Christ-Centered Mind

Love God with all your heart, with all your soul… and with all your mind. That was the first part of Jesus’ response to the Pharisees when they asked Him what the greatest commandment was.

What this means is… love God with absolutely all that you are. Do not hold back one area of your life… do not reserve one thought, one feeling, or one part of who you are. Give it all… to God.

And in this answer, Jesus does something rather remarkable. With one command, He gets to the heart of almost half of the ten commandments.

Why is this significant? Because Jesus is working to lead these guys back to the heart of the entire law - LOVE. Yes the outward actions matter - but the heart behind the action matters even more.

Paul said it well in 1 Corinthians 13. He gives a list of incredible things a person can do but if any of it is done without love, well he says all we are doing is making noise. Without love as the motive, he says, we are nothing and we gain nothing.

Our series Experience the difference has been taking a good look at the answer Jesus gave to the Pharisees for good reason.

The two commandments given by Christ in Matthew 22 also serve as the foundation for our mission statement at HWC.

Loving God comes from the first commandment given by Jesus.

Loving people comes from the second commandment given by Jesus.

It is one thing to know these simple statements today… but it is more important that we know the heart behind these statements today. LOVE IS THE KEY. And if we desire to see the heartland transformed by the power of God, then we need to be a people of love - a loving extension of Jesus’ ministry until He returns.

Jesus IS the difference that people are looking for! He makes ALL the difference in our lives!

He makes a difference in us when we give Him or love Him with all our heart.

He makes a difference in us when we give Him or love Him with all our soul.

And… He makes a difference in us when we give Him or love Him with all our mind. And this is where our focus is going to be today - learning how to have a Christ-Centered mind.

Having a mind that is aligned with the things of God is extremely important to having clear vision… of seeing what God sees.

Church, it is really easy to fill our minds up with all that is going on around us. It is really easy to become mentally overwhelmed as we try to process everything that is going on.

One way we fill up our minds today is through our smart devices known as cell phones. It is hard to concentrate when we have devices in our pockets that notify us about… everything!

The weather sends a message that it’s going to be warmer or colder than yesterday. It tells us when rain or snow is coming.

Email alerts pop in from time to time

Text messages ding our phones often

Doorbell alerts tell us when someone is on our porch

Phones ring as someone tries to get a hold of us to tell us that our car or home warranty has expired.

And when we hear or feel the vibration… we are quick to pick up the phone to see what is going on. In fact, we have become so conditioned in this that people experience what is called “Phantom Vibration Syndrome.”

Detecting a vibrating phone has become a habit, and the slightest muscle twitch or feeling of clothing moving could be wrongly interpreted as phone vibration. One study found that 90% of students have experienced this out of fear they might miss a notification or call on their phone!

And this is all revolving around just ONE piece of technology in our world today! It’s no wonder that our minds can feel overloaded or overwhelmed!

This morning we are going to look at what loving the Lord your God with all your mind looks like.

your mind is your intellect… it is your processing center. It is where you store incoming data and make daily decisions. What we harbor in our minds impacts what we do or think with our minds.

Making Christ the center of your intellectual self… makes all the difference in the way you see and operate in this world.

How many would admit this morning that there are times when you feel mentally overloaded or overwhelmed?

Loving Christ with all your mind is the answer to this struggle… and this morning we are going to talk about why that is.

A Christ-Centered Mind is a Word-Filled Mind.

Of all the things that we can fill our minds up with today, I pray we make a point to fill our minds with the Word of God, daily.

This might seem like an elementary point to make this morning but folks, we are facing a pandemic within the church today… a pandemic known as biblical illiteracy.

What is biblical illiteracy? Simply put… people revere the Bible and see it as important. However, people do not know what the Bible has to say.

Some fascinating results have come to light through some recent studies within the church.

Fewer than half of all adults can name the four Gospels.

Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of Jesus’ disciples.

60% cannot name 5 of the 10 commandments.

12% of people believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife (funny to me)

Where does this problem stem from?

19% of church attenders read their Bibles daily.

26% read it a few times a week

14% read once a week

22% read the Bible at least once a month

18% never pick it up to read it.

I’m not bringing these study results up to be rude or to be condescending. Yet we need to be open and honest here today. If we want to hear the words and do what they say… then we need to be students or disciples of the Bible.

Knowing the Word of God is foundational to our faith and spiritual stability.

First off, knowing His Word keeps us away from that which would separate us from God.

Psalm 119:11 NIV

11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

The Word of God leads us away from sin. The Word of God points us in the direction of God the Father.

Church, in a world where sin is running out of control, we need to make sure we are filling our minds and hearts with the truth that leads us away from such action.

