Spirit Sound Mind

F.t.F. Series Review:

“Fan the Flame”—AP’s cmd in 2nd lettr to Timothy…

2 Timothy 1:6–7 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

FAN into FLAME :: “rekindle”

REKINDLE: We have a choice when it comes to obeying & operating in the Spirit’s influence.

God wants partners not robots!

He gave us autonomy & choice: wants us to use it to CHOOSE to serve him.

So steps we can take: Bible study (reading, but more curious), prayer, service, etc.

Rekindle HS POWER

POWER: Discern & practice the Spirit-given gift in you.

Figure it out… then do something in same vein for others!

Tchrs? teach. Servants? empwr others. Evang? preach. Healg? pray for othrs. Advocates? seek justice.

One gift to seek that emprs rest? BotHS & IPE of Spk’g in tongues

Desire it… seek it… trust X… make time!

Rekindle the Spirit’s LOVE

LOVE: Give your time and/or resources away to those who can’t help themselves.

The Spirit lets us engage in intentional, self-giving love that looks NOTHING like what the World tries to sell us.

Spirit-kindled love even corrects/teaches & admonishes in a way that brings about real lasting change.

Basically we embody Jesus’ example in how we treat others. “Great Cmd!” [Matt 22]

The HOLY SPIRIT is the Key

HS TESTIMONY VIDEO

We can’t love better on our own. We can’t even rekindle anything by ourselves. Let along PWR to witness & walk in God’s desire/call for us!

Yes! we play a role; God wants us to take the initiative; to choose Him back; to pursue Him closer…

But we won’t be successful AT ALL without His Spirit working behind the scenes.

It’s a partnership. He wants US to partner with what His Spirit is already working in us/thru us!

Forg’ss, Joy, Peace mind…

TODAY, discussing AP’s final reminder to Tim. The HS gives us >>

A Disciplined Mind…

Again… ref. our series verse:

2 Timothy 1:7 “[The Spirit] gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

σωφρονισμου [sofronis'mou] = my safe judgment

Other transl., “a sound mind”—learned: has more to do with mind-over-matter

Much more here than just peaceful or clear head

SO, going to talk about what a “disciplined mind" looks like.

Evaluate how reigned-in your mind is.

Conclude with practical challenges…

…Sees the Whole Picture.

Someone who can see clearly what’s going on around them.

Seeing the whole picture is not looking so much at ‘self’, are blinded to others’ pain or XPs

Looking at circum. & assessing based on Spirit’s intuition; not just at phys. evid!

Someone Paul describes in Eph…

Ephesians 5:15 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise, but as wise.”

Love this verse. talked about it at length before. Beg. words of this verse say:

KJV: “Walk circumspectly…”, i.e. ‘Live with your head on a swivel’.

Saying: keep your wits about you. As U live, be looking up; not down—take it all in.

‘Course, AP is talking about being wise about who’s influencing you.

Who is defining your behavior/mindset: worldly friends/media? Scripture, life of X?

AP says elsewhere:

1 Thessalonians 5:5–6,8 “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober 8 …putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

Brings out a metaphor of sobriety.

A spiritually 'drunken’ mind is not self-controlled; but out of control!

On top of that, it swaggers to/fro and just kind of fumbles through life.

A ‘drunken’ mind has no agency, but a sober one has sharp reflexes and can see clearly what’s coming at them.

AP says to Thess’s: A spir. drunk mind is not godly nor X’like

Easy to let world & satan & problems cloud truth.

Reminds hearers: X calls us into a lifestyle that’s different; can see things clearly

That’s next step…

Not only observes surroundings, but [a discip. mind] >>

…Discerns What is Best.

A person with this redeemed mind sees his world clearly and can accurately decide between what world says & Jesus

Jewish thought: Wisdom!

Concept that the world was knit together with God’s wisdom: relationships, weather, any decision that affects another pers… best way!

Knowing God better clues us in to what the best choice is [best path, best investment]. See Proverbs 1:7.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...”

Stu. Fee transl. ‘self-discipline’: “wise-head”

So, bc AP knows we have God’s Spirit in us, he can command us:

Ephesians 5:17–18 “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,”

AGAIN, sobriety metaphor. Here, the solution is clear - be filled with the Spirit!

See, the Spirit brings this discernment—intimate look @ truth. Wisdom.

There is a RIGHT or BEST way which the world works—and God’s Spirit leads us to make the wise choice.

A self-disc. “wise-headed” pers. call see whole pic; decide what is best and >>

…is Holy, Different.

See, when a self-disc. mind/heart makes the best choice, it looks a lot like holiness.

Holy = to be set apart from the rest as ‘different’, for a ‘special purpose’.

When minds & focus is made new, see clearly, make best decisions, played out like a moral others-focused life.

Peter commands (check out sobriety metaphor again!):

1 Peter 1:13–15 “Therefore, with minds that are alert & fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”

Setting our hope in Christ starts the ball rolling when it comes to living out a God-honoring life.

In fact, with that hope-setting, we receive the HS, who is the one who empowers said holy life.

Titus puts it this way in His letter:

Titus 2:11–12 “For the grace of God… teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”

Despite darkness all around us (easy to see, read about, engage with), we will be able to be at peace and make Xian decisions.

Even if spouse is hurting, be able to make clear decisions for ur family.

Even if job not doing well; investments take a hit; people enraged @ holy living; your desires tell you one thing…

…still able to choose what honors X!

The World WILL ridicule or condemn the Way of Jesus; they won’t understand.

But they won’t be able to deny God’s love, authentic move of HS.

You might be persecuted for it. But He also changes things!!

How Do I Discipline my Mind?

Spend time with Jesus & His People.

It sounds so basic & simple, at root it is… but really hard to do when in the throes of a trial

ALSO, man, dig into Jesus now when things are going well!

Don’t wait until your boat is going down to invest in a life vest or buoy!

1. You need other Christians in your corner, to support you. Please don’t try and do life by yourself!

2. The closer we are to Jesus, the better we know His desires [what's best], and the closer we will come to living them out daily!

LIVE with Jesus VIDEO

Don’t just read your Bible or pray: listen for God to speak to you!

Then write down what he says. Ask another believer what they think about it.

Silence, meditation on the Bible scripture, fasting & prayer, getting alone w/god.

All of these things will help you grow in understanding in hearing the Spirit’s voice.

We need to

Listen for the Holy Spirit

Committal?

Altar time?

Salvation call?