“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65:17 (Importance of a new mindset)

On April 26, 2021April 26, 2021 By Ancient PathsIn bible study1 Comment

This is an interesting verse settled in among the writings of Isaiah. It’s in the 2nd to last chapters of his book. The book of Isaiah talks about Judah and the surrounding countries at the time, it also is about a future redeemer- a suffering servant and also a victorious warrior. Isaiah speaks of times past, times to come and times to come again. It’s like the verse in Revelation “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty”. (Rev 1:8)

Christ was, Christ is and Christ is still to come.

In the future, there will be a time of the new heavens and new earth ( that are being prepared presently) when the worries and cares of your present life won’t be remembered. I could spend a lot of time wondering about this, why? how? This verse speaks of a time still to come.

Reading through the book of Isaiah, the reader understands that some prophecy has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus, and there are still other prophecies that have not passed yet, but soon will. I don’t want to get off track, but here’s some examples if your interested :

Still to come :

Fulfilled in Christ :

There’s much more, and some leave the reader wondering… for example, verses about darkness over the whole land. That happened at Christ’s death and will also happen again according to the book of revelation. (6th seal and 4th trumpet in Revelation)

Back to my main subject….in looking at the verse titled above, “And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” I wondered why would God want to remove our remembrance of this life? To me, it seems puzzling. The former things, the days we are in right now as you read this will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. This has not happened yet but it will happen. Why? I believe it is to renew us, the things of this life can heavily weigh us down, sins, hurts, life circumstances, even some things we don’t realize. We will enter into this new Kingdom with a brand new cleansed mindset. Will we remember people? maybe, I think so but I don’t know the answer to that , but this life won’t be remembered. Two things I ponder here – Were our spirit’s /soul’s with the Lord before our birth and that memory wiped out? also this shows us the IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A NEW MINDSET. God wants us to have a right mindset.

Our mindset/ thought’s are often spoken of in God’s word. We are told to continually renew ourselves and the way to do that is through God’s Word. We are instructed to consider our thoughts, take wrong thoughts captive, make sure you are thinking and meditating on the right things- (not ideas of this world and pagan ideologies) How is this renewing accomplished? We are renewed with 1) obedience, to Christ, 2) knowledge – , God’s knowledge, that is the Word of God. 3) refusing to go along with the way the world things 4) putting off your old lusts and sins 5) living in righteousness and holiness 6) Checking your thought life

5 verses on RENEWING YOUR MIND :

1-And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.Romans 12:2

2-But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness Eph 4:23-24

3- Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. PHil 4:8

4-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 2 cor 10:5

5 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, Col 3:8

Not only do we need to study and obey God’s word along with watching our thought life, but its also important to stay away from sin and anything that could potentially drag you down and into past sins. (Isaiah 5:18) That includes the friends you have (Ps 1) , the shows you watch, the music you entertain yourself with. (It is better to listen to the sharp words of a wise man than to listen to the song of fools.Eccl 7:5) I can’t find it, maybe its in another version that what I’m using (I use NLT and NKJV) but there was a verse that I remember where God was saying the people sit around and listen and entertain themselves with idle, worthless music. And you might be wondering, what’s the big deal?
Well, King Solomon explains:

Keep your heart with all diligence, ( Guard your heart above all else)
For out of it spring the issues of life. ( for it determines the course of your life)
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, ( avoid perverse and corrupt speech)
And put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet, ( stay on the safe path)
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.Prov 4:23-27

What we see, what we hear, where we go, what we do goes into our heart and it comes out in issues of our life. Your heart is like a spring and there are branches out of this into your life. I wrote a post on this a while ago describing the heart. It’s both a spring like of water and there is also, among believers, the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Back to my subject… former things won’t be remembered, it’s important to renew your mind and with that, I want to share a vision, I was part awake and then I woke up and I could see the vision continuing, which may further explain what will happen to us in the end time – being completely renewed ( not remembering all the dirt , sorrows, pains and hard times of life) and also I sometimes think this is how we were originally created in the beginning….

