Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
When I was very young I got a present. I remember that it was an orange color, and it wasn’t very big, only about the size of a small shoe box, which required being plugged into a wall outlet in order to work. It was a radio, and when it was powered up, it would light up the front console and then proceed to fill the air with sounds of noisy static. It had a large dial on one side, that you could turn very slowly in order to tune in things that were going on out in the world, things such as music, sports or news. After getting home from school, I could turn it on, sit on my bed and listen to whatever perked my interest at the time, soaking in the things of the world, and intently focusing on whatever was floating into my room over the air waves.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
A lot has changed since the years of my youth, because now, even more, there seems to be an unending flow of information from both the television and the internet, which make the attempt to gain our attention, and control of our thoughts. Some parents allow their children to unrestricted access to these sources, where numerous things that are deemed evil in the scriptures can be readily found. Because of their lack of parenting, they can lead and cause their own children to get involved with sin. Each of us, whether young or old, need to make a simple decision of what we are going to allow to enter into our minds. It all comes down to what you are going to seek during your day. Will your mind be focused on Spiritual things or things of the flesh? What kind of information are you going to tune in?
Romans 8:5 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.
What you place your mind upon is very important to success in our Christian walk, because when it’s not reigned in, your thoughts can lead you in the wrong direction. In order to repent of sin, it’s going to require a change of your thoughts. Things that you once felt were acceptable while living in the world, are unacceptable within the church. Each of us including myself have been born into this world of sin, but Christianity Is about leaving the world behind, and beginning a new life in Christ. Instead of focusing on something that is wrong or detrimental to ourselves or others, we need to think about good things.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Scripture is clear that anybody who names the name of Christ is supposed to depart from iniquity. This is not optional, it is mandatory. The road that leads to salvation is extremely narrow, so narrow, that many people who attempt the Christian Life will fail, simply because the path becomes too restrictive for them. This is because the carnal mind loves sin more than God. It doesn’t want God’s Word to have complete control over every aspect of life. Like an athlete who’s mind isn’t in the game, some people are not keeping their minds focused on the walk that is placed in front of them.
Jesus teaches that evil thoughts proceed directly from the heart.
Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
To have the desire to do evil towards someone, is a sinful condition of the heart whereby it becomes defiled. Evil thoughts will result in things such as murder, adultery, fornication or other sins that are contrary to biblical truth. It is a willful state of the mind to intentionally perpetrate miscreant behavior towards others.
Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
Scripture warns about those who possess a corrupt mind……
1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
….. and who defile their conscience.
Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Jesus taught to seek first the kingdom of God, but the carnal mind is concentrated on the things of this world. It’s impossible to have a close and loving relationship with God when ones mind is focused elsewhere.
Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
We want to fill our minds with things that build us up in our faith, rather than information that might cause temptations, or lead us astray from the truth. In our past, our minds were focused on the things of this world, but as believers, we must renew our minds, redirecting our thoughts onto Spiritual matters that benefit both our soul and our relationship with God.
Ephesians 4:22-23 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Again, in order to walk in the perfect will of God, we need to change the things that we think about.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The first and great commandment teaches us who to focus our minds upon.
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
In the carnal state, the flesh only thinks about Earthly things.
Philippians 3:18-19 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
The mind needs to be redirected into spiritual things because the carnal mind does not please God, and will result in death.
Romans 8:6-8 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.
Like going to the faucet and filling up a glass full of water, we need to fill our minds with scripture.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Just like my old radio from so many years ago, each of us have to decide what we are going to listen and think about each day. Will they be Spiritual things, or things of the flesh? What are you going to set the dial on, the next time that you…..
……Tune In
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 