Watch Part 3 here:
The Mind of Christ Sermon Series
Part 1
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Intro: The human mind is a fascinating thing. God created the human mind and the human brain and it is without a doubt a testimony of the fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
The mind of a person is one of their most important faculties.
Mind: (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.: the processes of the human mind.
There are only two minds a person can have: a carnal mind, or the mind of Christ.
The carnal mind is what lost people and unspiritual saved people have.
Romans 8
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
· 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
One of the biggest areas that a person will encounter spiritual opposition and warfare is in the mind.
Satan’s goal is to prevent every believer from having the mind of Christ.
When we think like Christ, we will act like Christ.
Satan will work overtime to shroud the mind of the Christan and keep him in a carnal mindset.
The evidence of a carnal mind is manifested by:
A. A Destroyed Mind
Satan – in his efforts to destroy man and his hope of ever being saved, seeks to destroy his mind.
Mark 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
Satan – the archenemy of God seeks to destroy the mind.
(Illustration: mind-altering drugs…) There are 77 million Americans today taking mind-altering drugs of some kind or another.
B. A Darkened Mind
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Ephesians 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
C. A Defiled Mind
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
D. A Disputing Mind
The problem is this – a person with a carnal mind cannot in any way, shape or form please God.
A person with a carnal mind will always be at odds with everything God says.
NOTICE our text: verses 13, 14:
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
This is the opposite of a submissive mind; an obedient mind; a yielded mind.
E. A Disagreeable Mind
Philippians 2
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Ephesians 5
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
1 Corinthians 1
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Philippians 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
We cannot profess to be spiritually minded if we are always disagreeing with everybody.
F. A Distracted Mind
Hebrews 12
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Part 2
The Right Mind
Let us begin with…
I. The Pattern of the Savior – vs. 5-11
The right mind is the mind of Christ.
· God wants us to think like Jesus.
· God wants us to see things like Jesus.
II. The Preferring of the Saints – vs. 2-4
A. The Right Mind will produce a Unified Labor
Notice how the mind of Christ will affect your relationship with the brethren.
· Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Stand fast in one spirit. What a concept!!
With one mind – striving together. Imagine!
It’s not about you or me – it is for the faith of the gospel.
B. The Right Mind will produce a Unselfish Love
Philippians 2
· 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
· 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
· 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Can we count the references to unselfish love here? I count eight!
1. Likeminded
2. Having the same love
3. Being of one accord
4. Of one mind
5. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory
6. Lowliness of mind
7. Let each esteem other better than themselves.
8. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
III. The Portrayal of the Sons – vs. 15, 16
A. The Withouts – murmuring, disputing, blame, harm and rebuke
· 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
· 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,
1. Without Murmuring
1 Corinthians 10
· 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
· 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Make no mistake: God hates murmuring!!
Exodus 14
· 26 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
· 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
2. Without Disputings
DISPUTINGS: the thinking of a man deliberating with himself; a thought, inward reasoning; a deliberating, questioning about what is true
3. Without Blame – free of defects
4. Without Harm - of the mind, without a mixture of evil, free from guile, innocent, simple
5. Without Rebuke - blameless
B. The Whereabouts
· 15 …in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
Make no mistake – a child of God with the mind of Christ will not be identified with a crooked and perverse nation.
They will be in the midst of them, but they won’t fit in with them!
The mind of Christ will produce a light-source for the believer.
Ye are the light of the world!!!
Conclusion: Paul wanted them to portray themselves as sons of God to a crooked and perverse nation.
He longed for the day of Christ when he could be assured that his race and his labor had not been in vain.
Part 3
The Resigned Mind
Intro: God has commanded the believer to have the same mind as the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
It is impossible to have the mind of Christ and have your own mind at the same time.
If we insist on having our mind, rather than the mind of Christ, we will be virtually ineffective as Christians.
Our greatest battles will be fought on the battleground of our mind.
If Satan can control our minds, he can control us.
But Satan doesn’t always focus on you having HIS mind; he’s ok with you just having YOURS.
How could Paul say what he did in Philippians 2:17, 18 if he didn’t have the mind of Christ?
· 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
· 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
How could a person joy and rejoice while being offered up as a sacrifice and service to others?
With the mind of Christ!
· Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I. The Altering of the Mind
There are only two minds a person can have: a carnal mind, or the mind of Christ.
The carnal mind is what lost people and unspiritual saved people have.
God wants to completely overhaul our minds.
