(Part 4) Growing Trees of Righteousness: Where does the root of a righteous thought get its vitality?

Four weeks ago we began this message series and I shared with you about a really wonderful set of Kenneth Copeland daily broadcasts where he had a very interesting guest named Dr. Caroline Leaf, who is not only a Christian, but who has also been a brain scientist for over 30 years.  In these broadcast Dr. Leaf and brother Copeland tie Scripture to science and give a true revelation of just how literal the Bible actually is.  For example, thoughts in your brain physically look like a tree, and a bad thought, will generate bad proteins and chemistry in your brain effecting cells around this thought, and if you dwell long enough on it, you can actually impact every cell in your body, and this can lead to sickness and disease.  You have to purposefully decide what you are going to dwell upon, and if you dwell upon wickedness and evil, then it can literally consume you spiritually, mentally, and physically, because it has been also been found in neuroscience that you were not just spiritually designed to walk in love and forgiveness as the Bible teaches, but you were physically designed to walk in love and forgiveness also.

The first week of this message we began our Bible study with reading in Isaiah chapter 61.  Let’s jump to verse 3 and read that again.  The Bible says…

Isaiah              61:3   To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto

                                  them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the

                                  garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they

                                  might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of

                                  the LORD, that He might be glorified.

The first week of this message we discussed that here the Bible says that there are three demonic attacks that try to come against us and they are ashes, mourning, and a spirit of heaviness.  These three are a progression where the ashes express some sort of loss, the mourning is the grieving for that loss, that can lead to such a spirit of heaviness that it is just hard to go on, but this verse we just read tells us something truly beautiful, for it says that the LORD has three things for us also and they are beauty, oil of joy, and a garment of praise.  These three are a progression as well and each is given in exchange for each of the demonic attacks.  The “beauty” we discussed is the truth that if you know Jesus as LORD and Savior, every day you have a new day with the LORD, and whether you live or die …you win.  Now while you are here on the planet, God has a purpose and assignment for you, so the goal is to live.  Then the LORD says that once you realize the beauty of the truth that everyday is a new day with the LORD, then the LORD says He wants to put joy on you such that it is just stuck all over you like oil.  Praise God!  Then the LORD says that He has given us a garment of praise.  Do you know what is true about a garment?  You have to choose to put it on!  Praise God!  Put on some praise.  On purpose lift your hands in the air and just say I praise you Jesus …either for the situation, …or for getting you through the situation, …but either way …you praise the LORD.

Then we asked the question, “What are you doing when you do these things?”.  You are making the willful choice to cast off ashes, mourning and heaviness in your thoughts and spirit …and exchange them for beauty, joy, and praise.  Let’s go back now and read why God provided this exchange for us.  Let’s read Isaiah 61 and verse 3 again.  The Bible says…

Isaiah               61:3  … that they might be called trees of righteousness, the

                                  planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.

Here we see that God wants us called “trees of righteousness”.  Praise God!  Isn’t it amazing to think about the fact that a thought in our mind looks like a tree? 

God is saying that He wants these hurtful, harmful things removed from our minds and He wants them replaced with thoughts that He plants, …thoughts of righteousness, …thoughts of right-thing-doing, …so that we will be the planting of the LORD, with His thoughts planted in out minds, so that our lives …might bring Him glory.  Praise God!  God wants us …to think His thoughts …after Him, …by allowing Him …to plant His thoughts …into our minds. 

In week 2 of this series we discussed bad thoughts and using the book of James we showed that bad thoughts are not from the LORD.  The Bible says…

James             3:14   But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts,

                                  glory not, and lie not against the truth.

                        3:15   This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly,

                                  sensual, devilish.

                        3:16   For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and

                                  every evil work. 

