Class 1 – God’s Perspective About Your Mind

Class 1: God’s Perspective About Your Mind Our natural way of thinking and emoting must stop – it is

“enmity to God” Class 2: Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind

We must be “transformed” to the mind of Christ The process of transformation involves “renovation” of our

mind As we are renovated, spiritual things become more natural

Class 3: Prepared Unto All Good Works Our spiritual mind can be effectively used by our Lord for

his purposes God cultivates our minds to be ready to serve We must live now as men and women with resurrected

minds

Self-reliance

Reasoning and human logicModes of analysis

Reliance on the observableHow we can manage our

world Self promotion

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:4-10

My natural thinking

Adapt my natural thinking and make it more Holy

Throughout my life, develop behaviors that are more reflective of the mind of Christ

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

Hebrews 1:1-3

“brightness of his glory”

Greek – apaugasma – a luminous body, such as the sun, giving light to a moon. In RV, it is “effulgence.”

“express image of his person”

Greek – charakter – an exact copy, and engraving. RSV – “the very stamp of his nature.” NIV – “the exact representation of his being.” Moffatt’s – “stamped with God’s own character.”

The strength of Jesus was that he perfectly reflected his Father’s character

He was the “exact copy” What was powerful about Jesus was that he

transformed his mind to think and act like his Father

It wasn’t only that he was without sin, he was also a perfect demonstration to men of God

That is our objective! To learn to think and act like God. To reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. It is not to make our own thinking and actions more holy, it is to learn to think and act as God would.

“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”

James 1:26

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

James 1:27

Religion/religious – threskeia – ceremonial observance, worship

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

Colossians 1:9

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”

Colossians 1:9

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Romans 8:5-6

To be spiritual has to do with one’s mind. Spiritual is the opposite of carnal. One might be religious, even pious, but not spiritual. If one is spiritual, it changes how he discerns and how he lives. I dare say, it is things spiritual that change us and that we thirst to be more like. We are drawn to spiritual people and we seek the peace of a spiritually-dominated mind.

Above the Water

The observable, the revealed self, what is viewed by others. Important, but not the

full picture.

Below the Water

The thoughts and motives of our hearts, the hidden corners of our hearts, the

place for self-examination.

Transformation Happens Here!

“What sort of man would Saul have made if he had not been called to a great office? Probably a good enough man as men go; conventionally religious rather than devout; not remarkable, but respectable by ordinary standards. How many millions have there been like him – men and women who are much more aware of the pressure of social standards than of “seeing Him who is invisible”. But great opportunity revealed Saul as a man without faith whose religion was only external, and so under the test of the call for greatness he broke and foundered – mentally, morally and spiritually a wreck.”

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Religiously, few would have been his peers A young man, poised for great things in the

Jewish religious hierarchy Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of

Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee

Yet, his “religion” had not produced a spiritual mind

Saul’s mind generated the works of the flesh His mind was incapable of discerning God’s

will He did not heed many “goadings” by the Lord Finally, his transformation began on the road

to Damascus

Mark 10:17-27

“Bro. XYZ was a prolific writer…” “… attended meeting regularly for 60 years.” “…speaking both at home and abroad.” “… was the third generation of his family to

accept the Truth.” “… for many years was an active speaker and

held various offices in the XYZ ecclesia.” “… she never failed, even in bad weather, to

attend the meeting to remember her Lord.”

Our normal focus is on the view above the water – what is visible to others and is

generally reinforced.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:22-25

“Here is my advice. Live your whole life in the Spirit and you will not satisfy the desires of your lower nature. For the whole energy of the lower nature is set against the Spirit, while the whole power of the Spirit is contrary to the lower nature. Here is the conflict, and that is why you are not able to do what you want to do.” JBP

Spiritual transformation is not forcing our mind to imitate the Spirit, while holding on to our “core” self. The core is our lower nature and it is contrary to the mind of the Spirit.

It will ultimately deal with the darkest corners of our hearts which we have often cleverly concealed

But, eventually, we will be confronted by the Lord with the exact the areas that are our fundamental problems – the “one thing thou lackest.”

