The Mind

Introduction

Welcome

Introduction to Sermon/Topic:

We are in the second week of a sermon series — Life in the Spirit.

To live a life pleasing to God requires the Holy Spirit. It’s non-negotiable. Without the Holy spirit, we can’t love God, live for God or love people. It’s the Holy Spirit that enables us to live a Christ centered life.

Today, I want to speak to people who are frustrated in their walk. Constant ups and downs, discouraged time to time, and feel an inconsistency in their life.

I want to serve you by teaching you the scriptures and providing a solution to these frustrating moments.

Let’s go to Romans 8:5-8.

Main passage:

Romans 8:5–8 NLT

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Title:

The Mind

Prayer:

In Jesus name, amen!

Story:

Has anybody heard the saying, “you are what you eat?”

We just got back from a ministry trip in Atlanta yesterday and it’s been a while since I ate the way that I did there. I feel like I gained 10 pounds minimum.

We went to this famous spot called the breakfast club and it was incredible food but after we ate, all I can feel and think is I want my bed.

I experienced the ITIS; It’s basically a food coma after a heavy meal. You feel drowsy and tired.

Explanation:

I share this because if what we eat determines how we feel, think and are, how much more spiritually.

If we exist to feed on God’s presence and word daily, we will think and live a christ centered life. However if we feed on our sinful nature, we will think and live everything opposite to what God has called us too.

Illustration:

Illustration 1

Proverbs 23:7 NLT

For as man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Matthew 7:16–18 NLT

Can you pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.

Application:

Belief and behavior rarely contradict each other. Our actions will reflect what we truly live for and dwell on.

Body

Bible

Context

Paul the apostle is trying to communicate this truth to the church in Rome.

Division is the symptom of the issue Paul is facing but the root is that they’re living for and thinking on the sinful nature.

So he redirects their attention to Jesus, the one who broke the power of sin by giving them the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. He is God but has a different role in the Godhead.

He’s not a force or an energy but a person. The Spirit has emotions, will and a mind; just like you and I.

Romans 8:

Paul introduces, in depth, what it means to live in the Spirit in Romans 8.

Main Passage:

Romans 8:1–8 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Transitional Sentence:

In this passage, we are going to explore two mindsets: The flesh and the Spirit. We will examine their nature and the consequences of living according to each.

Points

Mindset One: The Flesh.

Explanation:

Romans 8:5 NLT

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things,

The word flesh in the greek is Sarx and it’s defined as fallen human nature or sinful nature.

It’s not our literal body or flesh but a nature that rebellious to God. All of us have this sinful nature that disobeys God.

So when Paul says those who live, he means those who exist for or live for the sinful nature, with all it’s passions and flaws, basically keep thinking about what it wants.

Illustration:

Illustration 1 - Nature of the Flesh

Galatians 3:3 NLT

How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?

Human effort

2 Corinthians 5:16 NLT

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

Human point of view

Colossians 2:18 NLT

Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,

Religion/Asceticism & idolatry

2 Peter 2:10 NLT

He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.

Sexual Lust and Rebellion to authority

1 John 2:16 NLT

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Physical pleasure, what we see and pride in our achievements

Application:

When we exist or live for the sinful nature, our thoughts turn towards what it wants.

Here are the consequences:

Romans 8:6 NLT

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.

Romans 8:7 NLT

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.

Romans 8:8 NLT

That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

It’s so easy to go in between flesh and Spirit as christians; and that’s why we get frustrated in our walk with God, feel discouraged or see a lack of consistency in our walk. Our minds are set on the flesh.

Second mindset: The Spirit.

Explanation:

Romans 8:5 NLT

but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

In other words, those who exist for or live for the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.

Illustration:

Colossians 3:1–3 NLT

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

Application:

Here’s what it means to live and think on the nature of the Spirit. It’s everything opposite of the flesh:

Instead of human effort, it’s dependence on the Spirit

Instead of a human point of view, it’s a heavenly POV.

Instead of religion, it’s relationship.

Instead of idolatry, it’s recognizing God in his rightful place.

Instead of lust, it’s love.

Instead of rebellion to authority, it’s submission to authority.

Instead of craving for physical pleasure, it’s finding satisfaction in the Spirit.

Instead of craving for everything we see, it’s longing for everything we don’t see.

Instead pride in our achievements, it’s boasting in Jesus.

Conclusion

So what:

Do you want peace? Do you want to be alive? Do you want to be whole and fully satisfied? Paul says…

Romans 8:6 NLT

But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Now what:

Live for, think on and be in relationship with the Holy Spirit. He’s the one who can turn your frustration into faithfulness, discouragement into encouragement, and inconsistency to being consistent.

Prayer:

In Jesus name, amen!