Let’s stop here for a moment.  Here we learn that harboring bitter envying and strife in your heart is not from God.  Think of the word “harbor” for a moment.  To “harbor” means that the boat is tied to the dock and the crew is unloading its cargo.  If you harbor envy and strife, then those thoughts will unload their cargo in your brain.   According to Dr. Leaf, she says that when you think on evil and strife it actually causes the brain to fold unusually where that thought is, and these unusual folds cause electrical turmoil in the signals that are supposed to be being sent in your brain, and it literally causes confusion in the signals that your brain is sending.  So the Bible is both spiritually and physically correct in saying that “where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work”, because people harboring these ungodly thoughts are not thinking God’s thoughts after Him, …so they are warping their brains …and physically hurting themselves, …which will them lead them to perform evil deeds. 

Then we discussed one of the most power verses in the entirety of the Scriptures and that is Mark 11:22 and following.  Listen to what Jesus said…

Mark    11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 

             11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this

                        mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and

                        shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things

                        which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever

                        he saith.

             11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when

                        ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Here Jesus just said that if you will have faith in God, you can ask what you will and it will be done.  Praise God!  Then we read and discussed the next verses.  The Bible says…

Mark    11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against

                        any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you

                        your trespasses.

             11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in

                        heaven forgive your trespasses.

Here we see that receiving the blessing from God …is hinged …upon you …choosing …to be obedient to the LORD’s command …to forgive, …but if you choose not to forgive, …then that unforgiveness …is going to keep unloading that cargo …in your brain, …and you will not receive from the LORD. 

Instead, if you will love the LORD and act in obedience to His command to forgive, then Jesus says the doors of heaven will open to you and you can have whatsoever you desire.  Praise God!

Last week we learned how to rid ourselves of wrong thoughts by taking note that plants grow from the root up, and noting that if you get rid of the root, you will get rid of the plant.  Since thoughts look like trees, it is interesting to think of the fact that if we get rid of the root of a thought, that would get rid of the thought.  Then we asked the question, “just what is the root of a thought?”  Listen to what Jesus says…

Matthew    6:31   Therefore take no thought, saying, …

Jesus says that the way you take a thought …is to say it.  You take a thought by saying it.  This …is …so …important, …because it means …that the root of a thought …is saying …that thought.  We covered this is detail last week with more examples, but the point is the root of a thought, …is saying the thought.  Then we looked at the book of proverbs.  Listen to what it says…

Proverbs  26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where

                            there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.   

Here we see that the Bible teaches us that evil words are like adding fuel to a fire and will cause strifeful thoughts that lead to strifeful situations.  In fact we showed last week that a person can make themselves into a natural brute beast by continually speaking things that go against the Word and will of God, for we studied II Peter chapter 2 beginning in verse 11, where the Bible says…

II Peter     2:11   Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might,

                            bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 

                 2:12   But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and

                            destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not;

                            and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

                 2:13   And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they

                            that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are 

                            and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own 

                            deceivings while they feast with you;

Here we see that people who continually speak against the Word and will of God are making themselves into natural brute beast made to be taken and destroyed, and verse 13 and other Scriptures we studied showed that these people have deceived themselves.

So we showed that the root of evil thoughts and evil deeds is speaking the evil, because by doing so you are causing that thought to take root in your brain and it will eventually affect your actions. 

Last week we also showed how to cause right thoughts to take root in your brain for the Bible says…   

Romans  10:8   The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:

                          that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Here we see that that God’s Word is supposed to be so close to us, that it is coming out of our mouths, so that we are sowing seeds of righteousness, taking thoughts of righteousness, growing trees of righteousness in our brains, and becoming right-thing-doers living in accordance to the Word and will of God, for when you do this, you release the life-giving, miracle-working power of God into your life to manifest the promises of God.

