Serve God with your MIND!

(The Thought is the Father of the DEED!)

Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Let us be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

                John 4:24 - It is true that we are to serve God in Spirit and truth.  The spirit is the Holy Spirit and our inner spirit.  The truth is when we know the truth and serve God in that knowledge of the truth.

Question: I'm an adult who likes the religion of my parents: It suits my spiritual needs. Friends have invited me to explore other religions, but I've refused. What do you think of an adult who unquestioningly accepts the teachings of his parents' religion and does not consider alternatives?      T.L.B., Willow Grove, Pa.

Answer: Let me tell you what I think of you instead: You're smarter than those friends. Religions cannot be proved true intellectually. They come from the heart - and your parents - not the mind. In my opinion, you have behaved wisely.  [1]

Satan uses minds to deceive.

Eph. 2:3 – In days before salvation came, the elect were serve Satan with the flesh and the mind.

Col. 1:21 – Backs up this thought by stating, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled”

This whole thing started in the Garden of Eden when Satan appealed to the mind of Adam’s wife.  See II Corinthians 11:3 which declares, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Satan continues to blind the minds of the lost lest they should be saved as stated in II Cor. 4:3,4 – “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Satan blinds the minds of the lost, but when the lost continue follow their own wickedness, God finally turns them over to their own wickedness. Note the progress of wickedness until finally the mind is completely given over to Satan.  Romans 1:28 states, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”  Verse 24 states that God gave them over to uncleanness, while verse 26 states God gave them over to vile affections, then finally God in verse 28, gives their minds over to being reprobate.

Revelation 17:13 records that in the end the minds of the final ten kings are completely given over to Satan and his seven year kingdom.

Matthew 24:24 states, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”  It is by knowing how Satan works, and how he does signs and miracles that we won’t be deceived, and we will be able to teach others how not to be deceived.  Can you tell me how Satan uses signs and miracles differently from how Christ uses them?  [2]

SAVED PEOPLE SHOULD:

1. Be renewed in the spirit of the mind – be able to think correctly – like God thinks – Isaiah 55:8.
2. Progressive Sanctification of the mind produces fruit in the life.
3. We become Christ like.

Point # 1 –  Be renewed in the spirit of the mind

TEXT for this section (along with Romans 12:2)

1. Eph. 4:23 states, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”  Read also the context of the passage to fully understand that we need our minds renewed so we will be able to correctly serve and worship God, and not be deceived by Satan.  See text – Romans 12:2  [3]

Point # 2 – Progressive Sanctification of the mind

When we are saved, we get the right mind, not just the right spirit.

1. Mark 5:15 - The demon possessed man was in his right mind after he was saved.  (The condition of his spirit was revealed by what his mind was doing.)
2. Before you get the right mind from God at salvation, you will continue to think just like you did before – See Ephesians 2:1-3.

We must be in the right mind to be sanctified.  Progressive sanctification comes by thinking, which causes us to do the right thing, and so our hearts will be in the right place.

1. Matt. 28:18-20 - The Great Commission is taught, therefore it must also be learned.  The mind is involved in this teaching and learning.  Christ commands us to make disciples, not converts.  We do what we are in our hearts.

a.       The commission is given to the church, not to all believers.

b.       The fellowship of a church is essential to learning, doing and remaining true.

c.       Verse 19 – the first “teach” means to disciple.

d.       Verse 20 – the second “teaching” means to teach or instruct.

2. Acts 17:11 - The disciples at Berea searched the scriptures with readiness of mind to see if the things taught were true. (It is very clear their spirits were right, as reflected by their actions.)
3. II  Tim. 2:15 - Paul instructed Timothy to study to show himself approved unto God.  This study would necessarily involve the use of the mind coupled with Holy Spirit leadership, which involves prayer and a disregard of what I think the Bible is saying and a complete regard for what the Bible is actually saying. [4]
4. II Cor. 8:12 – A willing mind is more acceptable than material gifts.  A willing mind always comes before the performance of an act or deed.
5. Phil. 4:8 – We must train our minds to think on these things.
6. Matthew 22:37 – The greatest commandment involves love for God with the heart, the soul, and the mind.  [5]

Point # 3 – We become Christ like

As we become more like Christ, several things change:

1.   Eph. 5:10 – Prove what is acceptable to God. (Use each verse until Eph. 5:17)

2. Eph. 5:17 – Understand what the will of the Lord is.
3. I Cor. 2:16 states, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

a.       

4. II Tim. 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

a.       To prove that people that willingly, continually sin do not have a sound mind – Why would anybody do anything to destroy themselves?

b.       Smoking, drinking, drugs, illicit sex: Proverbs 6:27 – fornication is like taking fire into your own bosom.

5. II Cor. 13:11 – The Corinthian church should be of one mind.  Every church should be of one mind – and that mind is having the mind of Christ.

Examples of “believers” who don’t understand.

a.       Numbers 16 – Korah and company.

1)      Verse 26 – Moses told them to depart from Korah so they wouldn’t face the consequences of their sin.

2)      Verse 27 – Everybody departed from Korah and company like Moses told them.

3)      Verse 30 – Moses declared that if the Lord did a new thing and opened the earth and they went down quick into the pit, then God had sent him.

4)      Verse 31 – God did what Moses said.

5)      Verse 34 – The people fled!! WHY?  They knew they were guilty and they didn’t believe what Moses said.

6)      Verse 41 – the next morning the people murmured against Moses because they said he had killed the people of God!

b.       Exodus 9:26 – If you were living in the land of Goshen, and you saw the terrible storm in Egypt, and you knew the storm wouldn’t come to Goshen, would you let your children go outside and play?  Just how much do you trust God anyway?  Or is all your trust just empty words?