The Battle for the Mind: A Servant's Mind

Introduction:

Week 1: The Battle for the Mind: A Competing Mind

Week 2: The Battle for the Mind: A Unified Mind

Week 3: The Battle for the Mind: A Servant’s Mind

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

Satan is actively waging war on the battlefield of our minds...

Mind: the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives and judges the processes of the human mind

Your mind is the control panel or the command center in which we process, perceive and make choices...

It is what can make the difference between:

Bitterness and Forgiveness (I process and perceive with my mind… I can CHOOSE to forgive rather than become bitter)

Anxiety and Peace (Again… processing and perceiving with my mind to make a choice.)

Addiction and sobriety

These are not simple… However, if I desire to alter the course of my mind, I must CHANGE how I’m using my mind… If I desire to be free from constant fear and anxiety, I need to learn to have faith in God, trust Him and give it all to Him. If I desire to be free from contention and strife, I must make the choice with my mind to dwell peaceably with all men. If I don’t make the necessary changes of the mind… I cannot succeed.

In fact, I will continue doing the same thing but expecting different results. The definition of insanity.

This study is crucial in helping us have victory over satan on the battlefield of our mind… We cannot be senseless, brain-washed Christians who meander through life facing defeat all the time… We CAN have victory…

(PRAY)

Let’s look at some truths from God’s Word to help us have a Servant’s Mind:

1. The Ready Mind to Receive Truth

If I’m going to be a servant who succeeds at completing the task for my master, I need to receive truth or instruction first and with the right spirit...

Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Noble: of an excellent disposition; ready to receive truth

The Bereans had an excellent disposition concerning truth...

They were ready to receive truth...

Are you ready to receive truth? Do you have an excellent disposition and general excitement about truth?

People today claim to love truth… as long as it’s their truth… But do you love THE truth…

The ONLY constant, never-failing truth we have is God’s Word...

Notice how they received the word… with all “readiness of mind”

Readiness: Cheerfully, willingly, without reluctance

Vs. 1-10 tells us what the Thessalonians did with truth:

Vs. 5 - “But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy...”

Vs. 5 - they gathered a mob together, caused a riot, assaulted the house of Jason, falsely accused them and kicked them out of town...

The denial of the truth is as old as the truth.

Authentic Christianity (1), 127

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

Whereas the Bereans:

Were ready to receive truth...

Had an excellent disposition about truth...

Heard truth and received it cheerfully, willingly and without reluctance

THEN they searched the scriptures every day to ensure the truth

The result:

Acts 17:12 “Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.”

Point: Bereans ready to receive truth, great disposition toward truth and cheerfully and willingly heard and received the truth… Thessalonians many believed not, were envious, incited a riot with a mob they put together and falsely accused people before kicking them out of town.

<We’re talking about a servant’s mind… the true servant of God MUST accept and love truth> If we’re going to have victory, we MUST LOVE TRUTH!

2. The Ruined Mind to Resist Truth

2 Timothy 3:1–8 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.”

Reprobate: abandoned to error

2 Timothy 3:13 “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

Literally living a lie...

A ruined (corrupt or reprobate) mind will resist truth...

It will become increasingly more prevalent the closer to Christ’s return...

Atheist vs. Christian debate: “What amount of evidence would convince you that God exists?” “No amount of evidence could convince me of God’s existence.”

That is resisting truth...

What is the answer?

2 Timothy 3:14 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”

Paul was giving a comparison between the corrupt minds and his life of doctrine, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity and patience...

The Servant mind loves truth, but the corrupted and reprobate mind resists truth…

Our corrupted flesh will reject truth… **Goes back to the battle for the mind; the competing mind**

3. The Ready Mind to Serve God

1 Chronicles 28:9 “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”

A willing mind: a mind that delights in, desires, takes pleasure in

My mind is “willing” (delights in, desires and takes pleasures in many things…

I delight in and take pleasure in playing and watching sports...

I delight in and take pleasure in going on vacation with my family...

For me to have a Servant’s Mind, I need to alter my thought process and perception of circumstances in order to be a true servant for the Lord...

If you’re not a willing servant, you can be!

<<<However, this is a decision WITH THE MIND>>>

The world is full of willing workers; some willing to work, and others willing to let them work.

Anonymous

4. The Replicating Mind to Serve God

2 Corinthians 9:2 “For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.”

The Corinthians giving encouraged the Macedonians to also give...

Their “forwardness of mind”: cheerfulness, readiness and boldness

Because of this… it “...provoked very many.”

Did you know that your cheerful, willing and ready service for God could replicate into others wanting to do the same?

A cheerful, joyful and willing servant for the Lord is contagious… Is that you?

We all leave a pattern to replicate, but what are we replicating?

The servant’s mind serves cheerfully and willingly for the Lord, which other replicate when they witness the testimony of a cheerful servant...

5. The Resilient Mind to Remain Steadfast

1 Chronicles 22:7 “And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God:”

David’s mind (thought, feeling and desire) was to build an house for the Lord...

He stored up money for it,

Stored up and collected materials for it,

Had the plans all ready to go...

In the end, God said “no” and wanted it done through his son, Solomon...

But his “mind” was to do something for God...

He was a “man after God’s own heart” after all… As God’s righteous servant, he wasn’t perfect, but he DID desire to do the work of God with his mind...

Do you desire to do the work of God?

Nehemiah 4:6 “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.”

They faced opposition from Sanballat who didn’t want the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt

They were mocked

Nehemiah 4:1–3 “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.”

The servant’s mind remains steadfast in the face of adversity, trials, mocking, persecution… The Servant has a mind to work...

6. The Reverent Mind to Remain Humble

Acts 20:19 “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:”

Colossians 3:12 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

The servant’s mind serves in humility, free from pride and arrogance...

Not like the Pharisees who stand in the streets and pray aloud for all to hear of their great and wonderful prayers and service to God...

It is with the mind that we remain humble...

Conclusion:

The Ready Mind to Receive Truth: Love and desire truth… Do you have a ready mind?

The Ruined Mind to Resist Truth: You can’t accomplish your task as a servant without it… Do you have a corrupted mind?

The Ready Mind to Serve God: Be a willing servant who takes pleasure in and delights in serving God… Do you have a ready mind to serve God?

The Replicating Mind to Serve God: Serve willingly and you will replicate true servants… Do you replicate something good or bad from your example?

The Resiliant Mind to Remain Steadfast: Continue and finish the job despite the difficulty… Do you have a mind to work?

The Reverent Mind to Remain Humble: Stay humble while you serve Christ… Do you have a humble mind?

Being ready to serve, being willing to serve, replicating your example of servant ship, being steadfast in your service and staying humble while you serve is something done with the mind.