Cultivating a New Mindset for 2023

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Philippians 2:5–11 (NLT)

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

INTRODUCTION:

What kind of mindset do you have? The way you think affects your Christian walk. The mindset that rules your thinking will determine how you live!

In Romans 12:2, we find out that God’s goal for us is to transform us. He does this by changing the way that we think. This process begins at the time of our new birth experience. The process of changing us is a process that takes a lifetime.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

I. IT IS A CHRIST-LIKE MINDSET (Philippians 2:5)

Philippians 2:5 (NLT)

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

A. It is a pure mind.

1. Abstains from evil input. (I Thess.5:22) - *

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (NLT)

22 Stay away from every kind of evil.

Daniel and his friends abstained from corrupted foods(Daniel 1:8-9)

Daniel 1:8–9 (NLT)

8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.

9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel.

· Abstaining from corrupting ‘food for thought” is just as important.

· What you take in by-way of physical food is purged out; what you take in mentally stays!

· Abstaining on either account will be viewed as radical.

2. Avoids meditating upon impure things (Phil. 4:8)

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

*When you find yourself thinking and dwelling upon impure things turn your mental switch to Christ and His Word.

*Read and meditate upon the Word of God twice to three times a day to counteract the effect of every day life. (Rom. 12:2)

Romans 12:2 NLT

B. It is a purposed mind

1. Keeps the goal firmly in view (Phil. 3:13b-14)

Philippians 3:13b–14 (NLT)

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

a. Where ever you are; whatever you are doing; keep your goal in full view!

* In daily work * in reading

* In recreation * In relationships

II. IT IS AN HUMBLE MINDSET. (Philippians 2: 6-9)

Philippians 2:6–9 (NLT)

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

A. It is not focused on self-preservation or SELF-promotion. (Philippians 2:6-7)

Philippians 2:6–7 (NLT)

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

· Jesus reaches out to those bound by sin (harlots, publicans unclean lepers, etc.) He did not worry about what the ‘In Crowd’ (Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, Levites, wealthy bureaucrats, etc.) thought about Him. This was at the direction of the Father. His concern was obedience and pleasing the Father ..

· (Matthew 3:17)

Matthew 3:17 (NLT)

17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

· (Matthew 17:5)

Matthew 17:5 (NLT)

5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”

· Being praised by the Father, he readily endured the condemnation of the “important” Jewish leaders.

B- It is focused on the pathway of humble service. (Philippians 2:7-8)

Philippians 2:7–8 (NLT)

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

1- The Lord desires that we offer ourselves to serve.

a. Service is at the heart of missional living. (Matthew 25:34-40)

Matthew 25:34–40 (NLT)

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?

39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

C- It is committed to humble and sacrificial service. ( Philippians 2: 8)

1. Humble toward God. (Micah 6:8)

Micah 6:8 (NLT)

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

a. Not rebellious.

Readily receives rebuke and instruction.

How readily do you receive God’s correction? What is your initial response when the word of God hits home?

2. Humble toward fellow believers (Romans 12:3)

Romans 12:3 (NLT)

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

a. Not contentious.

Remembers that it is a part of the body and not the head. Christ is the head.

* All believers are important... Just as all body parts are important.

3. Humble toward the unsaved (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NLT)

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

a. Remembers from where it came.

It is only by the grace of God that we are saved.

It is only by the grace of God that we are where we are and not in another man’s shoes.

* The only thing that made the disciple different than the man born blind was the grace and providence of God. (John 9:1-14)

• But for the grace of God, we too would still be lost.

III. IT IS A GOD-GLORIFYING MINDSET ( Philippians 2:9-11)

Philippians 2:9–11 (NLT)

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A. Does not seek to vindicate or promote self. (Philippians 2:9)

Philippians 2:9 (NLT)

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,

1. God will vindicate and promote those who are faithful to Him.

2. Obedience is always the key to blessing.

a. Satan tempted Jesus to vindicate himself and take a shortcut to rulership . Jesus chose God’s way: The Calvary road … entailed time and suffering. (Matt. 4:9-10)

Matthew 4:9–10 (NLT)

9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

B- It seeks to glorify God in all it does. (Philippians 2:11)

Philippians 2:11 (NLT)

11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Corinthians 6:20 (NLT)

20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1. In life and death (Phil. 1:20)

Philippians 1:20 (NLT)

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

2. In every circumstance of life (Col. 3:17)

Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

a. Glorifying Him is a conscious choice. It does not happen by accident!

CONCLUSION:

Do you have the right kind of mindset? The kind of mindset you have determines what you will live out.

A- Review: The kind of mindset we need to cultivate in 2023+

I. IT IS A CHRIST-LIKE MINDSET

II. IT IS AN HUMBLE MINDSET.

III. IT IS A GOD-GLORIFYING MINDSET

B- If your mind is not right you need to

(1) Admit it to yourself

Be completely and painfully honest with yourself

Lay aside your pride

(2) Seek Cleansing

repent

confess

(3) Surrender to the Holy Spirit

choose daily to cultivate the right mindset, a11owing Him to renew it.

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