This is what this series is about.
Let’s look one more time at the definition of the MIND:
Mind: (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.: the processes of the human mind.
God wants to change how you process information.
God wants to change how you reason.
God wants to change how you think.
God wants to change how you feel.
God wants to change how you will.
God wants to change how you perceive.
God wants to change how you judge.
That is His goal in your life.
To accomplish that, we must cooperate with him.
That brings us to our next point.
Part 4
The Resigned Mind continued
II. The Allowance of the Mind
Notice how many times Paul said “Let” in this passage. (vss. 3-5)
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
God will make the change, but we must comply with what He is trying to do.
Resisting the ministry of the Holy Spirit to transform your mind is detrimental to your Christian life.
In fact, there will BE NO Christian life apart from allowing God to transform your mind.
I am convinced more than ever that in order to have the mind of Christ, we must first resign our own minds.
Another word would be a yielded mind, or a submitted mind.
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
If our MINDS are not members that need to be yielded, I don’t know what does.
Matthew 16
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
The Holy Spirit will give you an alternate thought if you will allow Him to.
The Holy Spirit will tell you how to respond, what to think, how to process the information you have, if you’ll allow it.
ILLUSTRATION: Nehemiah prayed for God’s leadership before answering this king’s question.
Nehemiah 2:4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
High-stress situation.
He didn’t need to answer in his current state of mind.
He needed God’s wisdom.
He needed CALMNESS – vs. 2 “Then was I very sore afraid.”
“Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.”
He needed CLARITY – vs. 4 “For what does thou make request?”
He needed CONFIDENCE – vs. 6 (the queen also sitting by him…) Imagine the stress!
Here is a lowly cupbearer standing before the king and queen.
Life or death outcome.
A project bigger than him.
Affecting many people with great expense.
Part 5
The Reasonable Mind
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
According to the dictionary, the mind is the part of us that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives and judges.
Each of these faculties are areas where having the mind of Christ is crucial to pleasing God.
For example:
REASON – God said, “Come, let us reason together saith the Lord…”
If we have a carnal mind, and the carnal mind is enmity against God, how can we reason with God?
It will not be a ‘reasonable” conversation, but rather a debate of opinions and philosophies.
Do you really think that God wants to reason with you so you can teach Him something?
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Notice Job’s response to a “man to man” conversation with God.
Elihu made the point in 36:22, 23 that no one can bring accusations against God, or teach like him.
SEE Job 37:16, 23, 24
Notice God’s response (out of the whirlwind) 38:1-3 up to 40:1-8
Having a “reasonable mind” does not mean we sit and argue and debate with God.
Having a reasonable mind means we see things from God’s perspective, and realize our utter foolishness to disagree with him about anything.
Carnally minded people are “unreasonable”.
Paul struggled working with these kind of people.
Paul listed them alongside the wicked and the men of no faith.
It is unreasonable for a professing child of God to be unreasonable.
II Thessalonians 2
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
Unreasonable people are a product of a carnal mind.
Their “line of reasoning” is manipulated by the flesh and by their carnal desires rather than God’s Word.
Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
INTERESTING NOTE: People that are carnal think that God’s Romans 12:1, 2 “reasonable service” is unreasonable.
Christ didn’t think that it was unreasonable to be betrayed, rejected, arrested, beaten, lied about, mistreated, exchanged for Barabbas, and crucified in order to save your soul.
A person that has the mind of Christ won’t think it is unreasonable to live for God.
A person that has the mind of Christ won’t think it is unreasonable to please the Lord.
A person that has the mind of Christ won’t think it is unreasonable to faithfully attend church.
A person that has the mind of Christ won’t think it is unreasonable to witness to the lost.
A person that has the mind of Christ won’t think it is unreasonable to give financially to the Lord.
A person that has the mind of Christ won’t think it is unreasonable to suffer persecution.
Satan succeeds in distorting the mind of a person to the point that they make irrational choices.
They have unreasonable responses to things.
They lose perspective and only see things from one angle.
ILLUSTRATION: Turn to 2 Kings 5:9-14
Here was Naaman – dying with leprosy.
He shows up at the house of a complete stranger demanding to be healed.
Elisha told him to go wash in the Jordan River seven times and he would be clean.
1. Naaman’s first response was to be wroth. (vs. 11)
2. Then he begins to spout his preconceived ideas about something that had never happened before.
(Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.)
3. Then he begins to offer alternative remedies. (vs. 12)
4. Then he turned and went away in a rage. The more he thought about it, the madder he got!
Reasonable people do not get angry at people that are trying to help them.
Reasonable people do not walk away angry at simple solutions to matters of life or death.
Job 13:3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
Reasonable people SEEK truth when they know they are wrong.
Reasonable people SEEK rescuing when they are sinking.
A reasonable person is a HUMBLE person.
OUR TEXT: Philippians 2:5 goes on to describe the HUMILITY of having the mind of Christ.
Conclusion: God is a reasonable God.
God said in Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”
He is talking to the remnant; the people of God.
This is not an evangelistic verse necessarily – this is God wanting to bless.
Having the mind of Christ is the secret to experiencing God’s goodness and blessings.
· Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Part 6
The Reassured Mind
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.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
I. The Turmoil of our Mind
The verse starts out with “Be careful for nothing…”
CAREFUL: to be anxious; to be troubled with cares; to care for, look out for (a thing)
Careful means to look forward to something in the future with anxiety, dread and fear.
It is amazing how the human mind works.
Bad news automatically results in bad thinking.
Bad news automatically cancels out the perfect work record of God.
We can become fearful, worried and completely lose faith in God in seconds!
Mark 6:6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief.
Matthew 17
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?
II. The Transferring of our Mind
“…but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
A. The Simplicity
There is a simple process that conveniently located between “be careful for nothing…” and verse 7.
That process is called prayer.
That is the process in which we can transfer that care, that anxiety and that fear to the Lord.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
There is not a counsellor or psychiatrist that can improve on God’s stress relief program.
And it is 100%.
And you don’t need to make an appointment.
God makes house calls!!
B. The System
“…by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving…”
With thanksgiving: Thankful for what?
Thankful that you have access to the very throne room of God.
Thankful for what He has done in the past.
Thankful for what He can do now.
Thankful that there’s nothing God cannot do.
C. The Sharing
There is a key statement in this verse: “…but in every thing…let your requests be made known unto God.”
Don’t hold back!
The sharing of everything is not because God doesn’t already know it. He does.
Matthew 6:8 “…for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
The sharing of everything reveals a complete faith and trust in God’s ability to handle EVERYTHING.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
III. The Tranquility of our Mind
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
A. The Source of the Peace – it is the peace of God
B. The Superiority of the Peace - which passeth all understanding
It is clear to me from this verse that the peace that God has for us is impossible to describe.
It is impossible to explain because it is impossible to comprehend.
It can only be experienced. It can only be enjoyed.
The world has nothing to compare.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
C. The Safety of the Peace - shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
KEEP: to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight
Read Psalm 91 in its entirety.
Conclusion: The Reassurance of the Mind can come anytime you and I will stop and take our requests to God in prayer.
You say, “But I need reassuring quite often!” That means you need to pray quite often!
Part 7
The Ready Mind
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Intro: The Mind of Christ series has been a blessing because it has caused us to examine our own minds in comparison to the mind of Christ.
READINESS OF MIND – zeal, spirit, eagerness; inclination, readiness of mind
I have to say – any church today that is described as having zeal, spirit, eagerness and a ready mind is RARE.
The Apostle Paul told the church in 2 Corinthians that they were of a “ready mind.”
· 2 Corinthians 8:19 And not [that] only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and [declaration of] your ready mind:
The Apostle Peter told the pastors to serve in their local church with a “ready mind.”
1 Peter 5
· 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
· 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
The phrase “ready mind” in 2 Corinthians 8:19 is the Greek word that means zeal, spirit, eagerness; inclination,
QUOTE: “A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed-up in one thing — and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives — or whether he dies; whether he has health — or whether he has sickness; whether he is rich — or whether he is poor; whether he pleases man — or whether he gives offence; whether he is thought wise — or whether he is thought foolish; whether he gets blame — or whether he gets praise; whether he gets honor, or whether he gets shame — for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing — and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God's glory. If he is consumed in the very burning — he is content. He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn, and if consumed in burning — he has but done the work for which God appointed him. Such a one will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach, and work, and give money — he will cry, and sigh, and pray. Yes, if he is only a pauper, on a perpetual bed of sickness — he will make the wheels of sin around him drive heavily, by continually interceding against it. If he cannot fight in the valley with Joshua — then he will do the prayer-work of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, on the hill. (Exod. 17:9-13.) If he is cut off from working himself — he will give the Lord no rest until help is raised up from another quarter, and the work is done. This is what I mean when I speak of "zeal" in religion.” ― J.C. Ryle
The message tonight is about having the Mind of Christ, which means we should have a READY MIND.
QUESTION: Do you believe that Jesus had a zealous, eager, ready mind?
I believe He did. Here’s proof:
A. Jesus had a Ready Mind concerning the Sanctuary
John 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
B. Jesus had a Ready Mind concerning the Scripture
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
C. Jesus had a Ready Mind concerning Souls
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
D. Jesus had a Ready Mind concerning Service
John 13
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
E. Jesus had a Ready Mind concerning the Second Coming
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
F. Jesus had a Ready Mind concerning Spiritual Warfare
Mark 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
The church in Berea had a READY MIND.
Paul noticed it and highly commended it.
Paul’s testimony about this church is powerful.
· They didn’t come to church sleepy!
· They didn’t come to church half out of it!
· They didn’t come to church distracted!
· They didn’t come to church and need to be kick started every service!
· They came READY!!
· They came ON FIRE!
Their READY MIND – their zeal – their eagerness was evident by...
I. Their Distinct Hunger – “…they received the word with all readiness of mind…”
They received the word with all readiness of mind.
Their zeal and eagerness for the Word of God was impressive.
Paul gave them the compliment of “nobility”.
Imagine a church full of people that came to every service with a “readiness of mind.”
Interesting FACT: Paul compared them to the Thessalonians, saying they were MORE NOBLE.
And make no mistake – Paul paid the Thessalonian Christians a high compliment!
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Notice their reputation!!
1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
The church at Thessalonica would put all of us to shame, yet the church at Berea was MORE NOBLE. Unreal!
These people came to church with such an eager, zealous mind – a ready mind!
Their READY MIND – their zeal – their eagerness was evident by...
II. Their Diligent Hunting – “…they searched the scriptures…”
They SEARCHED the Scripture.
I think it would be safe to say that in their day, they also had to search FOR the Scripture.
They didn’t possess the complete word of God.
Having all of the Old Testament in one’s possession is hardly a fair assumption.
They had scrolls, and parchments, and pieces of the Bible.
No doubt, as Paul preached, they listened intently to his message – remembering each phrase and quote.
They didn’t have the luxury of listening to it again on tape or CD or going back and reviewing it online.
They went home and searched for the Scriptures, and then searched the scriptures – all from memory!
No doubt Paul said, “As it is written…” or “The Scripture sayeth…” or “The prophet Isaiah said…”
He didn’t give chapter and verse when quoting from the OT.
They didn’t have chapter and verse breakdown yet!
Chapter breakdowns were done in 1228 by Stephen Langston, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Verses weren’t established until 1448 by a Jewish rabbi named Nathan.
(New Testament chapters were given verses in 1551)
These people had a READY MIND!!!
When is the last time you went home and searched the Scripture to see if what I preached is in the Bible?
When is the last time you searched the Scripture to learn MORE about what I preached from the Bible?
When is the last time a phrase, or a point, or a truth stirred your heart and you studied it out on your own?
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Their READY MIND – their zeal – their eagerness was evident by...
III. Their Daily Habits – “they searched the scriptures DAILY…”
Christianity wasn’t just a Sunday thing.
Church wasn’t just a once-a-week thing.
The Bible wasn’t just a church accessory.
Their zeal, their excitement, their mind was ready for Bible EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THEIR LIFE.
Part 8
The Renewed Mind
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I. A Recognition of the Conflict of Wills
A key truth that is very clear in this verse is this simple fact: The will of the world is at enmity with the will of God.
Notice how this verse begins: And be not conformed to this world: but…
God is clearly demonstrating in His word that we can’t be worldly and prove the will of God simultaneously.
Trying to be in the will of God while fitting in with the world is like trying to stay dry by jumping into the lake.
It is an impossibility.
The world and its agenda, its philosophy, its thought-patterns, its logic, its mindset is CONTRARY to God.
The world is at war with God and with all that is godly and righteous.
If a Christian is to understand how to have the mind of Christ, they must first understand the error of the world’s mind.
The mindset of the world is in direct opposition to the mind of Christ.
The mindset of the world is in direct opposition to common sense and reason.
EXAMPLES:
The world professes to love children, and professes to protect children, but promotes abortion.
same-sex marriage that would make having a child is physically impossible.
The world makes villains out of private gun owners, but glamorizes and idolizes movie stars that get rich pretending to kill people with guns on the big screen.
The world wants to outlaw prayer while legalizing mind-altering drugs.
The world calls politicians making laws that violate your personal freedom “compassionate”, while calling a man of God that preaches holiness godly living a “dictator”.
The world teaches their children that they evolved from a monkey, but want to deny us the right to tell our children that they were born with a purpose because there is a God that loves them.
The world wants to shut down Christian schools and Bible-believing churches while protecting the freedoms and privileges of the same religious organization that promotes suicide bombings and terrorism.
The world wants to silence Christian radio and Christian TV programs while adding dozens of filthy, pornographic, X-rated, obscene, anti-family, anti-God, anti-American programs to cable television each year.
The world makes heroes out of movie stars that pretend to be soldiers, while downplaying and demonizing the role of the real soldiers.
The world wants to tax the church and give tax breaks to the sodomites.
Spanking children is a crime, but killing unborn babies is a woman’s right.
The world wants to influence your home, your marriage, your church, your children, your mind and your heart while calling our efforts to influence them “offensive”, “brain-washing”, and “divisive”.
As I said – the mindset of the world is contrary to the will and mindset of God.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
II. A Rejection of the Corruption of the World
The fact is clear – if you allow the world and its philosophy and its agenda to infiltrate your mind, it will CORRUPT.
Ephesians 4
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
There is nothing good that can come from constantly submitting your mind to the influences of the world.
1 John 2
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
QUOTE: “If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.” ― Vance Havner
The world will influence your mind through:
A. Movies – The world’s idea of “wholesome” entertainment is filled with humanism, evolution, self-centeredness, revenge, immorality, lasciviousness, off-color humor, disobedience to parents, disrespect for authority, rebellion, sorcery, irreverence, drinking, smoking, partying, dancing, immodesty, nakedness, and carnality.
Constantly yielding your mind, your eyes, your ears and your emotions to this influence will dampen and desensitize your mind to the will of God, making it impossible to PROVE. (Rom. 12:2)
B. Music – listening to the lyrics of singers and songwriters that are involved in a lifestyle of alcohol, drugs, fornication, adultery, moral depravity, depression, anger, bitterness, hurt, and a never-ending lust for fame and fortune will destroy your ability to have the mind of Christ.
C. Media – whether it is TV, radio, internet, magazines, books, periodicals or social media – the world is after your heart and mind.
They want to influence and recruit as many followers as they can to further their agenda.
The saying is so true – “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
If you’ve allowed the pen of the ungodly to enter your mind, it will cut it to pieces and destroy your heart and soul from the inside.
D. Mandates – it never ceases to amaze me at how Christians allow themselves to be controlled by everything and everyone except the things that God desires.
Christians will bow to the mandates of:
1. Their boss – they will do everything and anything he asks, while constantly telling God “No, Lord!”
2. Their ball coach – if he demands it, they obey it. Regardless of his spirit, his attitude or motives.
3. Their business – they let their own business dictate their life. Prisoners of their own greed.
4. Their bills – they get in trouble financially and then cut God/church out of their life to fix it.
This brings me to my third point.
III. A Reception to the Cleansing of the Word
If you have allowed the world, whether knowingly or unknowingly, to affect your mind, there is a solution.
Instead of being CONFORMED TO THE WORLD, we allow God to TRANSFORM US THROUGH THE RENEWING OF OUR MIND.
How is this done?
Quote: Renewing the mind is a little like refinishing furniture. It is a two-stage process. It involves taking off the old and replacing it with the new. The old is the lies you have learned to tell or were taught by those around you; it is the attitudes and ideas that have become a part of your thinking but do not reflect reality. The new is the truth. To renew your mind is to involve yourself in the process of allowing God to bring to the surface the lies you have mistakenly accepted and replace them with truth. To the degree that you do this, your behaviour will be transformed. – Charles Stanley
A. Submitting to the Principles of God’s Word
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
One of the greatest ways for our minds to be renewed is for our faith in God’s Word to be renewed.
God is right. He is ALWAYS right. About EVERYTHING!
If our thinking doesn’t line up with God’s Word, we are wrong.
We need to relinquish our own thoughts and ideas and submit to God’s infallible and inerrant Word.
