What is on your Mind?

[0:00] We're going to go to Romans 12. Paul says to the Romans, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,! that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,!

[0:16] Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not confound to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

[0:43] What is on your mind? How is your state of mind? How do we think biblically? I'll put to you this answer here. Think of your mind.

[0:56] The mind has 12 to 14 billion cells. And each cell sends out tendrils connecting, exchanging, and transmitting information to at least 10,000 other cells.

[1:08] Someone has said there's more electronic impulses and data going on in one human brain than all the computers and processes on the internet today. That's mind-boggling about the mind, isn't it?

[1:22] Consider the functions of the mind. Thought, understanding, knowledge, imagination, purpose, opinion, memory, humility, pride, reflection, perception.

[1:35] Someone has said that the world's greatest area of undeveloped territory lies beneath people's hearts. Undeveloped territory. Undeveloped territory. Because really our mind is like a mental garden.

[1:49] What are the thoughts that we cultivate? What is on our mind? The Bible speaks much about our mind. The Christian mind, firstly, is reasonable.

[2:00] It's reasonable. It says, present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

[2:13] Reasonable. Reasonable is logicos. Now, you don't have to be super intelligent to gather that logically. Logicos is related to logical.

[2:24] And it is logical. It's reasonable. Christianity is rational. It's logical. And it's intelligent. It makes sense to believe. And God wants worshippers who will worship him in spirit and in truth.

[2:39] Bible Christianity is true. It's the truth. It's not a sham. It's true holiness and surrender. It's truth at its foundation. And Christian life and worship is reasonable.

[2:52] It's reasonable. It's for real. This is not some empty emotionalism or some man-made entertainment. Not shallow hype and silly stunts. It's not showmanship and crazy antics.

[3:03] It's not gibberish and confusion. It's logicos. Reasonable. It's reasonable. It's intelligent. It's spiritual worship. It's reasonable service. It's rational.

[3:15] And we got logicos from the logos. And what's the logos? The word. So logicos is based on the logos. It's reasonable. There's a reasoned basis for what we believe.

[3:28] We've got a book that's reasonable. It's a reasoned basis for what we believe. We don't just pluck random thoughts out of the ether. Our own random ideas.

[3:38] The Bible tells us we've got a reason for the hope. A reason for the hope that is in us. It's interesting where Peter says the reason for the hope that is in us. The word reason is logos.

[3:49] We've got a reason. We've got a word. We've got the word of God. That's reason for the hope that is in us. And our mind has a basis for belief that is logical and it's reasonable. God calls people to reason.

[4:02] To use their minds. For example in Isaiah 1 verse 18. Our Lord calls us. He says come now and let us reason together. Saith the Lord. Don't you?

[4:12] Sins be as scarlet. They shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson. They shall be as wool. It's got that picture of that brilliant glowing whiteness of wool.

[4:25] That purity of it. Though our sins be as scarlet. They shall be as wool. As white. As snow. There's a lot of deception in our world today isn't there?

[4:37] A lot of deception. People being deceived. There's a spirit of deception. The lies of the devil. It's endemic. It's all around us. In the streets around us.

[4:48] And people are following after something that's not logicos. It's illogical to disbelieve isn't it? It's illogical to not believe. Our message makes sense.

[4:59] If we would search for it. If we'd search it out honestly we would find it. The truth. And it's founded on undeniable truth. Paul often used reason in persuading his hearers of the truth of his message.

[5:14] For example Acts 17 verse 2 says Paul as his manner was. This was what he was accustomed to. It says that he reasoned with them. Reasoned with them out of the scriptures. So the basis for our reasoning is the scriptures.

[5:28] That's the basis for our reasoning. And in Acts 1 verse 3 it says that there are many infallible proofs. Infallible proofs.

[5:40] We've got solid reasons to believe. Solid reasons to believe. Acts 1 verse 3. God calls us to defend the faith and to proclaim the truth of the gospel. So we've got a sure basis for our belief.

[5:53] In our witnessing of late just yesterday there was a couple of individuals that seemed to base their beliefs on pretty much how they feel. Pretty much their own whims and fancies really.

[6:09] And the Bible talks about such a thing where our Lord describes a man who built his house on the sand. Compared with a man who built his house upon a rock.

[6:21] It's in Matthew 7 to read the whole context here. But he says of the wise man. The one who had logicos. The man who had a reason to believe. The man who did put his trust in Christ.

[6:32] It says that this wise man. This wise man built his house upon the word. Upon the sayings of Christ. And he says. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them.

[6:45] I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock. Now I've seen on the internet if there was ways we could have projected it would really have underlined what I'm saying.

[6:56] Of a video of a house that was on struts along the beach side. Right on the beach front. And the waves crashing in eventually caused this house on stilts to come crashing down.

[7:09] And then floating out into the sea. And a lot of people are like that. They're building on the sand. That was what the foolish man was described as doing. Building their house on the sand.

[7:20] A lot of people are doing that. Building their house on the sand today. Whereas we. God helping us are such that we are wise. We're using the mind. In trusting Christ to.

[7:33] Trust in his. Truth. And building our lives upon. His sayings. Building our house upon a rock. Not upon whims and fancies.

[7:43] On our own. Careless ideas and. Making decisions that way. But our faith is built solidly and strongly on the rock. It's quite a contrast to build your house on sand.

[7:54] Or to build your house on a rock. And trusting Christ as your saviour is building a house on the rock. It's reasonable. It makes sense. And so it's reasonable I put to you to be surrendered. You must surrender your mind to the mind of Christ.

[8:08] He is due your highest praise. Trust Christ. Surrender. Yield your life to his claims. Over you. It makes sense to put your life into the hands of your maker.

[8:20] The one who knows you best. And knows the best way for you. And he loves you so with the highest love. And there is peace there. If you would just surrender unto him. What are you going to set your mind upon?

[8:33] What are you going to think upon? The Bible contrasts really a couple of minds. As I say the mind. As the foolish man on the sand. Or the mind.

[8:44] The wise man. Building on the rock. And basically. It tells of two types of minds. In Romans 8 verse 6. It says to be carnally minded is death.

[8:56] But to be spiritually minded is life and peace. And it says of the carnal mind. That it is hostile. It's enmity against God. God is interested in your mind.

[9:07] All of our minds. And he calls each one of us. To make that intelligent. Reasonable. Decision. To trust him. To yield up ourselves. In surrender.

[9:19] To believe. And really. Then it's a life. It's life and peace. It's spiritual life. New life. As a living sacrifice. And when you think about it.

[9:32] When this passage we started with. Talks about. That we should. Present our bodies. Includes our minds too. Doesn't it? It's including our minds.

[9:43] So we should present our bodies. Present our minds. As a living sacrifice. He wants you to give over the reins. Of your life. Into his control.

[9:54] As in the reins. Of the rider. Holding the horse's reins. He wants. Your life. In his control. Because it's the best. Place for you.

[10:05] Let him use you. For his glory. Are you being obedient? It's a reasonable thing. To surrender. Secondly. It's a reasonable thing. To submit to God. In Acts 20 verse 19.

[10:15] Paul says. Of serving the Lord. With all humility of mind. We're called to follow Christ's example. To walk in his steps. To serve him. With all humility of mind.

[10:28] To be willing. To submit to his will. Because his will. Is the best way for us. It's called good. Acceptable. And perfect. What more could it be?

[10:38] How more precious could it be? Than to be good. Acceptable. And perfect. God's will. Is the best for you. So what is on your mind. Controls you. For good or ill.

[10:49] What is on your mind today? What is on your mind? Submit your life to the one. Who truly cares for you. It tells of him. That he truly cares.

[11:00] And so it reads. In 1 Peter 5 verse 6 through 7. It says. Humble yourselves. Under the mighty. Hand of God. That he may exalt you. In due time. Casting all your care. Upon him.

[11:11] For he. Careth for you. Run to God. Humble yourself before him. Take your burdens unto him. It's reasonable to surrender. It's reasonable to submit.

[11:22] To God. And when this happens. A mighty change happens. In how we live. Our thoughts come out. In our actions. So if our mind surrenders. And submits to God.

[11:33] It will show. In our conduct. And we'll learn to apply our mind. To keep on learning. And growing. Because Christian living. Is not a static thing. God wants you to exercise your brain.

[11:44] To apply your mind. In godly thinking. So you can develop spiritually. For example. Hebrews 5.14. Talks of people. Who by reason of use. Have their senses exercised.