The world is trying to challenge and redefine what sin is. let us not become confused in deception or false teaching! Let us be students of God’s Word so that we might not sin against God!

Secondly, knowing His Word helps us to make it through the storms of this life.

Jesus made this clear at the end of His sermon on the mount.

Matthew 7:24–25 NIV

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

When we hear and apply His Word to our lives, we WILL be able to stand the test of the storm.

Jesus told us that troubled days are ahead. Jesus told us that storms would be a part of life in this world. But do we know what He said after He told us that truth? He said

John 16:33 NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus has overcome this world! he has overcome it ALL! Knowing Christ and His ways is the KEY to making it through the difficulties o the day. Knowing the Word… is how we know Jesus and His ways.

Third, knowing His Word helps guide us like a road map through life.

Psalm 119:105 NIV

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

We have become pretty dependent on these gadgets called GPS in our vehicles and on our phones. These devices help us to get to where we are going when we are traveling.

They tell us the road to take, the stops that can be found along the way, and even what our estimated time of arrival is. I like to know how to get to where I want to go!

The Bible is such a revelation for us today spiritually. It guides us throughout all of life. It illuminates our path, lights up our direction of travel. It warns us of the lurking pitfalls and dangerous trails.

The more complicated our culture becomes, the more studied this book needs to be!

These are just a few quick examples of how knowing God’s Word is important in our lives!

I want to challenge and encourage you today… as we aim to love God with all our minds, I want to encourage you to fill your mind with His word.

And with that challenge… comes a resource. We want to give you a POWERFUL tool to help you fill your mind with the Word of God.

RightNow Media is an internet based resource we want to place in your hands. It is a streaming resource that works on smart phones, Roku or Firesticks, computers or other internet connected devices.

If you do not have this already, scan the box code on the screen and follow the instructions. IT IS FREE… will ALWAYS be free… and it comes with no string attached.

Here is a quick clip of what this resource looks like.

PLAY VIDEO PROMO

We just sent out a link via text message. If you didn’t get the text, follow the instructions on the screen to join our text caster and it will be sent again at the end of the service.

Church, we want to equip you and to encourage you to be students of God’s Word! We love God with all our minds as we fill our minds with His truth!

A Christ-Centered Mind is a Spirit-Led Mind.

Who or what is leading your mind today? Who or what is the greatest influence upon your mind today?

Yes, we just talked about filling our minds with God’s Word, but there is another resource that is available to us… a person who desires to help lead our minds to focus on the things of God. His name is the Holy Spirit and He wants to help lead your thoughts and to help you in your decision making.

Your mind is a complex processing center. We collect data and then decide what to do with what was collected.

Those decisions need to be measured against the Word of God. It becomes the metric or the standard that all of our decisions should be based off.

Those decisions should also be led or guided by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will help us to take the truth of God and apply it to the situations or circumstances before us.

The Holy Spirit also helps to guard our minds against the attacks of the enemy or the carnal thoughts of this world.

A mind left unguarded is a mind that can become a MAJOR spiritual battle ground. The enemy LOVES to play tricks on our minds! The enemy knows that if he can get a seed of deception or temptation to take root in our minds… it can cause a world of trouble down the road.

Loving God with all our minds requires that our minds be led by the Spirit of God. I want us to look at what Scripture has to say on the matter.

Romans 8:5–8 NIV

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Paul gives some interesting insight here.

A life lived according to the flesh reveals a MIND governed by the flesh.

A life lived according to the Spirit reveals a MIND governed by the Spirit.

How we LIVE reveals How we are governed. How we are governed will lead to different results.

The mind governed by flesh is death. It will find chaos, confusion, stress, worry, impulsivity, and so on. It will find itself deep in the troubles of this world. It will be limited in resource and understanding. This kind of governance CANNOT PLEASE GOD.

The mind governed by the Spirit is LIFE and PEACE. It is not exempt from the struggles of this world but finds peace in the Spirit as He leads us and guides us through. We find comfort in His presence, direction through His leading, hope in His promises, and the ability to overcome through His power.

So how do we make the switch from having a mind that is governed by the flesh to having a mind that is governed by the Spirit?

The difference comes in WHO your mind is focused on. Remember the title of today’s message is a Christ-Centered Mind. Your mind must become focused on Jesus.

Knowing Christ is the key to having a mind governed by the Spirit. Those who belong to Christ have the Spirit of Christ (or the Holy Spirit) living within them.

That same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead becomes the main influence of your mind! He will guide you and give you new life as you navigate this world!

And look what Romans 8 goes on to say...

Romans 8:14–17 NIV

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

KNOWING JESUS IS THE DIFFERENCE! in order to experience the difference of a Spirit-led mind, you need to first experience the difference of knowing Jesus!

