Lessons From the Secret Place – Intimacy- Lesson 5b: Walking in Paths of Righteousness in Christ

As we continue our study on intimacy with Christ, we will look again at Psalm 23:3b. 

Psalm 23:3b, He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (MEV)

In Christ we walk in paths of righteousness by knowing the Word, abiding in Christ, and renewing my mind. Last week we covered knowing the Word and abiding in Christ.   Today we will wrap up this lesson by discussing renewing our minds.  

Finally, by renewing my mind.

Romans 12:2, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Webster 1828 dictionary defines renew as: To renovate; to restore to a former state, or to a good state, after decay or depravation; to rebuild; to repair. 

We live in a fallen world surrounded by sin and depravity.  As Christians it is extremely important that we daily renew our minds in the Word.  The adage “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch” is a true illustration as to why we must continually renew our minds.  If you have ever had a bag of apples and left it sitting for a while, you know what I am talking about.  If one apple begins to rot and is not removed from the bag, eventually all the apples will rot as the bacteria transfers from one to the others.  

In our modern world with internet and media readily available, we are constantly seeing and hearing things that, if left unchecked in our minds, would lead to our loss of sensitivity to the voice of Holy Spirit, as well as opening the door for doubt, fear, and unbelief.  

Ephesians 4:22-24, Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. (AMPC)

2 Corinthians 10:4-5, We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. (NASB)

Colossians 3:10, And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. (AMPC)

We renew our minds by putting down lustful desires, by taking on fresh mental and spiritual attitudes, by capturing rebellious thoughts, by perfecting our knowledge of Christ.

Lustful Desires

Webster defines lust as: longing desire; evil propensity; depraved affections and desires.  It defines desire as: love; affection; appetite; lust.

James 1:14, But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).

Psalm 81:12, So I gave them up to their own hearts’ lust and let them go after their own stubborn will, that they might follow their own counsels.

Lustful desires involve sinful, carnal (pertaining to flesh; fleshly; sensual; opposed to spiritual; as carnal pleasure) desires.  However, it also pertains to anything we desire more than God (I.E. entertainment, food, possessions…). 

When our desire for anything (good or bad) rises higher than our desire for intimacy and fellowship with God we must take that desire to Christ and make it obedient to him.  

Fresh Mental and Spiritual Attitudes

One of the things that threatens our spiritual life more than anything else is a bad/wrong attitude.  As bad attitude impacts us and everyone around us.  Bad attitudes lead to complaining, comparing ourselves to others, and ungrateful hearts.  A bad attitude will blind us to what God is doing by causing us to focus on ourselves.

Philippians 2:5-7, Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] (Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. (AMPC)

Romans 12:3, For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (BRG)

Jesus demonstrated a good/right attitude.  He WAS GOD, yet he laid that all aside to take on the form of man in order that he, through his sinless life, brutal death, and miraculous resurrection, might redeem us and reopen the door of direct access to the Father.  To give us right standing, not by our deeds but his. 

We must work to daily, maybe even moment by moment, aligning our attitude with that of Christ. Walking in humility and obedience, making sure not to allow pride or offense to develop within our hearts a deadly root of bitterness!  Holding onto bitterness will not only kill our souls but will hinder our relationships with others and with God.  

Rebellious Thoughts

Rebellious thoughts contradict God's truth and lead you away from His will. These can be negative self-talk, doubts, fears, or any thoughts that undermine your faith and confidence in God's promises. For example, thoughts like "I'm not good enough," "God doesn't love me," or "I'll never succeed" are rebellious because they go against what Scripture says about you. i

We must continually make our thoughts/perspective align with the thoughts of Christ.  His thoughts are found throughout his Word.  When a thought comes into our minds we must immediately check with Holy Spirit and the Word to see if it aligns with what Jesus says. 

Perfecting Knowledge of God

How do I know what my husband likes, dislikes, or desires?  How do I know I can trust him?  How do I know he will protect me and work to provide for my needs?  Simply put, I have studied him.  For the past 29 years I have watched his life. I have practiced perfecting my knowledge of him.  

We must grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Follow on to know the Lord. Labour to know him more clearly and more fully, to know more of Christ and to know him to better purpose, so as to be more like him and to love him better." This is the knowledge of Christ the apostle Paul reached after and desired to attain, Phil. 3:10. Such a knowledge of Christ as conforms us more to him, and endears him more to us, must needs be of great use to us, to preserve us from falling off in times of general apostasy; and those who experience this effect of the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will, upon receiving such grace from him, give thanks and praise to him, and join with our apostle in saying,  To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen ii

Philippians 3:10, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. (ESV)

We gain knowledge of God through intimacy with him; time in the Word, time in conversation with him, corporate worship, hearing sermons/teachings by anointed men and women, and sharing fellowship with other believers.  

As we wrap up this lesson on Walking in Paths of Righteousness in Christ, I want to share a conversation I had with Lord just this morning.  After I had my time with the Lord, I showered and was blow drying my hair.  I was thanking the Lord for the things he had spoken to my earlier and for spending time with me.  

He said thank you for wanting to spend time with me.  This is why I created mankind, to have fellowship with me.  I can speak into being anything I choose; however, I cannot create someone with whom to have relationship. To clarify, I created man, but I cannot force anyone to have fellowship with me.  If I did it would not be true fellowship.  The fellowship I seek flows from your desire to spend time with me because you want to, not because you feel obligated or forced to.  

I must confess that those words broke my heart.  As I cried, he thanked me for loving him. He reminded me that he created us in his image, and our emotions are like his.  He told me that he feels emotions just as we do but he has total control over his.  I felt his pain and sadness as he talked about desiring for mankind to want to have relationship with him.  

I had to stop and ask myself; how often do I take time to just love on the Lord?  Not coming with my agenda, but just resting in his love and loving him back?  

I have often heard ministers say that God does not need mankind.  If by that they mean that he will continue to exist without our involvement, then I agree. We are not supporting or sustaining God.  However, God has demonstrated throughout the Word that he desires relationship with us.  Today, he again reminded me that he loves it when we, his children, choose to spend time with him.  

I challenge us to spend time this week loving our Lord!!  

Works Cited: 

 i.  https://www.canyonridge.org/blogs/how-to-capture-rebellious-thoughts

ii.  https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/2Pe/2Pe_003.cfm?a=1159018