Renew Your Mind 5

The Mind Of Christ 2

Text: Isaiah 11:2

Introduction

The question to ask is this, “How or by Whom can the “mind of Christ” be channeled from within to your outward actions?”

The answer to that question rests in the function of God’s Spirit. He alone creates the supernatural thoughts within and from there creates actions that reflect none other than God himself. What I am saying is this, you must be able to learn how to allow the Spirit to work the supernatural in you and through you. In short, when you combine the Spirit’s Words and the Spirit’s power, you will display the “mind of Christ.”

The Bible is clear (even from Jesus’ own words) Jesus depended on God’s Spirit to live a life (even to His thoughts) to the letter of the law (perfection). Our text today gives us some insight on the Spirit’s work through Jesus Christ. If we can understand what the Spirit provides us with, we will with more surrender allow Him to have full reign in our minds and in our life.

1) THE SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING

Turn to: Proverbs 4:7 “7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding.”

Have you ever came to a passage or passages of God’s Word, scratched you head and said, “What does that mean and how can I make application?”

The Spirit of understanding is the supernatural help you and I need to come to a full understanding of the written word of God.

He is who we need if we are ever going to have understanding of His wisdom.

Illustration: His impact is like you turning on a light switch in a dark room.

Psalm 119:130 “130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.”

A. The timing of gaining understanding:

It will never begin when you fail to purposefully and regularly read and meditate on God’s written Word.

In the first century, people would travel and inconvenience themselves to simply hear scripture read!

There was none of this, “Well, I don’t like this guys style, so I am not interested” in the days of the early church.

When you are reading, come across a question and submit it to God…be ready for an answer to come at any time!

Illustration: My grandpa learned a vailable lesson one day to always keep a means to write down what God’s answer would be to a Biblical question he had. One day while driving, God brought to his mind a particular understanding regarding scripture and all he had was his knife and an obscure place on the exterior of his car.

God’s understanding will come in God’s timing in God’s way!

B. What about the purposes for divine understanding?

Understanding the things of God more clearly.

God describes what He wants from you in His Word.

To gain a better understanding of ourselves.

Have you ever wondered why you act or feel the way you do?

Don’t take the cheap shot of blaming everyone else!

Hebrews 4:12 “12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Probably the greatest contributors to failing Christians is IGNORANCE!

Ignorance is a self-inflicting choice of remaining ignorant.

Two of the most damaging truths you can be ignorant about are: the truth about God and the truth about you.

Hosea 4:14 “14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, Nor your spouses when they commit adultery: For themselves are separated with whores, And they sacrifice with harlots: Therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.”

What are the common excuses that lead us to decide to remain ignorant?

Im too busy.

You have too many distractions disguised as things you “must do.”

Unbelief

Pride

Self-centered thoughts

Emotions

Circumstances

2) THE SPIRIT OF COUNSEL

The Old Testament word for counsel “esa” means “steerage or not letting us veer off course.”

If we are told we have a new course for our lives, then we need to know what that is.

This is where the believer learns God’s specific will for their individual lives.

I am talking about God’s personal instructions and directions to us to lead us to making godly choices.

This ability of God is truly amazing!

God’s Spirit who lives in each and every believer to be their personal advisor and counselor.

Just think of how many different situations you face and decisions you have to make.

Proverbs 3:5–6“5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

How many of you would agree that “waiting” is always the hardest part?

Isaiah 40:31 “31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.”

Often times we are in such a hurry we don’t wait on the Lord. We move quickly to receive counsel from others.

While receiving counsel from others is not a bad thing, if our first move is to flesh and not spirit, we may very well remain biased and settle for only hearing about the symptoms of our problem and not the heart of it.

Counsel from a biblical world view is the only kind I would ever recommend because THE SPIRIT will reveal the true state of your heart as they counsel you.

The Spirit of Counsel knows every ounce of bitterness, resentment, un-forgiveness, etc inside you that is causing you current issue.

Without Christ as the center of counsel, healing will never be truly experienced.

Isaiah 30:1 “1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, That take counsel, but not of me; And that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, That they may add sin to sin:”

If every Christian would learn to “renew their mind” moment-by-moment, we would have no need for the massive counseling industry.

While I believe the most frequent way we receive counsel from God is from His Word and Spirit operating together, listen to this story:

3) THE SPIRIT OF STRENGTH

Philippians 2:13 “13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

The Spirit’s strength always follows the Spirit’s counsel.

Turn to: Jeremiah 9:23–24“23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Neither let the mighty man glory in his might, Let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, That he understandeth and knoweth me, That I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: For in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”

If God does all things righteous outside of me (and He does) then we must all Him to do all things THROUGH me.

Even though it is tempting to perform God’s will in our own power, God desire us to set them aside and trust Him completely.

Jesus is our greatest example of this.

All self-confidence or dependance must be replaced with God-confidence.

Zechariah 4:6 “6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, Saith the Lord of hosts.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 “9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Not describing someone who is feeble or in-able, but rather fully relinquished to God.

Notice these words about Jesus: 2 Corinthians 13:4 “4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.”

The attitude is more of a neutral gear…ready, willing, and waiting.

In the Greek language, “Spirit of Strength” bears the meaning “power to reign in.”

Self-control is really Spirit controlled.

Quote: (Nancy Missler) “When we are going thought hurtful times and we make faith choices not to go by what we feel, that we think and what we want, but to go God’s Way, God will then give us His supernatural Strength to be able to set aside our own wild feelings, uncontrolled thoughts, an self-centered desires so that we can act out of His Life and not our own.”

Conclusion

God has given you His Word and His Spirit for you to gain understanding of Him, of yourself, how to live your own individual life, and the power to live it out according to His will.

Has God possible revealed to you your areas of weakness toward His Spirit? Maybe He has revealed to you the Spirit doesn’t yet live inside you!