Intro: In the middle of a wedding ceremony, a jewelry store manager exchanged rings with his soon-to-be spouse. As he slipped the ring onto his bride’s finger, he said, “With this ring—we guarantee a full refund if the customer is not completely satisfied.” His sales pitch was so deeply ingrained in his mind that the words came out automatically.
What’s ingrained in your mind? “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8).
(Kent Crockett, I Once Was Blind But Now I Squint, Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004, 135)
We learned last week that all in begins as an issue of the heart. We will see this week that after it affects the heart it inhabits the head. Matthew 22:37 “He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
Let me challenge you with this truth. If the gospel is not being ingrained in your mind it probably hasn’t been engraved on your heart.
Hebrews 10:16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws on their hearts and write them on their minds,”
Romans 12:1-2 Tells us that Growth as a believer happens as our thinking is transformed.
1 Peter 2:2 Tells us how our thinking is transformed. “Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation.”
Misconceptions that mislead us in our growth and transformation of our minds.
1) The life based on feeling says, “How do I feel about worship today, How do I feel about my spouse today, How do I feel about my job today.” The life based on feeling ignores the transforming power of God because it ignores the renewing of the mind.
2) The life based on doing, “Don’t give me theology just tell me how to do it!” The life of doing will never know the transforming power of God if it ignores the renewing of the mind.
God is not against feeling and doing. He allows us to express our feelings and calls us to be doers of the word. The first questions are not “How do I feel? What do I do?” The first questions are what is true and what does God say about the matter.
It is meditating on God’s word absorbing it so the Spirit can bring it up in circumstances in my life. And thinking through how do I apply that to my daily routine that will transform us. God provides many opportunities for us to apply the truths He reveals through preaching, teaching, studying, meditating on His word. You may be going through the same situation over and over again because you have not applied the truth He taught you to the trial he brought you!
Genuine love of God transforms our lives and lifestyles.
DL Moody, “The Scriptures were not given for our information but our transformation.” It is interaction with and application of God’s word that transforms our thought life!
I. Loving God with your mind changes your perspective
Loving God with our minds comes from the radical alteration of our selfish or self-focused life or lifestyle. Most people look at life from the perspective of what they can get.
Dr. Mitchell Dillon made an appropriate statement, “They have a name in the world of human physiology for a member that demands without giving - - - cancer.”
If we are true Spirit filled believers with transformation taking place in our lives our perspective should be what we can give.
Ralph L. Woods: An ambitious farmer, unhappy about the yield of his crops, heard of a highly recommended new seed corn. He bought some and produced a crop that was so abundant his astonished neighbors asked him to sell them a portion of the new seed. But the farmer, afraid that he would lose a profitable competitive advantage, refused.
The second year the new seed did not produce as good a crop, and when the third-year crop was still worse it dawned upon the farmer that his prize corn was being pollinated by the inferior grade of corn from his neighbors' fields. C.R. Gibson, Wellsprings of Wisdom
Church to be all in we must have God’s perspective on all things, On relationships, on giving, marriage, children, retirement, jobs, school, taxes, government, and on and on.
A) If your mind is being transformed you see people different.
People are no longer categorized as those that help you or opposed to you but people. Every person you come in contact with has their own problems and pressures. The things they say are not taken personally you can see objectively beyond the hateful words.
Do you have trouble loving someone? Do you make the excuse they are unlovable. Allow God’s Holy Spirit to renew your mind by memorizing 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 as you ask God to change your thinking.
B) If your mind is being transformed you see things differently.
Things are no longer important but how you acquire them and what you do with them that matters. Your mind will transition from thinking, “How can I hold on to this to how can I honor God. Is it in keeping it, giving it away, selling it to help others?”
If your perspective has changed then you see things differently. First we get our perspective right, let’s call it vision. When we get our vision right and see God’s ways then we will get our priorities right we can call those our values.
II. Loving God with your mind changes your priorities
This is a good time to ask what are the priorities of Immanuel?
