:29--KJV--For Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 12:2--KJV--And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
God intended for us to be the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. An image is like your reflection in a mirror. If you lift your hand up, the image lifts its hand up. If you start nodding your head, the image nods its head, also. God sent His Son into the world to show all of us how to live successful and Godly lives. He sent His Son to show us how to carry out the will of God upon this earth.
In Romans 12, Paul told us not to be like everybody else that we see. But, we should be transformed into a Godly example of a believer by renewing our mind. In other words, we should change the way that we think if we want to be able to accomplish the same things that Jesus accomplished.
Now let's look at Jesus' thought pattern. In Mark 9, Jesus casts an epileptic demon out of a boy. I like the New Living Translation of the story. The boy's father says to Him in verse 22, "Have mercy on us and help us, if you can."
In verse 23, Jesus gives him a classic answer, "What do you mean, 'If I can'? Anything is possible if a person believes." Like I covered in my previous blog. Jesus believed what the Word of God said about Him in Isaiah 53. Listen to His thought pattern. 'Anything is possible if a person believes.'
In Luke 7, He stopped a funeral procession in the city of Nain and raised a young man from the dead. Why? Because He believed what the Word of God said about Him.
In John 11, He got word that his friend Lazarus was sick and yet He stayed where he was for four days. He was going to let Lazarus die and then raise him up again to display the power of God that was available to Him. Jesus would go on to instruct the disciples that the same power would be available to them after His resurrection.
Again, I like the NLT version of John 11:4--But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus' sickness will not end in death. No it happened for the Glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this."
Jesus already had His mind set on raising Lazarus from the dead. Obviously, it didn't matter to him how long Lazarus was dead. The bottom line was that He knew that He could bring him back to life whenever He wanted to. How did He know that?
Remember the times that He would get up way before daylight so He could spend some quality time with the Holy Spirit. That is the essential key. It's not listening to great sermons, even though that's great. It's not by singing the great songs of Zion or worship choruses. Even though that's great. The key is spending quality time with the Holy Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to energize what the Word of God says. But remember. Jesus whole-heartedly believed what the Word said about Him and began expecting it to happen.
I could compile a large volume of scriptures to encourage you with. However, let's just stick with one we mentioned about. Mark 9:23--Anything is possible if a person believes. Does God want people to be saved? Lots of scriptures tell us that He does. Does God want people to be healed? Lots of scriptures tell us that He does. Does God want our physical, spiritual and financial needs to be met? Lots of scriptures tells us that He does.
The Word also tells us that He will give us our heart's desire. Whatever you desire, find a scripture that covers it. Believe its God's will for you. Get the idea settled in your mind. Don't let your heart be troubled but let it rejoice. Spend time with the Holy Spirit. Communicate with Him and wait for Him to communicate with you.
Here's the way the Psalmist David put it in the first Psalm. He said that a man would be blessed if he meditated on the law (God's Word) day and night. He didn't say worry about the problem. He said think about the PROMISE day and night. Through the unction of the Holy Spirit, God promised in that Psalm that we would be like a tree planted by the rivers of water (a type and shadow of the Holy Spirit). We would bring forth fruit in our season. Not immediately. But, that changes would come just like leaves and fruit grow on a healthy tree.
So let's get busy. Change the way that you think. Be convinced that you are what the Word says you are and you can do what the Word says you can do.You CAN reach the lost. You Can heal the sick. Your spiritual, physical and financial needs CAN be met no matter how difficult they may seem at the time. Change might come slowly but change WILL come. You have God's Word on that.
Next up: What Jesus thought about his enemies
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