HsMindSp

Spirit of Christ - mind of God - Holy Spirit

The Spirit of Christ is the mind of God. A HOLY Spirit is contrasted to an UNHOLY spirit, as a holy mind is contrasted to an unholy mind. A Holy Spirit speaks of the mental attributes of a Being along with its expression in the outward world.

See how Romans 15 defines the Synagoge and singing to the Gentiles.
Augustine A Treatis on Faith and the Creed.
Augustine The Trinity: A Summary
Theophilus who first used the Word Trias

The Gift of The Holy Spirit One
The Gift of The Holy Spirit Two
John Mark Hicks: claiming Alexander Campbell was a trinitarian
Father Son Spirit Passages: there is ONE GOD and Jesus of Nazareth whom God made to be both Lord and Christ

Athenagoras: Chapter V.-Testimony of the Poets to the Unity of God. Flourished

Neo-Trinitarianism is creeping across the land. This presents God as three co-equal, free-standing, face-to-face and side-by-side gods. However, the word "Spirit" in both Hebrew and Greek means wind. It is used for the mind or Spirit of God because of His invisible power. Because God is pure or holy Spirit, to say Spirit is to say God Who is revealed as Lord Jesus Christ Who was also the Spirit of the prophets.

Major headings
Introduction And Parable Nature
Comments of Scholars (another page)
Definition of Spirit
Other Parallels Between mind and Spirit
Spirit as Knowledge given Directly by God
All People Have God's Spirit Within
The mind of God is the Spirit of God
The mind of Christ is the Spirit of the Prophets
First Corinthians and the spirit

Introduction:The following notes are not presented as answers. Rather, they are tentative attempts to try to capture a few concepts before they get snatched away.

In order to understand any sentence it is necessary to know the meaning of the individual words. A look at the word "Spirit" or Spirit of Christ shows that it is the mental disposition of God's mind just as our Spirit is the mental disposition of our mind. When you see me coming you know that my mind or Spirit is not tagging along behind. As Adam was created in the image of God he was created with a triune nature. However, he is not three, detached people standing side by side holding conferences. A holy Spirit within a human believer is the Holy mind of God living within our innermost being or heart. A holy Spirit is the result of allowing the mind or Spirit of Christ to control our body making it a holy body with a holy mind.

God is Spirit and Speaks in Spirit Language.

If you are part of a most churches God may not be able to speak to you past the sermonizing and versifying:

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? Mt 13:10

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Mt 13:11

Musterion (g3466) moos-tay'-ree-on; from a der. of muo, (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites): - mystery

By listening to Jesus and looking for fuller revelation, the disciples had a little faith. Because of this, Jesus would open their mind s and reveal fuller information. In Acts 2:38 this is the gift of A holy Spirit and in 1 Peter 3:21 a clear conscience or a CO-perception.

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Mt.13:12

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. Matt 13:13

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: Matt 13: 14

For this peoples heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Matt 13: 15

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. Matt 13: 16

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: Matt 13:34

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. Matt 13:35

Job also describes the creation in pictorial terms and calls it a parable which is a "superior form of speech."

But how does this fit with the belief that the Holy Spirit is the "junior member of the God family who leads us in His dispensation or age." The search for truth does not have to fit any careless man-made creed. The Psalmist makes it clear that the mind of God speaks Words by blowing Spirit or wind from between His mouth which is "the means of blowing." When these Words appear to mankind even in written form they are Spirit and Life. Not that they are a "little man in the big man" but because they contain in undiluted for the mind or Spirit of God (Jn 6:63).