We will make opportunity for that at the end of service. God desires to lead your mind according to His Spirit - a leading that will take you from certain death to life and peace!

A Christ-Centered Mind Mind is a Sabbath-Aware Mind.

Lastly, I want to look at one more very important point. A Christ-centered mind is a mind that is aware of and practices Sabbath. A Christ-centered mind is a mind that takes time to refresh and refocus.

First, what is the Sabbath?

The Sabbath is the practice of observing one day in seven as a time for rest and worship.

This practice originated in creation. God set this standard Himself. In six days God created everything we know in this universe. On the seventh day, He rested from His Work.

This is the pattern set forth by God

Unfortunately, this is probably one of the most neglected practices in all of Scripture. In fact this is MORE than a practice… it is a command of God.

Exodus 20:8–10 NIV

8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

The Sabbath belongs to the Lord. We keep the Sabbath or practice Sabbath by doing what? Keeping it holy. Not only is the day to be restful… it is also to be worshipful.

We have a very real problem in our culture today. We do not know how or when to stop. And this problem is wreaking havoc on minds and hearts today.

The effects of this pattern can be seen and felt within our communities.

People are overly stressed or overwhelmed with busyness.

People are struggling with mental health issues. While not all issues are caused by stress, many are experiencing adverse effects on their mental health because of their overloaded status.

If we do not take time to refuel, we choose to try to operate on empty. Such a style of living is dangerous for at any moment… a mental or physical crash can occur.

Here’s what we need to understand this morning - If God saw the need to rest as important… than we need to see this need as important as well!

God is unlimited in power and resource and yet, He rested. We who are very limited in power and resource should not view our need for rest as optional.

Many in our culture are beginning to advocate for what they call a “mental health day” from work… which is basically the need for a day off.

This has stemmed from the mounting stress and pressure that comes from neglecting our need for rest and refueling. This kind of pattern can lead to

Burn out, high stress, high anxiety, weariness, fatigue, exhaustion, and so on.

Church, we need to put our work week in proper perspective. We need to have a healthy and God-orchestrated outlook on how we plan out our work week.

If you fail to purposely set a day for rest and worship… then you plan to ultimately fail. You will wear out. You will fall short. You will struggle and eventually… crash.

God desires to renew your strength. God will refill you and renew you but you must be willing to do things His way.

your mind might try to tell you that there just isn’t enough time in the week to get things done. Your mind might try to tell you that you cannot afford to take a day off for rest and worship. Church listen to me. GOD IS TELLING YOU THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO TAKE A DAY OFF FOR REST AND WORSHIP.

You know what I have discovered? The work can wait! Did you hear me? THE WORK CAN WAIT. And… when we properly take care of ourselves as God instructed, not only will the work get done, but it will be done with excellence as we are not trying to run on fumes.

YOU CAN AFFORD TO TAKE A DAY OFF! Your mental health will improve AND your relationship with God will be strengthened as your focus is placed on Him!

To love the Lord your God with all your mind it to follow His instruction on how to have a rested and refueled mind - Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy.

Closing

God cares about your mind. God cares and knows about your thoughts. God desires to be the central focus of your mind. And in order for us to have clear vision… in order for us to see the world as God sees the world, we must choose to have a Christ-centered mind.

We must choose to fill our minds with His Word. We must choose to allow our mind to be governed by His Spirit. We must choose to rest our minds and to find renewal in Him.

Loving the Lord God with all your mind is more than just thinking about God from time to time. It is giving God control of this powerful part of who you are.

What you fill your mind with will impact what you do with it. There are a lot of things we can set our minds to… I pray we would choose to set our minds on the things above.

knowing Christ, having a personal relationship with Him is how we start. Remember I said a moment ago that knowing Jesus is the difference between having a mind governed by the Spirit rather than by the flesh? He is the key… He is the difference maker.

Jesus wants to set your mind, your heart, and your soul free today. He desires to be the number one influence in each one of these areas. And when we give Him all three… we are giving Him our whole self. We give all to Jesus.

Knowing comes though believing. Believing comes through hearing. Jesus loves you… will you choose to love Him with all that you are today?

PRAYER - SALVATION

Secondly, maybe you recognize that your mind has not been clearly focused on Christ.

Maybe you haven’t been in the Word. Maybe you haven’t been governed by the Spirit. Maybe you haven’t been resting and refueling. Maybe you find yourself… tired. Worn out. Stressed. Overwhelmed. Confused and without peace. It’s time then to give all of your mind to Christ.

It’s time to find life in Him. It’s time to find peace in Him. It’s time to give Him full control… to trust in His Word, to be governed by His Spirit… to be renewed by His ways.