This week I want us to examine just where it is that we are to extend the root of our thoughts.  Through the root comes the nourishment, life and energy of a plant.  It is through the root that the vitality of the plant comes, for if you pull the plant up by the roots, the plant will die.  I want you to hear what the apostle Paul prays for us under the influence of the Holy Ghost.  The Bible says…

Ephesians  3:14   For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord

                             Jesus Christ,

                  3:15   Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

                  3:16   That He would grant you, according to the riches of His

                             glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the

                             inner man;

                  3:17   That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,

                             being rooted and grounded in love,

Let’s stop right here.  Here we see that we are to be rooted in love.  Our thoughts should be getting all their nourishment, all their vitality, all their life …from love …for we are to be rooted and grounded in love.  Put your marker right here in the Bible and turn with me over to I John chapter 4 and let’s begin our reading in verse 16.  The Bible says…

I John   4:16   And we have known and believed the love that God hath to

                        us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God,

                        and God in him.

Praise God!  Did you hear what this just said?  Here we just read that the Bible says that God does not have love, but instead the Bible says, “God is love”.  Now let’s turn back to the prayer that the apostle Paul prays for us in the book of Ephesians in chapter 3 and read again verse 17.  The Bible says…

Ephesians  3:17   That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,

                             being rooted and grounded in love,

Here we see that we are to be rooted and grounded in love, and since God is love, then we are to be rooted and grounded in God, and in His Word, and in His faith, and in His power, and in His glory.  Praise God!  That means we should seek to make the nourishment …of every thought… the love of God …and realize …that if that thought …is not a love thought, …then it is not …getting its nourishment from God.  This puts a whole new light on the verses from II Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 5, where the Bible says…

II Corinthians 10:5   Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that

                                  exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and

                                  bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience

                                  of Christ; 

Our thought life should be rooted and grounded in love, our thought life should be rooted and grounded in God, our thought life should be rooted and grounded in Jesus, our thought life should be rooted and grounded in God’s Word, and our thought life should be rooted and grounded in God’s Spirit.  If our every thought is to be brought into the obedience of Christ, then our every thought should be brought into the obedience …of love.  Praise God! 

That means when that Godless unsaved heathen is rude to you for no reason, and yells at you, or speaks rudely to you, you have to tell the hot sauce that tries to rise in you blood, “no, no, no, I am rooted and grounded in love”, and then have the realization that the reason that this Godless, unsaved, heathen is in your face …is because he is a Godless unsaved heathen …and he is screaming out for help …and his spirit knows …you have the answer.  So what do you do?  You reveal to him the love of God, through your words, through your actions, through your attitude, through your receptiveness to seeing this person, and if possible through the Holy Scriptures.

Let’s go back to Paul’s prayer that he prays for us in Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 17.  The Bible says…

Ephesians  3:17   That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,

                             being rooted and grounded in love,

                  3:18   May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the

                             breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

comprehend- 2638-katalambavnw katalambanoµ, kat-al-am-ban´-o; from 2596 and 2983; to take eagerly, i.e. seize, possess, etc. (lit. or fig.):— apprehend, attain, come upon, comprehend, find, obtain, perceive, (over-) take.

Vines- 1. katalambano (2638) properly signifies “to lay hold of”; then, “to lay hold of so as to possess as one’s own, to appropriate.” Hence it has the same twofold meaning as the Eng. “to apprehend”; (a), “to seize upon, take possession of,” (1) with a beneficial effect, as of “laying hold” of the righteousness which is of faith, Rom. 9:30 (not there a matter of attainment, as in the Eng. versions, but of appropriation); of the obtaining of a prize, 1 Cor. 9:24 (rv, “attain”); of the apostle’s desire “to apprehend,” or “lay hold of,” that for which he was apprehended by Christ, Phil. 3:12-13; (2) with a detrimental effect, e.g., of demon power, Mark 9:18; of human action in seizing upon a person, John 8:3-4; metaphorically, with the added idea of overtaking, of spiritual darkness in coming upon people, John 12:35; of the Day of the Lord, in suddenly coming upon unbelievers as a thief, 1 Thess. 5:4; (b), “to lay hold of” with the mind, to understand, perceive, e.g., metaphorically, of darkness with regard to light, John 1:5, though possibly here the sense is that of (a) as in 12:35; of mental perception, Acts 4:13; 10:34; 25:25; Eph. 3:18. See attain, No. 2, come, Note (8), find, obtain, overtake, perceive, take.