A) Immanuel’s priorities (What is God’s chief priority) Isaiah 43:7 “everyone called by My name
and created for My glory. I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.” God’s glory simply put is his reputation.”
When we studied Ephesians from chapter 1 to 3 everything was to the glory of God. He created all there is to display and magnify His name and the person of Jesus.
1) To Glorify God and make disciples by. . .
2) Teaching God’s Word the Bible
3) Cultivating Jesus’ life in Common (Biblical fellowship)
4) Praying with expectation, adoration, confession and thanksgiving
5) Christ Centered Worship
B) Your priorities (Jesus told us clearly that our priorities will be set by what is valuable to us)
How do you priorities line up with those of Immanuel? As a believer you main priority should be to know Jesus and make Him known. That is glorifying God.
So what does God command us in our teaching about individual and church priorities?
1) Set your priorities
Unless we take time to set our minds then someone or something else will do it for us. It is often overlooked that there is an important responsibility for us to fulfill.
2) Set your priorities with eternal things (Colossians 3:1-2)
In Genesis 13:10 we see lot choose the well watered fields of the Jordan valley, where Sodom and Gomorrah were to be roasted. He did this because his priorities were based on temporary things. We are the ones who choose what our priorities are.
We prioritize based on how we value things. So I challenge you to look at your calendar for a week or a month and see how you prioritize you time. You will find out what you value most.
Here are some priorities the Bible makes clear that come from God’s heart
a) Kingdom – Glory – Gods reputation and name
b) Church – We are called to not forsake gathering together
c) Gospel – We are called to share the gospel of Jesus with all people
d) Make disciples. This happens by getting involved and invested in other people’s lives. It is costly but has a great return on investment.
In the light of Colossians 3:2, isn't it time that you and I adjust our priorities?
To be all in what you discover is it takes a renewing of your mind. It changes your perspective, your priorities and ultimately your practices.
III. Loving God with your mind changes your practices
Matthew 15:19 “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies”
We often relate our emotions to our heart. It appears the bible makes clear the heart at least in part is the mind. From the heart come evil thoughts! That is why God tells us in Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.”
Here we see the need for the power of the Gospel. This isn’t just a temporary change of our actions. This is a radical call for the transformation of who we are.
Have you ever struggled with habits, attitudes, sins? God is giving you the prescription for victory in your life. A renewed mind.
A) A mind full of scripture
B) A mind read to obey the Spirit
1) Forgiveness
2) Thankfulness
3) Rejoicing
4) Faithfulness
5) Willingness to serve
C) A mind ready to abandon old ways of thinking
1) Taking our thoughts before the power of Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4-5)
This is imperative in spiritual warfare. The devil tries to divide with wrong thoughts about each other. He tries to divide and conquer by turning mole hills into mountains. We take captive any thoughts that are clearly commanded against. Pride, anger, selfishness, gossip, greed, hatred, division, strife, apathy critical spirit we could go on and on.
2) Transforming our lives by cultivating Godly thinking
The mind is like a farmers field. If a farmer plants corn he will get corn. If he plants wheat he will get wheat. It would be stupid for the farmer to plant corn and then expect to harvest wheat. It is simple, whatever you plant is what you get. If you sow to the flesh you will reap corruption. It is impossible for any person to sow to flesh and get a spiritual harvest. God has given you the ability to control what you sow and thereby control what you harvest. If you experience defeat over sin, lack power, and never really walk in the all the fullness of God then it is time to examine your thoughts.
D) A few suggestions on how to cultivate a renewed mind
1) Read God’s word and ask Him to transform your thinking
2) Join a small group or Sunday school class where you can study God’s word
3) Make a commitment to be here as many worship/bible study times as possible so that God’s word can be used by the Holy Spirit to transform you mind.
4) Stay away from people with negative and nasty thinking.
Conclusion: Information + application in the power of the Spirit = Transformation. One of the most important aspects of being all in is to get rid of any stinking thinking we have. To get our vision where we look, our values – what define as worthy, and or practice in line with God’s standards.
