Table of Contents
- Lesson 1: There are pathways God designed so that we come to the knowledge of Him.
- Consequences of an Unrenewed Mind
- Ways of Renewing the Mind
How futile we think we can persuade people to Christ by beautiful thoughts, emotions, music, or argument. The chief factor in conversion is God’s light made manifest by the Holy Spirit.
Bro Nee
Are you longing for spiritual insights and a renewed mind? In a world where knowledge deficiency can cause damage, it’s time to seek the truth.
Like the popular scripture in Hosea 4:6; “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. Knowledge deficiency has caused a lot of damage to people in Christendom. God desires to unveil spiritual insights or knowledge but we must diligently seek it out.
Discover the profound relationship between spiritual knowledge and a transformed life. Learn the crucial difference between mental knowledge, proper spiritual understanding, and many more insights shared by Bro Nee in this book. Get the book here.
Here are my top 8 lessons with other factors as regards spiritual knowledge.
Lesson 1: There are pathways God designed so that we come to the knowledge of Him.
There are two kinds of knowledge a Christian ought to have; Knowledge of scriptures and knowledge of the power of God. Knowledge of scriptures alone is not sufficient but also knowing Him. knowing Him or His power comes only by His dealing. Knowledge of scripture alone does not alone mean knowing God but rather it should lead us to the knowledge of God. This requires dealings.
For instance, Luke 2 tells us how Jesus was asking that the cup be taken away; but after going to God up to three times, His next statement to Peter at that time was an affirmation of this conforming to that will of God (which seemed difficult initially).
God exposes us to challenges that He may pass us through dealings that will help us know Him but at times, we ignore those dealings. None will know God without having transactions with Him (dealings), no matter how many scriptures you know.
Lesson 2: You just don’t pray once and stop.
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Brother Nee pointed out the story of Paul, how He prayed several times about the challenge (illness) he had before the Lord heard him; the same was true with Jesus, who prayed up to three times (at Gethsemane) before He got the consolidation of God’s will in His heart. If you pray and then stop, it’s better not to pray at all.
Lesson 3: Many know prayer only through the Bible and not in the presence of God.
Our knowledge of God ought not to come from reading the Bible alone, we must have it directly from God. By dwelling in His presence. Jesus also gave us that perfect example in Luke that early in the morning, while it was still dark, He would go to a solitary place to pray, as was His custom.
Lesson 4: God’s dealings through prayer.
Take, for instance, the fact that you asked for a book for days and months, and yet received no response. You don’t understand why. Going back to God, not asking for the book but seeking to know why He has not responded;
At such prayers, God will usually speak to tell you what needs to be dealt with in your life. First (could be flesh, desire, not asking, lack of obedience, faith, praise, need); then, after some time, God gives the book;
At this point, what you get is not just the book but also an advanced knowledge of God.
Lesson 5: Dealing and knowledge are inseparable.
It’s funny, but not all who write cookbooks have tasted all the foods. Somehow, you can’t guide people if you have nothing but the knowledge of the Bible; neither will experience without knowledge of the word make one sufficient.
Dealings come from experiences gathered during challenges. At such a time, one should ask why such things came your way and what God’s demands were at that time.
The slothful can’t know God. We know God through prayer and fellowship with Him.
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Lesson 6: The ideal parameter for self-knowledge
Brother Nee, emphasizes in this book how the deception of one’s heart can either condemn one when he is right or commend where one is wrong deep down. He raises the point that in the places where scripture mentions us, we examine ourselves based on the context there.
If God had said that no one can know the heart because of its depravity and corruption, would we then trust introspection?
The right way, then, is in Psalm 26:2. It is He who can tell us the state of our hearts. It’s in His light that we see the light. We may consider ourselves good or excellent until His light comes; then we will know our true selves and cry for mercy like Isaiah.
Lesson 7: How we receive light.
Light is not knowledge, for knowledge puffs up, but when true light comes, such a man cries for repentance. Sources of light include;
1. Christ (drawing near to Him)
2. God’s word
3. Christian brethren
Quote: The growth of a Christian does not depend on much encouragement, warning, or teaching. Though these will stir them to the duty of prayer and study, the primary agency is in their seeing. Hence Paul’s prayer that their eyes be enlightened.
Lesson 8
Our hearts are our true selves.
The heart comprises the conscience of the spirit and the mind of the soul. We commune with God through the spirit, but the Lord looks at our hearts; hence the need to guard our hearts. Whatever is in the spirit is expressed via the heart, and all that enters the spirit is also done via the heart.
The Consequences Of Not Renewing Our Minds.
Here, Brother Nee points out that there are effects that the absence of a renewed mind brings.
Many are unable to cast things (old habits, addictions) off their minds because their eyes like to see through these things, and so the mind can only reproduce what it sees.
Many times, we can’t see any clear difference between a believer and a sinner simply because their minds have not been continually renewed.
These consequences include:
1. Towards men: This person will always have an unfavourable opinion of others, instil a distrustful attitude toward everyone, and be perpetually suspicious of everyone.
2. Towards God: The individual without a renewed mind will find it hard to trust God, but will always be full of doubt (of God’s power, wisdom, and love). Brother Nee makes the point that all Christians can know God’s will at any given moment, but many have been hampered by a lack of a renewed mind.
3. Towards oneself: The result of this on oneself includes, not being able to control your thoughts, ending up living a life of introspection (which is always inaccurate because our hearts are deceptive), and being unable to communicate God’s word. Though you have eloquence, you can’t render scriptural or spiritual help to those around you.
Do not think that a naturally clever person progresses faster in the knowledge of God than a naturally dull person. If spiritual progress is based on natural wisdom, then it’s all flesh. You can understand God and things related to God if your mind is renewed.
WAYS OF RENEWING THE MIND
1. Put away the old man (our former manner of life)
Though it’s the work of the Holy Spirit, we must get rid of the obstacle and trust the Holy Spirit to do His work. The proof of our repentance is in our turning away from our former ways of living, which are evil.
2. Deal with sin in the heart.
An abnormal or unwilling heart can hinder God’s light.
3. Put on the new man.
This is simply putting into practice the new nature of holiness and righteousness.
4. Give in to a thorough word study.
The word bring comfort confers authority, builds faith, sanctifies, builds up, and gives direction. All scripture is given for the building up of the saints for the work God has called us into.
5. Pray with God’s word.
This consolidates the word in your heart and strengthens your faith. Prayer gives room for a deeper work of the spirit in your life, and it must be sincere and heartfelt.
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