[11:57] To discern. Both good and evil. As our mind is applied. We're exercising our senses. We're. Using the logos. With our logicos.

[12:07] And. And we're discerning. Between good and evil. And. The word guides us. It shows us the way. We can discern. As we use this discerning instrument.

[12:19] The word of God. And your brain power can improve. Spiritually so. If you exercise it. So exercise. Your senses. By having time with the word.

[12:31] Use it. Or lose it. Is a saying. Isn't it? So feed your mind the right things. The word of God. Should be our brain food. And our soul food. Our mind can grow in knowledge.

[12:43] As we study. As we learn. As we read. As we memorize. Hide it in your heart. Write it on your heart. Talks about the word. Doesn't it? Grow in the knowledge of the word.

[12:55] Your mind is powerful. And it's like a sponge. It's taking things in. But the question is. What is it taking in? The information content of the human brain.

[13:06] I'm told. If written out in English. Would fill some 20 million volumes. As many as in all of the world's largest libraries. So you've got a powerful lump of grey cells there.

[13:19] Inside of your skull. Amen. And the best of all knowledge is to know God. Isn't it? It's the best of all knowledge. As Paul tells Timothy. I know whom I have believed.

[13:30] It's a knowledge. It's mind. I know whom I have believed. I'm persuaded. That's the mind again. Isn't it? He is able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day.

[13:41] So know him. Intelligently believe. And keep on learning. Keep on growing in that learning. Because really I love how the meaning of the word disciple is a learner.

[13:54] That's what we should be. Isn't it? Disciples of Christ. Learners. It's very important to have that reasonable mind. The mind of a believer is reasonable. Secondly, it's also radical.

[14:08] The Christian mind is radical. You are radically different. God can change your mind. Radically so. Christians are radically different. They know God.

[14:19] That makes you different from those who know not God. We don't fit in with the world and its philosophy. It's humanism and materialism. It's fashion. It's dress.

[14:29] It's music. It's culture. It's worldly values. Entertainment. Look at what entertainment's filled with. You see what is in the mind of the Hollywood programmers, don't you?

[14:42] When you see what they're churning out. Murders. Violence. Immorality. Flesh. The mind is shown by what it is producing, isn't it?

[14:58] So we don't want to feed on that. We don't fit. We've become a radical people. When you become a believer, there's a radical transforming, a radical changing that takes place in your heart and in your mind.

[15:14] Our life focus changes, doesn't it? We let go of hard feelings and toxic attitudes and unforgiveness. We find truth. We find a new way of living.

[15:25] And we're a living sacrifice, which includes our mind. We put that on the altar. We dedicate it unto him. And our attitude changes. And worldliness is a mental attitude.

[15:41] But we steer away from that because we're radically different now. That was where we were, not where we are. God helping us. So our text clearly tells us, be not conformed to this world.

[15:56] Be not conformed to it. Think for a moment of the mindset of this world. This world. What does it live for? Vanity, isn't it? It's vanity of vanities.

[16:08] As the philosopher says in Ecclesiastes, eat, drink and be merry. That's their mantra. Feed the self, the flesh. That's the mindset of this world, isn't it?

[16:19] The mindset of this world. It's vain and empty. The devil wants to contaminate your mind. He wants you to be controlled by just your fleshly instincts.

[16:32] To feed the flesh. And many are held captive in their minds. They're captive to their greed, lusts and cravings. Chasing the hollow places of sin.

[16:42] We're not there now. We're radical. We know people living like that. It's a death style, not a lifestyle. Living for self.

[16:52] It's vain. Acting with no thought for eternity. As if they've got no one to answer to. Well, they have. No care for the soul. Like the philosophy of the rich fool in Luke 12.

[17:06] Where he said to himself, I will say to my soul. Here he was. He'd got his barns packed full. He'd got all the debt paid.

[17:17] And he was ready to live it up now. And just enjoy life. For many years, he thought. Take thine ease. Eat, drink and be merry. But.

[17:29] No. Thou fool. This night. Thy soul is required of thee. And he didn't have many years. He didn't have even a few hours.

[17:41] It was all over. Red Rover. Let's not be like that man. Eat, drink and be merry. That's vanity. We're not there. We're radical now. Many in our world have troubled minds.

