Sermon Series: The Mind

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” (attrib. Napoleon Hill)

God gave us a mind, and it is a powerful thing!

The mind is NOT the brain. The brain is physical, and is limited by physical conditions such as age, injuries, and hormones. The condition of the brain does affect the mind, but it is separate from the mind. The brain represents our physical/tangible ability. The mind represents our spiritual/intangible choices.

In Scripture, the mind is shown to be connected to a number of things:

Choosing courses of actions - Matt. 1:19 “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”

The whole realm of volition, cognition, and imagination - Matt. 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27; Acts 14:2; Phil. 1:27

Remembrance - Mark 14.72 “And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.”

Reasoning power - Luke 1.29 “And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.”

Purpose - Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Rom. 1:28, 7:25(different Gr. word=thought life)

(Spiritual) Position - Acts 20:19 “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:”