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Welcome!! This podcast is about "dividing the word one episode at a time" A real, relatable, and refreshing space for young and older adults seeking to grow in everyday life with Christ. Each episode dives into honest biblical teaching and conversations with life experiences that connect generations and deepen our walk with Christ. Whether you’re navigating adulthood or seasoned in your faith journey, there’s something here for you, thanks for being here!!
Christ & Me Podcast (00:07)
Welcome everyone to the Christ in Me podcast where we rightly divide the word one episode at a time. I'm your host Jamir Today is a little bit of a newer day. We are officially starting with camera. So now we have a video podcast. Praise God. I was finally able to get a camera and I had always dreamed for us to have like a camera for the podcast, but the Lord had guided me to do.
what I could at the time which was audio and it had been a blessing to friends on Apple, land on Spotify, and now hopefully it could be even more of a blessing on YouTube and any other platform that may take video. So that's a blessing. So today's topic we're going to be talking about captivating your thoughts, captivating the thoughts that we have as individuals and people. The key scripture that we're going to be using today
is 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5 where it says, demolish all arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take up captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Okay, so this topic is very important as followers of Jesus, not just on the factor that whether you are a beginning Christian, a seasoned Christian, a person who has been in the faith long enough, but you've...
feel like you've heard this topic a lot. Understand, do not undermine this topic. This topic is extremely important because your mind is oftentimes the battlefield. It is the starting point and the beginning point where your mind is swayed by the enemy or by the spirit of God to do the actions that we do and we'll be stepping into that in just a moment. So a quick story time or a quick personal story that makes that connection is...
As I spoke about before in earlier podcast episodes, I struggle with lust. And with my struggle with lust, I oftentimes face the circumstance of where I'm oftentimes getting lustful thoughts and other things like that seeped or planted into my mind. These things get planted and it's either I choose to entertain them or not. These are the things that create the
the stepping stones towards if you choose sin or if you're gonna turn your back on it. ⁓ So the first thing that I wanna kinda talk about is understanding the enemy and how, okay, understanding the influence behind the thoughts, excuse me. So within that, we are going to be talking about spiritual, mind, and body. Spiritual, mind, and body. And the reason why this is so important is because
There is a spiritual influence that influences the mind that then creates an action within the body. So firstly, spiritual, Ephesians 6 verse 12, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
So before we go any further, before I go on to another scripture that connects to this, I want to emphasize to you that we as followers of Christ no longer should think or let our minds be in the realm of natural world. But we are now living where we are aware of two different worlds, the natural and supernatural, which is also known as the spiritual realm.
just as well as there is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, there is Satan, and the demons that he has. We know lust, we know laziness, we know a lot of different sins, and all these things that are usually dominated by a specific spirit, right? Another verse that kind of emphasizes the spiritual influence is, for the flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the flesh.
They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want, And the reason why this is so important, my brothers and my sisters, is because of the fact that we must be able to understand that in the circumstance of it all, there is always some kind of influence in our actions and it is always because of the fact that there is a spirit behind it. Notice how the Holy Spirit
and the flesh are constantly fighting and going against each other for your actions, for your heart. Satan does not care about you enough where he is willing to do things by your okay. He is going to infuse you where you either join him in hell and be overtaken by the evil that he does or he will be defeated by the Spirit of God through the actions that you choose to say yes to Christ.
Sup.
we want to understand that there's a spiritual influence. Within the spiritual, it's either the flesh or the spirit that influences you to do a certain action, right? So how does it connect to the mental? says, Romans 8 verse 5 to 6 says, those who live in accordance to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires, but those who have their minds set on what the spirit desires. Oh, sorry, y'all, let me do that again.
Those who live according to the flesh have their mindset on what the flesh desires, but those who live in accordance to the spirit have their mindset on what the spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace. And what I love about what they talk about is mind governed. It is runned by, it is led by, it is dominated by either the spirit or the flesh.
