God's Perspective of Truth

PART A: HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH

Do you remember the perspective that you used to have of Faith? We were trained to believe that Faith was just trust and belief. We either learned this perspective from the world (the devil) or from the “religious world” (the devil's deception).

Now that God has instructed us more perfectly about what Faith really is, we now have a different perspective of Faith that is God’s.

Therefore is it possible that there are other areas in our lives, that we may also have an erroneous perspective?

Philippians 3:3-16 KJVS

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

[4] Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

[5] Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

[6] Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

[7] But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Your traditions have made the word of none effect.

[11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

[12] Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

[13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

[14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

[15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

[16] Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

I would say so. Paul gives us a good example of erroneous perspective in Philippians the 3rd chapter he talks about our circumcision and worship being spiritual and having no confidence in the flesh. Paul also acknowledges that if anybody should have confidence in the flesh, he would be the one, because of his upbringing, education and excellent knowledge of the law and also his strict discipline in keeping the Law.

After he is confronted with the truth and purpose is revealed to him, Paul recognizes that all that he knew and had accomplished in the flesh, meant absolutely nothing to God.

He actually says that he would gladly give up all things in order to win Christ. Paul realizes that if his perspective of righteousness wasn’t right, then everything else that he had been trained in could be wrong also.

When truth (which is God’s perspective) is revealed, we must be willing to relinquish our existing perspective and take on God’s mind and heart in every area. The confidence that we have in this flesh is what hinders us from submitting (giving over) to truth.

This confidence comes from the satisfaction or comfort that our existing perspective brings us even though it is erroneous and opposes God’s purpose.

Proverbs 3:5-7 KJVS

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

[6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

[7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.

Philippians 3:15-17 KJVS

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

[16] Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

[17] Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

These verses break down even further the process of taking on God’s mind and letting go of previous mindsets. If you are truthful with yourself, the perspective that you now have has not produced what the scriptures porcelain as a manifested son of God, they should produce truth, and fulfill the purpose of the faith.

THE RELIGIOUS WORLD PERSPECTIVE

We have not seen the church as a whole walking in the power of Christ. Therefore the church has come up with its own goals to strive for and this has produced a perspective for the saints that we call the “religious World Perspective.” This somewhat differs from that of the world, but is also that of Satan and is as far from the mind of God as is the perspective of the world.

This is the deception that the church walks in, in many areas its views are different from that of the world. Therefore the church has concluded that their views must be that of God. When in actuality the perspective of the church world originated from man’s interpretation of scripture, man’s tradition, man’s doctrine, and man’s aspirations.

Many church doctrines were conceived out of a man's interpretation of the scripture. He did not understand the principle that the Bible interprets itself and that there is no private interpretation of scripture.

2 Peter 1:20

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation

He felt that he had to come up with something. Therefore he went to work and came up with his own interpretation of certain scriptures. This is called spiritualizing. When the Bible is not allowed to interpret itself you will then give your own meaning to scripture. This is breaking one of the basic rules of scripture interpretation.

So it appears that Satan has given the Church its perspective of God (script). This is a powerful but true statement that we must examine even further.

Many will refuse to believe that Satan is the originator of many church doctrines and traditions, but isn’t this his character? He was a deceiver and a liar from the beginning.

St. John 8:44

Ye are of your the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

He always mixes a little truth with his lie to make it seem “right.” This is why when the Word (truth) comes and reveals the unrighteousness in what has been established as “right,” we will reject the truth and head on to what we perceive as righteous, therefore making the Word of none effect to us.

St. Mark 7:13

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Colossians 2:4-8 KJVS

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

[5] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

[6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

[7] Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

[8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

There are two contributing factors that strengthen our acceptance of man made doctrines and the religious world's perception of godliness and righteousness. The first is that there is some truth inside of the lie that we can identify as true by the Word. The second is that there is always some kind of satisfaction or pleasure brought to the heart or something that feeds the mind with hope for its desires or aspirations.

These two factors are the fuel of a traditional mindset that make it a stronghold in the lives of many saints. As we previously stated God in his faithfulness has instructed us more perfectly as it relates to “Faith.” Now let's look at some other areas where our existing mindsets are being challenged by the Word (truth).

I. Ministry - when most of us come into the church we already have mindsets about what the church should be like. These mindsets were established by what we had already seen and experienced. Therefore we came in looking for things to measure up to or conform to what we thought was ministry. There are also those of us that grew up in church and are experts on church format.

Matthew 6:23

If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness.

You know how the church is run and all the doctrines of the organizations. So when anything (even God) opposes what you already know, you will judge it because it does not line up with your perspective.

II. Praise and Worship - You may have been exposed to people praising the Lord a certain way. Either very energetically or calm and quietly, therefore you have concluded that this is the way to praise. You never stopped to consider if this is true spiritual praise unto God. Your main focus becomes the way you are accustomed to doing it.

John 4:23-24 KJVS

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Tradition has caused many church people to reject praise dancing and label it as not being God ordained. Their perception of praise and worship is limited to hand clapping, foot stomping or spontaneous jumping that they call “shouting in the spirit”. On the other hand there are those who would act unseemly by showing any type of emotions. In either situation the Holy Ghost is not given the authority to praise in a way that pleases God because our confidence is in the flesh (traditions inspired by the devil).

III. Prayer - You can listen to others pray and it sounds good or they seem to be getting their prayers answered. So you say : this is the way to pray,” and you pray the same prayers. But the words may not mean the same thing coming from you, because of the disposition of your heart. That is why we must give over to the Holy Spirit to pray for us.

IV. Finances - The mindsets that we have about money, were developed in us by either our previous lifestyles, (be it lack or plenty) instituted authorities that trained us or by watching what seems to work best for others. In other words here we see another operation of tradition. Therefore we decide how finances should be handled and we never consider God’s mind in this area.

Isaiah 55:8-9 KJVS

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

There are just a few of the areas in our lives where we put confidence in the flesh and not in God. We were trained to be independent beings, not looking to anyone for anything. Now God is trying to teach us how to be dependent on him for everything. He doesn’t want us to rely on our own aspirations, experience, knowledge or intellect for anything, because it will only come up with a way to please self and not God.

If we would only trust God totally with our lives and allow his Spirit to lead us. The Holy Spirit already knows the heart and mind of the Father and has the responsibility of bringing us into the same.

Romans 8:1-14 KJVS

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

[4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

[8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

[11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. [12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

[13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

If we believe that God through his power raised Jesus from the dead, then why can’t we trust that same power to lead us?

The carnal heart is fearful of new experience therefore it will not readily give over to the word. The word must be ministered under the anointing in order to break the power of the influence of the flesh (satan's influence). When the Holy Spirit is in control Satan’s influence and power in the heart will diminish.

We must give the Word complete access to our minds and hearts. This means that all the existing mindsets or perspectives will be challenged and we must be willing to give up and force our minds to suffer the Truth.