Dealing with personal holiness

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1 Peter4:7 b
1 Peter 4:7b NKJV
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
Godly thinking is at the heart of communion with God
The more one knows a person’s mind, the richer the relationship will be (Rom. 12:1–2; Eph. 4:23–24; Phil. 4:8).
The word rendered “Serious” derives from a term that literally means, “be in one’s right mind” (sōphroneō)—to be under control and not be carried away by an errant view of oneself , or undue emotion, or uncontrolled passion. (Rom. 12:3; Prov. 23:7)
Romans 12:3 NKJV
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
Mark used the term to describe the maniac Jesus freed from the legion of demons (Mark 5:15 ).
Mark 5:15 NKJV
Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.
The verb also refers to guarding the mind (Prov. 4:23 ).
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
The Christian mind must be clearly fixed on spiritual priorities and righteous living (Josh. 1:8; Matt. 6:33; Col. 3:2, 16; Titus 2:11–12 )
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Colossians 3:2 NKJV
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:16 NKJV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Titus 2:11–12 NKJV
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
Objectives that a self-indulgent, deceptive world, heavily influenced by Satan, constantly seeks to distract from, deflect, and destroy (1 John 2:15–16 ).
1 John 2:15–16 NKJV
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
When believers’ minds are subject to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5 ) and His Word they see matters from an eternal perspective. (Pss. 1:2; 19:7; 119:97, 103, 105; 2 Tim. 3:15–17)
Psalm 1:2 NKJV
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 19:7 NKJV
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
Psalm 119:97 NKJV
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:103 NKJV
How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:105 NKJV
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
2 Timothy 3:15–17 NKJV
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Holy living also requires spiritual alertness.
Watchful (nēphō), closely related in meaning to serious, denotes being spiritually observant.
Jesus expressed a similar sentiment when He warned the apostles to “be on the alert” (Matt. 24:42 ) and to “keep watching” (Matt 26:41 ).
Matthew 26:41 NKJV
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 24:42 NKJV
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
Godly thinking and spiritual alertness are crucial for the purpose of prayer.
Prayer is the access to all spiritual resources, but believers cannot pray properly if their minds are unstable due to worldly pursuits, ignorance of divine truth, or indifference to divine purposes (1 Cor. 14:15; Heb. 10:22; 1 John 5:14–15 ).
1 Corinthians 14:15 NKJV
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
Hebrews 10:22 NKJV
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
1 John 5:14–15 NKJV
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Christians who seriously study Scripture and discover its profound truths about God experience rich communion with Him (Ps. 42:1; John 14:23; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 John 1:3 )
Psalm 42:1 NKJV
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
John 14:23 NKJV
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
1 John 1:3 NKJV
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Paul called this “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16; 2 Tim. 1:7 ).
1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV
For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Holy living comes when believers read and meditate on God’s Word daily so as to know the thoughts of God and commune with Him according to His will.
Jude calls this “praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20 ).
Jude 20 NKJV
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
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