Programmed To Receive - Pete Garcia - http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=7949
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 NKJV
How often do we think of God? How often do we yearn to study the bible? How often do we share Christ with our friends and family? I'm sure many people think of me as a 'one-trick' pony who only likes to talk about Scripture. And it is true to an extent, that I'm not really 'well-learned' on many topics. But of Scripture, I have developed a deep passion for discussing, a deep passion for sharing and poring over and talking about; not just the broad sweeps of history, but the tiny, minute details that often get lost in translation.
I'm no expert in how the brain functions, but in doing just a little research, you can see that the brain operates on several different levels:
*Alpha state: which is associated with relaxation
*Beta state: which is associated with an alert state, or full consciousness
*Theta state: which is associated with light, or REM sleep
*Delta state: which is associated with deep sleep
*Gamma state: which is associated with periods of high ingenuity, or insights (that aha! moment we often have)
How your television operates and has been used a successful medium over these past six or seven decades, is that it both stimulates and lulls the mind simultaneously. It does this by incorporating at least two different processes; first, by the 'orienting response', which keeps your attention glued to the screen, and secondly, with screen flicker, which lulls the brain into the alpha state. The 'orienting response' is that natural response we humans have that breaks our concentration on whatever we are focusing on, and directs our attention to something that is either a potential danger or is out of the norm with your current surroundings. For instance, if you're in a quiet park, and you hear a bizarre sound. You would immediately quit reading your book or daydreaming and take notice. It is your natural response to potential dangers which quickly triggers an alert in the mind to take notice of whatever that threat may be.
Television achieves this by continually refocusing you back to the screen, by using quick changes in light, sound, and/or movement. This is particularly common in commercials, action movies, the news, and children's shows. Screen flickering on the other hand, produces gamma waves, which operates in a way that moves you from an alert beta state of mind, to that of a semi-conscious alpha state, which is tantamount to being in a mild state of hypnosis. So your brain is being pulsated with gamma waves that lull the mind into an almost hypnotic state (not asleep but not full alert), but also keeps your attention solely fixated on whatever is on the screen. Now, consider the cable or nightly news. You're being bombarded by loud sounds, alerts, video within video clips of often high-paced action. The newsperson is often times animated, speaking excitedly about whatever is happening, and you are sitting there in this semi-hypnotic state, glued to the television. Now you know why Fox News (in particular) has an Alert every five minutes, even if it is to announce something mundane.
So that got me to thinking of the lyrics of the song Hotel California the other day, and I'm not insinuating that the Eagles are prophetic, or that I can trace Hotel California to a particular passage in the Bible. But what I do think though, is that non-Christians are very much under the sway and influence of dark spiritual forces, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and can pen songs or stories, often times that have deeper significance than even they understand.
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
"Relax," said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave! "
What struck me about the song was the phrase "we are programmed to receive" which reminded me of how television works. What struck me, is that God created us, and did so with the intent of making mankind to be receptors of sorts, to not only their environments, but to Him. We were created to fellowship with God, and in Adam's fall, that direct linkage was severed between God and man; but not between man and his environment. We know according to Scripture, several truths about man's condition:
1.Man was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27)
2.Man's fall prevents him from continuing to fellowship with God in his natural state (Gen. 1:8-10, 22-24; 6:6)
3.Man is inherently wicked (Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9)
4.Man can harden his wicked heart towards God (Ex. 8:15; Dan. 5:20; Acts 19:9)
5.Hardening is a process that both man and God allow (Ex. 8:32, 9:12; Romans 1:18-32)
6.It doesn't matter what goes into a man that makes him unclean, but what comes out of him (Matt. 15:11)
7.We are surrounded in spiritual warfare that seeks to influence us either to follow God, or to follow Satan (Eph. 6:10-19)
8.Satan never presents evil for what it really is, nor its consequences accurately (Gen. 3:1-4; 2 Cor. 11:14)
But Satan is not omnipresent, nor is he omniscient. Satan is however, a highly intelligent observer of both history, and the human being. He knows what makes us tick and how to manipulate us into achieving his goals for us. He knows how the human brain works, probably better than the best brain surgeon in the world does.
He knows, because he was there at creation. He was there with Adam and Eve. He was there when Cain slew his brother Abel because he was the one whispering in Cain's ear to do it. And so on for the rest of human history, Satan has been involved in the goings on of mankind. One could ask why God would create us with our brains the way they are. Why are humans seemingly so gullible and easily duped? We see what we want to see, hear what we want to hear, and oftentimes can be hypnotized rather easily. After all, we were programmed to receive were we not? It almost doesn't seem fair, does it?