[17:54] They turn to alcohol. To drown. To numb their sorrows. To numb their troubled minds. But it doesn't help. Really.

[18:05] Not really. And the world calls these things mind-altering substances. Don't they? Yes, they are. Mind-altering substances.

[18:17] That's one clear reason to steer away from drugs and drink. I don't want my mind-altering. Not altered that way. No. I want it to be altered this way. Amen. I want this mind-altering.

[18:28] To happen. If we're in the world and it's ways, it creates altered states of consciousness, they call it.

[18:38] Doesn't it? They lose control. They lose reason. And the world recognises that. Mind-altering substances. I don't want to be in the possession of mind-altering substances.

[18:53] I want to be in the knowledge of the one who alters me for his good. For his glory. For his praise. There's no purpose. No satisfaction there. Just emptiness. As a believer, we're radical.

[19:06] God calls us to be sober-minded. Sober-minded. And if we should ever feel our mind is troubled, and it can be, believers can still have troubles.

[19:17] Believers can still have heartaches. We're living in the real world. We're still flesh. We still have hurts. We still get wounded. We're still human. We've still got mental challenges.

[19:29] All of us. But we've got Christ. We've got Christ. And we can know Christ is our refuge for us. When things are hard. When trouble comes.

[19:40] We've got a sure refuge to run to. If we should ever feel like our mind is troubled. We don't need to turn to the bottle. Or something else. Just to him.

[19:51] Run to him. Be not conformed to this world. Flee to Christ. For your protection in danger. In time of trouble. As we know, we are only passing through this world.

[20:02] The Bible says the so-called wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. A vain, wasted life without God. But true wisdom is found in Christ.

[20:14] It says it can be found. Proverbs 3 verse 13. Happy. Blessed. Is the man that findeth wisdom. And the man that getteth understanding.

[20:26] Of course you see in Proverbs. Wisdom is used of really a descriptor of Christ. He is the wisdom. He is wisdom. Personified. Wisdom incarnate. In the flesh.

[20:36] It's Christ. It's been said that some minds are like concrete. All mixed up and thoroughly set. Some people are like that, aren't they? Their minds are like concrete. When we talk to them of Christ.

[20:48] They'll be offered the fairies. With their own whims and fancies. There's no basis for belief other than their own fickle feelings. People are mixed up and confused.

[21:01] They don't have the solid rock to stand on. To base belief on. Their life upon. The Bible describes those who do not know God as being enemies.

[21:12] In their minds. I was there. Colossians 1 verse 21. An enemy. In my mind. But God has made me his friend. For we that trust him.

[21:23] And God has called us to be a radically different people. It tells of us. Believer. This is what it tells us to do. Casting down imaginations. And every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

[21:36] And bringing into captivity every thought. To the obedience of Christ. There's a commitment there. A decision of the will. A surrender of the will. By God's gracious drawing.

[21:49] We can surrender. To his obedience. Which is the perfect place for us. That he wants for us. So it's logical and reasonable to be a Christian. Amen. It's not logical or reasonable to not be a Christian.

[22:03] The opposite of wisdom is foolishness. And the Bible calls even the wisdom of the world foolishness. The Bible clearly defines foolishness. It says the fool hath said in his heart there is no God.

[22:15] That's the absolute definition of it. When we get saved a radical change takes place. A new allegiance. A new love.

[22:26] In our heart. It's radical. That's conversion. And it shows belief determines behaviour. We'll walk different. We'll know different. We'll talk different.

[22:37] It's who we are. We're radical. We walk out what is in our mind. As a man thinks in his heart. So is he. So believer. Do not be afraid to be different.

[22:48] Do not be ashamed to be radical. Stand there. Radical. No matter what. The world might say. Or criticise you. It says of a believer. Remember that a Christian lives in two worlds at one.

[23:00] And the same time. The world of the flesh. And the world of the spirit. We're still in the world. But we walk in the spirit. In this world. And what we profess to believe. Should impact how we live.

[23:13] A quote here. We do not want a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world. That's what we should be. We should be radical. We should stand out as different. Not just another nightclub.

[23:25] Where they just use the word Jesus every so often. No, we're actually radical. We're different. For the glory of God. So determine that way. To know this radical decision. This new mindset.

[23:36] Let go of the old mindset. The Bible says a double-minded man. Is unstable in all his ways. James 1 verse 8. We don't want to sit on the fence and be unstable. Get off the fence.

[23:48] Out of the world. And into the word. To be. Not conformed. But transformed. Be transformed. Let go of unbelief. And stand for God.

[23:59] It says be transformed. Now. Again. Another word. Meaning. Of this radical term. Transformed. As Paul.

[24:10] Says to the Romans. Be transformed. It's a radical shift. It's a mind shift. Literally. Be transformed. It. It tells of a matter. Metamorphosis.

[24:20] That happens. You could transliterate this verse. Be ye metamorphosized. Be ye transformed. You could put it. Transliterating it.

[24:31] Be ye metamorphosized. It's the same word here. In 2 Corinthians 3. Verse 18. Where Paul writes to the Corinthians. He says. But we with all. With an open face.

[24:42] Beholding as in a glass. Like as in a mirror. The glory of the Lord. Are changed into. The same image. From glory. To glory. Even as by.

[24:53] The spirit. Of the Lord. We're beholding. As in a glass. The image. Of the Lord. We're transformed into. We're metamorphosized. Is the word changed.

[25:04] We're metamorphosized. We're changed into. The same image. From glory. To glory. To glory. To glory. Just as a lowly caterpillar. Turns into a lovely butterfly.

[25:16] That's the sense of it. That's the meaning of it here. A transformation. Takes place. Metamorphosis. Is to change. Into a completely different form. Or nature.

[25:27] That's radical isn't it? Wow. It's not the old Andrew Craig anymore. It's a new man. It's a new person. For all of you that believe. We're changed. Like a caterpillar.

[25:38] Into a new creation. A new creature. A lovely butterfly. So. Repentance too. Is a part of that transformation. In thinking. Literally. Another word play.

[25:49] Is repentance. Meta. Neuer. A change of thinking. Change of thinking. A change of mind. Again. All part of that. Mind shift isn't it? That radical shift.

[26:00] That happens. When you believe. When you trust Christ. When he converts you. A radical change. Happens. Before a holy God. And it begins with our minds. This is an amazing reality.

[26:11] That God cares about our thinking. Our mind. What is going on. In our mindset. In our. Our mind. What is going on. Within.

[26:22] Our thinking. A radical change. Of a person who does not know God. The Bible says that their mind. Titus 1 verse 15. The mind of the one who does not know the Lord.

[26:32] The Bible says. Titus 1 verse 15. That their mind is defiled. And unbelieving. Defiled. And unbelieving. But we. Have a mind purified.

[26:43] The Bible talks about a purifying. Of our minds. It starts. We start thinking on a new level. We're talking and walking in. In a new level. We set our mind on things above.

[26:54] That's what we ought to do. God helping us. We will. Amen. Set our mind on things above. It's been said that the happiness of your life. Depends on the character.

[27:04] Of your thoughts. And what goes on in the head space. Affects. Really. A lot. Doesn't it? Our attitude. Our well-being. And there's a healthy change of mind.

[27:15] That the Bible speaks about. Really. It's conversion. Isn't it? And this is not turning over a new leaf. As in. You've got a book. And you turn a page. It's a totally new book.

[27:27] That's what happens when you get saved. Amen. It's a brand new book. You don't just turn over a new leaf. And I'm going to try to be a better person. I'm going to think positive. And I'm going to think positive thoughts.

[27:38] And I'm going to join a positive. Happy. What's those groups where you. You know. Join a laughter group. You know. To make yourself feel better. No. This is not some change of philosophy.

[27:50] It's a change of life. It's a new book. It's not a new leaf. And so. It's. Wonderful to know Christ. Isn't it? And to be that radically different person.

[28:01] And his spirit brings that refreshing. That strength. Where the light bulbs go on. We. We see what. We're meant to be doing. We see what life's all about. It's a transformation. Notice it's opposite to the conformation.

[28:13] We talked about. Conforming. Means to submit. Or adjust. To become comfortable. Some people are like that. They conform to the world. And I. I know I've mentioned it before.

[28:24] As a younger Christian. I was a bit of a chameleon. Kind of. You know. Looking one. Looking the part in church. And then. Elsewhere. I was somebody. Kind of a bit different. I wasn't really being a fair dinkum Christian.

[28:38] I was changing like a chameleon. Depending on who I was mixing with. And some people are like that. They. They still conform to the world. And when they're not around the church folk.

[28:49] They think and talk like the world. There's a fault in their faith. There. We have to consciously let go. Of going along with the world. We're not there anymore.

[29:00] There's a separation. There's a sacrifice. A living sacrifice. And so. We see the world is a mess. We're not guided by that now. We're radically different. We've trusted Christ.

[29:11] We've got a reason to believe. We've got a radical change. And so. The mind of the believer is reasonable. It's radical. And thirdly.

[29:22] There's a renewing that happens. It talks about by the renewing. Of your mind. A renewing happens. And as a believer. That's a renewing. That happens. Again.

[29:33] And again. And again. A renewing of your mind. To renew means to make new again. We're constantly thinking. And rethinking. Your mind can record. I'm told. 800 memories a second.

[29:44] For the average 75 years. Many of us live. Without exhausting itself. Think of that. No wonder you're feeling a bit tired. 800 memories. A second.

[29:56] For 75 years of your life. Or more. The Bible tells us. That our minds can be corrupted. 2 Corinthians 11 verse 3. Our minds can be deceived.

[30:06] Defiled. Think of your mind. It includes your memories. Your conscience. We can suffer hurts. And regrets. Guilt. And bitterness. Sad memories.

[30:17] Sometimes overwhelm us. And consume us. Things that are dominating our thinking. Give it over. To God. Yield it. The good news is.

[30:28] That your mind can be changed. And made new. It tells us. Of this radical. Mind shift. That. Paul tells the Philippians. Let this mind be in you.

[30:40] Which was also in Christ Jesus. His mind. And again. In 1 Corinthians 2. His health. The Corinthians. We have the mind. Of Christ. That's a mind boggling thing too.

[30:51] Isn't it? Lots of mind boggling things. In this sermon. That we can have the mind of Christ. Think of that. We think of who he was. Of what he did. Of this.

[31:01] Of the love that he showed. Of his attitude. Of service. How humble he was. How selfless. How giving. How unselfish. How sacrificing. How is our mind?

[31:14] Are we wanting to let it be more like his? To be living. Thinking more like Christ would think. Have we got a renewed thinking? Have we got a clear conscience? That we know. Yes.

[31:24] The Bible tells me I'm forgiven. All of that baggage. I've given it to Christ. He's washed it away. It's all gone. All those sad memories. All my guilt. All my regret.

[31:35] It's gone. It's under the blood. There's a renewing that happens. God makes us new creatures when we're born again. The mind of the believer is born again as well. He transplants a new heart within.

[31:49] With new desires. New love. A brand new way of thinking. A new way of living. Think of the world and its emptiness. The fact that many are discontented in this restless, craving world.

[32:04] They're craving to be satisfied. Filled with stress, depression, fears, selfishness. The Bible tells of such. In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.

[32:16] Lest the light of the glorious gospel, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. How sad to be dwelling in darkness. Blindness. But the Bible says in contrast, for we that believe, the eyes of your understanding, that mind again, is enlightened.

[32:34] The light goes on. Christ brings that great peace and satisfaction. The full satisfaction to the soul of man. So think of that, friends, as we think, as it reads there further.

[32:47] Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Think of these things today. Your mind matters to God. And he doesn't want you to be overwhelmed as the world would be, but to give it over to him.

[33:03] All your anxiety. All your care. Take it to the mercy seat. Take it unto him. All your anxieties. Casting all your care upon him. Don't be full of care.

[33:17] But bring it unto him in prayer. Yeah, be careful for nothing. Be careful for nothing. Don't stay there. Full of care.

[33:28] Be careful for nothing. Zero. Nothing. But in everything. By prayer and supplication. Pray. You've got an answer.

[33:38] If you've got... And believers have problems. I'm not saying your mind changes and you never have a worry. You never have a care in the world again. He says, with those cares, in everything, make your requests known unto God.

[33:55] And his peace, that passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. So, the mind is the communication centre of the body.

[34:09] No wonder we get barraged with all kinds of thoughts and some of them are not of God, aren't they? Our own doubts and fears. Our hurts. We all have them. But we've got his help.

