Your Mind Matters
Col. 2:8-10
8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
2 Cor. 10:3-5
3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
There is a Christian way of thinking and there is a worldly way of thinking
The way we think affects everything in our lives: our view of God, our feelings, our actions, our attitudes, our values, our priorities
• Prov. 23:7, “As a man thinks within himself, so is he”
• We will love what we think about and we will live consistently with the way we think
• We need to surrender to the Lordship of Christ in our minds
We must intentionally stop being taken captive in our minds and proactively take captive every thought to Christ’s obedience
• We are taken captive when our minds are not centered on Christ
• Philosophy is ‘love of wisdom” it is not philosophy we are warned about but empty and deceiving philosophy
• Acts 17:18 the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers
• Based on “human tradition”; a man centered rather than God centered worldview; the elementary principle of the world
Ga 4:3
So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
Ga 4:9
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
Col 2:20
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,
Some basic, worldly or elementary principles=our foundational presuppositions
• There is no such thing as absolute truth
• If it feels good do it
• He who dies with the most toys wins
• The worst thing is for your child to be average
• All religions are basically the same
• We should be tolerant of everyone
• God wants me to be happy more than anything else
Worldly thinking leads to a captured mind
A. The kind of mind we need to avoid
2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1. Blinded mind
Colossians 1:21
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
2. Alienated mind
Romans 1:28
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done
3. Depraved mind
Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
4. Corrupted mind
Philippians 3:19
Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
5. Earthly mind
2 Corinthians 11:3
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
6. Deceived mind
Romans 8:6-7
for the sinful mind is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so
7. Sinful mind
Colossians 2:18
Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle
8. Unspiritual mind
2 Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
9. Dull mind
James 4:8
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
10. Double mind
Christian thinking leads to a renewed Christ-like mind
A. The kind of mind we should seek
1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
1. Clear mind
1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
2. Prepared mind
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3. Heavenly mind
Ephesians 4:23-24
to be made new in the attitude of your minds and put on the new self who is created in righteousness, holiness and truth
4. New mind
1 Corinthians 2:16
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
5. Christ-like mind
Romans 14:5
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
6. Convinced mind
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
7. Renewed mind
Romans 8:5-6
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace
8. Spirit-filled mind
Romans 7:25
Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
9. Lawful mind
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit for timidity or fear, but of power, love and a disciplined mind
10. Discipline mind
We need to surrender to the Lordship of Christ in our minds and continually seek to have our minds renewed by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit