Spirit Minded
What an awesome world it would be if all Christians embraced what it’s like to be free from the flesh by being Spirit minded at all times. Of course, that would make us perfect and without need of God’s grace in this world. But….when we experience long periods of freedom from the flesh, peace overwhelms us and it feels fantastic. It also makes others around us feel fantastic. So, why do we go back to the flesh so often? The Bible says it’s because we are not letting the Spirit control our mind. In Romans 8:5-8 (NLT), Paul says, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”
Tim Kerr, Pastor of Sovereign Grace church in Toronto, Ontario Canada, sent a message to us about the flesh that explained it like this, “If we think of sin as the evil product, this category (flesh) is the factory that produces the product. During times of war, enemies try to blow up ammunition stockpiles, but the real prize is blowing up the factories that make the ammunition. Could it be that you have spent most of your life only dealing with sin as an evil product and have inadvertently ignored the factory that produces your sin?“ This brings us to renewing the mind! Romans 12:2 (NLT), “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” To be Spirit minded, we must fill our mind with the things of the Spirit instead of the contrary things of the world. What are we filling up on as we watch, listen, and do? Who are we spending our time with? If our answers are in direct contrast to the things of the Spirit, there’s a need to change things. The Bible says, in Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”.
In addition to mind renewal, we must take “a pause” and stop living in a “reactionary state of mind“. It’s always better to take situations to the Lord before responding. Anxiety causes rash decisions. Do you remember the phrase “Stop, Look and Listen?” It’s Great advice! Philippians 4:6 – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Finally, when the whispers of Satan come and we want to do right, yet, it’s so loud in our ears, we have to remember to claim the Power we have through the Spirit and cast him out in the Name of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”.
There’s nothing like the feeling of sweet victory when we have conquered the inward trappings of life that try to hold us hostage! Thank you Jesus! Please help us to remember your Words! 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NKJ), “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