In the end, the Lord will invite us to a new way of thinking, one that extinguishes the flesh and lives anew to the Spirit

1 Cor. 2:14-16

JBP - “But the unspiritual man simply cannot accept the matters which the Spirit deals with - they just don't make sense to him, for, after all, you must be spiritual to see spiritual things. The spiritual man, on the other hand, has an insight into the meaning of everything, though his insight may baffle the man of the world. This is because the former is sharing in God's wisdom, and 'Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' Incredible as it may sound, we who are spiritual have the very thoughts of Christ!”

When our minds are being dominated by the things of the flesh, our ability to receive and understand the things of God is blocked!

“The essence of true religion consists not in form of worship, but character. Pure religion issues out of a heart that has been freed from impure motives of self-interest. Freed from all self-seeking and unnecessary ties; it is wholly merged into the will of God and is dead on its own.”

“Spiritual-mindedness is not the pious ghostly solemnity of Sunday Christians, nor does it consist in the sanctimonious airs of surpliced dignitaries, but it describes those who have so entirely fallen in love with Christ, as to be entirely out of love with everything else that has not Christ for its object, and which does not recognize Christ also in its ways of working.”

James 1:6-8

JBP “But he must ask in sincere faith without secret doubts as to whether he really wants God's help or not. The man who trusts God, but with inward reservations, is like a wave of the sea, carried forward by the wind one moment and driven back the next. That sort of man cannot hope to receive anything from God, and the life of a man of divided loyalty will reveal instability at every turn.”

We have corridors in life where Jesus is a trusted and relied on friend

On other paths, we may faithlessly choose to walk alone

We need not compartmentalize our lives!

Jesus knows the seas better than we

Transformation is best served when we see our Lord as Master over every part of our lives – the public and the private, that which is illuminated and that which is hidden in dark corners

Genesis 1:26 - “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:”

Ecclesiastes 7:29 - “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.”

“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

Ephesians 2:3

Not “thumos” which is associated with a more agitated condition which flares or subsides. But “orge,” which is less sudden but more lasting. “Orge” is the more active emotion. “Orge” is also translated indignation, vengeance.

2 Peter 2:10-22

Verse 10 - “despise governments” AV margin- despise dominion; Strong’s – “mastery”; Thayer – “lordship”

Verse 19 – “while they promise liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption”

“pollutions of the world” - miasma – an invisible and toxic gas that sickens. Used in EAP’s Fall of the House of Usher.

Romans 8:5-8

“enmity”(used of Herod and Pilate -Luke 23:12). Vines – echthra – opposite word of agape

Ephesians 2:13-16

“abolish” - katargeo – to reduce to inactivity, entirely make idle. Jesus “disabled” the thinking of the flesh. Allowing him to become “one new man” and make peace.

“Somehow we know in our deepest heart…that we are failures. Self, which ought to be the servant, is the master. No chicanery can change it. No fuller on earth can make this black into white. Self torture is no cure. Tinkering is not the answer. Rigour does not cleanse the heart. External adjustment is only expedient. Short cuts are short in success. The central thing is denial of self. It is utterly radical. Denial of self is an inward thing. Taking up the cross daily is the external manifestation of the inward condition. In practice it means giving unhindered access to the Master in every chamber and especially in every dark corner. The process is not a repair job. It is not a course in window dressing. It is not making the best out of a bad situation. It is not just a means of escape. It is not to enable us to endure what cannot be cured.”

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Colossians 3:5-10If one is to be “put off” another must be put in it’s place.

When we are in pains of heaviest conflict or debate, when life is most difficult, often the “natural man” is summoned to the forefronts of our minds and manifest in our behavior

Yet, we know that the only way to solve spiritual issues is with the mind of the spirit

So, do we really trust that love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance are the ways to solve our problems?

Or, do we only permit the mind of the flesh to be “influenced” by the spirit, picking and choosing as if it is a buffet?

Our academic proclivity Our natural “leadership” talents Our effective communication skills Our ability to organize and coordinate work Computer or technology skills Physical or manual skills

But, they are not needed (Luke 17:10 – we are “unprofitable servants.”) Skills developed in the world are often rooted in the flesh. In many ways, they may conflict with the work of the Spirit.

