Of His Mind

In an earlier teaching entitled "The Above Things" I tackled why Christians should focus their gaze and perspective Heavenward and what the Scriptures say for our minds to dwell upon. In this post, I will be examining more of what a holy or set apart for Christ mind is suppose to resemble.

Maturity in the thought life of the Christian is a must. This call to a higher thought life is not easy, but has its own rewards. Paul explains this idea when he addressed the believers in Corinth the first time - 

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." (1 Cor. 13:11) 

The war on any decision or challenge in our lives begins on the battleground of our mind. Every skirmish, no matter what the size in our head or lives, needs to be filtered through The Word of God and His Holy Spirit. Paul encourages the believers in Corinth and Christians down through the ages - 

"We 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." (2 Cor. 10:5)

Taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ is a major, life-long undertaking. 

However, in order to accomplish that and "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God" the believer has to know God's thoughts on any given matter, the Christian has to know The Word of God.

Mr. Rick Renner qualifies the phrase "take every thought captive" by saying - "The words 'bringing into captivity' [KJV] are from the Greek word aichmalotidzo, which pictured a soldier who has captured an enemy and now leads him into captivity with the point of a sharpened spear thrust into the flesh in his back. The captured enemy knows that if he tries to move or get away, the Roman soldier will shove that spear clear through his torso and kill him. Therefore, this captive doesn't dare move but remain silent, submissive and non-resistant." (p.629, Sparkling Gems From the Greek)

There are a plethora of influences that can distract the believer's mind from God. While Satan manipulated Peter momentarily, Jesus said -

"...you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of man." (Matthew 16:23) 

Notice that Jesus stated Satan's agenda is keeping humanity's focus on ourselves - "the things of man". 

Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, also spoke to Satan's tricks. 

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (Ephesians 6:11) 

The word "schemes" translates to mind games. Remember what Christ told His disciples as He sent them out to minister? "Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16) The enemy is crafty, so believers must be and it all starts with the mind.

With Christ and Paul emphasizing this target - is it any real surprise that we have Paul encouraging believers to be spiritually prepared for battle against the devil's mind games with The Helmet of Salvation? (Ephesians 6:17) It is a piece of the armor of God that we can pray for that protects our thoughts. The helmet is also meant to keep our thoughts focused on God and His work of salvation in our lives - hince the name. I believe this goes a long way in fulfilling what Paul mentions in Romans 12:2 - 

"Do not conform 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."

Ever wanted to know what God was thinking about in your life? Then keep renewing your mind and taking every thought captive to make it obey Christ. The battle, God's plan and the rewards all start with our thoughts.

The word for "renewing" in the original Greek means to totally remodel, to gut out and restructure. Therefore, the reward for having a renewed, remodeled or restructured mind to that of the things of Christ is - being "able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

Taking every thought captive is a challenge, but the more you practice the more you become Of His Mind.