From The News:
-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad entered into a written agreement that states that Iran will not use the spent fuel rods to make nuclear weapons. We know the Russians never lied to us and the Muslims have such a good track record keeping their promises as well. After all we are just infidels and they do not have to keep their promises to us.
Judge Vaughn R. Walker has done more that make gay marriages legal in California (and possibly the USA) but has opened the door to hate speech for churches preaching homosexuality as sin (that it is “hateful” (pg. 105 point 77, sub point Q)
Phil 2:5-8
Let this mind be in you, 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.
Taking The Plunge
-This is a request and a command.
Think about it, let implies requesting permission. As a dear friend once said to me “the Holy Spirit is a gentleman.” He will not go where He is not invited.
-It is also a command. Let says we need to do it but He will not force it upon us. God will let us go around a mountain for 30 years if we insist on rebelling. He is not concerned about the short term, His goal is long term and He will let us have our rein if we insist.
The Mind of Christ is…
A Confidant Mind (v.5)
-Not a boastful or prideful mind that shouts me! Me! Me! But an assured confidence in God who saved us in spite of ourselves.
-We are saved by God’s grace and nothing we can do by ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9).
-We stand un-condemned in Christ Jesus. We are given an spirit of adoption where we cry Abba Father! (Romans 8:1,14-16)
Rom 8:1, 14-17
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit… 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
A Humble Mind
Jesus in a supreme example of humility left the glory of heaven to put on a coat of flesh to live a sinless life as our example, submitted to the death on the cross.
-Biblical humility is also a recognition that by ourselves we are inadequate, without dignity and worthless. Yet, because we are created in God's image and because believers are in Christ, we have infinite worth and dignity (1 Cor 4:6-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19). True humility does not produce pride but gratitude. Since God is both our Creator and Redeemer, our existence and righteousness depend on Him.[i]
-A further thought: humility is not an outward grace. We must not confuse it with bad posture. A man walking around with his shoulders slouched and his head down is not humble but has bad posture.
-Humility is not a constant outward profession. “Oh I am such a worthless worm!” (or some such rot coming out of our mouths). Negative confessions do not make us humble but rather curse and bind us.
-A proper sense of humility comes out of our confidence in our relationship with Jesus. I am confident in what He did for me and I am humbled by the thought He did it all out of love for me.
A Obedient Mind
He was obedient even to the death on the cross. What does God tell us about being obedient?
-If you love me keep my commandments –John 4:15
Think about this: nobody in the New Testament ever told God that they loved Him. Peter came close but missed. Jesus asked if Peter agape Jesus and Peter said he phelo Jesus. Not the same word, not the same kind of love.
Jesus does not want people to say they love Him, he wants us to show Him how we love Him. Our worship of Jesus needs to be genuine and true. How can we sing “I love you Lord” if we are living in rebellion to His commands? We show our love by our obedience to his word. More on that later.
Why callest thou me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say? – Luke 6:46
A Compassionate Mind
-Blind Bartamaus
Mark 10:46-52
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
-The Leper
Mark 1:40-42
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion , put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
-The Good Samaritan: Our Command
Luke 10:27-37
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
-That is your inner strength, outer strength and your thoughts.
-Jesus loves compels us to give, religion looks for a way to do as little as possible and still be “acceptable.”
-This law covers all other laws for if we follow this law we will fulfill all the other laws.
-This is the great commandment, what I call the law of love.
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
There it is, a church member beaten up on the side of the road and needing help. The preacher is too busy so he walks on by, so is the deacon, the Sunday School teacher and everybody else. Religion finds and excuse while compassion finds a way.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Compassion costs. It cost this man in time, in money and in effort. After what it cost Jesus to purchase our redemption, how can we complain about what Jesus asks us to do?
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
There is our command from the Saviour: go and do thou likewise. And thou means you and me and everybody who names Jesus as Lord & Saviour.
It is A Passionate Mind
Matt 21:12-13
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
-We must be passionate about what God has called us to do. While commands convict us it is the passion that moves us to action. We gather around the old TV and get so excited about the football game. We cannot wait to the next week where we can get all excited for them again while the win or lose, give us heart or break our hearts. Where is the passion for the things that matter?
-We need the mind of Christ.
Wrap Up
-We all need to allow the mind of Christ to indwell us. The first step is to have Jesus as your saviour. If you never have accepted Jesus as your saviour, why not now, what is holding you up, what in hell could you want?
-The mind of Christ is a confident, humble, obedient, compassionate, and passionate mind. If we fall short in any of these areas, we need to seek the Father to help us get the mind of Christ.
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[i] Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