And it is up to us to choose constantly and daily which one is governing our minds and our hearts. And the reason why I, you know, well, I'm passionate about probably every topic I've taught so far. But the reason why this is so important is because...
Sadly, what I've noticed is I've become more immersed with my iPad. I'm gonna be real. I've become more immersed with my iPad. And with becoming more immersed with my iPad, I've allowed myself sometimes to realize, snap, this is taking up more time than God is. snap, this is taking up more time from prayer. I'm gonna pray in five minutes, I'm praying 10 minutes. How many times am I gonna put off the things that God asked me to do?
going to put off reading his word all because I want to indulge in the flesh and we have to be able to be mindful of how much we let it govern because when we allow it to govern either one of two things are quenched whether it's either the Spirit of God or it is evil of the flesh. So within the mental we understand that your mind can either be let and run
by the flesh or the spirit. Within those realities, it calls for you to question, am I being led by the flesh or by the spirit? These are questions to ask yourself on the circumstance that you must be able to choose which one you are going to serve. And in your choosing which one you're going to serve, whatever you allow to dominate your mind and lead your mind.
is what also becomes the actions you immerse yourself in.
First Corinthians chapter 6 verse 18 says, flee from sexual immorality all the other sins a person commits outside or outside of the body. whoever sins sexually, against their own body. Now I want to kind of magnify this, right?
I use this verse because of this reason. It emphasized that not only the matter of fleeing from sin, but it also recognized this. A person who commits any other sin outside of sexual morality is still sinning with their body. It's just not having so much of an impact on them physically. But the reason why you avoid sexual morality altogether is it also diminishes the value of your body. It diminishes the spirit of your body.
And if you are a person who's following Christ and still struggling with sexual morality, like myself, I'm not better than you, I am also still degrading the Holy Spirit's temple. The following verse, verse 19, talks about how the Spirit of God is in us and it makes our body its temple. So we must be careful. That's a little side note, but it emphasizes the physical.
Now before, the next verse I'm going go into is Galatians 5 verse 19 to 21. I'm going to start off slow. Verse 19 says, acts of the flesh are obvious sexual morality, impurity, debauchery. And I'm going to pause there. The acts, these are actions taken by the person. They are influenced by the flesh. The acts of the flesh are obvious. The things that you choose to do.
These things are not hidden from you, right? So, these are actions that are done. It emphasizes that there is a spirit that has hit your mind that has led you to do said action. 20, verse 20, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, of rage, selfish ambitions, decessions, factions, and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
I warned you as I did before that those who live like this will not, let me repeat it again, will not inherit the Kingdom of God. So, it is important that us as followers of Christ are highlighting this reality.
When we allow ourselves to be dominated by the flesh, when we allow ourselves to be immersed in the flesh, we lose not only just our connections with God, but we are set for the judgment of God. We are quicker and a lot of people will be saying, ⁓ only the Lord can judge me. I bet.
not only can't hold, but you don't.
If the reason why a lot of people, and this is a little off topic, but the reason why a lot of people tend to make a lot of comparisons with Jesus or God the Father and God the Father in Old Testament and New Testament is because we see God's hand in justice, his wrath for sin.
we see all of these things. see his love for people, but we also see his hatred for sin and how he deals with people who continue to live in sin. And then we also see in the New Testament that he has more of a, he kind of reveals more of a heart to be reconciled to these people and to people who do not know him that are Gentiles, people who are not Jews. So I say this because
I want you to understand that the Old Testament is the New Testament. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. And what I mean by that is the Old Testament conceals away the things that will happen in the New Testament. Jesus is coming, the fulfillment of him on the cross. When David is writing some of his Psalms, a lot of them are actually highlighting
without even David knowing. So, I say this all on the circumstance that you as followers, you as men and women of God have to be able to remember that our lives are influenced by something and that is the order in they are influenced.
