Advancing Encouragement By:
Bishop James Jr. Hairston
The idea here is to get the believer to recognize who he or she is in Christ Jesus. Previously it was said to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, verse 6. Minded is to be controlled by the spirit from the Greek word phroneo mind meaning to exercise and be entertained by spiritual things. Paul makes a factual statement in verse nine (9) that you are not in the flesh but in the spirit. You are a spiritual being therefore, you do not see yourself living and acting in the flesh but of God in the spirit. In addition, you do not see your flaws in the flesh but you see your flaws washed and cleansed by the blood of the lamb in the spirit. Everybody has something that they do not like about their self. When you look in the mirror what do you see? Do you see a wonderful, precious spiritual being or a flawed human being? I told my kids growing up that you are a wonderful precious spiritual being and do not let no one hurt you by saying you are ugly, stupid, dumb or crazy. That is not who God made you out to be especially after you have been born again! If you have the spirit of God dwelling in you, you are special, you are pure, you are wonderful and you are precious in the spirit not in the flesh. Today, when you look in the mirror do not call yourself fat but challenging to lose weight. Do not call yourself stupid or dumb but a wonderful child of God that is brilliant and intelligent. Today do not call yourself ugly but a beautiful or handsome spiritual being. Build yourself esteem in the spirit of God not looking at the flesh but the spirit! Not only that, see you cleansed, washed and made whole by the blood of the lamb. Today, you will not act out in the flesh but be loving and kind to those whom you are around. If you have sinned before God you will repent and not condemn yourself but be free in Christ Jesus. Why, you are a wonderful, precious spiritual being in Christ Jesus and that is a lovely sight to see in the spirit. You are not carnal minded but spiritual minded that will lead you to a victorious day abundantly and in peace in Jesus name.
James Jr.