A dream and vision of a garment of brilliant light ; early in the morning, I was waking up out of a very different dream. It seemed there had been an innumerable amount of time and hours spent searching through my entire life- an exhaustive study- you could say of me. Things were being taken out of my life- every bad thing I had ever done and said, along with every wrong or bad thing that had happened to me. All of this was being taken out of me and put in a canister that was being held by an angel. There was much- intense study- searching back to my early childhood. I stood there as my life was being cleaned out – as if they were going in my heart/spirit and cleaning everything out. I was waking up and the dream/ vision still continued as I was awake – watching it all play out before my eyes. They had gone back to my toddler days- every hurt was being taken out of me, things I didn’t even realize were there. Times when I had sinned, hurt others, moments of sadness, times when others hurt me. They didn’t stop until every wrong, every hurt, every evil was gone. It was amazing to think that even as a small child, there were things that I didn’t even know were there. They were taking out all the times I had been hurt or hard times I had suffered- even back to my toddler and childhood days. It was amazing.. This was no short event, it seemed to go on forever, but as I watched, and I was awake fully now, I could see a bright light around and on me, I could see myself standing up with my arms out as my life was searched and cleaned out.(At this point I am fully awake and watching this) I looked at the canister and it was almost full and I turned to see myself, I looked- and in amazement I had turned into this brilliant shining white light. My arms, my clothes were like a bright white shining light. I could see myself on a brilliant white step and there I was- a brilliant shining white light. I was changed and transformed. I wonder if this is what will happen when the Lord changes us when He returns again! It was amazing.

https://prepareforthelamb.com/2020/04/14/be-dressed-and-ready-with-your-light-burning-our-garments-in-the-unseen-world/

https://prepareforthelamb.com/2013/07/27/create-in-me-a-clean-heart-o-god-and-renew-a-right-spirit-within-me-psalm-51-19/

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

This is so important to the Lord, not only will He cleanse us in the future, but He instructs us to be continually renewed in our minds and hearts while on this earth. Make renewing your mind in Christ a part of your everyday life.

Lord,
Create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Show us the old paths, the right way to go,we will
not turn to the left or right but set our face like flint toward you. Watch over us, O Lord, guide in the way to go
cleanse our hearts and make us acceptable before you.
In the precious name of Jesus,
Amen

https://prepareforthelamb.com/2013/07/27/create-in-me-a-clean-heart-o-god-and-renew-a-right-spirit-within-me-psalm-51-19/

Christos Anesti, Aléthos Anesti Which is Greek for : “Christ is Risen!” And we reply “Indeed He Has! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

On April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 By Ancient PathsIn bible studyLeave a comment

In the Greek tradition, we crack eggs each Easter. One person says “Christ is Risen” and the other says “Indeed He has” and we smash eggs. (Its a fun time for the family and each year there is a winner- the one with the unsmashed egg wins, usually my brother wins and I always accuse him of cheating- it’s never ending) Legend has it that eggs were brought to the tomb by Mary that special morning.The eggs are dyed red in remembrance of the blood of Jesus, the shell represents the tomb that couldn’t hold Him, the smash of the egg is in remembrance of what Jesus did to the power of the grave by disarming the powers and authorities, making a public spectacle of our enemies. Amen!

Disclaimer: This is what I imagine and also what I’ve seen along with scripture on the death, burial and resurrection of our Blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A great heavenly host of angels, the prophets, the forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Archangel Gabriel and all of Heavens armies, the entire host of heaven surrounded the cross at that moment. They had watched as the Son of God as He was tried and beaten throughout the night, they watched as He carried the cross, beaten and bruised. The entire heavens stood silent as He was nailed to the cross. A great silence and stillness covered the heavens as tears slipped down their faces, their fury held back as they watched the Savior suffer in utter torment. Abraham watching his children spit and strike the Lord, the angels wanting desperately to rescue Him, and the prophets of old bowing their heads with broken hearts as they all watched the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Lion of tribe of Judah and the King of kings brutally nailed to a cross. The Savior of the world in deep abandonment, sorrow, pain and rejection. It was through Him the earth an all creation was made, yet we didn’t recognize Him. He took the punishment we deserved. On the cross for 6 hours and soon the skies became as night. Dark clouds billowed in mid day and darkness covered the land. His friends, disciples, His mother, Joseph of Arimathea and many more stood off at distance on a small hill, they were still in the darkness facing the cross. After and after 3 hours of darkness, they heard the Lord cry out “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” and then another cry “It is finished!” He bowed his head and released his spirit. It was done. He died, the earth quaked, the graves opened, the dead came back and were seen among the living, The soldiers gasped in fear and exclaimed ” Truly, this was the Son of God!”. The thick veil in the temple tore in two as the earth shaking, sky pitch black darkness, fear in every heart, walls crumbling, dead digging their way out…… and the proclamation echoed out:

“See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. FOR HE will startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence! For they will see what they had not been told; they will understand what they had not heard about. And because of his experience, ” My righteous servant has made it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he has borne all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death.” He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. He has opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. Amen!
He has made the people holy by the blood He shed, He has now become our High Priest. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. He mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. ”

As He released His spirit, He was taken up into the arms of the heavenly host who quickly gathered around Him and held Him with great love, comforting Him.

