Have You Lost Your Mind?

Bible Book: Philippians 2 : 5

Subject: Mind; Christian Thinking; The Spiritual Mind

Introduction

“Have you lost your mind?” You might hear this if you make an unpopular decision, or if you forsake an undeniable right, or if you take an unlikely course. These are three aspects of doing the will of God. John 6:38 reads, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” John 8:29 reads, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” Hebrews 11:6a reads, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him. . . .” Romans 10:17 reads, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Matthew 4:4 reads, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Hebrews 4:15 reads, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Mark 3:20-21 reads, “Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.’” Why do we expect people without “the mind of Christ” to think any less of us?

In a world filled with distressing thoughts, distorted thoughts, discouraging thoughts, discontented thoughts, and disobedient thoughts; there is a mind to gain and a mind to lose. Philippians 2:5 reads, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” This is the only way we can think God’s thoughts after Him or do what Jesus did.

There are three things to do related to your mind.

I. Find your mind in Christ.

Philippians 2:5 reads, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 reads, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ you have the mind of Christ. Are you using it? If not, it is your own fault! You are without excuse. If you don’t use it, you might as well not have it! Romans 12:1-3 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Ephesians 4:17-24 reads, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

Someone said, “Since the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, does that mean only left-handed people are in their right mind?” Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra (1925-2015) quipped, “Ninety percent of the game is half mental.” In his book, Berra took credit for this one. This quotation is also sometimes rendered as: “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”1 The mental aspect of Christianity is much greater than you think! 1 Peter 1:13 reads, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Luke 10:27 reads, “So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”

1 Corinthians 15:22 reads, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” Remember you can’t find your mind in Christ until you are “in Christ.”

“Once in Christ, in Christ forever,

Nothing from his love can sever.”2

II. Fill your mind with Christ.

Philippians 2:5 reads, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Beware, the god of your imagination is an imaginary god. The Christ of your imagination is not the Christ of the Bible. The Christ of the cults is an imaginary Christ. Make certain you believe on the Christ of the Bible. Philippians 4:8 reads, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Joshua 1:8 reads, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Psalm 119:15-16, 97 reads, “I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. . . . Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.” Chris Kleyn shares the following: “To many Christians, the Bible is like a software license. They don't actually read it. They just scroll to the bottom and click 'I agree'.” A preacher prayed, “Dear Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff and nudge me when I’ve said enough.” Some preachers wish it was that easy! Paul exhorts Timothy, his son in the ministry, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). A lot of preachers should be ashamed for their lack of prayer and preparation. Dr. Walter A. Elwell explains, “By studying the Bible we get to know who God is and what he is like. The Scriptures include over 15,000 references to God and a thorough study of those passages alone could change our lives. We should also study the Bible in order to test out what we believe. The world is filled with false ideas about God and his purposes for us. So when we hear someone stating what God’s will is, we ought to check it out for ourselves in his Word, and then reject what is false and keep what is true. Finally, we need to study the Bible in order to grow spiritually as it encourages us to love and serve God and others, calls our attention to our own sin, and helps us live like Christ.”3 The Bible is a Him Book, it is all about Him, Jesus Christ!

Remember the acronym GIGO—garbage in garbage out. Whatever you feed your mind will fill your mind. John Bunyan (1628-1688) shared the following in his classic titled, The Holy War: “This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out of which to go, and these were likewise answerable to the walls, to wit impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced, but by the will and leave of those within. The names of the gates were these— Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate. . . . So when Emmanuel saw that Mansoul was thus involved in sin, he calls his army together, since now also his words were despised, and gave out a commandment throughout all his host to be ready against the time appointed. Now, forasmuch as there was no way lawfully to take the town of Mansoul, but to get in by the gates, and at Ear-gate as the chief, therefore he commanded his captains and commanders to bring their rams, their slings, and their men, and place them at Eye-gate and Ear-gate, in order to his taking the town.”4 Remember to guard the Eye-gate and the Ear-gate. Proverbs 20:12 reads, “The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made them both.” Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1) Beware of “the lust of the eyes” (1 John 2:16). Genesis 3:6a reads, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes. . . .” Genesis 3:17-19 reads, “Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are,

And to dust you shall return.’” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 reads, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” It is worth the fight to fill your mind with Christ!

