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Bishop Renato Cardoso Addressed an Obstacle in the Lives of Many Men and Taught How to Remove It
On Saturday, October 26th, the Intellimen Conference For Men occurred at the Temple of Solomon. Bishop Renato Cardoso reflected on the male brain and its natural impulses. Furthermore, he taught how it is possible to replace these natural thoughts with the mind of Christ.
During the conference, it was discussed that the male brain is primarily dominated by three thoughts:
Thinking about a woman is not necessarily a sin. Well, man has been programmed to notice the woman since Adam saw Eve for the first time. Thus, God created in the man the feeling of attraction for the woman. However, the problem is when a man starts to lust after a woman who is not his wife.
It is worth remembering that the Lord Jesus increased the rigor in this situation when He said that if a man looks at a woman and lusts after her, he has already sinned in his heart (Matthew 5:28). This happens because adultery begins in thoughts.
“Being a real man means overcoming yourself, choosing to be a man for just one woman even when being able, perhaps, to have other women,” he observed.
Work was the curse that came upon men with the first sin in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:19). Since then, it has been men’s nature to think about how to gain more.
“It is from this thought of how to make more money that comes the thought of making money the wrong way,” pointed out the bishop. Initially, a man thinks that he won’t be able to get rich just by working. So, the idea of getting money through unethical means arises.
This motivation comes from the following thought: By earning more money, he will have more power and any woman he wants. However, as Bishop Renato advised, “You must understand that your value is not in your bank balance but in your soul.”
Likewise, know that God provides the righteous with what he needs. And be careful with envy because it can become a snare to your heart. It’s as it is written in the Bible:
“So are the paths of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its possessors.” (Proverbs 1.19)
Some men only seek entertainment. It is important to have a moment of leisure (God Himself instituted a day of rest). However, men cannot let the constant desire for pleasure dominate them.
“Many men take this to the extreme. They think life is one big game and live in search of that fun. So, think: What kind of things have you been consuming? If you spend all your time looking for things that take you away from reality, these things will, in turn, also distract you from your responsibilities.” he advised.
Be aware that this is the way of living of a “natural man,” but the spiritual man discerns everything very well and seeks to have the mind of Christ.
“No one can be like Jesus. Yes, He is perfect. But we have to have our target and our standard in Him,” taught the bishop. In the Bible, the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, spoke about it:
“But a natural man does not accept the depths of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually examined. But he who is spiritual examines all things, yet he himself is examined by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL DIRECT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:14-16)
Man must understand that victory over natural impulses does not occur through simple human effort but, instead, through the continuous transformation that God operates within the person.
In the words of Bishop Renato, a man must live “in tune with the Word of God and look for opportunities to practice what is written in it. That’s what his mind should be occupied with.”
In this way, you begin to experience a constant process of sanctification because your thoughts are transformed by God.
Are you interested in becoming a better man? The monthly Intellimen conference is designed for men who want to improve themselves in all areas of their lives. It’s a gathering where men support each other, share helpful advice, and make a commitment to work hard every day to become better husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, friends, boyfriends, employees, business owners, students, servants of God, and members of society, overall, better persons.
To learn more about Intellimen and its upcoming events, please visit The Universal Church near you and speak with the pastor, or call 1-888-332-4141 for additional information.
