37. Three things believers must redo.

The things we did at first as new believers!

1. Renew our minds: Many Christians wonder why they are battling with their thought so much after they became a believer! That’s because their unrenewed minds are not in sync (working well together; in agreement) with their renewed spirits! The Holy Spirit bypassed our skeptical minds and came directly into our hearts by faith and from there he took control of our otherwise hostile minds and works to renew it! ‘The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.’ – (Romans 8:6) Now the mind has become the battlefield where the war for the soul is being waged ( 1 Peter 2:11) ! Therefore, ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ – (Romans 12:2)

2. Resist the devil: As believers we have been commanded not only to renew our minds but also to resist the devil. ‘Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’ – (James 4:7) To resist the devil also means to resist sin! So its also written: ‘In your struggle against sin, you have not resisted to the point of shedding blood.’ – (Hebrews 12:4) But to be able to resist sin, our mind needs to be controlled by the Spirit because ‘the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so!’ – (Romans 8:7) We, ‘however, are controlled NOT by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in us.’ – (Romans 8:9) Therefore, we can resist the devil by the Spirit ‘for we are not unaware of his schemes.’ – (2 Corinthians 2:11)

3. Rebuild what was destroyed: And as believers, we are exhorted to rebuild everything the enemy has destroyed: our faith, devotion, fellowship, witness, broken relationships … ‘Then Zerubbabel … set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.’ – (Ezra 5:2) Even our spiritual defences! Later, Nehemiah realising the need for a wall, said “Come let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and we will not longer be in disgrace.” – (Nehemiah 2:17) It’s the legacy of the people of God to rebuild! “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” – (Isaiah 48:12)

Pray that God will restore the Church as it was in the days of the Apostles ! But for that, God needs people who continually renew their minds and resist the devil! Amen.