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Jn 6:63

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Jb.33:4
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Pr.15:4

What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. Is 38:15

O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Is.38:16

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Ro.8:2

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Ro.8:10

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2Co.3:6

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Ga.6:8

UNTO the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; Rev 2:1

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Re.2:7

By the Word (Dabar-Logos) of the LORD (Jehovah is I Am, not We are) the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath (h7307 Spirit ) of his mouth (means of blowing wind). Psalm 33:6

HE gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; HE put the deeps in storehouses. Psalm 33:7
Let all the earth fear the LORD, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! Psalm 33:8
For He spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood forth. Psalm 33:9

The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His Word was on my tongue. 2 Samuel 23:2

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 2 Samuel 23:3

Definition of Spirit of Christ as Mental Disposition Up

We need to see that:

First, the meaning of Spirit in Greek:

A Liddel and Scott search of thousands of ancient Greek documents shows that Spirit is not a person. Rather, Spirit is the disposition of mind of that being. Some uses in Classical Greek are: tribulation of Spirit, breathe a Spirit of pride, darkly brooding Spirit, melancholy upon your Spirit, Spirit of unruffled calm, unholy Spirit or reckless, avenging Spirit, an unholy Spirit.

One example of "the gift of the Spirit " in this lexicon reads "the uncharitable gift to his Spirit." Doctors of the Spirit instruct the mind, and finally the request is made to "raise up Perseus' Spirit Spirit within my breast."

AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isa 11:1

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isa 11: 2

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing Words of mans wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 1 Cor 2:4

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Cor 2: 10

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2: 16

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Isa 11: 3

But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. Isa 11: 4

Second,

Any one at the time of Christ would know that SPIRIT is used only figuratively of the MENTAL DISPOSITION of a PERSON'S MIND. On the common level people would most likely think of a ghost or demon or the departed SPIRIT of a dead person.

Spirit in the Bible overwhelmingly agrees with the classical Greek definition. Some examples which show that "Spirit" is the mental disposition of are:

[Spirit of] wisdom Deuteronomy 34:9

[Spirit of] judgment and a

[Spirit of] fire. Isaiah 4:4

[Spirit of] Seven spirits of knowledge would rest on Jesus Isaiah 11:1-3

[Spirit of] dizziness Isaiah 19:14

[Spirit of] justice Isaiah 28:6

[Spirit of] despair Isaiah 61:3

[Spirit of] prostitution Hosea 4:12

[Spirit of] grace and supplication Zechariah 12:10

[Spirit of] impurity Zechariah 13:2

[Spirit of] Jesus Acts 16:7

[Spirit of] holiness Romams 1:4

[Spirit of] life Romams 8:2

[Spirit of] sonship Romams 8:15

[Spirit of] stupor Romams 11:8

[Spirit of] unity Romams 15:5

[Spirit of] the world 1 Corinthians 2:12

[Spirit of] Faith 2 Corinthians 4:13

[Spirit of] wisdom and revelation Ephesiahs 1:17

[Spirit of] timidity,

[Spirit of] power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

[Spirit of] grace Hebrews 10:29

[Spirit of] glory 1 Peter 4:14

[Spirit of] the antichrist 1 John 4:3

[Spirit of] truth and the

[Spirit of] falsehood. 1 John 4:6

[Spirit of] prophecy. Revelation 19:10

[Spirit of] lying 1 Kings 22:22

Third, look at just one of Paul's contrasts between the human body (the old man) and the new man whose Spirit (mental disposition) of their mind (brain function) is renewed and is therefore a holy Spirit:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Ephesians 4:22

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:24

And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind; Ephesians 4:23

This means be renewed in the "mental disposition" of your mind.

Job makes it clear that God puts His Spirit and Breath into every human. When He takes this Spirit and Breath out of a person the body dies and rots away to destruction. Therefore, each person has God's Spirit (which must be holy) living within. When that Spirit conforms to God's mind or Spirit then God's laws are said to be written on the heart. Our own Spirit become holy as it is controlled by Christ's Spirit.

Other Parallels Between mind and Spirit Up

Paul is not speaking of the African concept of "little man (Spirit) in the big man (me)." The inner man is not a person different from the outer man. The Spirit of the mind is the mental disposition or attitude of the mind.

Jonathan Edwards: Views rejecting the trinity of persons He could never publish:

"There are two more eminent and remarkable images of the triad among the creatures.
The one is in the Spiritual creation, the soul of man.

