THE MIND OF CHRIST

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 2:5).  

There are many battles that we must face while trying to live our lives for the Lord. We have an enemy who is intent on drawing us away from our confidence in Christ, and causing us to trust in our own strength and will. It is not just a matter of overcoming obvious sin either. We must also learn that anything that emanates from the natural man is tainted by the flesh, and promotes self-interest. We do possess some natural strength; but when it comes to spiritual warfare, our greatest power is simply insufficient to win the day. Jesus said, "...without Me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5b).  Many Christians still insist on doing much, though, and the result bears no lasting fruit. In Christ, however, we find that we are more than conquerors; and as we learn to rely on Him, we find that our enemy must flee away, and our natural life can be subdued. 

There is a story that was told to me that illustrates this principle rather well. A lady I know went to a revival meeting where there was a man who was afflicted in his mind. Several very good singers shared songs at the beginning of the meeting, but there was no true worship, or outpouring of the Spirit among the brethren. Then, this man stood up and began to sing, "I'm A Child Of The King," and the Spirit fell on that assembly, and many wept for joy because of the presence of God in that place. This man was not a talented singer. He was simply willing to be used of God, and God blessed him. When we can bring our talents, wisdom, strength, and all that we have in the natural, to the foot of the cross, and let it die there, we will discover a resurrection force that will be greater than anything we have ever experienced. 

The place that most of our trouble begins is in our mind. It is there that we are tempted and drawn away by our own lusts. We have a thought to do something that violates our conscience, and then we entertain that thought until it becomes irresistible. We then act on it and it becomes a sin. Some thoughts - like anger, indignation, or rage - pass so quickly through our minds, especially if we are accustomed to just giving vent to our emotions, that it may be hard to discern that the thought ever stopped off in the mind long enough to be considered right or wrong. The mind is also the seat of our self-reliance. It is there that we reason a thing out, and make decisions based on our intellect, emotions, and strength of will. To the natural man that seems normal, and as it should be; but the spiritual man gradually learns that when self is in control, things just don't prosper. Adam's first sin was to choose a life apart from God - one that was not reliant on God at all. By partaking of the forbidden tree, He had the power to discern good and evil, and to steer his ship in the direction that he pleased, away from God's loving care and direction. His choice did not go so well for him or for mankind. Essentially, Adam chose death over life. 

 The secret is knowing, first of all, that there is a tug-of-war going on between our old nature that ruled us before we came to Christ, and our new nature which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Once we received Christ, we became new creatures with a new outlook on life, and we became alive to the Spirit that God sent to indwell us. Many things that held an attraction for us before no longer appeal to us. In fact, some of the things that we found pleasure in previously now repulse us. Things that we had no interest in before now have become precious. Paul says, "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. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:5-8).  In light of this, we see that our fleshly, or carnal, mind is not an innocent thing at all, but an enemy to the purpose of God. It is essential, therefore, that we be spiritually-minded if we are to please God at all. We must quit thinking with our carnal reasoning, and cease from relying on our natural mind. 

 How is that possible? How can I just turn off the way that I have been accustomed to thinking all of my life? The answer is quite simple. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." (Romans 8:9).  What God asks of us is not something that we can achieve through our own efforts. It is something that He has already accomplished for us. As in everything else that we have been freely given by God, it is a matter of faith. We are given a promise, and we choose to believe it, or deny it. God says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...," and we can either receive it by faith, or reject it. The key word here is "let." We must "let" the mind of Christ be in us, because it is that very thing that He has promised us. Just like redemption, justification, and sanctification, the mind of Christ is something that we just accept. God has placed His Holy Spirit in every believer, and it is His job to speak the mind of God to us. At the same time, our flesh is speaking to us. It is up to us who we listen to. This is the spiritual warfare that is going on in every Christian's life. Paul tells us, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  Paul was very practical in his application. He acknowledges that we do still walk in the flesh, but he tells us that we do not want to war after the flesh. If Satan can get us to fight in our own strength, he has won. Our weapons are not carnal, however; they are mighty through God. They are capable of casting down our own reasonings, and bringing every thought into obedience to Christ. Yes, our salvation is that complete! Our victory is that sure! Scripture tells us that as many as receive Christ are given power to become a son of God. Therefore, we can act and think like Christ as we discover that it is in Him that we live, and move, and have our very being. Oh, to live up to the potential that we have been given as Christians! Oh, to realize and believe that we have been given the mind of Christ! 

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." (Hebrews 8:10).