Let this mind be in you
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
There is a clear instruction to us by Apostle Paul to allow (let) the mind of Christ be in us. People do not get the mind of Christ automatically when they get saved. It has to develop in them. I believe Paul is talking about the mind of the Son of Man, the Christ who was sent by God to save the world. This mind of Christ is associated with His flesh (Son of Man) not His Spirit as the Son of God the Spirit man. However, as we examine the nature of this mind, we realise that though His mind is in the Son of Man it is a spiritual mind born of God. This mind is based on passion born of God, to save us and cause us to become sons and daughters of God just like Jesus having the same mind. This mind of Christ was sold out to God for what God’s thoughts were and not a mind that carried its own thoughts. It was a mind trained to receive Godly thoughts and function in Godly ways just as we are exhorted to do. Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Php 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.
Passion will dictate what you think and do. Act_1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: The word ‘passion” has to do with suffering. Jesus reveals Himself to His disciples after His suffering on the cross in a new and powerful way of life, not death. When your passions dictate your life, it will either bring life or death to you. Romans 1:26-27 “For this reason God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
Second Timothy 4:3-4 ” For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
The tragedy in life is in knowing that by reason of our passions we have sinned against God. However, the greater tragedy is in having a seared conscience or mind that does not allow us to repent of our sin because we can no longer recognise it in our lives. Jesus died for all who sinned but not all who have sinned or who will sin can understand this. The passion (suffering) we go through can be both mental and physical. The mental can be so severe that it will drive a person to perform acts that are inhuman or not Godly. Jesus did something that was driving Him to the cross with the mind that He must save His people and so suffered after His passion. Yet, others have failed in their understanding of what God has given us in the flesh (this body) and have indulged both their mind and flesh after their passion which has resulted in untold suffering and death for those who follow after this flesh.
The mind is a dangerous place where turmoil and depression can hit at any time. Yet, when it is at peace, it is a powerful place. No amount of money or any other thing can take the place of peace. Millionaires and the like have often said; “I seek peace above all”. What good is it, if a man gains the whole world and yet loses his soul. His soul is made up of mind (intellect), will and emotions. The heart is closely associated with the mind. They are connected so strongly that some times it is hard to differentiate between them. That is why Apostle Paul said for many reasons; Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. That can also mean through the mind of Christ. We must learn to put on this mind just like we must learn to put on the whole armour of God. The helmet of salvation is for the mind. We must wear it.
When we do not allow God’s thoughts to rule us but allow worldly thoughts to control us, our minds become a target for the devil to play games and run riot. As many have said; “The mind is the playing field of the devil”. The questions is, how does he get into the mind? This has always intrigued me because I know he cannot read my thoughts or so it would seem. It is obvious he can influence my thoughts just as he did with Eve. In the Garden of Eden, he guised himself in the serpent and talked to her. However, the question is, after Christ, how does he penetrate the mind of the believer? The answer I believe is, he uses our natural senses against us and influences our thinking through that. This is why, we must have the mind of Christ. Then, we will only be influenced by our spiritual senses and we will know when he comes to tell us lies and bring condemnation even through his false prophets. His true aim is to get us to disqualify ourselves from God like he did with the nation of Israel when Baalam showed King Balak how to destroy the Israelites.
I have met and dealt with many Christians who have come under the influence of the Jezebel spirit. This spirit has influenced many Christians from the sublime to the ridiculous. The meaning of sublime is very interesting to note : to cause to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state and condense back to solid form. Wow! How apt is this definition in describing the devil in all his subtlety and invisibility. Then, there is the raw side of his nature which is violent and brash to say the least. These Christians whom I have had to deal with were influenced by the devil in their minds, to act out what the jezebel spirit wanted them to act out. It never ceases to amaze me as to how the devil gets Christians to go up against one another and even against God.
He is a such a subtle influencing evil spirit of thoughts that, the one who is influenced or is being influenced thinks it is an original thought and a righteous one to boot. Many a Church split and wrong decisions in life have been made by individuals and whole denominations of Churches as they have been influenced in their minds to sway away from God and His commandments. The devil, in these instances of contradiction between Christians has influenced the minds of Christians to behave in an ungodly manner that does not denote the mind of Christ. 1Co 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 1Co 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 1Co 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 1Co 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Christ is not divided and neither should we be. Obedience and humility was the mind of Christ as He prepared Himself to go to the cross. He did not defraud His brothers and sisters and did not take us to the heavenly court to accuse us, though He had a right to do so. Do you see Christ behaving in a manner that did not display the mind of His God? Never, because His mind is the mind of God in man displayed for the world to see not only on the cross but after the cross. That mind of God still suffers all manner of ridicule and persecution to save souls. We too will suffer the passion of Christ as we walk in the Spirit and with the Spirit who reveals the mind of Christ.
We live in a time when mental illness is rampant on an unparalleled level. What are we doing about it? That is the question. We have to seek God for power to influence the mind. Do you remember the story of the Gadarene who after Christ’s ministry was sitting in his right mind and clothed? His problem was an unsound mind that had been destroyed by the devil called “The legion”, (around 3000 to 5200 demons). Jesus pitied this man and set Him free by giving him a right mind. His mind once set right wanted to follow Jesus but Jesus told him to go and tell the world what God had done for him. When I was a drug addict and alcoholic going mad, I had a perfect job and wife but lost it all through an unsound mind. Jesus appeared to me and gave me a sound mind. 2Ti_1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Wow! This is good news indeed. This is not a figment of my imagination because now I am clothed and walking around with a sound mind. Ever since I received the mind of Christ, I am influencing the world and breaking the chains of the devil. Further more, I have the word of God to break his further influences on me and others just like Jesus did in the wilderness. The Bible says; Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit after His wilderness experience with God and the devil. Then He said; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me….” Now, we too have the Spirit of God in us and upon us to deal with this devil in the mental and physical realm. Let us do it with power from God.
Arise shine for your light has come. This is the Spirit speaking to you. Do not live in temptations and depression any longer. Break off that whispering evil spirit in your mind and listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit within you. No matter what your circumstances in life are, you are an overcomer and one who is fully equipped with all of the mind of Christ to achieve His ends. Be healed and blessed in your mind. Renew your thinking and get rid of that stinking thinking.
Lots of love
Pastor Noble
03/12/17