Out of Your Mind? - Have the Mind of Christ
Out of Your Mind? – Have the Mind of Christ
As we continue our study of Paul’s letter to his Philippian friends, we had established the main anchor of Paul’s message. He had said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”. In other words, if I am going to keep on living, it has to be Christ living in me. If Christ is living in me, there are conducts that reflect Christ’s presence in me (Philippians 1: 27-2:4). Esteem others better than self.
Paul did not leave his friends hanging and saying you go ahead do it without telling them how and the source of the doing. In our study today, Paul talks about the mind that accompanies the doing. Right mind, right thinking brings about right being and behaving. There is only one right mind – the mind of Christ. We must literally be “out of our minds” and have Christ’s mind. Let’s hear Paul:
“5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 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. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11.
1. What is the mind of Christ? For sure it is not the same mind as that of Lucifer (aka Satan). Satan is full of pride and wanted to be God or equal to God. Christ, himself being God did not take advantage of his position but humbled himself for the sake of the God the Father.
2. There are only two minds in the whole world. Christ’s mind and Satan’s mind. You either have the mind of Christ and thus influenced by the word of God or the mind of Satan and influenced by his evil desires. Our natural self after the fall has the evil mind. “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” Genesis 6:5.
3. We need continuously renewed minds. “2 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” Romans 12:2. Are you renewing your mind? It is not by osmosis, but by studying, meditating and obeying the word of God. It is transformation by the Holy Spirit and not Transcendental meditation. Want to know God’s perfect will? Renew your mind by his word. What you feed your mind will grow. Lots of TV, soap and social media?
4. The mind of Christ is the mind of humility – willing to be humiliated and made fun of for the sake (glory) of God the Father. If you are looking to establish your “good reputation” then you are not seeking the mind of Christ. (Christ) “made Himself of no reputation”.
5. Are you willing to be humiliated, taken advantage of; counted last instead of first for the glory of God? Be a servant and in fact a “bondservant” (bound forever to your master Jesus). There is no insult you and I cannot take if we have the mind of Christ. There was no insult left that Christ did not receive. Can you imagine being called a bastard? The Pharisees called Jesus a bastard.
6. The mind of Christ is that of granting grace and forgiveness instead of retaliation. Imagine legions of warring angels at your command to wipe out all your enemies but you chose not to. Rather you say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing”. You and I will wipe them out in an instance given such power. If in Christ, you now have the mind of Christ to forgive as we have been forgiven, and can say to the Father “they know not what they do” as our family, friends and enemies insult us. Don’t forget we offend them too.
7. Look at where the mind of Christ landed him. First on the cross, then in the ground for 3 days and now in heaven - “God also has highly exalted Him”. You and I want exaltation but we refuse to go the way of Christ – cross, burial and resurrection. It all starts with the mind of Christ. You see why our minds must be renewed daily? Let’s be out of our minds and embrace the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is a mind set to please only the Father. Amen.
Do you have a daily diet and intake of the Word of God? Let’s feed our minds with His Word.
As we continue our study of Paul’s letter to his Philippian friends, we had established the main anchor of Paul’s message. He had said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”. In other words, if I am going to keep on living, it has to be Christ living in me. If Christ is living in me, there are conducts that reflect Christ’s presence in me (Philippians 1: 27-2:4). Esteem others better than self.
Paul did not leave his friends hanging and saying you go ahead do it without telling them how and the source of the doing. In our study today, Paul talks about the mind that accompanies the doing. Right mind, right thinking brings about right being and behaving. There is only one right mind – the mind of Christ. We must literally be “out of our minds” and have Christ’s mind. Let’s hear Paul:
“5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 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. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11.
1. What is the mind of Christ? For sure it is not the same mind as that of Lucifer (aka Satan). Satan is full of pride and wanted to be God or equal to God. Christ, himself being God did not take advantage of his position but humbled himself for the sake of the God the Father.
2. There are only two minds in the whole world. Christ’s mind and Satan’s mind. You either have the mind of Christ and thus influenced by the word of God or the mind of Satan and influenced by his evil desires. Our natural self after the fall has the evil mind. “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” Genesis 6:5.
3. We need continuously renewed minds. “2 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” Romans 12:2. Are you renewing your mind? It is not by osmosis, but by studying, meditating and obeying the word of God. It is transformation by the Holy Spirit and not Transcendental meditation. Want to know God’s perfect will? Renew your mind by his word. What you feed your mind will grow. Lots of TV, soap and social media?
4. The mind of Christ is the mind of humility – willing to be humiliated and made fun of for the sake (glory) of God the Father. If you are looking to establish your “good reputation” then you are not seeking the mind of Christ. (Christ) “made Himself of no reputation”.
5. Are you willing to be humiliated, taken advantage of; counted last instead of first for the glory of God? Be a servant and in fact a “bondservant” (bound forever to your master Jesus). There is no insult you and I cannot take if we have the mind of Christ. There was no insult left that Christ did not receive. Can you imagine being called a bastard? The Pharisees called Jesus a bastard.
6. The mind of Christ is that of granting grace and forgiveness instead of retaliation. Imagine legions of warring angels at your command to wipe out all your enemies but you chose not to. Rather you say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing”. You and I will wipe them out in an instance given such power. If in Christ, you now have the mind of Christ to forgive as we have been forgiven, and can say to the Father “they know not what they do” as our family, friends and enemies insult us. Don’t forget we offend them too.
7. Look at where the mind of Christ landed him. First on the cross, then in the ground for 3 days and now in heaven - “God also has highly exalted Him”. You and I want exaltation but we refuse to go the way of Christ – cross, burial and resurrection. It all starts with the mind of Christ. You see why our minds must be renewed daily? Let’s be out of our minds and embrace the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is a mind set to please only the Father. Amen.
Do you have a daily diet and intake of the Word of God? Let’s feed our minds with His Word.
Comments