There is the mind,
and the understanding or idea, and

the Spirit of the mind as it is called in Scripture,
i.e., the disposition, the will or affection.

The other is in the visible creation, viz., the Sun.

Walter Scott shows that God gives us A holy Spirit which is the mental dispositon of holiness. This renewed mind has the power to transform us from the flesh to the Spirit:

> Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right Spirit within me. Ps.51:10

> And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new Spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: Eze.11:19

Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ezek 11:20

> Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Eze 18:30

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new Spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? Eze.18:31

> A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Eze.36:26
........... And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes,
........... and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Eze 36:27

> But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit,
........... and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Ro.2:29

> Rom. 1:9 For God is my witness,
        whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son,
        that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers

Ro 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision,
        which is outward in the flesh:
Ro 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Rom. 7:23 But I see another law in my members, [flesh]
        warring against the law of my mind,
        and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:24

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then

with the mind I myself serve the law of God;
but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:25

THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh,
but (walk) after the Spirit. Romans 8:1

And if Christ be in you,
        the body is dead because of sin;
        but the spirit is life because of righteousness. Ro.8:10

The Spirit of Christ is the mind of Christ is the Holy Spirit is the mind of God. Paul wrote Romans chapter eight within the context of his many laments about the conflict between his human Spirit and his human body with its brain. His Spirit was his mental disposition and not another person living within him. Nevertheless, he wrote as if there was a mortal combat between his "holy Spirit " or mind which had been converted from an "unholy Spirit " or mental disposition. His other "person" of flesh was still interested in satisfying his human appetites. Even though he personified his own Spirit we know that Paul and his Spirit were not two separate persons.

In 1Cor 2, above, the thoughts of God is to the Spirit or mind of God as our mind is to our Spirit. Then it says that Christ is the mind of Christ or the Spirit of God. In Romans, Paul, as we might expect, said the same thing:

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:10

If the Spirit of Christ is not the One Holy Spirit then we have two Spirit s. If the Spirit of God is not the Holy Spirit then we have three Spirits. This would seem to make six Gods.

To solve this problem the Spirit is the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ. Paul tightens the noose by concluding that this means Christ in you. This is not God which would make us God Incarnate but it is God's mind or mental disposition which enlightens our Spirit so that our bodies do not go off on their own.

Within one physical body there is only one Spirit. There are not, therefore, three Spirit s in the Godhead.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; Ephesians 4:4

This makes it very convenient in understanding that if the third person is the "Spirit" of the Godhead this leaves Father and Son without a Spirit. Colossians makes this clear by showing that-

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:27

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 2 Corinthians 3:15

Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 2 Corinthians 3:16

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

God used His Breath or Spirit to Speak the Word through His double-edged sword or the lips of His mouth. God, Breath and Word are not three persons. Rather, the three "tenses" of God's mind expressing Itself in Words helps explain how God made man "in His own image." That is, man is God's visible "stamp" or imprint in the Physical world. When we see the regenerated human being we see how God, Who is pure or holy Spirit, wanted to be identified in the visible world.

The mind of Christ is the Holy Spirit of the Prophets Up

Next, let us look at Paul's explanation of the Spirit (mental disposition) of God's mind (the deep factual thoughts by which He created the universe). God hid wisdom or deep wisdom. These Words relate to God's secret plans for the earth. Jesus said that these mysteries were hidden in parables from the foundation of the world. However, He came to reveal them to those with open ears.

First, look again at what Paul wrote about the Spirit of wisdom given through Messiah:

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 1 Corinthians 2:7 (Wisdom is personified in Proverbs)

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart (thoughts or feeling) of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth (finds and belches out) all things, yea, the deep (profound) things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10

When we prepare to teach information, our Spirit searches throughout the mental storehouse of what we know. After we have the thought clearly in one place we then tell our mouth to speak.