Assessment
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7
When a man, woman, or child becomes born again, it is the repentance of the heart towards Christ's redemptive work on the cross, that makes a person able to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which baptizes us into the eternal body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13) We are washed and made clean, receiving and having applied toward us, the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) We become new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), no longer the seed of fallen Adam, but now the seed of the last Adam, who is Christ Jesus. (1 Cor. 15:45) This is why man must be born again. (John 3:3) He has to be regenerated, and washed clean, not by water (1 Peter 3:21), but by repentance (clear or good conscience; Greek: syneidçsis) which brings about the conditions for man to receive salvation through Christ, and Christ alone. (John 14:6)
You see, we are all programmed to receive. If one does not take in Christ, he or she will take in the world...and the wrath of God abides upon them. (John 3:36) Either we allow the world to influence us, or we allow God too. There is no middle ground, nor is their non-compliance in this existence that allows us to sit it out as neutral-noncombatants. And although as Christians, we still have to wear this coat of flesh, which has the world stained all over it, the real 'us' (who we really are) is made righteous by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 7:17)
So how do we Christians, who are now bi-natured with a fallen fleshly nature, and a new spiritual nature, continue in this fallen world? A world that is at constant enmity against God and His Word? How do we continue to strive in the Spirit, and not in the flesh?
Prayer and study.
Our minds are made clean by reading and studying His word, because His word contains life and truth.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Eph. 6:14-19
Our relationship restored with God when we confess our sins and course correct back onto the path God has put us on.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
We stay in the word, because in doing so, we renew our minds with the truth God has already given us. It shores up our new nature, and encourages us, and we are receiving the programming from our Creator that we were intended to receive. It is not the garbled, mixed and confusing message an ever changing society puts out, but the one, steady constant, which is God's word.
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
And thus we have the race laid out before us. We each have our own crosses to bear, and our thorns in the flesh. We each have particular hardships and struggles. But we labor on in the Lord, going to the Father in prayer as Jesus did, asking for strength and understanding to continue on the path set out before us. Finally, remember that this life is fleeting. Our time spent here is not where we will spend the majority of our existence. You and I will spend 99.999% of our existence in the eternal state, in the real, new creations we became at our salvation, with God on into eternity future bearing that 'eternal weight of glory' that God has bestowed for us, and on us, in His great love and kindness towards us. (2 Cor. 4:16-17)
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 NKJV
How often do we think of God? How often do we yearn to study the bible? How often do we share Christ with our friends and family? I'm sure many people think of me as a 'one-trick' pony who only likes to talk about Scripture. And it is true to an extent, that I'm not really 'well-learned' on many topics. But of Scripture, I have developed a deep passion for discussing, a deep passion for sharing and poring over and talking about; not just the broad sweeps of history, but the tiny, minute details that often get lost in translation.
I'm no expert in how the brain functions, but in doing just a little research, you can see that the brain operates on several different levels:
*Alpha state: which is associated with relaxation
*Beta state: which is associated with an alert state, or full consciousness
*Theta state: which is associated with light, or REM sleep
*Delta state: which is associated with deep sleep
*Gamma state: which is associated with periods of high ingenuity, or insights (that aha! moment we often have)
How your television operates and has been used a successful medium over these past six or seven decades, is that it both stimulates and lulls the mind simultaneously. It does this by incorporating at least two different processes; first, by the 'orienting response', which keeps your attention glued to the screen, and secondly, with screen flicker, which lulls the brain into the alpha state. The 'orienting response' is that natural response we humans have that breaks our concentration on whatever we are focusing on, and directs our attention to something that is either a potential danger or is out of the norm with your current surroundings. For instance, if you're in a quiet park, and you hear a bizarre sound. You would immediately quit reading your book or daydreaming and take notice. It is your natural response to potential dangers which quickly triggers an alert in the mind to take notice of whatever that threat may be.
Television achieves this by continually refocusing you back to the screen, by using quick changes in light, sound, and/or movement. This is particularly common in commercials, action movies, the news, and children's shows. Screen flickering on the other hand, produces gamma waves, which operates in a way that moves you from an alert beta state of mind, to that of a semi-conscious alpha state, which is tantamount to being in a mild state of hypnosis. So your brain is being pulsated with gamma waves that lull the mind into an almost hypnotic state (not asleep but not full alert), but also keeps your attention solely fixated on whatever is on the screen. Now, consider the cable or nightly news. You're being bombarded by loud sounds, alerts, video within video clips of often high-paced action. The newsperson is often times animated, speaking excitedly about whatever is happening, and you are sitting there in this semi-hypnotic state, glued to the television. Now you know why Fox News (in particular) has an Alert every five minutes, even if it is to announce something mundane.
