Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

There are television and radio programs out there that attempt to teach us what it means to be a child of God, to be a Christian.

And some do a really good job, and some do not ..... now mind you I do not think I am the best, no where close.

There are many out there who are far more gifted than me.

And you might even agree with me, not that I am not the best… I am talking about you now… you might agree with me that you are lacking as well… that perhaps many of us are on a journey to doing better, being better… hoping to be conformed into the image of Jesus each day, praying that you look more and more, sound more and more, and act mroe and more like Jesus every day.

I want to grow and improve in my Christian walk with Jesus… don’t you?

Don’t think that because I am the Preacher, I have arrived.

We are in the same boat friends, a sinner saved by grace.

So what will make the difference?

Listen closely.... it is what happens right here ******(point at my heart)*******

Victory must happen here (heart) if I desire to be conformed into the image of Jesus.

And it is the same for you.

Victory begins at Home literally; in your life first.

Think back to World War Two.... it was a war to end all wars, we were fighting enemies on three fronts....

In the Pacific theater of war, the European theater of war and what would be N. Africa and Southern Europe.

How would we win the war…

We refused to give up, and we did what we could everywhere, especially at home.

We rationed, we did without, we made do.... and we supported the war.

As good loyal Americans the war effort began at home.

Friends, the fight to live for Jesus begins at home.

Victory begins in you.

So this morning I want to share two verses of Scripture with you, but I will just hold on to this one in particular 2 Cortinhians 10:5

But I will also share with you

So think with me who is doing the teaching in both of these passages, it is the Apostle Paul.

God has called him to be a light to the Gentile world, and He will do much for the kingdom of God.

but it begins with His heart.

And Paul settles the main issue… doesn’t mean he never struggled again.. but this was his faith mile marker...

1. Victory begins in the Mind....

The road to victory must begin in the mind.

You will either believe you can and do it or you will doubt and failure will always stalk you....

Now, ask yourself… why do I say that?

.................................

You cannot keep thinking, living and doing things the same oh way and expect different results.

That is a true statement for any area of life you want to put it in....

You cannot keep approaching life, approaching problems, approaching living for Jesus the same way you did yesterday if you are telling me it is unsuccessful.

if you do, failure will be knocking on your door again.

So for the Christian life it is especially true for us.

In , Paul is dealing with those who had a lot of competitive thoughts.

People who would seek to sway the church into thinking differently.... if they succeed, people will falter and the message of Jesus will be hindered.

So Paul battled against false teaching, it was a spiritual battle with eternal implications.

So he waged war if you will, never backing down.

And in verse 5 he says

The purpose was to destroy arguments, lofty opinions and yes, taking every thought captive, in the hopes of changing the outcome in the lives who those who were teaching but those who were listening as well.

Now lets take what Paul is saying and apply it on a personal level.

Everything you will do or not do begins in the mind.

What you say, what you lend acceptance to, what you continue to struggle with personally or as a family… that battle begins in your mind.

You will either reject it in your mind or approve it in your mind.

It is never the body first.

Think of it like a person on a diet, they will never stand in front of the fridge with their hands and arms getting that last piece of chocolate pie, and then after eating it the brain engages and says… what did you all do?

Looking horrified at the arms and hands..

NO!

The brain reasons, gives in and then the command goes to the hands… Get it!

then you are horrified that you gave in so easily.

Is there hope.... yes!

What can we do....

Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.....

Now your asking what does that really mean?

I am glad you asked.

You see in the natural mind, mind touched and struggling with poor thoughts we have to place our self on the outside and say…

Here I am God, I am submitting myself to you, to your ways and your thinking and teaching.

Destroy ever unholy, every sinful, every mis leading selfish thought that pulls me and those connected to me away from you.

The word destroy isn’t necessary just destroy as in getting rid of, but tearing down refuting and the undoing of an argument.

Why?

Because only God can dismantle the proud, self reliant, heretical thoughts we have believed in order to change our mind.

Changing our mind enables us to then follow His teaching with no issue of self in the way.

Jesus can do that in us...

if we will let Him.

You see it always comes back to us, that is the freedom of choice God gives us.

Now there is a second thought I want you to see today.

Once you have agreed that it all begins in the mind and you have submitted yourself to God.

Then you can begin the process of renewal.

2. Renew the Mind...

Renewal is a valuable term for us to hear today.

It means to make new.

In a physical term it speaks to making over.

Many of you could agree and say, I wish my body was younger, I wish I had the knowledge I have right now, but wish I had it back in that younger me.

Why>

Like Billy Graham says… Getting old isn’t for sissies.

we would like younger, healthier, those pain free, arthritis free bodies we had 20 years ago.

But sadly we cannot, we can change our appearance, like people do with plastic surgery, but the “underneath” is still the same.

But Spiritually we can have just that… a renewed mind.

Let me take you to a favorite verse.... or two.

Paul reminds us to have in us, to strive to have in us the same mind as Christ.

Phil 2:

,

Philippians chapter 2, 2 verses in one passage compel us to have a singular state of mind.

Beautiful passages, and they are speaking to the selfless mind Jesus had in obey the Father’s plan of redemption.

Wonderful.

We can do that ....in our life..

Do you believe that.....

Here is how,

Where does it all begin… in your heart, in your mind.

We make the decision as to how we are going to live and we do not turn back.

So Paul lists two major thoughts in these two verses.

Because of all that God has done for you, because of all the wondrous blessings I have written to you in the previous chapters...

Here is what you do...

Present your life to God.

Have you ever layed your life on the altar of God and said God here I am, take me, use me, how ever you want too.

That is the living sacrifice Paul mentions, sacrifices were something costly given from a person or a family to God, without reservation.

Give yourself to God.

Have you done that?

I am not talking about salvation, we place our self under Jesus at Salvation, and we ask him to be Lord over this life.