Auxano Ministry
By the grace of God I am what I am:
1 Cor. 15:10a
The Love of God in the Renewed Mind in Manifestation
What is It?
I remember being a teenager and reading William Shakespeare for the first time. The play of course was "Romeo and Juliet." His ability with words was astounding and captivating. I knew nothing of figures of speech, but I knew he could draw an amazing picture with the words he used and how he used them, consider Mercutio's Queen Mab speech.
Although, I was a bit surprised when I reached the end of the play, no one had ever said anything to me about the two main characters dying. It was still the age of "Ozzie and Harriet", and "Donna Reed", and Walt Disney. I understand those TV shows are probably meaningless to you, so just let me say that the world of entertainment firmly believed in happy endings at that time. Obviously, this Shakespeare guy wasn't very modern.
I remember reading Romeo's final scene in Capulet's tomb and expecting Juliet to awake at any moment, at least before he drank the poison! One of the final lines spoken by the Prince, "That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love" was a devastating conclusion that my mind turned to current events. Suddenly, Shakespeare was not only modern, he had also captured our world. For we too had found many ways to kill with love and to kill love.
What can I say, it was the 60's, I was a teenager, and everything produced great emotion! The play had such an impact on me that the next time I was in English Lit I wasn't very happy about killing off the two people who were in love. It was then that I received more than a little flack, from the teacher and the class, "It's called a tragedy!"
It wasn't until someone introduced me to the Bible that I began to learn that there was more to love than emotions and there was a love that even the world could not kill off.
The ancient Greeks had a few different words they used to identify love and its type.
Eros was sexual love; it is all hormones and attraction, and for some others, lust.
Storge generally meant an affection or love that existed from a parent to a child.
Philia or philos was a friendly love, something that benefited both parties without the passion of eros or the parental connection of storge.
Philadelphia or brotherly love was when it was used of the affection between family members.
Philautia was used of self-love; either positive or negative.
Mania really goes beyond what we would call love into the realm of an obsession, like the English word pyromaniac.
Agape love was considered a godly love. It carried the idea of a sacrificial love, a committed love, a love based on a decision.
The Bible only uses a few of these words. The one I am concerned with in the renewed mind is agape, the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation. We need to see how this term, love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation, fits with God’s Word and how it applies to our lives.
What exactly is the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation? This is the question I hope this teaching will answer.
Agape is unconditional love and Biblically refers to a love that God is, that God shows, and that God enables in His children to manifest to the world. Within this love you can see deliberate decision, commitment, and sacrifice.
“Wherever there is true love, there must be giving, and giving to the point of sacrifice. Love [agape] is not satisfied with giving trinkets; it must give at the cost of sacrifice: it must give blood, life, all. And it was so with the love of God. "He so loved the world, that He gave his only-begotten Son. Christ also loved and gave Himself up, an offering and a sacrifice to God."1
Most Christians simply know agape as a divine love for that is how they have heard it handled by Bible teachers and theologians throughout the years. Today I want to look at this love as it is manifested out of a renewed mind.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love [agape] of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
These two verses in Romans form a figure of speech called a Merism. “A merism is a figure of speech in which something is referred to by a conventional or socially popular phrase that points out some of its traits. Merisms often indicate completeness and are used and reused often by most speakers of a language. A merism describes a whole thing by describing some or all its parts and is used to two different ways. The first is through using contrasting extremes, and the second is using several, but not necessarily all, of its parts to describe a thing. The word “merism” is derived from the Greek word merismos meaning “dividing” or “partition.”2
“One rather common merism within the English language would consist of the phrase "lock, stock, and barrel". Of course, this phrase essentially just means "everything", since the three words in the merism capture the full scope of a given object.”3
We see merism in common every day phrases used in America today; ladies and gentlemen referring to everyone, we hear it in marriage vows…for better or worse, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer referring for the completeness of life and living as a couple; the Bible opens with a merism…God created the heaven and the earth to represent the totality of Creation.
So, what does this figure merism teach us in Romans 8?
Neither death, nor life represents human existence; nor angels, principalities, powers represents the devilish supernatural; things present, nor things to come represents time; nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature [any created thing] represents all of the godly supernatural; shall be able to separate us from the love, agape, of God in Christ Jesus.
In other words, and not nearly as colorful and vivid, nothing in human experience, nothing in the supernatural, either devilish or godly, and nothing in the realm of time can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus.
A figure of speech is used to amplify and bring to life an otherwise simple statement. God using the figure Merism here accomplished the goal of amplification! God is using this figure in these verses to emphasize and illuminate us as to the greatness and the depth of His love for each of us.
Nothing in human experience, from the time you are born until the time when you take your last breath, can separate you from the love God has for you. No experience, whether it is an experience from an action on your part or an action on the part of another has the power to make God stop loving you!
That is amazing! That is awesome! That is overwhelmingly exciting and completely comforting!
The same Truth is a living reality in relation to time also. It makes no difference how many years you live, how many experiences occur during those years, God will never stop loving you in His son Christ Jesus.