Second, Paul understood that the Spirit Who revealed the Word to the prophets spoke to the apostles through the Son which is the visible or material manifest ion of Himself in the physical world:

GOD (Spirit), who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hebrews 1:1

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also; Hebrews 1:2

The Christ ( Spirit Anointed) has always been God. When He breathed on the prophets before His Incarnation, He was either invisible or was an angel to speak in the physical world. In the wilderness He gave water as the Rock. When God was manifest in the flesh, He became the Son which means "the name bearer" or "the family builder." When God found no human intercessor He sent His own right arm or His power but we don't expect to see the "finger of God" writing to most of us.

And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim. Jud.3:10

	Spirit of the Lord
God	The Lord
	His Hand

Third, Peter shows that the One and only Spirit was the Spirit of Christ:

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 1 Peter 1:11 Or in the LIV:

They wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about, for he told them to write down the events which, since then, have happened to Christ: his suffering, and his great glory afterwards. And they wondered when and to whom all this would happen. 1 Peter 1:11 LIV

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 2Pe.1:12

Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and

........... the Words which the Lord of hosts hath sent
........... in his Spirit by the former prophets:
........... therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. Zech 7:12

John wrote:

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10

This is why Jesus could say, "My Words are Spirit and they are Life."

The Spirit God came in the flesh to give testimony. He was the same Spirit or audible mental disposition revealed to the prophets. This is why ignoring the prophets is blaspheming the Spirit Who spoke through them.

Four, The Word was God. To operate in the physical dimension He sent His arm or finger or shoulder but these are symbols because God does not have "feathers" with which to hover over us like a mother hen.

In the three human-like person view of the One God, the Father and the Spirit could have said "let's send the Son to die for us so that He can be the translator with humans." However, there was no man and no other Intercessor or Redeemer:

Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. Isaiah 59:15

And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. Isaiah 59:16

God then laid aside His garments of glory and majesty (1 Timothy 3:16) and put on the garments of truth and righteousness:

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. Isaiah 59:17

According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense. Isaiah 59:18

There was no human who could intercede or redeem. Therefore, God sent Himself in various manifestations. He was His arm and He put on the garments of a warrior. His Spirit is God decreeing these manifestations and "showing the flag" as God operated through natural and unnatural enemies.

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isaiah 59:19

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. Isaiah 59:20

As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon thee, and my Words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. Isaiah 59:21

Earlier, Isaiah said much the same thing speaking of the Branch or Messiah. He would have the dove (or pigeon) rest upon Him as a sign of His carrying the message of God. This Spirit would not be a person moving into His human body but it would rest upon Him to show that He had the mind or Spirit of God:

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isaiah 11:2

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Isaiah 11:3

The Word in Greek is:

Logos (g3056) log'-os; from 3004; something said including the thought... also reasoning, the mental faculty or motive; by extens. a computation; spec. (with the art. in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)..

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jn 1:1

Before anything else existed,[a] there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. John 1:1LIV

a1 literally, "In the beginning." Christ, literally, "the Word," meaning Christ, the wisdom and power of God and the first cause of all things;

God's personal expression of himself to men.

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. John 20:28

The only way the Word could be with God and be God is if the Word is God's verbal expression of Himself in the physical world.
Therefore, the mind of Christ is the Spirit or mental disposition of the full Deity Who dwelled within His fleshly body:

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, Colossians 2:9

Again, Paul shows that the Spirit of a person knows what is stored in their mind or thoughts. The person, their mental structure and their Spirit must never be separated or the person will be dead.

For as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Ja.2:26

The body is the temple of the Spirit. In a parallel sense, faith is the holy temple where doing God's commandments dwells in reality. I believe that you are hungry. My temple is empty because it has no bread to give you. My faith might as well not exist.

Until "God could die" in the nineteenth century, the Holy Spirit was never called a person. Rather, God has always explained Himself in human terms: Body, Soul or Life and Spirit. He has arms, shoulders, nostrils, lips, breath.

However, Jesus said that truth was spoken in parables from the foundation of the world to hide the mysteries from those who would use it for their own advantage: repackage it and sell it to you.

God never left any doubt to those who will read the whole truth:

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1 Timothy 3:16

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philemon 2:5

who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, Philemon 2:6LIV
but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. Philemon 2:7LIV
And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal's death on a cross. Philemon 2:8LIV

Yet it was because of this that God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name which is above every other name Philemon 2:9LIV

First Corinthians and the Spirit Up

It was through charismatic speaking and singing that the Corinthians had been "carried away" to idolatry. Now, we understand that they were not physically carried. Rather, the mind or Spirit of the preacher reached inside the mind or Spirit of the worshiper and they fell into insane ecstasy. Words, Word patterns, speech, songs and musical instruments are the only way the pagan preacher could reach the innermost being or mind of another. In the same way, the mind or mental disposition of God does not carry people away. It is quiet, sane, Spiritual or mental persuasion:

NOW concerning Spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 1 Corinthians 12:1

Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 1 Corinthians 12:2

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Corinthians 12:3

The Spirit of the dumb idols would be the mental disposition of idolatry. The Spirit of God is having the mental disposition which acknowledges that Jesus is the Lord God Who is the Spirit.

To be carried away is from the Greek:

Apago (g520) ap-ag'-o; from 575 and 71; to take off (in various senses): - bring, carry away, lead (away), put to death, take away.

The meaning of "Spirit" in Greek means that this is the "mental disposition" of God which causes us to speak. If a personal Holy Spirit must make us speak then we can never confess and never be saved unless the personal Spirit moves our lips. Howeer, this is not so. Spirit ual gifts, even that of healing, is the power of the spoken Word of God:

Pneumatikos (g4152) pnyoo-mat-ik-os'; from 4151; non-carnal, i.e. (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally) a Spirit (concr.), or divinely supernatural, regenerate, religious: - Spiritual. Comp. 5591 (higher or renovated nature).

A person's mind is the thinking machine God gave us to direct our physical brain and body. The Spirit is the mental disposition of that mind. Therefore, Paul insisted that his Spirit must earnestly want to pray to God. If his mind shifts into gear to repeat some formula pray or prayer under charismatic control, then his prayer is not Spiritual:

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my Spirit prayeth, but my understanding (mind) is unfruitful (barren, plucked of fruit). 1 Corinthians 14:14

What is it then? I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the Spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Corinthians 14:15

The Greeks identified 5 languages and 70 minor dialects which were called "tongues." Many held that languages like Hebrew and Latin were supernatural languages. Many lesser dialects were held with the same honor. The oten held that prayers or comments or songs had not power unless spoken in these languages, even wen the "worshiper did not really understand the language."

Like James' temple of faith which is empty without action, speaking is the vehicle of power to exercise Spiritual power. If the Words are empty of meaning to those being addressed then the temple of the tongue is empty, dead, useless.

Mankind must exercise over their own Spirit. Yet, man who thinks and controls is not one person and his Spirit another:

And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the Spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your Spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. Malachi 2:15

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in Word, in conversation, in charity, in Spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Paul's "mental disposition" might be control by charismatic music and noise. As a result, his mind or brain is put out of commission and his Spirit or mental disposition is "gross or demonic."

We are normally faced with two choices: we can choose to fill our mind or Spirit with the mind or Spirit of non-Spiritual teachers or we can fill our Spirit with the mind of Christ which is the Spirit of God. Unless we believe that the literal Holy Spirit is going to be our spiritual teacher outside the Word of God, we should settle for the mind of Christ.

The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit is the mind of Christ. When we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts we have the mind of Christ and not a little person.

Kenneth L. Sublett

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Counter added 1.15.05 7:33p 33414 5.01.08 1234 9.22.08 7.24.11 38439

Man in Image of God	Explains His Creator	Whose Spirit is the mind of Christ
For who among men	In the same way	For who has
knows the thoughts	no one knows the thoughts	the mind of the Lord
of a man	of God	that he may instruct him?"
except the man's Spirit within him?	except the Spirit of God. (Or the mind of God) 1 Corinthians 2:11	But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:15