Note: Cf. epilambano, “to take hold of,” always in the middle voice in the NT. See hold. 

depth-899-bavqo" bathoás, bath´-os; from the same as 901; profundity, i.e. (by impl.) extent; (fig.) mystery:— deep (-ness, things), depth.

Vines- 1. bathos (899) is used (a) naturally, in Matt. 13:5, “deepness”; Mark 4:5, kjv, “depth,” rv, “deepness”; Luke 5:4, of “deep” water; Rom. 8:39 (contrasted with hupsoma, “height”); (b) metaphorically, in Rom. 11:33, of God’s wisdom and knowledge; in 1 Cor. 2:10, of God’s counsels; in Eph. 3:18, of the dimensions of the sphere of the activities of God’s counsels, and of the love of Christ which occupies that sphere; in 2 Cor. 8:2, of “deep” poverty; some mss. have it in Rev. 2:24.

Praise God!  Let’s stop right here.  This says that if you are “rooted and grounded in love”, then you “may be able to comprehend”.  In other words, if the roots of your thought life are nourishing on the love of God, then you are going to start thinking correctly, praise God, for you are going to be learning to think God’s thoughts after Him, and receiving the nourishment for your thought life from the wells of living water.  Praise God!

Let’s read again this verse.  The Bible says…

Ephesians  3:17   That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,

                             being rooted and grounded in love,

                  3:18   May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the

                             breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

Here Paul prays that if we are rooted in love, nourishing our thoughts from God Himself, that not only will we start thinking correctly, but we are going to be able to understand …classical Newtonian physics …in that we will understand our three dimensional world’s breadth, length, and height.  That means God will reveal to you how this three-dimensional world works.  That is why that I have found that the absolutely best scientist, engineers, inventors, and doctors throughout history, for the most part, have also been devout men and women of God.  So God says that if your thoughts are rooted and grounded in Him, He will help you understand this three-dimensional world, but I want you to notice something else in this verse.  This verse shows us that there is another dimension beyond that which is measured with classical Newtonian physics for listen to what it says again.  The Bible says…

Ephesians  3:17   That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,

                             being rooted and grounded in love,

                  3:18   May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the

                             breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

Here we see that a fourth dimension is mentioned beyond our three –dimensional world and that dimension is “depth”.  So that means that God is saying that if we are rooted and grounded in Him, which is the same as being rooted and grounded in love, that He will help us to understand things outside of the dimensional reality in which we live.  The word “depth” here is defined as “extent, and mystery”.  So by allowing our thoughts to be rooted and grounded in God, there is a mystery that Paul prays that God will reveal to true believers.  I believe that this is talking about the realm …that we call …quantum physics.  In quantum physics subatomic particle sense each other and respond to each other at quantum speeds that are as much and possibly greater than 10,000 times the speed of light. 

That is why one electron on one side of an atom can sense another electron on the other side of the atom, while on the atomic scale, they are a tremendous distance apart, and this applies also to atoms, and molecules, and I also believe this applies to people, since we are made of subatomic particles, atoms, and molecules.  This interaction between particles is called “entanglement theory” where even though these particles are separated they are entangled together.  Albert Einstein called this “spooky action at a distance”.  Dr. Leaf in her studies and research said that all the interactions in the mind are happening at quantum speeds.  In fact there is an energy that people generate that others can sense.  This can be for positive or negative, but this also explains why someone can know someone else has a need or something, even before they interact.  It is because …they are quantum mechanically “entangled”.  Things like “love” and “hate” are not things we can measure with a ruler, thermometer, or calorimeter as we would in classical physics, but “love” and hate” and things like that exist in the quantum realm, for they involve entanglement between people …even at a distance.  Relationships are actually quantum mechanical in nature.  Dr. Leaf says that the reason scientists pushed quantum mechanics to the side 50-75 years ago and chose instead to view the world with classical physics, is that when they were studying quantum mechanics …they realized …that they were studying God.  Today science has realized that in order to make the next big step in science, you are going to have to study quantum mechanics, which is why quantum mechanical computers are being discussed and artificial intelligence, and the verse we just read stated that if you will root your thoughts in love, which is rooting them in God, then God will reveal these things to you.

