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THE MIND OF CHRIST

December 11, 2005

Text: 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.

Love God with all thy mind

Matthew 22:37 “… Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment.

Natural man does not think with God

Isaiah 55:7-9 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God is not in all the thoughts of the wicked

Psalm 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Man is deceived by his independent thinking

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way (apart from God) which seemeth right unto a man (the deception), but the end thereof are the ways of death.

To be Mindful of the things of men is Satanic

Matthew 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

The carnally minded

Romans 8:6-8 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind [or way of thinking] is enmity [hostile or hatred] against God: for [because] it is not subject to the law of God (the commands of Scripture), neither indeed can be (it is subject to the lusts of men 1Pt.4:2). 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (no faith).

It Minds earthly things

Philippians 3:18-19 For many (Christians) walk [behavior or lifestyle], of whom I have told you often (a repeated warning), and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ (where I die to the lusts of the flesh): 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly [lustful appetites and desires], and whose glory is in their shame, who mind [present active] earthly things (rather than “things to come,” Jn.16:13).

The belly blinds the mind

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this age (their belly, Phil.3:19) did blind the minds of the unbelieving [or the faithless], that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory (or of the kingdom Mt.20:21;Mk.10:37) of the Christ (in the age to come), who is the image of God (YLT).

Our minds can become corrupted in this age

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (to rule with Christ in the age to come). 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve (from her position of rulership) through his subtilty [craftiness or cunning ways], so your minds should be corrupted [infected with errors] from the simplicity [single devotion] ~~that is in~~ toward Christ (the coming King, Rev.11:15).

Jesus can deliver us into a right mind

Luke 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus (he heard his word, see Lk.10:39), clothed (overcomers are clothed in Rev.3:5), and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Man needs spiritual food for the mind

Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone (natural food - body), but by every word of God (spiritual food - mind).

The analyzer of our thoughts

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick [or living], and powerful [or effective, productive], and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner [it is able to judge or criticize or to be an analyzer] of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The word quickens me unto “things to come”

Psalm 119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust (minding earthly things): quicken (make alive, incite, stimulate, revive) thou me according to thy word (to heavenly things).

Set your mind on things above

Colossians 3:2 Set your mind [present, active, imperative] on things above (defined in v.4), not on things on the earth (under Satan’s rule).

To appear with Him in glory

Colossians 3:4 When Christ (the King), who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

The mind of Christ delivers us from Satan’s devices

2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices (we have the mind of Christ).

Responsible active thinking

2 Corinthians 10:5-6 Casting down [present active] imaginations (non-realities, or vain thoughts in the mind), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity [present active] every thought to the obedience of Christ (the coming King).

Be a non-conformist by the renewing of your mind

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed (in your priorities and behavior) to this world [or this age]: but (in contrast) be ye transformed (changed into another form) by the renewing of your mind (your thinking, intellect), that ye may prove [or be able to discern or recognize] what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Renewing is daily

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

The mind of Christ is linked to obedience

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind (thinking) be in you (present imperative), which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins [take control] of your mind, be sober [evaluate things correctly], and hope [fix your hope] to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation [or appearing v.7] of Jesus Christ 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

The key to serving God is the mind

Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve (present active) the law of God (His commands); but with the flesh (impulses, passions, selfish desires, carnal appetites) the law of sin.

A mind stayed on the Lord

Isaiah 26:3 Thou (Lord God) wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee