PROTECTING OUR MIND FROM SINFUL DREAMS

The Bible has so much to say about the “Heart of Man” so graphically described by Jeremiah in 17:9 NKJV The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked; who can know it. This is the experience of every human being as we have inherited this sinful nature from Adam. Even when a person comes to Christ our sinful nature is nor eradicated but we must embrace the truth by revelation that Paul declares in Romans 6:6 NKJV knowing this, that our old man (sinful nature) was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. I will list some other translations for your perusal as well. AMP We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. PASSION Could it be any clearer that our former identity is now and forever deprived of its power? For we were co-crucified with him to dismantle the stronghold of sin within us, so that we would not continue to live one moment longer submitted to sin’s power.

There is so much truth in this single verse, Jesus not only dealt with our sins on the Cross, but also dealt with the SIN PRINCIPLE our sinful nature within us. The AMP N.T.. makes it even clearer using the words like INNEFFECTIVE AND INACTIVE, the picture in the Greek word for crucified is RENDERED POWERLESS. For this truth to become a reality in our lives we must get this truth by revelation and EVERY DAY until we die or Jesus returns do certain things for it to remain a reality.

The first I would suggest is CONSTANT SURRENDER Rom.12:1-2 NKJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NLT And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

As I understand it Paul is writing in the present continuous tense, and we know the saying (and sadly the truth) that the problem with a living sacrifice is it is always wanting to crawl off the altar. IT IS ONLY AS WE LAY STILL ON THE ALTAR IS THE OLD NATURE “RENDERED POWERLESS”. The moment we get off the altar we “activate” our old nature, I am sure none of my readers will disagree with that fact.

I am 100% convinced that Biblical Discipleship requires a one on one, face to face component and the Mentor walking with the new believer until for example the above becomes a reality. In my experience I decided that even when it is a reality, a reminder from time to time is also essential.

That is why I believe a new Believer needs clear teaching on PROTECTING THE MIND, not just in a class, but personally and practically as well. As I looked at Jeremiah 17:9 today, I couldn’t help but notice verse 10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the MIND, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
NLT But I, the Lord, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their DUE REWARDS.,
according to what their actions deserve.”
Jeremiah’s Trust in the Lord

MESSAGE But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind, I get to the heart of the humans, I get to the root of things, I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.

IT IS EASY TO HIDE IN A CLASS , IT IS MUCH HARDER WHEN YOU HAVE A MENTOR.

Let me share with you the 8 Keys I have found in the Word of God to protect the mind.

1. Walk in the light (of the Word & our conscience) 1 John 1:7
2. Use our Power of Attorney IN THE NAME OF JESUS
3. Confess the (Rhema) Word of God e.g. Phil.4:13, Rom.8:37 1 John 4:4
4. Speak & sing in tongues (it is a weapon of warfare)
5. Praise the Lord (It is a weapon of warfare)
6. Live in the light of Christ’s soon return 1 John 3:2-3
7. Make a Covenant with your eyes Job 31:1 (look at the Message)
8. Meditate on those things in Phil. 4:8

When a Believer puts these keys into operation they move to a new level of victory and purity in their lives.

I have said all the above to now write (for the first time) about another area of protecting the mind, I have walked with guys especially regarding this area for years and I know it WORKS.

Every person basically experiences dreams from time to time, some can be weird, often sinful and when it comes to guys they often experience sexual dreams. The experts tell us that dreams have their source in our SUBCONSCIOUS MIND. This is where so much garbage from our unsaved days has been stored (and maybe some post conversion!!) Can we have victory even in our dreams YES YES YES.

Most men especially before marriage experience “nocturnal emissions” (wet dreams). The body does not store sperm so when God created us His plan is that whilst we sleep it will just naturally leave our bodies. I want to say that the emission is normal, but as Christians we DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE SEXUAL DREAMS. To young men I say as Paul said to Timothy in his second letter 2:28 NKJV Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. The NLT says Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

We know the saying PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE, but in this sex crazy world we live in, our young adults are being constantly bombarded with this stuff day and night. So the ideal is as Paul says RUN AWAY LIKE CRAZY so it doesn’t pollute you. So perhaps for the majority who have been polluted what can we do. Here are some suggestions for you. I recommend:

1. Before you go to sleep, claim the protection of the Blood of Jesus over your mind while you sleep.
2. Make sure there is no unconfessed sin in your life, then Reaffirm Christ’s Lordship over your life.

As a daily practice SPEND TIME IN THE WORD OF GOD,, not just reading, but meditating letting the written word become the Living (Rhema Word) so that it can do as Paul says in Ephesians 5:26 NKJV That He might SANCTIFY and CLEANSE her with the washing of water by the (RHEMA) word, in other words DAILY LET THE WORD WORK IN US.

I referred earlier to Rom. 12:2 NKJV (and will repeat it here) And do not be conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. The Greek word for Transformed is “metmorphoo) caterpillar into a butterfly) We must let God’s DNA (nature) within us to work out into our daily lifestyle. so that our minds are renewed. We know the computer principle GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT, most people sure put a lot of garbage in prior to coming to Christ (and this now sits in our subconscious mind), we must seek to get the garbage out, but filling our minds with the Word of God, the Greek word can also be translated RENOVATE, with the Lord’s help let us so renovate our minds, so that we have removed all the garbage. Amen.

I trust this blog will stimulate some response, I would appreciate your comments, I trust it will help many to move to a new level of purity.