Aligning With the Mind of Christ
How you see things on the outside of you, is a direct reflection on where you are on the inside of you.
Paul came from a very strict Jewish background — something God had to transform in him by renewing his understanding.
He needed to transcend his old way of thinking to align with the Mind of Christ.
Early on, we hear Paul’s Jewish upbringing speaking clearly: “Women must be quiet when you come together. Let them ask questions at home if they have any,” (1 Timothy 2:11-15).
However, later, we hear the same Paul, now speaking the language of the Spirit, the language of Love: “For there is neither male nor female in Christ,” (Galatians 3:28).
This remarkable shift reveals the journey from rigid tradition to Spirit-led revelation.
We understand, perceive, accept, or reject things based on our inner vision, beliefs, and the opinions it has forged in us.
So, in contemplating something we have never encountered or heard before, we view it through the lens of the conviction we hold within and what has been settled there as being true or acceptable (even if the information we have received in ourselves that has been established as our truth, may be wrong or incomplete).
To KNOW the Truth, we have to be open to allow the Holy Spirit to share revelation (unfiltered Divine Truth that has not been tainted by human understanding) that will come to measure our truth with His Truth.
And in the event where we may have only half a truth, or may have to change our mind about something that we thought was true, but now have come to discover has been erroneously received, we have to have the capacity and willingness to denounce those things and to follow where He leads.
On many occasions this is the battleground where religious ideas collide with Spiritual Truth, and where we are challenged to hold on to the tradition of the old or let go of them and follow The Holy Spirit in the renewing of our minds.
There is no better example of the above than is seen in the story of the Holy Spirit visiting Peter on the roof of his house.
Peter, once a devout Jew and a strict follower of the Law, was challenged to obey God in defiance of the customs and the laws He grew up with.
He could either follow The Holy Spirit or hold on to what he believed.
Stick to what he believed God said yesterday, or move with what God was saying to him in that day.
Thankfully, he allowed God to renew his mind about whom to follow and obey.
He came to realise that The Holy Spirit must be his only guide if he was to live authentically and fulfill God’s plan for his life.
Interestingly, those in Jerusalem who had been waiting for his return to correct him had to confront their own misconceptions.
After hearing his account, they realised they, too, had been wrong in what they thought was right.
It is important for each of us to come to the very same conclusion as well.
~ Johann van der Hoven
Johann van der Hoven has followed the Holy Spirit on a transformative journey since 1990. From 1991 onward, he has experienced and walked in the profound reality of God’s Presence, a journey that has shaped his life and message.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
Amen what a great message. Thank you.
Johann, this is beautifully written, especially when God had raised up some very anointed women and is presently doing so on a much larger scale. Blessings.
Paul’s comments about women had more to do with where people were at then where he was at. Remember all scripture is God breathed and as important today as back then. Many people in the church have not come to the place where it is not about male or female. Much like the world and identity politics. So for those women they still need to be silent like most of the problems in the political arena they are women who have not been set free from the sin of Adam and think their thought are above Gods and their husbands. Truly Godly women listen before they speake as we all should. Some things to think about. Remember Gods was there in the garden when the women took the fruit and ate and told her mate to do the same. People need to be set free from this mindset not go back to it. Jesus Christ is the only way and new mind a new self. Old things have passed away all is being made new.
AMEN!