Hold that in your mind. Control your nous with that living reality.
Have you ever thought, “Surely God has walked away from me now? Wow, I really screwed up this time.” That thought is a lie! Throw that thought out NOW! God will never stop loving you!
There is nothing and no one that can come between you and God’s love for you. Not even God’s enemy, your enemy, the Adversary. Even if you, like Eve, have been seduced into standing with the Adversary…God still loves you. Even if you make the deliberate decision to walk with the Adversary, like Adam…God still loves you.
The love described by Shakespeare in "Romeo and Juliet" is passionate and moving. It is a love almost every person in the world can identify with because it is a love almost everyone greatly desires to experience. But it is based solely upon emotion. It is founded upon circumstance. There is nothing in this great passionate love that ensures love's continuance. Any number of the things declared in Romans 8 could alter the love by passion, even bring it to a complete end because it is rooted and grounded in feelings and circumstance.
Luke 22:47-48
And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
From this betrayal and subsequent arrest Jesus endured the most brutal torture and beating no normal man could endure. Isaiah even states he was no longer recognizable as a man for he was beaten that viciously. Surely Judas is a man that God stopped loving.
Acts 1:2
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
This statement is made on the day of the Ascension, some forty days after the crucifixion. Jesus is meeting with the apostles “whom he had chosen.”
Lue 6:12-16
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
Judas is one of the apostles Jesus had chosen. Now, for a moment, set aside Christian tradition and consider what the Word of God tell us? Read these verses again and you tell me where is Judas on the day of the Ascension?
The book of Acts tells us that Judas was still standing with Jesus and the other eleven on the day of the Ascension.
Acts 1:11
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Immediately after the Ascension two angels speak to the apostles and these angels identify he apostles as, “ye men of Galilee.” Judas was the only apostle that was not from Galilee. The name “Iscariot” identifies Judas as coming from Kerioth which is not in Galilee. Somewhere between verse 8 and verse 9 Judas walks away from the group of apostles and takes his own life.
A question to consider, if Judas took his own life around the time of the crucifixion why didn’t Jesus chose a replacement for him during the forty days before his Ascension? Why did the other apostles choose a replacement after the Ascension?
Acts 1:24-26
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Judas was present on the day of the Ascension.
Then, you ask the next most logical question, what difference does it make if Judas is or is not there on the day of the Ascension?
Jesus issued a promise, from God to the apostles, including Judas, in Acts chapter one.
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
God made it available for Judas, even after having betrayed Jesus Christ, to receive God’s gift of holy spirit on the day of Pentecost. Judas could have been a witness to the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Agape love is not based in emotion, the current circumstances are irrelevant. Agape is a deliberate decision to love. God’s love is not altered by experience, it does not come with a time limit. No spiritual entity, good or evil, can interfere with God’s love for each individual person.
This is a love that cannot be killed by the world, the kosmos. William Shakespeare wrote a tragedy about love. God wrote a history declaring His love is never ending.
The only guarantee for the continuance of love is for that love to have no basis, no foundation in feelings, in physical attraction, emotion, or circumstance. For love to continue day after day, and year after year until time is no more, it must be a deliberate decision and freewill commitment by the individual to love. Agape love is the love of one who is an altruist. It is selfless in its origins and timeless in its scope.
This explains the first part of our statement; The Love of God...now to understand, "in the Renewed Mind in Manifestation."
Romans 8:38-39 close out the awesome eight chapter of Romans. Chapters 9, 10, and 11 are a parenthesis and as such you can skip over these while keeping the context of what God is declaring in the epistle of Romans.
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The renewed mind requires you to put the words of God into your mind. The perfect example of this is one we have already looked at in this series of teachings, God’s only begotten son.
John 7:16-17
Jesus answered them, and said, my doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Jesus did not give us his opinion, his private interpretation, or his social observations of current day Israel. Jesus gave us what God had given him, God's Word..
Jeramiah found God’s Word and he could not get enough of it.
Jeramiah 15:16
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
This must be the attitude of a child of God in our day and time if a renewed mind is the goal.
John 17:8
For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
It was not his own doctrine.
It was not his considered philosophy.
It was not his wise opinion.
Jesus faithfully spoke the words of God.
Luke 1:38
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
After hearing the Word of God from an angel Mary’s response, “be it unto me according to thy word.” This is the heart of one who desires to listen and obey the Word of God. This is the heart of a mind being renewed.
Luke 4:4
And Jesus answered him, saying, it is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
The response of Jesus to the face of the Devil after being confronted. This is the commitment of one who wants a renewed mind.
James 1:21
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
This is the obedience with which we must receive God’s Word. To renew the mind we MUST receive God's Word with meekness.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
We do not just hear someone talk about God’s Word; we search it to see if those things said are so. This is our diligence to have the accurate Word of God.
Psalm 9:8-11
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.1 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
This is the joy of God’s Word living in your heart. This is the peacefulness of a mind that is invigorated with the living Word of the God of Life.