So that got me to thinking of the lyrics of the song Hotel California the other day, and I'm not insinuating that the Eagles are prophetic, or that I can trace Hotel California to a particular passage in the Bible. But what I do think though, is that non-Christians are very much under the sway and influence of dark spiritual forces, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and can pen songs or stories, often times that have deeper significance than even they understand.
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
"Relax," said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave! "
What struck me about the song was the phrase "we are programmed to receive" which reminded me of how television works. What struck me, is that God created us, and did so with the intent of making mankind to be receptors of sorts, to not only their environments, but to Him. We were created to fellowship with God, and in Adam's fall, that direct linkage was severed between God and man; but not between man and his environment. We know according to Scripture, several truths about man's condition:
1.Man was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27)
2.Man's fall prevents him from continuing to fellowship with God in his natural state (Gen. 1:8-10, 22-24; 6:6)
3.Man is inherently wicked (Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9)
4.Man can harden his wicked heart towards God (Ex. 8:15; Dan. 5:20; Acts 19:9)
5.Hardening is a process that both man and God allow (Ex. 8:32, 9:12; Romans 1:18-32)
6.It doesn't matter what goes into a man that makes him unclean, but what comes out of him (Matt. 15:11)
7.We are surrounded in spiritual warfare that seeks to influence us either to follow God, or to follow Satan (Eph. 6:10-19)
8.Satan never presents evil for what it really is, nor its consequences accurately (Gen. 3:1-4; 2 Cor. 11:14)
But Satan is not omnipresent, nor is he omniscient. Satan is however, a highly intelligent observer of both history, and the human being. He knows what makes us tick and how to manipulate us into achieving his goals for us. He knows how the human brain works, probably better than the best brain surgeon in the world does.
He knows, because he was there at creation. He was there with Adam and Eve. He was there when Cain slew his brother Abel because he was the one whispering in Cain's ear to do it. And so on for the rest of human history, Satan has been involved in the goings on of mankind. One could ask why God would create us with our brains the way they are. Why are humans seemingly so gullible and easily duped? We see what we want to see, hear what we want to hear, and oftentimes can be hypnotized rather easily. After all, we were programmed to receive were we not? It almost doesn't seem fair, does it?
Assessment
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7
When a man, woman, or child becomes born again, it is the repentance of the heart towards Christ's redemptive work on the cross, that makes a person able to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which baptizes us into the eternal body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:13) We are washed and made clean, receiving and having applied toward us, the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) We become new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), no longer the seed of fallen Adam, but now the seed of the last Adam, who is Christ Jesus. (1 Cor. 15:45) This is why man must be born again. (John 3:3) He has to be regenerated, and washed clean, not by water (1 Peter 3:21), but by repentance (clear or good conscience; Greek: syneidçsis) which brings about the conditions for man to receive salvation through Christ, and Christ alone. (John 14:6)
You see, we are all programmed to receive. If one does not take in Christ, he or she will take in the world...and the wrath of God abides upon them. (John 3:36) Either we allow the world to influence us, or we allow God too. There is no middle ground, nor is their non-compliance in this existence that allows us to sit it out as neutral-noncombatants. And although as Christians, we still have to wear this coat of flesh, which has the world stained all over it, the real 'us' (who we really are) is made righteous by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 7:17)
So how do we Christians, who are now bi-natured with a fallen fleshly nature, and a new spiritual nature, continue in this fallen world? A world that is at constant enmity against God and His Word? How do we continue to strive in the Spirit, and not in the flesh?
Prayer and study.
Our minds are made clean by reading and studying His word, because His word contains life and truth.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Eph. 6:14-19
Our relationship restored with God when we confess our sins and course correct back onto the path God has put us on.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
We stay in the word, because in doing so, we renew our minds with the truth God has already given us. It shores up our new nature, and encourages us, and we are receiving the programming from our Creator that we were intended to receive. It is not the garbled, mixed and confusing message an ever changing society puts out, but the one, steady constant, which is God's word.
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
And thus we have the race laid out before us. We each have our own crosses to bear, and our thorns in the flesh. We each have particular hardships and struggles. But we labor on in the Lord, going to the Father in prayer as Jesus did, asking for strength and understanding to continue on the path set out before us. Finally, remember that this life is fleeting. Our time spent here is not where we will spend the majority of our existence. You and I will spend 99.999% of our existence in the eternal state, in the real, new creations we became at our salvation, with God on into eternity future bearing that 'eternal weight of glory' that God has bestowed for us, and on us, in His great love and kindness towards us. (2 Cor. 4:16-17)
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY ALL NEW PROPHECY AND CREATION DESIGN WEBSITES. THERE IS A LOT TO SEE AND DO..........
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