Well, let’s go back now and read this again and look at the mystery that God wants to reveal to you, if you are rooted and grounded in love.  The Bible says…

Ephesians  3:17   That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,

                             being rooted and grounded in love,

                  3:18   May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the

                             breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

                  3:19   And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, …

know- 1097-ginwvskw ginoµskoµ, ghin-oce´-ko; a prol. form of a primary verb; to “know” (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many impl. (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):— allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know (-ledge), perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.

Vines- 2. ginosko (1097), “to know,” is rendered “allow” in Rom. 7:15 (kjv); the rv has “that which I do I know not”; i.e., “I do not recognize, as a thing for which I am responsible.” See aware, can, feel, know, perceive, resolve, speak, sure, understand. 

Know-Vines- 1. ginosko (1097) signifies “to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand,” or “to understand completely,” e.g., Mark 13:28, 29; John 13:12; 15:18; 21:17; 2 Cor. 8:9; Heb. 10:34; 1 John 2:5; 4:2, 6 (twice), 7, 13; 5:2, 20; in its past tenses it frequently means “to know in the sense of realizing,” the aorist or point tense usually indicating definiteness, Matt. 13:11; Mark 7:24; John 7:26; in 10:38 “that ye may know (aorist tense) and understand, (present tense)”; 19:4; Acts 1:7; 17:19; Rom. 1:21; 1 Cor. 2:11 (2nd part), 14; 2 Cor. 2:4; Eph. 3:19; 6:22; Phil. 2:19; 3:10; 1 Thess. 3:5; 2 Tim. 2:19; Jas. 2:20; 1 John 2:13 (twice), 14; 3:6; 4:8; 2 John 1; Rev. 2:24; 3:3, 9. In the passive voice, it often signifies “to become known,” e.g., Matt. 10:26; Phil. 4:5. In the sense of complete and absolute understanding on God’s part, it is used, e.g., in Luke 16:15; John 10:15 (of the Son as well as the Father); 1 Cor. 3:20. In Luke 12:46, kjv, it is rendered “he is … aware.” 

In the NT ginosko frequently indicates a relation between the person “knowing” and the object known; in this respect, what is “known” is of value or importance to the one who knows, and hence the establishment of the relationship, e.g., especially of God’s “knowledge,” 1 Cor. 8:3, “if any man love God, the same is known of Him”; Gal. 4:9, “to be known of God”; here the “knowing” suggests approval and bears the meaning “to be approved”; so in 2 Tim. 2:19; cf. John 10:14, 27; Gen. 18:19; Nah. 1:7; the relationship implied may involve remedial chastisement, Amos 3:2. The same idea of appreciation as well as “knowledge” underlies several statements concerning the “knowledge” of God and His truth on the part of believers, e.g., John 8:32; 14:20, 31; 17:3; Gal. 4:9 (1st part); 1 John 2:3-13, 14; 4:6, 8, 16; 5:20; such “knowledge” is obtained, not by mere intellectual activity, but by operation of the Holy Spirit consequent upon acceptance of Christ. Nor is such “knowledge” marked by finality; see e.g., 2 Pet. 3:18; Hos. 6:3, rv. 

The verb is also used to convey the thought of connection or union, as between man and woman, Matt. 1:25; Luke 1:34. 

Knowledge- 1108-gnw`si" gnoµsis, gno´-sis; from 1097; knowing (the act), i.e. (by impl.) knowledge:— knowledge, science.