Jesus filled his mind with the words of God. Jesus filled his mind with God’s Word and in so doing, he filled his mind with God’s love.
John 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
This is the love of God being held in a mind, but we still need to see the “in manifestation” aspect of this wonderful saying, The love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation.
Yes, sometimes it is extremely hard to accomplish staying your mind on God’s Word. Jeramiah, David, Mary, all had days when they were distracted or simply did not understand God’s Word or see God’s plan.
Mark 9:14-16
And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
As this account unfolds Jesus arrives on the scene with scribes getting in the face of his disciples and Jesus wants to know why.
This can happen at times. You have declared the Word of God and the immediate result you expected is not there. The scoffers and unbelievers will give you no slack, no grace, but they will be at your throat immediately.
You have read the Word of God, you understand all the words in the English language, you feel you believe what was written, but the result is not present. What happened?
Mark 9:17-23
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, how long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Jesus saw the problem immediately and addressed it simply with “all things are possible to him that believes.”
Mark 9:24
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
When you have an issue go to your teacher, the one who guides you. As we learned while studying manthano our teacher is God. Ask God to help you see and understand what you are reading. When you are not seeing the results. God will answer your question.
After this incident, the disciples came to Jesus and asked why they could not cast out the devil spirit.
Mark 9:29
And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Fasting is not in the text. Jesus had already taught them that prayer is about believing. They never saw the unbelief of the father.
So, when you have an issue either in understanding or in seeing results, rather than fake it or yell at yourself, ask for guidance.
We have seen the end of Romans 8 show us the depth of God’s Love. Then, realizing that Romans chapters 9 -10 – 11 are a parenthesis we slid right into Romans 12 and it opens with the renewed mind. Now, let us consider the structure of Romans 12 through Romans 15.
Romans 12:1-2 speak about renewed mind. Romans 12:3-8 discuss every believer having the ability to function in the ministry wherewith God has called them to function. Then, in Romans 12:9 through Romans 15:7 God gives all believers instructions on how to carry out the ministry He has enabled them to perform.
Romans 12:9
Let love [agape] be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
How God has called us to function, within the Body of Christ and to the world, the kosmos, is in His Love. Now go back and re-read what we saw in the depth of Romans 8:38-39.
God's love, unaltered or hindered by experiences or time; unchanged by spiritual matters; a deliberate decision to love you in Christ Jesus. This is the love we carry to the world. This is the love that was shed aboard in our hearts. This is the love we carry in our renewed minds as we hold to God's Word.
Just what we learned in those verses about the depth and the commitment and the compassion and the deliberate decision about God’s Love is amazingly outstanding. Now begin to read through the other 115 places the word agape is used in the New Testament and prepare to have your mind blown at how awesome agape love really is.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [agape], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [agape], I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [agape], it profiteth me nothing.
How big, how important is it that we walk in God’s Love?
The only guarantee for the continuance of love is for that love to have no foundation in feelings, physical attraction, emotion, or circumstance. For love to continue day after day, and year after year until time is no more, it must be a deliberate decision and freewill commitment by the individual to love. Agape love is the love of one who is an altruist. It is selfless in its origins and timeless in its scope.
John 3:16
For God so loved [agapao – verb form of agape] the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God acted with selflessness in allowing His only begotten son to not only sacrifice his life, but to allow the world to beat him to the point he was not even recognizable as a man. So that all who believed could have everlasting life; so that all who believed could have physical healing.
But how often does man allow his emotions to control his actions? How much love is tossed aside today because of a misunderstanding, or because the circumstances have changed?
Renewing the mind is a deliberate decision to put the words of God in our minds and then to act according to those words, manthano. We adapt our minds and lives to the Word of God rather than allow the world, kosmos, to control our actions and reactions.
The world speaks of "falling in love" and like many others, I believed that was the pinnacle of love. To fall in love and have another fall in love with you. The problem with the fall, as my father-in-law use to say, is the abrupt stop at the end. Falling in love is impulse, it is all emotion. Impulses end and emotions change. Eros gets the hormones racing and charging until they run out of gas and disappear. Agape love is the only love that is based in a clear and deliberate decision, a willing devotion of heart and mind having nothing to do with emotion, circumstances, attraction, or self-indulgence.
Agape does not dictate an absence of emotion. Did Jesus manifest emotions? Yes, he did. Agape simply refuses to be ruled by emotion.
Walking in love will always come back to the individual believer being conditioned by the Word and not controlled by the circumstances in the world.
Agape is unconditional love and Biblically refers to a love that God is, that God shows, and that God enables His children to manifest to the world. Within this love you can see deliberate decision, commitment, and sacrifice.
Romans 5:5b
...because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
This is the Love of God in the Renewed Mind in Manifestation.
_______________________________
1. F.B. Meyer 1847-1929, English Evangelist.
2. https://www.ultius.com/glossary/literature/rhetorical-devices/merism.html
3. https://www.ultius.com/glossary/literature/rhetorical-devices/merism.html
© Auxano Ministry 2020
All verses quoted in this teaching are from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.
Mechanics of the Mind
