Develop an Abundant Mind - Part 4 of 8
April 24th, 2007 | Michael Pink
The keys to developing an abundant mindset are found in Phil 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
So let’s look at the fourth area where Paul directs us: Purity. It literally means “whatsoever is chaste”. It is in reference to the state of the mind, and to the acts of the body. Nothing defiles quite like impurity and for the believer who thinks or acts out impurity, they must also deal with the debilitating feelings of guilt, shame and unworthiness.
Impurity is a cancer. It attaches itself to something good and slowly, but surely deprives it of life. If not removed, it will take over the entire body, killing the person, the potential, the dream. Legalism and determination are no match for its power once it has gotten a hold on you. In my opinion, only the blood of Christ applied to your soul and a true revelation of the grace of God can free you. (I highly recommend Grace Rules and Grace Walk by Steve McVey)
It is virtually impossible to stop thinking about something. The harder you try, the more you fail. The cure? Simply start thinking about something else, preferably in the opposite direction. Impure thoughts lead to poverty of the soul and ultimately a very real natural poverty. (Yes, I know impure men have at times amassed vast fortunes, but Jeremiah 12 says they are being fattened for the day of slaughter. David had the same question, until he understood their end. Psalm 78:17-19). An abundant mind is a pure mind and from it will spring forth many good things that lead to abundance in all its forms.
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April 25th, 2007 at 8:10 am
Some Christains will not receive abundance if we mean material things. They will have abundant joy and peace but not a abundance of wordly stuff. Normal Christianity is suffering and tribulation, not a life of ease. I know that is a hard message for Christians in America to understand but it is true.
In chapter 5 of Romans Paul sums up with verse 1, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then he opens the reality of suffering and death for the justified %u2013 and anticipates the huge emphasis on suffering in chapter 8. Verse 3 tells us why we can rejoice in tribulation %u2013 it leads to patience and approvedness and hope.
Then against the backdrop of this tribulation he argues exactly the same way he does in chapter 8 %u2013 from the greater to the lesser %u2013 if God can do a hard thing, he can do an easy thing. Recall in Romans 8:32 he says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all [the hard thing], how shall he not with him freely give us all things [the easy thing]?” That%u2019s exactly the way Paul argues here in Romans 5:9, “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood [that%u2019s the hard thing], much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God [that%u2019s the easy thing].” Same kind of argument in verse 10: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son [that%u2019s the hard thing], much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life [that%u2019s the easy thing].”
The point is our hope and security in the face of suffering and death, just like it is in Romans 8. Normal Christianity is tribulation. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Don%u2019t ever forget that the mighty and merciful message of Romans is put forth in the context of expected suffering.
April 25th, 2007 at 9:52 am
As I read the above post, being a woman/mother, my thought process focused on “birth pangs” (Matt. 24). On this thought to all you males out there, birth hurts, labor is intense, yet at the end is the newborn, which is the result of all the pain. Now to Michael’s posting.
When I read this all I could think of was pornography, for a very real reason. Being a female, it is not my struggle to think on such things like a male mind does. I teach a program called, “Illusions” to youth in the public schools. It is an awesome presentation about the blight we call “porn” and the minids of men/women and how it steals intimacy, both in the spiritual and flesh realm. Seeing what I have seen in “Christiandom” I have viewed this addiction to block much victory in the lives of (predominately) men. It steals the victory we gained at the cross. So, as a man think, therefore he goes. If his thoughts are in his flesh, his life does follow.
So, let us head to Romans 12, replacing what is wrong, with what is right! HalleluYAH and GLORY (to quote Homer Owen).
PS Today Neil Anderson’s devotional is also on the lust of the flesh (1 John 2: 16) with a similar admonition on what we are thinking on.
April 25th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Impurity also robs us of opportunities. We can generally only focus on one thing at a time. If our thoughts.actions are focused on impure thoughts or actions then we are prevented from thinking on pure, noble, just or productive thoughts or actions.