B. Submitting to the Purifying of God’s Word
Psalms 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
C. Submitting to the Perfecting of God’s Word
2 Timothy 3
· 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
· 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
QUOTE: “If you are renewed by grace, and were to meet your old self, I am sure you would be very anxious to get out of his company.” ― Charles H. Spurgeon
Part 9
The Relevant Mind
Philippians 2:20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
Intro: We have looked at:
The Right Mind
The Resigned Mind
The Reasonable Mind
The Reassured Mind
The Ready Mind
And the Renewed Mind
Tonight, I want to look at the Relevant Mind.
The word RELEVANT means closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand or to relieve, to advance, to raise; relieving; lending aid or support; pertinent;
A. Paul’s Mission – to have a man to carry on his work; to labor in the work of God
Paul’s ministry was dedicated to equipping and educating God’s people in order to further the work of God.
Making disciples of new converts was what Paul did at the very beginning of his ministry.
SEE Acts
B. Paul’s Mandate – that they be likeminded
The key to a successful church is unity.
UNDERSTAND: Getting on the same page with the man of God is not to benefit him. It benefits you!
I am convinced that the world is yet to see just how much of an impact a church could potentially make.
God believes that a unified group of people can do anything that they IMAGINE to do. God believes it!
SEE GENESIS 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
C. Paul’s Motivation – to care for others; It was a self-less motivation; concern for the STATE OF THE CHURCH
I. The Characteristics of a Relevant Mind
Our text for this series has been Philippians 2.
Make no mistake – when a person has the mind of Christ, they will have a completely different mindset about the local church.
They will care about what God cares about.
They will not be consumed with themselves or their agenda, but God’s.
The underlying issue is the lack of humility.
Notice: This entire chapter deals with humility in one way or another.
For example:
An Expected Humility is found in verses 1-4.
An Example of Humility is found in verses 5-11.
An Expressed Humility is found in verses 12-16
An Excited Humility is found in verses 17 and 18.
An Exceptional Humility is seen in verse 19-24.
An Excruciating Humility is seen in verses 25-30
Every one of these had a common denominator – a genuine concern for the church.
There’s no getting around that.
It is evident in so many of these verses.
II. The Concerns of a Relevant Mind
A. The Similarity to their Leadership
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
Paul referred to Timothy in numerous places as “his son in the faith.”
SEE Philippians 2:22, and 1 Timothy 1:2; 18; 2 Timothy 1:2 and 2:1
Timothy had a teachable and humble spirit.
He knew Paul’s heart and he knew Paul’s mind, and he shared it.
B. The Selflessness of their Love
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
We need a church full of people that have a mind that is closely connected, appropriate, willing to advance, to raise, to lend support and pertinent to the local church.
Most people are completely consumed with their wealth, their needs, their concerns, their life.
They only have a small amount of time and energy left to further the work of the local church.
Having the mind of Christ means you live your life for the church.
Christ also loved the church AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT.
Imagine with me for a few minutes. How would you like to be a member of a:
A church that is virtually “wolf proof”.
A church that you can bring lost friends and family to, and they have a better than average chance of getting saved.
A church where the ratio of young people that rebel and go into the world is slim to none.
A church were children grow up pure and marry another pure, godly Christian and raises their family in church.
A church that has two, and three, maybe even four generations of families, serving God together.
A church where miracles are seen on a weekly if not daily basis.
A church where every service for you is like placing a dry sponge in a bowl of water.
A church where new converts get baptized, join the church and start growing in grace and knowledge.
A church where you have such a strong level of communication that you can hear EXACTLY what you need.
A church that has more money in the bank at the end of the month than it NEEDS to survive.
A church that has such a name in the community that you are proud to be a member of it.
A church that settles its personal conflicts, minor disputes and disagreements in a quick and spiritual manner.
A church that you don’t want to ever, ever miss a service. And when you do, you can’t stand it!
A church where God is doing so much, you can’t keep up with it.
A church where the hustle and bustle of activity produces eternal results, not just temporary moments of joy.
A church where your pastor is not stressed out, but energized, fired up and operating in the power of God.
A church where you aren’t stressed out, because people are unified, getting along and full of joy.
Imagine that! Can you begin to imagine a church like that?
Is it possible?
Do you believe it is possible for the church to operate with the same efficiency as a McDonalds?
Do you believe it is possible for the church to produce a better quality than a GM assembly line?
Do you believe it is God’s will for the world’s money hungry, corrupt, back-stabbing enterprises to be more successful than the church – the church that the gates of hell cannot prevail against?
Do you believe a church like we just described would benefit you and your family?
