Imagination..does Imagination rule our lives or does GOD's Imagination.

Imagination.


1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (Amplified Bible)

14But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

15But the spiritual man tries all things [he [a]examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].

16For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

Lion
Something I like to pass along for some to grow who actually want to grow away from themselves and their imaginations so that More of Christ becomes their life keeping in with what Paul says in the same breathe as John The Baptist says
Paul: "I am crucified with Christ..it is no longer I who live But Christ who lives within me.."
John the Baptist: "HE must increase and I must decrease."

As usual I love to study GOD's Word and dive into the very deep of HIS message to US who are HIS just to continue the daily examination and the meditation I seem to always get caught up in which is actually a blessing....... So Here are my passings along to those who love to share in His Wisdom.... Grin

Coming to this text I have been truly meditating on Imagination for quite sometime because it seem that mostly to as why our BODY seems to be losing its flavor because the salt seems to be losing its taste because of all the denominations ever growing worse and the many many divisions on all kinds of non essential and non edifying points of view really based on outrageous opinions and imaginations that may use Scripture but are out of context with it drastically.. Some in the BODY tend to be to unloving as well to which this is not a fruit of Christ one iota...so I want to pass on this study so LOVE will grow in you and through you so you can head away from LOVE ever growing Cold within you.
So keeping it simple as much as I can I want to just focus on imagination from Scripture.

Starting with my first verses in the OT in Exodus Chapter 20:1-7 and really going no further but to understand what IMAGE God really means as well as the obvious. In Order to do this I must deny all my opinions, imaginations and whatever else my brain and heart wants to logically, superfically and with opinion interpret. Stopping myself and really asking to God really is saying to US. So lets us see and soak in what the Spirit will say.

Exodus 20
1THEN GOD spoke all these words:

2I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3You shall have no other gods before or besides Me.

4You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

5You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me,

6But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Now do we truly see what this all means? Now ask yourself..did you read it very very slowly not missing a single part? Besides the obvious what Truly speaks out to you? Are you getting it yet? Has Godly sense entered into your hardened mind and heart? No? read it again over and over before you move on and really think about it. Meditate on the LORD.

Okay again
Pause and then pause again. Lips Sealed Truly examine the text and please no rushing it. Lips Sealed Just meditate on it. Grin

Now look Sloooooooowly at these verses very carefully I mean with a fine toothed comb so to speak. See what GOD is truly saying. Come on it is okay to be Puritan about it hehehehe. Wink Grin

# Genesis 6:5
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually.
Genesis 6:4-6 (in Context) Genesis 6 (Whole Chapter)
# Genesis 8:21
When the Lord smelled the pleasing odor [a scent of satisfaction to His heart], the Lord said to Himself, I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the imagination (the strong desire) of man's heart is evil and wicked from his youth; neither will I ever again smite and destroy every living thing, as I have done.
Genesis 8:20-22 (in Context) Genesis 8 (Whole Chapter)
# Psalm 73:7
Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish; and the imaginations of their minds overflow [with follies].
Psalm 73:6-8 (in Context) Psalm 73 (Whole Chapter)
# Proverbs 18:11
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall in his own imagination and conceit.
Proverbs 18:10-12 (in Context) Proverbs 18 (Whole Chapter)
# Luke 1:51
He has shown strength and made might with His arm; He has scattered the proud and haughty in and by the imagination and purpose and designs of their hearts.
Luke 1:50-52 (in Context) Luke 1 (Whole Chapter)
# Acts 17:29
Since then we are God's offspring, we ought not to suppose that Deity (the Godhead) is like gold or silver or stone, [of the nature of] a representation by human art and imagination, or anything constructed or invented.

So with help above in the blk letters, do you actually understand Christian what this meditation brings? This is truly serious to you and I. With all the things and winds of doctrines of Prophetic subjects, eschatology, and the like, Have we truly been truly seeking out HIS Will in these matters to where confusion and division continue on in our BODY because of our own or someone else critical imaginations disguised as truth OR do we actually set aside our imaginations and opinions and or others taught imaginations and opinions, to truly seek out what these really mean by actually allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture? And Lastly do all we study truly centers ourselves on the Excellency of Christ JESUS alone.?

Slowly take these questions in so you do not miss it.

Ephesians 4:14
So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.

Hbr 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Our own Imaginations and opinions no matter what are graven images we tend to put in front of GOD and HIS WORD. And we must truly watch and examine ourselves to see if this is so. We are not are own any longer if We are in Christ. Even our imagination belongs to HIM.

Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

It is also taking HIS name in vain if we live with a particular world view that is outside of HIS WORD or that we apply to HIS WORD. IF we are not alert and watching even ourselves sometime our imagination or ones we tend to stand on infects the BODY with a foul smell and of arguments that never tend to edify. IF we have a world view we must examine ourselves to see if we are truly in HIS faith which is our faith. Does our world view or anothers agree with Scripture truly? Now is our world view GOD's WORLD VIEW ALONE? IF it truly is then we ALL come to agreement in the SPIRIT with no avail just like ;

1 John 5:8 and there are three witnesses on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides].

Which brings us all into unity YES thinking alike..being Like minded even when we IRON out, the and our differences which should be next to nil.

1 John 5:20 And we [ ALL have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.

As Paul Drastically and loving reminds US daily;

1 Corinthians 12:25
So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike (LIKE MINDED) should have a mutual interest in and care for one another.

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Do you see to as to how that even our own imaginations and or opinions can cause division none the less taking Scripture out of context in the process? All this to leads to taking Christs name in vain as well. And division leading into denomination has shown this vain side in our BODY. We still stand divided in our BODY which is not what UNITY or like minded means.

We also allow other interpretations vainly convince US away from the true focus of What GOD's Word truly is centered on. Does GOD's Word alone truly speak to you seriously? Are you truly living Christ Centered in all things that means truly denying yourself and your imagination?

These are things we must consider because it is Christ that should be our main focus and Center on all things not letting any prophetic or eschatological or particular points of view be a focus that will tend to take away our focus on GOD who is the Gospel alone. And Tomorrow is NEVER guaranteed while we yet live in our condemned fleshly sinful bodies we are about to shed when HE calls us home to be with HIM forever which is the chief and final end of man. Yes the ones who LOVE HIM ALONE are going for sure.

What is the Chief and highest end of man?
Man's chief and highest end of man is to Glorify GOD and to FULLY ENJOY HIM FOREVER.

Which leads us to the First part of Exodus 20 again basically in the First verse saying to love the LORD your GOD will ALL your HEART, SOUL, MIND, And Strength ALONE so you can LOVE your neighbor as your love yourselves. And you will not create an Image of any kind because GOD is the satisfaction you seek alone. All the rest will be added unto you. Wink

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)--[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).


Hope you enjoyed this meditation of mine.