Vines- 1. gnosis (1108), primarily “a seeking to know, an enquiry, investigation” (akin to A, No. 1), denotes, in the NT, “knowledge,” especially of spiritual truth; it is used (a) absolutely, in Luke 11:52; Rom. 2:20; 15:14; 1 Cor. 1:5; 8:1 (twice), 7, 10, 11; 13:2, 8; 14:6; 2 Cor. 6:6; 8:7; 11:6; Eph. 3:19; Col. 2:3; 1 Pet. 3:7; 2 Pet. 1:5, 6; (b) with an object: in respect of (1) God, 2 Cor. 2:14; 10:5; (2) the glory of God, 2 Cor. 4:6; (3) Christ Jesus, Phil. 3:8; 2 Pet. 3:18; (4) salvation, Luke 1:77; (c) subjectively, of God’s “knowledge,” Rom. 11:33; the word of “knowledge,” 1 Cor. 12:8; “knowledge” falsely so called, 1 Tim. 6:20.

Here we see that Paul prays for us to “know the love of Christ”, which passes all “knowledge”.  At first glance it seems a quandary to think that you can “know” something that surpasses all “knowledge”, for if it surpasses knowledge, how can it be known? 

This all becomes clear when we look at the definitions of the words.  Let’s begin with the word “knowledge”.  This word is defined as “a seeking to know, an enquiry, and investigation” and it has been translated as “science”.  “Science” is defined as “the systematic study of physical and natural world through observation and experiment”.  So Paul is praying that you would “know” something that goes beyond classical Newtonian physics that I can weigh with a balance or measure with a ruler.  Now let’s look at this word “know” from the phrase “to know the love of Christ”, for the word, “know”, here by definition means, “to recognize and understand, and it indicates a relation between the person “knowing” and the object known; in this respect, what is “known” is of value or importance to the one who knows, and hence the establishment of the relationship”. 

So in essence what Paul is saying i…s that to know the love of Christ, …is to be “entangled” with Love Himself.  To know the love of Christ …is a relationship with God Himself …and that is in the realm of quantum mechanical physics.  That is the dimension that exist outside of our three dimensional world.  In fact God shows us that not only does He want our thought life to be rooted and grounded in Him, which is to be rooted and grounded in Love, but God is revealing to us that He is “entangled” with us, in that we are never alone, He is always near, and He knows what things that we have need of even before we ask.  Now just to take this another step, the Word of God reveals to us that it is possible to go from the three-dimensional world from where we live, into the quantum mechanical world where God is.  Listen to what the Bible says…

I Timothy  3:16  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.

Folks if you will receive what I just read to you, …it is an absolutely amazing verse, …for it says that God Almighty, …the Maker of heaven and earth …and all that is in them, …manifested Himself in the flesh …as Jesus Christ.  That means that God went from the quantum mechanical world into the three-dimensional world of classical physics.  Then the Bible says that Jesus received the Holy Ghost, …was seen of the angels, …preached to the Gentiles, …was believed on in the world, …and was received back up into heaven, which means Jesus returned …to the quantum mechanical realm.  That is an amazing verse.

Let’s return now to Paul’s prayer for us.  Listen again to what Paul prays under the influence of the Holy Ghost and pay particular attention to the outcome of rooting your thought life in Love.  The Bible says…

Ephesians  3:17   That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,

                             being rooted and grounded in love,

                  3:18   May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the

                             breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

                  3:19   And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,

                             that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

God wants to be so entangled with you, that He wants to fill you with Himself.  In other words the good soil that God wants in your heart and soul for your thoughts to take root in, …is Himself, …which is love.  That is why that without the Holy Ghost …you can read the bible and get very littler out of it, …but once you receive Jesus as Savior and LORD …and receive the Holy Ghost… then when you read the Bible …the Words of the Scripture take root …in the good soil and your life is literally transformed.  God is wanting to fill you with Himself, so that you are filled with love, and every thought you have is feeding and gaining its vitality …from love.  So if you are dealing with a bad situation, a wicked person, or whatever …that is not of God, …you just need to wrap that up …in the love of God, …pray for that person …and keep your soul and your spirit in love.