[34:23] And that mind that's full of all this massive information. All of these impressions and messages that we're getting from all kinds of places. Because we've got to filter that. And apply our mind to the word.

[34:36] To develop good habits of thinking. To learn more of the word. To be that disciple. A learner. And so that this dictates how we think. This dictates what we're going to believe.

[34:49] And what we're going to apply our minds to. Is this. His truth. That will dictate. And the Bible says that we should prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

[35:07] So what we think about provokes action. Prove it says what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God. So we will do the will of God. When we think right, we'll do right.

[35:19] We'll do his will. We'll discover what God wants for us. We'll prove it. We'll discern it. It'll be clear to us. It'll shine out to us. It'll jump out of the page to us. And we'll turn our mind to find that.

[35:31] To know that. The will of God. And to search for it. Like the Bereans did in Acts 17. It says that they received the word. They received it. They treasured it.

[35:43] Oh, yes. And with all readiness of mind. They searched the scriptures daily. They found the truth and they searched it out. They searched out the will of God.

[35:54] They searched out the will of God, which is in the word of God. So is our mind receptive to God's word? Will we receive it like the Bereans did? Is our mind in tune with God's message for modern man?

[36:06] Or is it what the world's trying to project on us? We don't need some new revelation. We need a revelation of the old truth. That's what we need.

[36:17] Because God's revealed will is found here. For you, believer, sister, brother. It's here in the word. His revealed will. We just have to look for it. And there's a washing of the word too.

[36:29] Such that he can purify our thinking. This mind, this sponge of mine can get soiled, defiled, corrupted. But there's a washing.

[36:41] There's a washing. We need to have a shower of it. A shower with the word. You know, let it just get in the shower with the word of God.

[36:51] I'm being a bit irreverent there. But there's a sense where he cleanses our thought patterns, doesn't he? He cleanses our thought patterns. He purifies our mind. There's a washing that goes on as we take his word.

[37:04] And so there's a casting down of those imaginations. And there's a bringing into captivity every thought. Our mind can be captivated in a good way. It's a good captivation.

[37:16] To be in his keeping is a good place to be, isn't it? And when we let Christ be our pilot and steer our course for life, when we let him take the steering of our ship and set the course for our future, we can know his keeping.

[37:33] And we need to renew our minds. Friends, renew our minds. We can grow in that knowledge of him and of his will. So how are we developing our mind? The Bible talks about renewing of your mind.

[37:45] You can develop your mind. In other words, you can study. You can grow in your knowledge of the word. It talks about how we can, in understanding, be men.

[37:56] It talks about maturity. Let's not stay in the babyhood stage of Christianity. Let's advance. Let's graduate with high distinctions in that university of the word, as it were.

[38:09] Let's aspire to be workmen of the word. Let's aspire that we'll grow in maturity in our faith, in our living, to let God shape us in how we think, biblically.

[38:22] What is it that we dream about or concentrate on? What is it that we think about? Where do we find our fulfilment and fullness? Our peace. It's Christ. It's Christ.

[38:32] Does our thinking glorify God? These are things to develop, to renew our mind. It tells us further that he shall give us that perfect peace.

[38:44] Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Is our mind on God? We should strive to know him.

[38:55] Know him more. And have that love relationship, such that we'll love him, the Lord thy God. With all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

[39:05] Yes, your mind too. It's part of this. That you'll love him even with your very mind and with all your strength. And this is a scripture that's easy to quote and recite.

[39:18] But to apply it. But to apply it. That we should love the Lord our God. So love. Think of your thoughts. 10,000 thoughts go through the human mind in one day.

[39:32] Three and a half million per year. It's a supercomputer there. Sitting on your shoulders. And now a computer is a tool that can be used or misused.

[39:43] Like that amusing yet truthful saying goes, garbage in, garbage out. Isn't it? So friends, think of what are you feeding into your computer. And maybe you've got to take out the trash, as it were.

[39:57] But psychologists tell us that each person has about 10,000 thoughts per day. That's quite astonishing really, isn't it? And so what should we think upon that lovely scripture in Philippians 4?

[40:11] Puts it in a great little couple of verses there, doesn't it? Philippians 4, verse 7 through 8. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, the mind again, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[40:28] Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true. Whatsoever things are honest. Whatsoever things are just. Whatsoever things are pure.

