Renew Your Mind 2

Renewal Is Worth The Fight

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Introduction

After hearing the Apostle Paul building a strong case for all believers to commit to taking the journey of inward renewal so that their external life would be nothing less than the transformed life, I want to spend our time today helping each of you understanding God has not left us empty handed. In other words, God has left us with the necessary weapons to fight our way to renewal and transformation.

This inward renewal and external transformation can be called the “exchanged life.” It is exchanging the life you have been living (internalizing every emotion, struggle or sin) to receiving a life of healing, unity and strength. That being said, this committal to a spiritual exchange is also agreeing to a spiritual fight!

If this is going to be a fight (and it is) you need to know the kind of weaponry that will serve you nothing less than victory. However, some of these weapons you will expect and others you may very well dislike. Nevertheless, they are weapons for this specific fight; A fight worth entering into!

This fight is most certainly worth fighting. Not just for the renewal, but also to be ready for all the spiritual warfare that is coming your way. What Christians need today is clear biblical discernment toward all things they face.

Our text today is a moment in Paul’s life when the believers of Corinth were being misled by judiazers and therefore misjudging Paul’s ministry. Paul responds with humility and reminds them that his ministry is valid and no flesh is their enemy. Paul points out how their battle is a spiritual one and their thoughts that are contrary to God can and must be destroyed.

1) What Is Your Mind?

The Old Testament gives us wonderful insight on what our mind is. Learning this will help you understand how important inward renewal really is to your obedience to Jesus Christ.

A. Your mind is considered REINS

Scripture refs:

Psalm 7:9 “9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: For the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.”

Psalm 139:13 “13 For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.”

Psalm 16:7 “7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: My reins also instruct me in the night seasons.”

Jeremiah 17:10 “10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

What is the purpose of reins?

Illustration: I grew up around horses. They were used to guide the horse where I wanted to go.

Whoever was in control of the reins was in control of the horse.

Your mind will either guide you in a straight path in obedience to God or on a crooked path (your emotions, circumstances, personal hurt)

Hosea 11:4 “4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: And I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, And I laid meat unto them.”

The way we give our “reigns” to God is by taking on the mind of Christ!

Philippians 2:5 “5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

B. Your mind is considered KIDNEYS

Lets think about the function of this bodily organ:

First, they filter out all filth from our blood.

Second, they control and regulate the amount of blood flow in your body.

Now, lets consider that in view of our minds:

God’s desire for your mind is to filter out the filth (you life, your hurts, bitterness, un-forgiveness, etc.)

God desires your mind to regulate who is going to flow through you (sin or Jesus).

C. You mind is your EYE

Luke 11:34–35 “34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.”

Two things are required to see things: Light and the eye itself

God is the “light” and our mind is the “eye” or instrument by which the light comes.

You could say it this way: You and I can see clearly only when the light of God shines through our mind (eye).

D. Your mind is a FOUNTAIN

God is the source of the water and your mind is the well or fountain.

2) What Are Your Weapons?

A. Your “members” are to be weapons “through” God

Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Weapons are the means for a solider to defend, fight or have the advantage & prepare one’s self for sin or righteousness.

Whatever you filter your full being through, is the kind of work you will accomplish.

If you filter your vessel through God, you will destroy the sinful or dark things that have control over you “strong holds.”

Bad examples: drinking, porn,

The end result of allowing things that appose the knowledge about God is to EXALT SELF OVER CHRIST.

Isaiah 2:11-12 “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, And the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, And upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:”

You have a choice to today to renew your mind to a place of humility and dependence upon God or pride (dependent on one’s self)

B. Brokenness & Suffering

Since the “renewed life” is an exchanged life, “brokenness” is an essential tool.

Job as an example: Job 42:5 “5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: But now mine eye seeth thee.”

Remember, Job was even recommended by God as a superior man of faith.

Before this point, all Job saw was himself through his own perspective.

Job reached the point of also seeing his own sin as well as God for who He was.

Job learned he God was always trustworthy — Job 13:15 “15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.”

Question: Has there been a time a season of brokenness came to you and taught you how little you knew about God?

What God is wanting to do with all of us is to deplete us of the “self-life” (anything contrary to God)

Jeremiah 1:10 “10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” (pulling down of strongholds)

Job 37:13 “13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, Or for his land, or for mercy.”

Job 37:9 “9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: And cold out of the north.”

south (cheder) = inner most room

Proverbs 20:30 “30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: So do stripes the inward parts of the belly.”

The main objective of brokenness is for you to see there is life from no other source but God and His Spirit dwelling is us!!!

There is always a price for freedom!

Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes.”

Brokenness and suffering to not be avoided!

Jesus said, “I Son of man must suffer many things.”

Because what follows…

C. Resurrection

Rethink through some scriptures with me:

Phil. 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Gal. 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”

Conclusion

When God leads you down a road of brokenness and suffering, keep in mind He is ultimately leading you to a much needed resurrection! The path of “renewal” leads to a resurrection of courage, humility, service and worship.