Listen to this next verse that shows us what happens when the roots of your thought life are getting their nutrition from the love of God.  The Bible says…

Ephesians  3:20   Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly

                             above all that we ask or think, according to the power that 

                             worketh in us,

Praise God!  Here we see that God will do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can even ask or think …according to the power …of the love …that is abiding and working in us.  Praise God!  When you get into the quantum mechanical realm of love, you get into the quantum mechanical realm where all things are possible …with God.

So we have learned that the roots of our thoughts need to be gaining all their nourishment from God Himself, who is love.  So concerning our thoughts, listen to what the Bible says…

Philippians     4:6     Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and

                                  supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be

                                  made known unto God.

Here we see we are not to have anxiety or anxious thoughts about anything, but instead we are to pray to God and lift our hands to Jesus and praise Him on purpose, either for the situation, or for getting us through the situation.  Listen to the results.  The next verse says…

Philippians     4:7     And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

                                  shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Here we see that the peace of God, …or the shalom of Love, …which passes all understanding that we have in classical physics, will keep, guard, and protect our spirit and soul through Christ Jesus, …who is Love.  Then listen to where Love says we are to focus our thought life.  The next verse says…

Philippians     4:8     Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

                                  whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are 

                                  just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are 

                                  lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there

                                  be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these 

                                  things. 

Here we see that we are to seek the beauty, receive the oil of joy, put on the garment of praise, root out wrong thoughts, and let God plant righteous thoughts in our minds whose roots are nourished by God, …who is Love.  Then the Bible says…

Philippians     4:9     Those things, which ye have both learned, and

                                  received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of

                                  peace shall be with you.

Here we see that if we as Christians will purposefully chose our thought life and purposefully choose our speech and purposefully choose to stay in the love of God, then the God of peace, or we could say, the Love of Shalom, which is the Love who provides peace, health, prosperity, and general-well being, …shall be with you …and shall be entangled in your life forever.  Praise God!

Perhaps today you have realized that you have never sought to bring your thoughts into captivity.  Perhaps today you have realized that while you have been reading and studying God’s Word, you have also filled your mind with wrong thoughts and wrong ways of thinking.  Perhaps today you have decided to make the choice to make sure that your thoughts are rooted in love.  Pray with me and just say…

God ...I know that I have sinned ...but I repent …and turn from that sin right now ...and I set my goal …not to walk in sin any more ...I receive Your cleansing …of everything that I have ever done wrong ...in the blood of Jesus ...Jesus, that means You are my Savior ...and I believe that God raised You from the dead ...so I ask You, Jesus ...to come into my heart ...to be the Lord of my life ...Lord Jesus, I ask You to baptize me in the Holy Ghost ...Father God, You are now my Daddy …You are now my heavenly Father ...and praise God …I am now Your child …I am now in the family of God ...LORD Jesus …this day …I ask You this day LORD …to help me root out any thought in my mind …that is not of love …and I ask you LORD to help me make sure that my thoughts …are receiving all their nourishment from You …who is Love …I take all the people …and all the situations …that are unlovely …and who have hurt me …and I wrap them in Your love …and I put them in You hands …on purpose …and from this day forward …I will not take a thought  …that is not in love …and I thank You LORD God …that You will be entangled in my life, …entangled in my spirit, and entangled in my soul …from this day forward …and forevermore … and I thank You Lord Jesus ...for my victory this day ...and for all of Your blessings ...that are headed my way …I receive them now by faith ...so be it ...Amen.

Praise God!  You have just begun the greatest adventure of your life, for in following and serving God, you will get to see God perform miracles in your life and in the lives of those around you.  Expect good things to happen for God is good and wants good things in your life.  Read God’s word and speak His word in your life for this will release the power of God to begin working on your behalf …to take you from where you are …into God’s best blessings.  Praise God!  Remember, God loves you, Jesus is Lord, and Jesus is coming soon.