What are you prepared to do to make that kind of church possible?
III. The Confirmations of a Relevant Mind
Philippians 2:22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
PROOF: approved, tried character; a specimen of tried worth
If you and I have the mind of Christ, people around us will know it.
There will be proof; their will be evidence; there will be undeniable confirmations.
Part 10
The Reinforced Mind
1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
In this last message of the series, I want to point out that the whole objective of Satan’s attack on the mind of the believer is to DISTRACT and DESTROY them.
If he can mess up your mind, he can mess up everything else.
If he can mess up your mind, he can mess up your marriage.
If he can mess up your mind, he can mess up your ministry.
If he can mess up your mind, he can mess up your motivation to do anything for God.
It is absolutely crucial that we not only put up some safeguards for our mind, which is being on the defense, but we must strengthen and reinforce our minds, which is going on the offence.
Peter said it like this: “gird up the loins of your mind.”
What does that even mean?
I think in order for us to understand the terminology, we need to look at other place it was used.
The prophet Elisha used that phrase twice.
2 Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way:
2 Kings 9:1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go…
God used this phrase twice when talking to Job.
Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Job 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
God used the phrase again when stirring Jeremiah to do His will.
Jeremiah 1:17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
Then Peter used it in our text.
1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind…
I don’t believe there is much mystery about what Peter was saying.
He was saying the same thing to the believer that God said to Job and to Jeremiah.
You need to get it together, pull yourself together, and get ready to do what needs to be done.
It’s about to get rough; it’s about to be challenging; it’s about to be way out of your comfort zone.
The interesting use of the phrase when applied to the mind is what I want to look at tonight.
The battle that we face as Christians will require us to strengthen and reinforce our minds.
Paul said it like this:
Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
There must be a deliberate mindset that is established.
A mind that is focused.
A mind that is strengthened and determined.
And Jesus is our example of a Reinforced Mind.
How many people tried to stop Him?
How many methods were used against Him?
Satan tried over and over again to stop Him by using TEMPTATIONS.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees tried to stop him with TRAPS.
Judas tried to stop Him with TREASON.
The chief priests and scribes tried to stop him with TRIALS.
Jesus was able to stay on course and be unmovable because He kept reinforcing God’s will for His life.
This Messianic passage explains it like this:
Isaiah 50
6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
He had to make up His mind that He wasn’t going to let anything or anyone rob Him of the goal.
He had to make up His mind that He wasn’t going to let anything or anyone pull Him off course.
He had to make up His mind that He wasn’t going to let anything or anyone stop Him from full obedience.
He had to make up His mind that He wasn’t going to let anything or anyone interfere with His purpose.
He had to make up His mind that He wasn’t going to let anything or anyone distract Him from God’s will.
To accomplish that, He needed to constantly REINFORCE His mind.
If you and I are going to finish this race, we must GIRD UP THE LOINS OF OUR MIND!!
Many of God’s people just simply haven’t made up their mind where they stand.
· They haven’t made up their mind on what they should be doing.
· They haven’t made up their mind on what side of the fence they need to be on.
· They haven’t made up their mind which crowd they want to be identified with.
· They haven’t made up their mind whether or not they want to go any further with God.
· They haven’t made up their mind yet about what they really believe in.
· They haven’t made up their mind yet where they fit in God’s big picture.
· They haven’t made up their mind yet if they want to be a part of God’s plan and purpose for the church.
Let’s look at these verses closely in 1 Peter 1:
Peter is telling the believers to GIRD UP THE LOINS OF THEIR MIND about:
I. The Soberness that is Important
vs. 13a “…be sober…”
SOBER: to be calm, collected in spirit; temperate, dispassionate, circumspect
II. The Second Coming that is Imminent
vs. 13b “…and hope to the end… at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
I’m convinced that most people are not really convinced that Jesus Christ is really coming back again.
III. The Submission that is Imperative
vs. 14a “As obedient children…”
IV. The Sinfulness that is Ignorant
vs. 14b “…not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.”
V. The Sanctification that is Imitating – vs. 15, 16
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
VI. The Sojourning that is Indicative – vs. 17
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
How we live our life between now and the rapture is indicative of:
A. The Character of our Prayer Life - And if ye call on the Father
B. The Caliber of our Performance - judgeth according to every man’s work
C. The Center of our Preoccupation - pass the time of your sojourning here in fear
Thank you Pastor Stacey for the wonderful messages.