Being Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind
Eph 4:17-24 NKJV
As we walk as Christians, were in a battle for our minds.
What does this mean?
You will either be a person who controls your mind or you will be a person who is controlled by your mind.
1. Your mind is the doorway into who we are.
2. Your mind is the area of most consistent attack by the enemy. Where satan will try to get a foothold where he can.
The good news is this; we can win the battle in your mind.
1. You do not have to be defeated in your walk with the Lord.
2. You do not have to be a slave to worry and fear.
3. You do not have to live a life controlled by the lusts and desires for the flesh!
4. You can live your life under the control of the Spirit of God.
5. You can win the battle.
Eph 4:17-24 NKJV
17 The New Man This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Being renewed in the spirit of your mind is really beneficial because, Paul was explaining that those who walk in Ignorance and darkness, are those whose behavior comes from a mind that is alienation from God
a) If you are sitting in a dark room with no windows, you can’t see the objects in the room. Even though the objects are there, you aren’t aware of them because you’re in darkness. However, if someone turns on the light switch, the things previously hidden from your eyes are now obvious.
b) Don’t get angry at people in spiritual darkness for not being able to see what’s obvious to you. Instead, bring them some spiritual light.
Being renewed in the spirit of your mind is really beneficial because those who mind is alienated from God have the following characteristics:
a) Futility in Thinking (Ephesians 4:17).
b) Darkened Understanding (Ephesians 4:18)
c) Spiritual Ignorance (Ephesians 4:18)
Being renewed in the spirit of your mind is really beneficial because; the most beautiful people are those who have purposefully transformed their minds, and walk in true righteousness and Holiness.
Now days, religious people are portrayed as ignorant, deceitful, shameful, etc. The opposite is true.
1. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind by feeding your mind
Phil 4:6-8 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.
2. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind letting God guide your thinking
PROVERBS 3:5–6
Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success.
Being renewed in the spirit of your mind is really beneficial because of the influence our mind has on our walk in life
1. A great truth is this: "When all the scientists have climbed that great hill of knowledge and reach the top, having discovered all that there is to discover, they will find God, waiting for them on the other side."
2. Another great truth is this: Man’s greatness comes from those who have transformed their minds and allowed God’s influence in their field of study.
Historically, some of the most brilliant minds were believers such as;
Sir Isaac Newton, Orville & Wilber Wright, George Washington Carver,
Jim Irwin the Astronaut, Samuel Morse, Louis Pasteur, Nicolaus Copernicus the Polish Astronomer
As believers their faith guided them in every aspect of their profession and discipline
Galileo Galilei: 1564-1642 Italian Physicist
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
Johannes Kepler: 1571-1630 German Astronomer
The 3 laws of planetary motion. Advanced Copernicus’ heliocentric theory.
"Since we astronomers are priests of the highest God in regard to the book of nature, it befits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
Blaise Pascal: 1623-1662 French Mathematician
"There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ."
“But by Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ, we prove God and teach doctrine and morals. Jesus Christ, then, is the true God of men."
Newton Isaac: 1642-1727 English Mathematician
Laws of gravitation and motion, developed calculus. Major contributions to optics, physics, math and astronomy.
“The solar system itself could not have been produced by blind chance or fortuitous causes but only by a cause "very well skilled in mechanics and geometry."
Michael Faraday: 1791-1869 English Chemist
Discovered Benzene, electromagnetic induction, lines of force, relationship between polarized light and magnetic fields. Strong believer in the literal interpretation of Scripture. Deacon and elder in his church.
"Since peace is alone in the gift of God; and since it is He who gives it, why should we be afraid? His unspeakable gift in His beloved Son is the ground of no doubtful hope."
Lord Kelvin: 1824-1907 (William Thomson) British Physicist
Laws of thermodynamics. Absolute temp scale. Trans-Atlantic cable.
"I believe that the more thoroughly science is studied, the further does it take us from anything comparable to atheism."
Being renewed in the spirit of your mind is really beneficial because of the influence our mind has on our health
The mind exercises considerable influence over the body in a variety of ways, when we are under emotional and mental stress – or are feeling depressed -- the immune system is weakened, and we are more likely to get sick.
The mind can also bring healing to the body as well.
Being renewed in the spirit of your mind is really beneficial because w hen you walk with God, walk with a renewed mind and Think correctly about yourself
We must never forget that Satan is the personification of “pride,” and that one way he seeks to trip us up is by catering to our inherent “pride.” He works on our MINDS and IMAGINATIONS to give us a BLOATED “self-image.”
We must not have what the world has to guide their values
a) Futility in Thinking (Ephesians 4:17).
b) Darkened Understanding (Ephesians 4:18)
c) Spiritual Ignorance (Ephesians 4:18)
How greatly needed is Paul’s appeal: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself MORE HIGHLY than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom 12:3).
The Biblical emphasis is that we not think “more highly” nor “more lowly” of ourselves than we ought to think, but that we THINK CORRECTLY! Oh, how great is the need for “The Helmet Of Salvation” to avoid having both SWELLED HEADS and SHRUNKEN HEADS!
The beauty of putting on the new man is this: a new walk in true righteousness and Holiness with our Lord
Eph 4:23-24
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Healthy marriages have a sense of “remaining.” The husband remains in the wife, and she remains in him. There is a tenderness, an honesty, an on-going communication.
The same is true in our relationship with God. Sometimes we go to him with our joys, and sometimes we go with our hurts, but we always go. And as we go, the more we go, the more we become like him.
Paul says we are being changed from “glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18 KJV).
People who live long lives together eventually begin to sound alike, to talk alike, and even to think alike.
As we walk with God, we take on his thoughts, his principles, and his attitudes. We take on his heart, mind, and personality.