Of course I don't have to read off what the fruit of the Spirit are. The fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, forbearance, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control. These are the fruit of the Spirit. But of course that's because your mind is dominated by the Spirit. Notice how the Spirit brings life, which means eternal life with God the Father, eternal life to be with Jesus Christ, and peace, the peace of God.
peace of knowing that you have salvation, the peace of knowing that you have connection with God. These are the things that bring peace. Second thing.
we must be able to see through and combat. So, the enemy known as Satan is known as the Accuser. I said this last episode. He is the Accuser. So he will always say things or do things that try to lead you to hate who you are and what you're about.
He will accuse you, he will say things about you that diminish the character of who you are. This is what he does. I want to mention that in Matthew 4, Jesus constantly was in a space having to go against the devil for him trying to tempt him. The devil was trying to tempt Jesus. After 40 days of fasting, the devil was trying to tempt Jesus and mess with him.
saying that if you are really the son of God, turn these stones into bread. And the reason why I want to pause, let's look at this for a minute. If you are the son of God, let's stop there. If you are the son of God, turn these stones to bread. Satan goes off as the accuser and says, well, you know, let me question your identity real quick. If you are who you say you are, then do this. Now he's getting you to prove.
trying to get you to prove, trying to get Jesus to prove something, he only knows he can do. But he knows that once Jesus does something like that, it would lead Jesus to give into sin, to give into his flesh. Because he's going against the consecration of God, of which he set himself apart for for those 40 days. Right?
This is what Jesus responds with and this is the point that I'm going to be making in this point.
Jesus responds with scripture.
The Bible tells us that the word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword. The word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword. So if the word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword, we as followers of Christ must be able, with the fact that this is also part of our armor, be able to stand on the rock of his word and take down the evil of the enemy. Let me read to y'all.
the scriptures. Verse one to four of Matthew four. Then Jesus led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil after fasting 40 days and 40 nights. He was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, If you are the son of God, tell these stones to become bread. Jesus answered. It is written pause. So his first answer not is get behind me, Satan, not is I step in. I rebuke you right now. No, no, no, no.
His answer is, it is written, man shall not live on bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth.
So he shifts the narrative from saying, I am not going to be tempted by your evil. Rather, I am going to stand on the rock of what my father says. What about you? Do you stand on the rock of what your father says?
Are you going to be so unshaken by the world that you will allow yourself to use scripture to bring down what they are saying?
The next one, verse five. Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the son of God, second time, he is now trying to get him to question or really show and boast in his identity. He says, if you are the son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, now pause.
I want you to know that the Bible emphasizes that there is false prophets, that there are false teachers, that there are people who know the Word of God.
but twist the word of God for their own narrative. And I know this is about mind, captivating the mind, but please understand, stay with me here. I want you to understand that there are false teachers, that there are false followers of Christ, there are people who are false prophets that would use the word of God to elevate what they believe, elevate what they think you should do, elevate this and elevate that. They try to twist the word of God. That's why the Bible says, and I tell you all of this,
Rightly divide the word. That's why this is the podcast's motto, rightly dividing the word. We rightly divide the word here, ⁓ Christ in Me podcast, because it is important that we live out the truth of God's word.
So he says, for it is written, this is Satan speaking, he will command his angels concerning you and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against the stone.
Jesus is being tempted and then on top of that scripture is being his own word is being used against him. Psalms 91 if anyone is uncertain. It's referencing Psalms 91. But Jesus answered him. This is verse 7. So I just read 5, I just read 6, this is 7. It is also written. So Jesus is saying, well if you got scripture, I got scripture too.
It is also written, do not put the Lord your God to the test. ⁓
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him the kingdoms of the world. The end is thunder, all this I will give you, he said. This is Satan. If you bow down and worship me, Jesus sent him away from me, Satan. Now here's a rebuke. After using scripture, here's a rebuke. Away from me, Satan, for it is written, still using the word of God. So he's rebuking and then using the word of God.
It is written, worship the Lord your God and serve him only. Then the devil left him and the angels came and attended him.