[40:39] 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.

[40:51] Think on the things of God. Think upon the things of God. Let your mind dwell on that. That's a good thing to put your mind upon. To set your mind upon. It speaks of concentration, of study.

[41:02] What do our thoughts dwell upon? Renew your mind. Know God's will. Set your affection. There's a command there, isn't there? This is very clear. Set your affection on things above.

[41:20] Make it your determination. There's a command here, what to do. And it's something specific and definite that we need to do. It's something we've got to set. Set your mind.

[41:30] Set your thinking. Set your mindset upon those things. Set your affection. Set your affection. Set your affection. Set your affection. Set your mind on things above.

[41:43] Make it your determination. Set your mind there. Set your affection there. So when we get saved, we see things differently. It says set your mind on things above. Reset your mind.

[41:54] We need that great reset of our mind to set our affection, to focus our mind there on what is godly and good and banish from your mind what is otherwise, what is negative and worldly and fleshly.

[42:07] How is your thought life today? What is on your mind? What is on your mind? You know, you might be thinking, well, it's getting a bit closer to lunchtime and you know, you might be thinking all kinds of things.

[42:22] But spiritually though, what is on your mind? Honestly, how are you before God? As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Our thinking is powerful. We can have a sound spiritual mind or we can stay where the world is and be conformed to that.

[42:37] Is your mind and thinking too easily just like that of the world? If we're receiving the same programming as the world receives, then we'll be programmed like the world.

[42:50] That's a reality, isn't it? Or we can be reprogrammed. We can be renewed. We can have a reasonable mind, trusting Christ. It's reasonable to believe. Come and let us reason, he says, together.

[43:02] It's reasonable. It's radical in that it's different from the thought patterns that we used to have in the old way of thinking. As we're patterned after the world, now we're patterned after Christ.

[43:13] He's our new model. We who once had minds that were once blinded now can be radically shifted. And it goes on.

[43:25] In that there's a renewing. A renewing. We're walking with Christ. We're going from glory to glory. You're going to be closer to glory tomorrow than you were yesterday. It's a new way of thinking.

[43:36] A new way of living. And it's happening. It's renewing day by day. Such that we can become heavenly minded people. That our thought patterns can be heavenly ones.

[43:47] So to think of it as we close. How do we make application? Does your thinking glorify God? Determine.

[43:57] Set. Reset your thinking. Set your affection. on heaven. On things above. On the things of God. And let Christ control your thoughts.

[44:10] Let him captivate every thought. Wow. That'd be something. Those 10,000 thoughts. That they can be captivated. Every day. Every thought. That Christ.

[44:21] Would be glorified. And that takes a decisive act of the will. As we read before. I present you therefore brethren. By the mercies of God. Present your bodies.

[44:32] Present your minds. Included. As a living sacrifice. Holy. Acceptable. Unto God. Which is your reasonable. It's reasonable. Reasonable service.

[44:43] And be not conformed. To the world. To this world. But be radically transformed. Be transformed. Metamorphosised. By the renewing.

[44:53] Of your mind. It goes on. That you're renewing day by day. Going on. Renewing. Glory to glory. Renewing of your mind. That you may prove what is that good. And acceptable.

[45:04] And perfect. Will of God. Of course the. Most fundamental. Aspect of the will of God. Is that. He wants. You to come.

[45:16] Unto him. To be saved. Let us pray. Lord we thank you for the great grace. That you showed. In. That wonderful.

[45:28] Love. That you demonstrated. That you poured out your love. As you poured out your very. Blood in Christ.

[45:39] That you gave everything. Anything. Lord we thank you. That we can. Simply believe. And receive that gift. As you would.

[45:50] Offer it. And extend it. So mercifully. Lord. That we can be. Glad recipients of that. By faith. Lord we thank you. For every believer. Help us Lord. To. Think of these thoughts.

[46:02] And. Think how. Our thinking. Can be. Shifted. More to that. Which is above. And less to that. Which is below. Help us Lord. To. Aspire to know.

[46:13] To do. That perfect. Acceptable. And perfect. Will. Your will. For us. We pray. In Jesus. Precious name. Amen.

[46:23] Amen. Thank you.