The Mind of Christ
Philippians 2:5
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Introduction: Now I have done a careful study of the Greek text and after much deliberation and careful consideration I have come to the conclusion that the phrase "Let this mind be in you..." means "...Let this mind be in you..." God wants us to have the mind of Christ. He wants us to have a mind like His Son. Now I want you to know that our minds are the key to our Christian life. If we can have a Christ-like mind then we can please God and keep ourselves pure from the world.
I. THE CONTAMINATION OF THE MIND
2 Peter 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2 Peter 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
a. Weak in his devotions
Abraham had an altar, Gen. 13:5 says Lot had flocks, herds, tents. Abraham had devotions 19:27...He knew that the Bible would keep him from sin, and sin would keep him from the Bible! Abraham knew to keep short accounts w/ God. What you get here in 3 services a week is not enough. You can only ride on someone else's spiritual coattail for so long. Sooner or later you have got to develop that personal, intimate, one on one, daily relationship w/ God. Jerry Shirley
b. Worldly in his desires
Gen. 13:10 says that Lot chose Sodom because it reminded him of the land of Egypt...that he had been saved from! (World) Lot asked, is this a good place to raise cattle, but he should have asked if it was a good place to raise kids! "Make money", not "grow spiritually"... "feed me", not "be fed" "Serve myself", not "I, myself, can serve God." He became worldly in his desires. Jerry Shirley
c. Wrong in his decisions
Genesis 13:11 3 key words... "then Lot chose" God allows us to choose our own path...but He doesn't allow us to choose what destination that path will lead to. God will allow us to choose anything we want, except for the consequences, we can't choose those! As a matter of fact, we have to live w/ the consequences of our choices. Every decision we make, to at least some degree, affects the direction of our future. For the most part, our decisions are determined by our desires. Jerry Shirley
There was a reason that Lot made the wrong choices. He was weak in his devotions, worldly in his desires and wrong in his decisions because his mind had become contaminated.
II. THE CLEANSING OF THE MIND
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The Word of God has the power to cleanse our minds from the filth and pollution
a. The memorization of the Word
Most adults think that memorization is for children but that is simply not true. I don't know how many times that I have heard adult say that they just can't memorize anything. How many of you have a phone number memorized? Or how many of you have you SS# or DL# memorized? Adult can and should memorize Scripture as well as young people.
Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Memorizing & Studying Bible Low Priorities George Barna Research reports "Our most recent surveys indicate that about half of all adult Americans listen to preaching or Bible teaching in a typical week." Although 1 out of 3 read the Bible during the week, only 1 out of 10 claims to study the Bible weekly and less than 1 out of 25 devote themselves to memorizing at least one new Bible verse per week. (The Pastor's weekly Briefing,
b. The meditation on the Word
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalms 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psalms 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Psalms 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
III. THE CONTROL OF THE MIND
How important is it for us to control our minds? Listen to what Solomon had to say:
Pro 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
This verse says that what we are is what we think about. What do you think about my friend?
Lot's thinking was all wrong and it warped his decisions. His mind had been contaminated with worldly things and the result was worldly thoughts and a worldly testimony.
Abraham negotiated w/ God, and God said to Abraham, if there are just 10 believers there, I'll spare the whole city for just those ten! Lot and his wife...that's 2...he had 2 married daughters, they and their husbands make 6, and he had 2 unmarried daughters...there's 8 right there. If Lot had only reached his own family, and just 2 more, the whole city would have been spared. But even his family laughed at him, because he was backslidden. He had already lost his testimony...the NT says in II Pet. 2:8 Lot dwelling among them, seeing them, "vexed his righteous soul from day to day" because of just being in their presence!
a. Control what you see
The average person spends 4 hours per day watching TV and 1.5 hours per day on the internet. So 5.5 hours per day watching media that is primarily anti-Christian and filled with all sorts of images that "vex" our hearts and minds. Now compare that with how much time we spend in the Word of God and you'll the size and scope of the problem we face. Many Christians suffer from mind pollution.
b. Control what you hear
What kind of music to do listen to? The answer to this question will tell a lot about who you are. We have more musical options today than ever before. What with I-tunes and Pandora and all kinds of other media there is no excuse for not listening to good Godly, edifying music. Play it in your home, in your vehicle and in your ear phones or any other way that your can but play and listen to good music. Listen to the Word of God on tape (Old fashioned) or on your phone. We claim to love the Word of God but we don't listen to it or read it.
Ill - "You sow a thought and you reap a deed. You sow a deed and you reap a habit. You sow a habit and you reap a character. You sow a character and you reap a destiny."
"Every time we allow our mind to harbor a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fancy, wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk that strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, sowing to the flesh." -- John Stott