Now an honorable man, Joseph of Arimathea, took the body of Jesus down with the help of Roman soldiers, Nicodemus and a few others. It was still dark as they took down His body. I could see them releasing HIs feet first, then His hands, His body slumped over on Joseph as they came in to prepare His body. He was wrapped in white linen , placed in a wooden box like a casket with no top so they could properly carry Him. It was still dark and there were about 6 men carried the Lord to a place Joseph had prepared for Him. Guards were set over His grave so no one could claim that He would rise again as He had told His disciples, yet on the third day, another great earthquake shook the ground, a mighty angel came down and rolled the stone away and sat on it. The guards shook with fear and fell into a dead faint. The angel told the women ” Jesus is not here! He is risen from the dead!

He had risen, but He had not yet ascended to the Father. He told the disciples not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father. Remember what Jesus said- the only sign given to them would be the sign of Jonah, just as he was in the belly of the whale for 3 days and 3 nights so the Son of Man will be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth. Moses and Elijah were there to witness, they had met Jesus before hand at the Mount of transfiguration to discuss what was to come. Jesus had a mission….

At His death, He disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of our enemies in high places! For He, our redeemer, triumphed over them by the cross.

Remember Jesus’ words in Mathew 12 and Luke 4 :

For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. “This evil generation keeps asking me to show them a miraculous sign. But the only sign I will give them is the sign of Jonah. What happened to him was a sign to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. What happens to the Son of Man will be a sign to these people that he was sent by God…….

When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the Lord God will live among us there. Psalm 68:18

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people. Eph 4:7-8

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit 1 Peter 4:6

Who shall descend into the deep(go down to the abyss)? Roman 10

So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:19-21

Jesus had risen from the dead, but had not ascended to the Father, so where was He for the 3 days? In 1 Peter, we are told He preached to the spirits in prison- the people from long ago who died in the flood of Noah’s day. When did He do this? based on Matthew 12 and 4, I believe this happened while He was in “the heart of the earth for three days and three nights”. What I find so amazing about this- whether it happened at this moment or not- it did happen, is that God, after 4000-5000 years, he still deeply cared for all those souls who perished in the flood. He wanted to make a way for not only us today and all those after Christ, but also a way for all those who had died since the beginning of our time.

knowing this, I can imagine it now, I can see it as it’s happening:
There He is, Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, given ALL AUTHORITY in Heaven and Earth from God the Father. He is holding the keys to Hades. He enters in the heart of the earth, the dark abyss with a mighty angelic force behind Him. Entering into the gates of Hell Proclaiming freedom every captive “ You have been set free! I have come to save You! Your Father in Heaven has sent for you!” His voice like thunder echoing throughout for every man and woman to hear. Teaching and preaching to them the Good News. He walked through the gates of Hell and throughout the pit of Hell, making sure He spoke to everyone who had ever been created, gathering as many as He could. Demons surrounding Him silenced in His Power unable to speak and filled with weakness, trembling in His presence. The Savior, full of power and authority continued showing the captives His hands and feet, showing everyone what our Savior had done so they could be set free. Many called out to Him, grabbing on to Him, following and believing, but yet others – in anger like the Pharisees, mocked Him and treated Him as the people of the world had treated Him. Just as the Pharisees knew He was God and choose to reject Him for their own pride, status and evil hearts, so some of the people in heart of death also treated Him.

So the Lord Jesus took His captives to freedom as they He gathered them into the Heavens, out of the pit of torment and dread that was supposed to be eternal for each one of them. As they reached the Great Throne room before the Lord God Almighty, the Lord’s heart leaped for joy to see His children. He gave each one a Great Embrace as is they were the only child of the Father- telling them- “ My Child, I have always loved you with an everlasting love. Since the very beginning, even those of you who died in the flood during the days of Noah, I have never forgotten you. You have never left my mind. I am filled with Joy that you are here with me. I have a place prepared for you.” ( God never forgets you)

Jesus came back to earth to see and talk to His friends giving them instructions and proving that He is the Son of the Living God many times after His resurrection. Today, He sits today at the right hand of God the Father. The heavens, the freed captives, and the angelic host filled the heavens with great Praises to the King of Kings and they have never stopped – even unto this day- I can still hear them sing praises to the new born king, Peace on earth, goodwill toward men, Christ was born in Bethlehem -the praises to Him ring forth forever and ever.
Amen and Glory Hallelujah! Our King is Risen.

As we say each Easter in celebration of Christ and God’s love for us :“Christos Anesti” and we continue to reply “Aléthos Anesti “ Which means : “Christ is Risen!” And we reply “Indeed He Has! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Wont you join Him? There’s a place for you before His mighty throne, as space made before Him just for you – yes, for you as if you were His only child.

Who has believed our message?
To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?
My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot,like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him
the sins of us all.
He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
Unjustly condemned,he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.
He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.
But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins.
I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels