MIND OF CHRIST MINISTRIES, INC.
PASTOR THOMAS E. OGLESBY
P.O. BOX 85
NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY 07110
Website Address: mindofchristministries.net
E-mail:mindofchrist@verizon.net
Phone Number 973-818-2750
JUNE 2020
“WE MUST BE LED BY THE SPIRIT”
Dear Believer(s):
Looking at all of the things that are going on around us, we may feel fearful. It seems like the world has gone mad. Everywhere we look it seems that love is nowhere to be found. Life to many seems hopeless and without purpose. But I say to all Christians, I cry out to you, all is not lost. Jesus Christ did not die in vain.
We as Christians are the Light of the world. We have the power within to shine that Light into darkness, so that the world can see and know the Truth. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1John 4:4) God has given us power over all the works of the devil.
All the chaos, the mass confusion and the uncertainties of life are being orchestrated by satan. The Bible tells us, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10)
God has called us to face such times as these. We must rise up in the Spirit of God and change the focus of the world. The power of the Holy Spirit working in us can eliminate evil and tear down the strongholds of the devil. We have power over the evil one’s work. 1John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
We must not succumb to the evil ways of the world. God’s Son came to give us everlasting life. (John 3:16) God’s Son came to give us an abundant life in Him (John 10:10). People of the world are perishing because they are not looking to Jesus “from whence cometh my help.” (Psalms 121:1)
As Christians we must not sit down and believe that there is nothing we can do. We must put our faith in God to work. God is not dead. God works through us. First we must know the truth. The devil is the god of world systems of the habitable earth. We live, work, and move in and out of these world systems. These world systems are controlled to a great degree by men and women who are children of the devil. These world systems embrace business, society, politics, religion, and family relationships.
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:“ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not (sinners), lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” ( 2Corinthians 4:3-4) We as Christians were once in the world and under the power of satan. The Bible tells us, “ Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2) We must share the truth of God with those who are lost. We must allow the Holy Spirit to give us the power to do this. We must overcome our fears of circumstances and situations that look hopeless. God has not given us the spirit of fear. 2Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear comes from the devil to paralyze our faith in God and to rob us of the power he has given us.
We must share the true Word of God with the lost. In order to defeat satan, we must use the Word of God. The Word of God is power. To be armed with the Word of God is to have the most powerful tool. James said,
“The Word is able to save our souls. It can save us from the destruction of the evil one.” When Paul talks about the armor of God, the only offensive weapon against satan is the Word.
We can destroy the evil plans of satan by using the Word. We are in the world, but we are not compelled to be of the world. As Christians we must be led by the Spirit of God and not our minds. Our ability to be used by God in very challenging situations may seem hopeless to our minds. The mind will tell you I cannot love this evil person, this situation will never change, the devil has taken over my community, what can I do?
Walking in the Spirit of God is different in many ways, even opposed to the natural mind or carnal mind. This is why it is so important to ask daily in prayer for God to allow our spirit man to supersede or overrule our natural mind. Romans 8:7 says, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
God has made us to live in the world but yet not to be controlled by it. 1John 4:4 says, “Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Greater is the power of God in us than the power of the devil that’s in the world.
We are actually a three part being. We are a spirit, we have a soul (mind, will, emotions, and intellect), and we live in a body. When we are born again, our spirit man has a straight line between us and God. We have a soul which allows us to process what God is saying by His Spirit. Through our spirit man, our mind can receive instructions from God; then God’s instructions can flow down into our body. As born again believers we are to be led by our spirit, not by our mind, will, emotions or body. When we are led by the Holy Spirit we receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. (Acts 1:8) The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to witness to the lost and to take authority over the works of the enemy, and those he controls.
As Christians how can we change the world? How can God use us to abolish hatefulness, malice, envy, and hating of one another? We can change an atmosphere that is filled with the spirit of the enemy with love.
“My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God’s children, and we know him. God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him. God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other.” 1John 4:7-11(CEV) The Bible tells us in 1John 4:19-21(CEV) “We love because God loved us first. But if we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don’t love the people we can see? The commandment that God has given us is: “Love God and love each other!”
We must allow the love of God to be seen in us. The spirit of love manifested in us can save the lost or an unbeliever. God has called us for this purpose. It is time for the saved or the born again believer to rise up, get out of our religious comfort zone and become the powerful spiritual being that God wants us to be. We can allow Christ to use us to save those in darkness and bring them into the Truth and Light of God.
People today are looking for someone to help them in every area of their life. They are seeking a way out of their trouble. They are seeking peace. They are seeking joy, love, protection, security and someone who will be with them in the midst of their trouble. You and I as Christians have the answer. We know and serve the Savior that they are seeking. We can lead them to JESUS. Jesus is the answer. Let us use the power of prayer, our obedience to God, and our giving, to defeat the works and plans of satan.
Let us continue to pray for those who have lost loved ones, jobs, businesses, those faced with sicknesses and other problems because of the coronavirus pandemic. Let’s be concerned about our health and the health of others by adhering to safety and health procedures in dealing with the virus.
I am asking that we spend special time in prayer regarding the turbulent State of Our Nation. Let’s ask for God’s guidance in solving the injustices and other problems that threaten to tear us apart.
Our prayers and condolences go out to the George Floyd Family in the horrific death of their loved one.
Let us pray; “Father God, we desperately need You in facing and dealing with the trouble that confronts Our Nation. We cry out to You for godly wisdom. We cannot solve the problems we face on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to manifest the love of God in each of us for our fellow man and neighbors. Lord, with Your help, we can defeat the works of the devil. We pray that all men and women who love You will come together in one accord, in obedience to Your will. God enable us to walk and live daily in the spirit. Lord God, don’t allow the evil one to destroy us. We depend on You for total guidance and protection. We thank You God for answering our prayer. We pray this prayer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!”
I thank all of you for how you have stood with me unselfishly in your financial giving to the work of God. Only God can reward you, and I know that He will.
Let’s pray unceasingly for God to solve all of the problems that we face as individuals, and as a Nation.
Please do not forget to send in your prayer request or give us a call concerning your prayer needs. You can also go online to the Mind of Christ Ministries website: mindofchristministries.net and submit your prayer request and donation.
Special Father’s Day Prayer
“Dear God, we need more godly men and fathers today. We need men who will exibit the attributes of Jesus. I pray that You will raise up more men who will manifest the love of God in all areas of their lives; Men who are obedient to the Word of God, who are prayer warriors, and will give their gifts, talents, and time for kingdom building. Father God, for those of us who are already Your sons, empower us to become greater yielded vessels for You. We pray this prayer in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!”
Happy Father’s Day with God’s Love,
Praying Unceasingly,
Thomas Oglesby
Pastor Thomas Oglesby
