The Importance of Having a Renewed Mind
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Turn with me in your Bibles this evening to the book of believe in victorious living. we are going through a series of lessons from the book of Joshua on Wednesday night, and if you wanted to boil all of the book of Joshua down into one phrase then it would be stepping into the blessings of God. It is all about victorious living.
This is something God is trying to work down on the inside of me and I believe it is something God desires to work down on the inside of our church. I believe that God didn’t just save us to give us fire insurance from Hell. I believe when God saved us He saved us to make a difference in the society in which we live. I believe God saved us so that we may be lights in a dark world and salt in a saltless society.
My conviction is that many of us as believers are not on a consitent basis living the life that God desires for us and designed us to live. Therefore we are not having the impact that we ought to be having in our communities and in our world. The question is why is that?
There may be alot of reasons for that but I wanna talk about one of the reasons that is from Philippians tonight. A very familiar passage of scripture
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:5-
(Let’s pray)
Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus, with that in mind I wanna preach on this subject: The importance of having a renewed mind.
There is not an hour that goes by, theres not a day that goes by, theres not a month that goes by, in the life of a believer where our mind is not being tempted, where your mind is not being lured, by our enemy by our tormenter by our enemy the devil.
Whether its something you are watching on television, our minds are always being attacked by the enemy. Thats why Peter alerts us
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
think about it, not a hour goes by, not a week, not a month where our enemy has not put in the mind of a born again believer some stuff we know we ought not do, but… places we should not go but… things we know we should not watch but.. I promise you guys before the 60 minutes of that hour has past. Some way somehow we find our self seduced by the enemy. We find ourself enticed by the enemy. none of us in here are exempt from the tactics of the enemy. From the attacks from the enemy, from the schemes of the enemy. It does not matter your marital status you can be single saved and satisfied your not exempt. You can be married and marvelous or married and miserable you are not exempt. We are not exempt from the attacks of the enemy.
You c
IT doesnt matter whether you are a leader in the church or a member in a church, it doesnt even matter what age you are you can be elderly or you can be a child but you are not exempt from the attacks of the enemy. None of us are exempt from the attacks of the enemy.
the enemy will do all that he can to attack the thoughts and the mind of the sons and daughters of God. You can search throughout scriptures and you will find Satan attacking the mind and the thoughts of the children of God. Think about it Satan got to the minds of Adam and Eve and they ate of the forbidden fruit, Satan got to the mind of Abraham and Sarah and they lied about their marital status, Satan got to the mind of Cain and he murdered his brother Abel, Satan got to the mind of Noah and he got drunk and naked in front of his kids. Satan got into the mind of Jacob and he decieved his own daddy Isaac, Satan got into the mind of David and he committed adultery with Bathsheba, Satan got to the mind of Judas and he betrayed our Lord and Savior JEsus CHrist.
Satan got to the mind of Peter and he denied that he ever knew who Jesus was. Satan got to the mind of the prodigal son and the Bible says He wasted his inheritance on wild living. So he wasted his inheritance on wild parties and riotus living. But it doesnt stop there, guys the enemy has been out for all of us for years. Right here tonight, if were honest with ourselves and take off the masks men and women husbands and wives, leaders and preacher. whose mind is being attacked by the enemy.
HOW CAN WE AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD STAND AGAINST THE ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY?
Well the answer is is we MUST have a renewed mind.
Thats the point that the apostle Paul is making to the church at Philippi, Paul is stating that if we as believers are going to win, if we are going to be victorious and stand against the attacks of the enemy, if were going to be faithful in what God has called us to do, then we must have a renewed mind. I want every Christian in here to understand why it is important to have a renewed mind. There are three reasons you find right here in this text.
A Renewed Mind Should Help You Think About Your Christ
A Renewed Mind Should Help You Think About Your Christ
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
You see before we give in to those attacks from the enemy, a renewed mind should help us think about our Christ. In other words when I think about the goodness of Jesus and all that He has done for me my soul shall shout hallelujiah. Think about it He was born of a virgin just for you and for me, He was lied on and talked about just for you and for me, He betrayed and beaten, He was denied and demeaned He was spit on and mocked just for you and for me.
He was stripped and teased just for you and for me, JESUS WAS ABUSED AND MISUSED FOR YOU AND FOR ME. He left his kingdom of glory to come down and give us redemption! A renewed mind should help you think about your Christ! Think about it, He brought salvation just for you and for me, He brought redemption just for you and for me, he brought sanctification just for you and for me, He brought justifcation, and regeneration just for you and for me. He loved us He saved us He lived for us, He died for us, He redeemed us and one day He is coming back again for us!!!!
EVEN THOUGH HE WAS FULLY GOD HE BECAME FULLY MAN AND GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ALL OF US! HOW CAN YOU NOT WANNA LIVE FOR HIM? HOW CAN YOU NOT WANNA WIN FOR HIM? HOW CAN YOU NOT WANNA STAND FIRM FOR HIM?
HOW CAN YOU NOT… WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL HE DID FOR YOU, HOW CAN YOU NOT WANNA WIN FOR HIM?