I want you to notice the pattern that Jesus' mind had to be really under attack. You're the son of God who have come to die on the cross for the sins of all your people who are even still choosing to be disobedient to you.
but they had to endure. He had to endure the very shaky, very hard to deal with reality of being tempted. You've been starving for 40 days or you've been fasting for 40 days trying to continue to keep strong. That's a month and 10 days. You're trying to keep strong, then Satan, not even just a regular spirit, Satan
the leader of all of these evil spirits come and decide they are going to go after you. He's going to go after you and try to tempt you with things that are already yours. But he stood fast and the reason why he stood fast is because he was not dominated by his flesh. He was dominated by the spirit of God and leaned on.
That's what matters when we dominate ourselves leaning on the word of God.
So, as the accuser, is quicker to go after your failures, your regrets, your insecurities, and the things that you genuinely have done in the past that you just cannot stand for.
This would then lead you to avoid God.
Luke 10 verse 19 says, I have given you the authority to trample snakes and scorpions to overcome the power of the enemy.
Some of most common lines are, God won't forgive us. God won't forgive you this time. You'll never change. Your situation is hopeless. God cannot come through. He will not provide. But we combat these things with the word of God.
We say what it is written. Romans 8 verse 1 says, is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You say it is written. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17, if anyone is in Christ, are new creation. If it is written, for I know the plans that I have for you to give you a hope and a future, says the Lord. These things we can say to combat the evil of the enemy who tries to so easily ensnare us to believe that we are not worthy.
So we step on the head of the enemy by standing on the rock of the word. We trample because we know his word. We trample.
because we have a fellowship and a strength and a true connection with the Spirit of God. Be reminded that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It cuts down the lives of the enemy and as scripture says in Hebrews 4, verse 4, it emphasizes that bone and marrow, right? It even goes so far as to separate bone from marrow. So I'm gonna just briefly read it. ⁓ Hebrews 4, verse... ⁓
my fault, not four. Verse 12. Please forgive me, my friends.
For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharpen the A and double X sword. It penetrates even to the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
So we must understand the power of God's word and use his word to bring down the enemy and stay connected to the Spirit of God.
Satan's lies oftentimes tries to go after your identity, who you are in Christ, and anything he can say to tempt you to come back to who you once was, or to stay where you are if you are not.
The helmet of salvation being our hope in Christ is, the helmet of salvation strengthens us to remember that we have hope in Christ, but also security of what he said in his word to guide us and remind us of our identities in him. So, some ways to go about dealing with your thoughts is first of all, we're gonna acknowledge it.
We're not going to diminish it. We're not going to be confused about it. Once it comes, we acknowledge it. The second thing we're going to do is we're going to discern where it comes from. 1 John chapter 4, read 1 John chapter 4, John talks about how you're able to discern what comes from God and what doesn't. Does it sound like Christ? But let me, let me, I just want to give this disclaimer as well. Just because
Do you think that Jesus wouldn't yell at you?
time or whatever the case may be I want to let you know from personal experience that you're sure you're mistaken. He yells. He speaks. I'm not gonna... I know that we come across things that say... like have these comparisons of how sometimes Satan and Jesus sound but I'm telling you depending on what the circumstance is as well Jesus might be speaking very strongly to people.
There are people who can testify to it if you look at testimonies on YouTube. Go ahead. If it is something from the enemy, combat it with the word of God.
And if it seems to be like something from God, find it in the Word that you can have peace about it. Don't just automatically assume that it's from God because someone sticks its name on
Just because you stick Jesus' name to some of the thoughts that you have does not mean it is from God. Make sure the things that Jesus is saying is lining up with his word. Lastly, pray that the Lord
removes and renews your thought. What does that mean? If you see a woman on the street or a man on the street and they're attractive and you struggle with lust, what I would say is this.
You focus on that thought. You rebuke your mind for having that thought. And you refresh the way that one in a man looks like in your mind. Then you remind yourself of scripture. Do not conform to the ways of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Lord Jesus, this moment, I ask that you refresh my mind in Jesus' name.
please remove these thoughts and help my thoughts be pure like you are pure. These are the things that are important. Third point, keeping your mind captivated on Christ. So this is the last point before we end the podcast episode. A mind on anything other than Christ, eternity, or the fulfilling of his mission in the work that he's called you to do, is often...
distracted mind. We are called to let our minds be separate in our thinking and in our intentions. Romans 12 verse 2, which I just quoted, but I'm going to read it again. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and prove what's God's will is. It's good, pleasing, and perfect will. And I want to just emphasize Paul.