Comparing spiritual things with spiritual Truth and the wisdom of God does not come from

blending the wisdom of God with the wisdom of the carnal world. It is impossible! To get spiritual truth and insight, we must compare spiritual things to other spiritual things.

Man’s “wisdom” has no place in the consideration. “Deep” things of God (Murdock – the profound

things of God) (Nothing is hidden from the Spirit, not even the deep wisdom of God- JBP)

Critically important that our wisdom and point-of-view comes from the Word, not a convenient blending of the Word and the philosophies of the Age.

The authority of the ecclesia Rebuke and ecclesial discipline Tolerance or jadedness regarding sin Process for raising and disciplining children Our view toward social or political activism Application of only Scripture for setting standards

These matters can only be understood and settled through spiritual discernment. Spiritual minds must consult spirit-given direction and standards in Scripture – and ecclesias must see this as an urgent need!

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

Romans 13:12-14

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve (douleuo – to act as a slave) sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:6-11

“A new centre of power is established by this allegiance to Christ, and even though the old habits persist with weakened power, and though there is repeated failure to reach the desired standard, yet the old habit centres have been broken, to be gradually overcome. The acceptance of Christ as Saviour is at the same time a repudiation of the claims of sin to be mastered. Christ is accepted as Lord with such a personal devotion that active motives and powers for holiness take the dominant position formerly held by fleshly desires. They that are Christ’s “have crucified the flesh with the affections and desires”John Carter, The Letter to the Galatians,

Transformation is NOT about redeeming our carnal mind

The carnal mind CANNOT please God

The natural way to think and emote is from the carnal mind – when we rely on it, the flesh is winning

Minds harboring lust cannot fully understand and appreciate God

Therefore, it isn’t about making our fleshly mind to become more Christ-like, it’s about taking on the mind of Christ and deadening our carnal mind

“Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way.” The Message vs. 1

“Since Christ had to suffer physically for you, you must fortify yourselves with the same inner attitude that he must have had. You must realise that to be dead to sin inevitably means pain, and you should not therefore spend the rest of your time here on earth indulging your physical nature, but in doing the will of God.” JBP vs 1-2

“Lord, please tell me if I should take this job away from any ecclesia.”

“I am thinking of buying a new fishing boat. Should I spend this much?”

“My daughter wants to go to a party tonight that will likely have under-aged drinking. Should I let her go?”

“He’s not very interested in the Truth, but I love him. Is this man that I should marry?”

The answers to each of these questions are already answered and available to those who would read and apply the Word of God

“Charismatics have zeal without knowledge; they have enthusiasm without enlightenment. They are keen but clueless. They are avowed anti-intellectualism. They are approaching Christian life without their minds, without thinking, without using their understanding. The notion that God wants to supplant or mortify our rational minds is patently unbiblical. God wants our minds used, not discarded. He has revealed Himself in rational revelation that demands the use of reason and an understanding of historic, objective truth. ”

“To be filled with the Spirit means to live every moment as if we were standing in the presence of Jesus Christ. It means practicing Christ-consciousness. When we are tempted, we should go to the present Lord in prayer. When we have decisions to make, we pray to the present Lord to teach us and show us what is appropriate. He won’t make the decision for us, but he will teach us. This can happen through our reading of Scripture, through events that transpire or shifts in circumstances. But, ultimately, the decision is left with us and we must invite the Lord into our life to lead us.”

“And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding (dainoia - "a thinking through, or over, a meditation, moral reflecting – Vines), that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

1 John 5:19-20

TODAY we ARE capable of developing the mind of Christ

We must become the masters of our mind by deadening ourselves to carnal pursuits and changing the way we think

By thinking differently, we can develop a faith that allows us to understand things we could not, to see things we could not, to do things that we (of ourselves) could not

If we feed our minds with the pollutions of the world, the mind of Christ cannot be ours in possession

The more our minds are healed, the better we can function spiritually

A well-functioning mind allows the fruit of the spirit to thrive and be natural

The transformation and renewal process