III. Fix your mind on Christ.

Philippians 2:5 reads, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:5-8 reads, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to 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, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Colossians 3:1-5 reads, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Hebrews 12:1-2 reads, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

When you fix your mind on Christ you have a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 reads, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

When you fix your mind on Christ you have a sober mind. 1 Peter 1:13 reads, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Do you remember the words of a popular song, “. . . whiskey river take my mind”? It will! Ephesians 5:18 reads, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” We must ask the Lord to take our mind. May the following words by Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879) express our heart cry:

Take my intellect and use

Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.5

The great pioneer missionary, Dr. Adoniram Judson (1788-1850), suffered enormous horrors, hardship, and heartbreak during his steadfast service of over three decades in Burma (modern day Myanmar). Despite his tremendous accomplishments, Dr. Judson did not consider himself to have attained a high level in the Christian life. When his wife told him that a newspaper article likened him to some of the apostles, Judson replied, “I do not want to be like a Paul or any mere man. I want to be like Christ. I want to follow Him only, copy His teachings, drink in His Spirit, and place my feet in His footprints. Oh, to be more like Christ!”6 In Matthew 10:24-26 Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” 1 Peter 2:21 reads, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” Instead of trying to guess what Jesus would do, read through the Bible and study the life of Christ to discover what Jesus did do! Mary B. Slade (1826-1882) explains a way to fix your mind on Christ:

Sweetly, Lord, have we heard Thee calling,

Come, follow Me!

And we see where Thy footprints falling

Lead us to Thee.

Refrain:

Footprints of Jesus,

That make the pathway glow;

We will follow the steps of Jesus

Where’er they go.7

1 John 3:1-3 reads, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Conclusion

Find your mind in Christ.

Fill your mind with Christ.

Fix your mind on Christ.

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) exhorts, “Always keep in contact with those books and those people that enlarge your horizon and make it possible for you to stretch yourself mentally.”8 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

Remember the only way to have revival in the church is to have biblical unity and this is only achieved when all members have the mind of Christ! “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17)! Those without the mind of Christ operating in their life are marked by “. . . envy, strife, and divisions. . .” (1 Corinthians 3:3). As S. Baring-Gould (1834-1924) shares in the third stanza of his beloved hymn, “Onward, Christian Soldiers”:

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;

Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod;

We are not divided; all one body we,

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.9

Remember there is a mind to reject, a mind to receive, and a mind to renew. Repentance is a change of mind and heart that leads to a change in direction. Isaiah 1:18 reads, “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 reads, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” Philippians 2:5 reads, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” To gain His, have you lost your mind?

1Victor Mather and Katie Rogers, “Behind the Yogi-isms: Those Said and Unsaid” September 9, 2015 The New York Times, New York, NY Accessed: 10/05/17 https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/sports/yogi-berra-yogi-isms-quotes-explored.html .

3The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, ed. Walter A. Elwell (Wheaton, IL: Harold Shaw Publishers, 1984), 135.

4John Bunyan, The Works of That Eminent Servant of Christ, John Bunyan, Minister of the Gospel and Formerly Pastor of a Congregation at Bedford, in Three Volumes, Vol. II (New Haven, CT: Nathan Whiting, 1831), 10, 67.

5Frances R. Havergal, “Take My Life and Let It Be” (1874).

6Source Unknown

7Mary B. Slade, “Footprints of Jesus” (1871).

8Oswald Chambers, The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers, [The Moral Foundations of Life (1936).], 721. Accessed: 10/05/17

http://cdn.rbc.org/dhp/ebook/Complete-Works-Oswald-Chambers_FV162.pdf .

9S. Baring-Gould, “Onward, Christian Soldiers” (1541).

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort 30775 Jay Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527

Author of Don’t Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah and

Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice [Both available on Amazon.com in hardcover, paperback and eBook]

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Miss-Revival-Spiritual-Awakening/dp/1462735428 & http://www.amazon.com/Sound-Biblical-Preaching-Giving-Bible/dp/1594577684 / fkirksey@bellsouth.net / (251) 626-6210