While it is often sexual in nature, it doesn’t have to be. It can be a thought or action that is less then honorable.
Probably the greatest harm of impurity is the damage to the relationship taht we have with God. Michael is correct in stating that there is guilt and shame. Impurity inhibits us from having the close intimate relationship with God that he so desires to have with us.
Many of the sufferings that Kern speaks of are related to the battle in our mind of right vs. wrong, pure vs. impure. Suffering doesn’t have to mean doing without, it can mean the battle to not succomb to the allure of our culture and a sinful world.
Christ has given us a new heart. We need to focus on that vistory and allow God to strengthen and refine it.
April 25th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
You all add much to the discussion and I appreciate that.
I would like to point out that it seems to me we often fnd in Scripture most anything we want to support a position or belief we already have. For example Kern frequently focuses on suffering as a part of the Christian life and reminds us of that whenever we post on something that doens’t include suffering.
We can marinate our mind on Scriptures relating to suffering or we can do the same on other topics from health to abundance to fidelity, to justice or mercy, etc. Whatever we focus most on is what we end up preaching to others and often insisting they conform to. When in fact the counsel of God far exceeds our ability to fully grasp and thus we all have a piece to the puzzle. Let us remember that our piece doesn’t displace the other pieces we all have. It fits in with them.
Another thing has been about broadening the context of Romans 8:32 which says, “For God who spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” First of all, let’s take the verse at face value. Secondly, indeed look at the context but it does not diminish its breadth of depth. Thirdly, if you want to talk about context, then look at that verse in the context of the whole book and then look at the book of Romans in the context of the whole New Testament and then look at the whole New Testament in the context of all of Scripture and then if you can, look at it in the context of God’s manifestation of Himself and His will in all of creation. Then come back and tell me about context.
Furthermore my brother says “Some Christains will not receive abundance if we mean material things” and while that may be true, I believe most will never receive abundance in our natural lives if we exclude material things.
Abundance in natural, material things is no sin. Who are we to determine at what income level our fellow neighbor should live? Who are we to say that we should all live at wartime levels? It has never been all about material abundance but neither is that excluded. If owning things is a sin, then God is the biggest sinner because He owns it all. This concept of dualism has pervaded the church where things that are “spirit” are good but things that are material are somehow not. What? And make God a liar? He declared all things He made as good. Who are we to say otherwise?
We are to shun coveting not abundance. We are to shun greed, not plenty. We are to shun lust, not lush provision if God provides.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
AMEN Michael Pink. I will not take up space to explain how blessed this email was to me and to my friends this a.m. It was part of an abundant, motivational, in HIS presence moment and MORE! I feel overwhelmed by HIS grace, mercy and love. Thank YOU Father, for YOUR abundant provision for us all, who have been called by YOUR voice!
April 25th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I just think that we need to mention tribulation because if we are really following God, I believe we will be persecuted.
I frequently mention suffering because when it comes and it will come, if our faith is not grounded and deep, we will fall away. No matter how much we pray for abundance not every Christian will receive it or if they do we may lose it.
If you look at the whole book of Romans, Paul talks a lot about suffering.
Normal Christianity is tribulation. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Don%u2019t ever forget that the mighty and merciful message of Romans is put forth in the context of expected suffering.
Paul writes the letter to the Roman church to mobilize their support for his mission to Spain. In Romans 15:24 he writes, “I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you.” He has never been to Rome and has never met most of these Christians. So he lays out his gospel for them to see in these 16 chapters.
Oh that all our missionaries would know the book of Romans and preach the book of Romans. And Oh that those of us who send would know the book of Romans and live the book of Romans so that we would send missionaries the way Paul wanted to be sent and supported from Rome to Spain. The mighty and merciful message of this book will make rich Americans strip down to a more wartime lifestyle and pour their resources into the cause of the gospel. And the mighty and merciful message of this book, in the mouths of suffering missionaries, will break the powers of darkness and plant the Church of Christ in the hardest places.
In chapter 5 Paul sums up with verse 1, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then he opens the reality of suffering and death for the justified %u2013 and anticipates the huge emphasis on suffering in chapter 8. Verse 3 tells us why we can rejoice in tribulation %u2013 it leads to patience and approvedness and hope.
Then against the backdrop of this tribulation he argues exactly the same way he does in chapter 8 %u2013 from the greater to the lesser %u2013 if God can do a hard thing, he can do an easy thing. Recall in Romans 8:32 he says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all [the hard thing], how shall he not with him freely give us all things [the easy thing]?” That%u2019s exactly the way Paul argues here in Romans 5:9, “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood [that%u2019s the hard thing], much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God [that%u2019s the easy thing].” Same kind of argument in verse 10: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son [that%u2019s the hard thing], much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life [that%u2019s the easy thing].”
The point is our hope and security in the face of suffering and death, just like it is in Romans 8. Normal Christianity is tribulation. “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Don%u2019t ever forget that the mighty and merciful message of Romans is put forth in the context of expected suffering.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:34 am
God has plans to prosper me;Everything I put my hand to prospers; I will be made rich in everyway so I can be generous on every occasion;All hard wok leads to profit; Dilligent hands produce wealth; As I give it is given back to me, pressed down shaken together and running over,men will give into my bossum: God even puts coins in fishes mouths! We will suffer prosecution for sure ,but God is definitely a God of Prosperity also. ALL OF GOD”S WORD IS TRUTH!!!!
April 26th, 2007 at 9:37 am
I can understand Kern’s points. However, how many people will come to Christ if we use Kern’s ideas? The world has millions of suffering people, why would they come to Christ if we tell them they will suffer even more? I came to Christ because I was suffering and was shown His love, mercy, etc. I was told I didn’t have to live with the pain/suffering of alcoholism, anxiety, etc. Although I have some bad days, but praise God they are few, as as a person who lives on planet Earth, that will happen. But I DO NOT believe that living a life of suffering and persecution is God’s plan. In my opinion, people who preach that message are using it to have a sense of control over others. The poverty mindset and the prosperity mindset can both be used to the detriment of others. We have to use wisdom and discerment for ourselves. Those who do not live in abundance may have a poverty mindset, or it could also be God will not allow abundance because said person will in turn worship the things and God (He knows us better than we know ourselves). On the flip side, those who live in abundance may have that abundance as God’s way of showing His love and kindness to them.
We hear alot of ‘don’t put God in a box.’ I think we also need to take individuals out of the box. God is no respector of persons, but He deals with each of us on an indiviual basis. Just because He deals with a person one way, does not mean He will deal with everyone that way.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:51 am
I can understand your concern, Lynette as I to have concerns about telling people that if they come to Christ they will suffer. But Jesus said it, I did not. I think the reason we have so many people that think they are saved is because we have watered down the Gospel. Jesus said “the way is hard and the road is narrow.
