In the first published issue of this newsletter we began a study on scriptural foundations that concern "Spiritual Growth Principals" for the believer. By touching base with each principal we cover. I trust it will draw you into a desire to study the subject matter more thoroughly.

The "mind" (which we spoke on in the first newsletter) is a subject that can be confusing if your spiritual eyes aren’t open to the threefold nature of man. It goes farther than just keeping the members (five senses) of this body under subjection to God’s Word, which we are to do. We have a mind which makes up the Natural being of man, and this is where all of your imaginations, conscience, memories, reasonings, and affections come into play. Apostle Paul told us in Rom. 12 - 2, to transform or alter completely the nature of this mind by way of "Renewing". By and through this renewing (or restoring) we are able to prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Every born-again believer has the desire within them to be a pleasing to God, and in order for us to be pleasing to Him we must prove what is good, and acceptable to God, and continue in His perfect will. This will never come through carnal concepts of God. In Romans 8: 6-7 it says, "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be".

A lot of times believers tend to fall into the trap of trying to apply a spiritual matter into a carnal way to thinking. For instance, I’ve heard comments on certain subjects that have no scriptural foundations to back up their way of thinking. One such comment that comes to mind is, "I don’t care what other peoples perception of me is, its what is in my heart that matters. The word of God teaches opposite of this statement. Read. (Phil. 4: 5-9, Phil. 2: 12-15, James 4: 6-10, 1Tim. 4: 12, 1Pet. 2: 9-25).

The heart spoken of in scripture in not the organ that creates blood-flow, this heart creates a flow of the Holy Spirit moving and operating in your life. It consist of your, "thoughts, will and desires". In St. Luke 6: 45-46, Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasures of this heart bringeth forth that which is evil, for out to the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

If it is in your heart to disobey the will of God, you haven’t come to the place of total renewal. You can never prove what is good, acceptable and the perfect will of God. When you begin to be pleasing to God, the testimony shows forth and you become a strong pillar to those around you. Roman 15: 1-3 says, "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself, but as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me".

By being a example of Christ to others, we are "showing forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light". In the first chapter of Ephesians it declares that we are, "the praise of the glory of His grace, (vrs.6) and the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ, (vrs.12). If we are to show forth the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, we should began by expressing ourselves as the prized possession of His glory. Its not a matter of caring what people think. Our concern should be, "is my life, actions, and example" lining up with what the Word of God desires from me. This characteristic brings us into Obedience. Obedience is bringing the heart (thoughts, will, and desires) of the believer under subjection or full authority to the Word of God. This is just another "fact" of our spiritual growth.

Bible Believing, Bible Teaching, Bible Living