His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Just because it's not in your will, just because it's not in your vision board, just because it's not in your Pinterest, just because it's not something that you planned on happening, does not mean it's not something that God has to give in your favor.
Colossians 3 verse 2 says, Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. Set your mind on where Christ is seated, at the right hand of God.
We must be able to have our minds refreshed in the truth of God's Word. Colossians 3 emphasizes this. Fix your mind on these things. Refresh your mind on these things.
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1 Corinthians 4 verse 16 says this, therefore we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes on not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Let our hearts and our minds be so infatuated with the future of him taking us on. Us being able to have to be with him for eternity. Not even have to. To get to be with him for eternity. More like we get to.
The man died on the cross for our sins so that we may live truly to him. What a blessing it is for us to fix our eyes on him. And when we fix our eyes on him, it is harder to allow ourselves to be so attached to the things of this world. It's harder for us to build up treasures here rather than building up treasures in heaven. When our minds are set on the things of Christ, things change. ⁓
can only imagine the power of a man who has his head and his mind and his heart set on the things of Christ.
And I love this verse 18. I'm just going to it again. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen. Clothes, possessions, cars, people. What is unseen?
in of God, Jesus, the Lord, disabled, the true and just judge. This is the person that we fix our eyes on. The Renewer of our faith. The Refresher of our faith.
Let us be pushed in our heart and mind to glorify Him now so that when He comes to get us later and we join Him in glory, we may be glorified there.
To leave some more questions that you reflect on, what is your mind dominated by? The flesh or the spirit? Do your actions reflect what your mind is dominated by?
Has this past week shown you that your heart and mind are devoted and dominated by Christ? Or is it devoted and dominated by the flesh?
So, before I close, I'm just gonna pray this out. Father God, in this moment, I pray for every person who is listening to this podcast, I pray for every person who will get the chance to listen to this podcast, if this is their first time even listening to something Christian. I pray that you help them feel rude to yourself. And help men and women who live for you already join you in you. For your scripture says join me to God.
I pray Lord Jesus that their minds are dominated by the Spirit. That love, joy, peace, preparedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the things that come out of their lives because they allow their minds to be set on eternity where you are. For your scripture says, fix our eyes on Jesus the author.
Lord Jesus we thank you for your holiness we thank you for your overwhelming power we thank you that you are good and merciful and that in your kindness we will show abundant and overwhelmingly natural love to your children who love you and keep you at the forefront of our hearts. I pray with God that you continue to help them run after you pick up their cross daily and find
help them use your word as a way to step on the enemy's head and to find comfort and refuge in you. Thank you for every listener and every person who has listened to this podcast and let them do that for
in Jesus name, amen.
So, everyone, the Bible says to fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. The devil works heavily with the flesh to get you to join him where he will be heading, to the lake of fire. And I know that this is not what the Lord intended for any of us, but the scriptures emphasize.
that God made hell for the devil and his angels. Not for any of us, but if you do not want to join him, if you don't want to join God, where else will you go? Your son has to be paid for one way or the other. So, I hope you choose to accept and live for Christ who loves you, who died for you, who saw you as worthy of death and death on the cross.
Do not let your actions deceive you guys. Because your heart posture really highlights who you are as a person. So I just want to thank everyone for being part of a also very monumental episode where we are actually going to be. And then I pray that you keep every thought captive that is not from God.
and that the Holy Spirit continues to love you, continues to shape you, continues to highlight Jesus, and continues to convict you of sins that you may be refined to look more and more like Christ. All right, everyone, until next time, we write and divide the word. Another episode at a time. I'm the analyst, Jamir. Be blessed. I love you guys.