Forgetting, Reaching Forth, and Pressing

The mind is a funny thing. It seems to have its own, well, mind. It seems to have a keen desire to dwell on the past—either to lounge in nostalgia or shudder in regret and shame.

We will never be transformed into the image of the invisible Yahweh if we dwell on our past actions. As long as guilt, regret, and shame are the fruit of the garden of our minds, we will never bear the “much fruit” that Christ foresees for us.

That is why our Father has provided the way to put a finality to all sins, faults, and recriminations sourced from our old lives. This finality Christ has already done for us at the cross. When we acknowledge and believe that our old selfish nature died with Christ, then we are freed from all negativity and become new creatures in Him.

This is the preliminary step that triggers not only real spiritual growth, but also clarifies our minds today as we walk with Him. The cross experience is the end of our old adamic nature; it also is our beginning a new life when we believe that we are raised from the dead with Christ.

Remembering these things cleanses our mind. It is deliberately thinking on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy, “think on these things. Those things, which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me [Paul], do, and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9). It is thinking on His eternal purpose that will drive our mind’s thoughts out of the  garden of our mind.

This subject is the lifeforce of the apostle Paul’s being. In all humility, he knew that he was not “there” yet. He, therefore said, “but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus [Yahshua]”. Forget the past and embrace the things to come in the future. That’s past and future.

What about the present? What do we do now? We keep on pressing; keep on growing spiritually through studying the apostles’ doctrine, through adding the seven attributes of the Spirit to our faith, and obeying Christ’s New Commandment to love like He loves. Doing all these is how we love Him. We must “cast our care on Him.” We do this by caring about what He cares about. It is all about Christ.    Kenneth Wayne Hancock

New Book: “The Additions to the Faith” Published Online

My new book, The Additions to the Faith, is published on this website. Here is the link: https://immortalityroad.wordpress.com/the-additions-to-the-faith/ You also may get there by clicking on the title of the book at the top of the home page of Immortality Road. I uploaded the first 20 chapters and will continue to do more chapters every few days.

I am very excited about this volume. It contains many revelations that assist the sons and daughters of God in their quest to grow into the “measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). It explores the mind of Christ operating in His apostles–Peter, Paul, and John. And Christ’s thoughts toward us yearn for us to become like Him. His promise to us is SPIRITUAL GROWTH! We just need to surrender to the Master Potter and let Him mold us in His way.

We grow spiritually when we add the seven attributes of God’s divine nature to the Son’s faith now residing in us. This book sheds light and plants seeds for your perfection/maturity. May The Additions to the Faith build you up into the fulness that Christ has for you.

Please stay in touch, for the days are evil. I long for all of you, my brothers and sisters, to share your testimonies with us. It is very edifying to hear how God is reaching the “7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

May that great invisible Spirit Yahweh breathe on you a blessing you cannot contain. May it spill over onto a thousand thirsty ears. Kenneth Wayne Hancock