When I think about the goodness of Jesus when my mind is renewed and i realize all that He has done for me my soul shouts praise the Lord.
But there is another reason to have a renewed mind, not only does a renewed mind help you think about your christ
A Renewed Mind Should Help You Think About Your Choices
A Renewed Mind Should Help You Think About Your Choices
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Phil
He Jesus did not let His Heavenly reputation to affect His Earthly responsibilities. He did not let His Heavenly position to affect HIs Earthly responsibilities. He made Himself of no reputation. Think about this even though He was a King He chose to become a bondservant, even though He was fully God He chose to become fully man, Even though HE was diety He decided to die. Even though He was the son while He was living here on this Earth every choice He made, He made to please His Father which was in Heaven.
Thats why we must have the mind of christ, thats why Paul says let this mind be in you, which is also in christ Jesus. Because even though were saved, even though were redeemed, even though we have the freedom to make our own choices and decisions, as sons and daughters of God every choice we make should please our Heavenly father. If our choices are gonna please our Heavenly Father then we have to know what our Heavenly Father says about our choices.
Thas what Jesus did while He was on Earth, every decision every choice Jesus made while He was on Earth He did to please His Father. Many of you remember after He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights He came down off the mountain and satan met Him there and said man you know your hungry why dont you turn these stones into bread, remember what Jesus said?
Put some butter and honey on there and you got a deal, NO that aint what He said
He said man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God! If we are gonna make wise choices we gotta know what God says about our choices and God has alot to say about our choices.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Pro
Psalms
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Its all about choices
O
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
Psalms 118
Deuteronomy
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
Its all about choices
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah
Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
Though an army deploys against me,
my heart is not afraid;
though a war breaks out against me,
still I am confident.
There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Its all about choices
Choose you this day whom you will serve!
Its all about choices
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
F
In other words its all about choices
Because every choice you make in life leads to a consequence!
Every decision leads to a consequence, that can either be a blessing or a burden.
Think about some of the choices you’ve made and think about the consequences of those choices, every choice leads to a blessing or a burden
There was once a barber who was cutting this guys hair and a little kid was about to come into the barber shop. The barber looked at the guy in the chair and said man watch this kid, this is the dumbest kid in the world. He said what do you mean?
The barber said just watch
The kid came into the barber shop and said “hey mr barber how you doing?”
He said “Im doing fine” and the barber put a dollar bill in one hand and 2 quarters in the other hand, he said young man which one do you want?
Immediately the kid took the 2 quarters and ran out of the barber shop. The barber said you see I told you that is the dumbest kid in the world, that kid comes in here every week sometimes twice a week, and whenever he comes I put a dollar bill in one hand and 2 quarters in the other and he always without thinking grabs the 2 quarters. That is the dumbest kid I have ever seen before in my life.
So the man got his haricut and he went outside and he noticed the little kid coming from across the street, out of an icecream shop licking on an icecream cone.
He said kid come here
He said yes sir?
He said I just saw you at the barber shop, the kid said yeah I saw you getting your haricut. The barber tells me you come in that barber shop every week sometimes twice a week, and the kid says yes sir licking on his ice cream cone
He said young man the barber tell me every time you come he puts a dollar bill in one hand and 2 quarters in the other and you always choose the 2 quareters
He said young man don’t you realize that a dollar bill is worth more than 2 quarters?
That lil kid looked at that man licked one more time on his ice cream cone one more time, and he said sir the day I take the dollar the game is over!
That kid wasn’t as dumb as he thought he was…
Every decision every choice leads to a consequence. think with me for a minute I wonder if Adam and Eve would have made the same choice if they had realized the consequence would have been that they would have been driven from the garden?
What if Noah would have known tthe consequence of drinking that alcohol?
I wonder if David would have had an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba if he had known the consequences?
I wonder if Judas one of the handpicked 12 Jesus didn’t ask for no resume on Judas He didnt sk for references on Judas, I wonder if Judas would have made the same decision if He would have known a few hours after he made his decision he would be committing suicide?
What about us?
I wonder what we would have done differently in our lives if we had known what the consequences were going to be?
I know this sounds like a simple message and it is, but I am almost positive that there are people in this room right now that have made and are making decisions without first allowing those decisions to pas through the grid of Gods word and you dont realize the consequences that are coming down the road. I wonder how many adullts in this room are being affected by the majority and not allowing the truth of Gods word to influence and tranform your decisions and what consequences are laying up ahead.
I wonder how many people in this room are reaping the consequences of poor choices even though they seemed right at the time and now they are facing the consequences and are blaming god for the mistake they made, or blaming someone else for responding in a way they didnt like.
I wonder
I wonder what would happen if we would empty ourself of our own importance, if we would remain humble what blessings await us?
I wonder what would happen if we would have selfless prayer and ask God to lead us step by step every decision we make for the rest of our lives and we were committed to it what our lives would look like?
I wonder if your being like Jesus and considering yourself to be nothing....
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have no regrets?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to simply trust God and allow every decision we make be in accordance with the will of our HEavenly Father?
(Let’s pray)