And yes all God’s word is truth but it also does not contradict itself. Prosper does not always and I believe most of the time, mean materialistic. He may bless us with good health, Godly children, Godly wife and other ways. You need to always ask why is God blessing me, it is for one reason, so we can bless others. If we stop doing that, He will stop blessing us.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Kern I will not send another email and argue with you.But be sure several times in the Bible God IS talking about prospering us with Money.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:30 am
I believe that prosperity is about more than money also. As far as persecution, I don’t see how persecution relates to whether one is rich or poor. Most of the persecution I see, and have seen in my own life, is for my beliefs, not whether I have lack or abundance. I too believe we are blessed so we can bless others. But if I am so poor and living at wartime levels as you put it, how can I bless someone if I can’t even put food on my own table? Money IS needed to be able to most things these days, whether giving to the needy or supporting missions. If I don’t have it, how can I give it? Yes, we are to believe God for our needs, but I also belive He wants us to use wisom in all things. There’s no point in me giving all I have to someone else if I’m going to end up homeless or without electricity. God also gave us common sense, and we need to use it.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Amen Lynette
April 26th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Yes, money is needed and we need to have common sense. What I am talking about is setting a standard of living and when God blesses us with an abundance, give it away, not automatically spend it on ourselves and increase our standard of living. Jesus said, do you have two coats, give one away, two houses, give one away, etc. American’s are very wealthy compared, in the top 2 percent, to world standards and we spend way to much of God’s blessing on ourselves. We need to seek God and ask Him what our standard of living should be. I beleive to many American Christians are lot the rich fool who lost everything and trusted in his riches.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Riches and materials things are not wrong, it is our attituied toward them that is either right or wrong. God tested Abraham with his son and many times God test us to see where our heart is. Remember the story in the Old Testament when the prophet visited the widow and told her to fix him something to eat. She only had enough for one more meal for her and her son. But she did and God blessed her.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:57 am
So I can’t have a nice home? Or a new car? Because I’m a christian I can’t live well? I can never take a vacation? Must I always shop at thrift stores? I agree that christians should be givers. Mature christians know that. I am against frivolous spending. Such as a single person with no family living in and 18 room mansion. Or people who blow 200,000 on a car. There is a big difference between abundance and excess. I also know that most christians who are against having money in abundance aren’t willing to do what others have done to get it. Its easier to say ‘you shouldn’t have abundance’ than to go out and actually do something so you can live in abundance.
April 26th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
What is a nice home? Some would say they have to have a 500,000 home while others say they want a 750,000 home. Let me ask you a question. When you talk about living well, what does that mean? It is our attitude toward things not things themselves. How big of a house, how nice of a car, never take a vacation, I cannot answer that is between you and God.
One of the great issues of life facing Christians in every age, and especially in times and places of great prosperity (like 21st century America) is how to think about and feel about and handle our money and our possessions. For Jesus this was simply huge. He spoke about it over and over again. He gave promises and warnings and commandments. He rebuked people bent on bigger and bigger barns for the sake of their ease. He told stories and parables. By hoarding possessions, he said, you can perish, and by giving them you can lay up treasures in heaven. How we handle our money and possessions is the barometer of how we trust God and treasure Christ. Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.
So it%u2019s not surprising to find Paul coming back to this great issue in verse 13: %u201CContribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.%u201D I say %u201Ccoming back%u201D in verse 8b because he already said that, %u201C[Let] the one who contributes [do so] in generosity . . . and the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.%u201D Now he says it again and gets more specific: Not only should you use your money and possessions to give to the needs of others, but you should bring people happily into your home or your apartment. %u201CContribute to the needs of the saints%u201D%u2014that%u2019s giving things away for the sake of others in need. And %u201Cseek to show hospitality%u201D%u2014that%u2019s not merely giving money and things away, that%u2019s drawing others in, not just for meals now and then, but to stay with you if they need a place for a season. In times of official persecution it was a dangerous and subversive practice. For some today it still is. It was and is a radical way to live. That was the meaning it had in the early church.
April 27th, 2007 at 1:20 am
Kern,
We get it, you want to suffer. That’s your view of the Christian life and relationship with God. I use to carry that same yoke of belief around my neck too.
Then I discovered there is more to the Christian life than suffering and having the mentality of a martyr. It’s having a balanced life in Christ.
Suffering is apart of life, whether you are a believer or not. So stop blaming it on Christianity. Christians do not have a sole market on suffering.
Also do you really believe that people have to be reminded that they may suffer for their beliefs, whether Christian or not? Men and women have been experiencing this since Adam and Eve.
I say, if I suffer then the Father has found a reason for me to. If I am not suffering then the Father has found reason for me not to.
I’m not going to live at the cross. I’m going to take up my cross in the marketplace. I will strive to be better than those with no hope, so that when they see my good works, they will ask how do I do it.
Then I will introduce them to my Father and his Son.
Woody Quinones
The Promotional Guy
April 27th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Woody,
Well said. Thanks.