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[0:00] The Mind So that's the topic today.

[0:16] And the Word of God is dangerous. This is a banned book in many nations. It's a dangerous book. Why? Because it changes people. The Word of God changes people.

[0:28] It's got a life-changing message. Someone said this, The Bible is not merely something to believe, it's something to be submitted to. We're hopelessly lost without it, but we face a dangerous peril with it, for if it doesn't break us and change us, it will harden us.

[0:46] The Bible is dangerous. It defines truth. Absolute truth. It gives us God's definition of wisdom, of logic, of understanding. He defines these things.

[0:58] And the Bible teaches us what to think, what to believe. We're living in a world today where there's a lot of what the world calls relativism and humanism.

[1:13] It's a world where everything's relative. Truth is relative. It's not absolute. But the Bible says that there is absolute truth. And we need to submit to the Word of God, because it brings a transformation.

[1:26] And another fact is that, whether we like it or not, something's going on all around us. It's happening right now, in fact.

[1:39] Mind control. Mind control. It's happening. It's happening. Now, hopefully, it's happening in a good way, because there's good mind control, and there's bad mind control.

[1:52] So, there's a war going on for the control of your mind. It's happening all the time. It's a battleground for the soul, the mind, the brain, the thinking.

[2:03] But thankfully, God sends a peacekeeping force into this war zone, into this place of conflict that is our mind, at times. And Philippians 4, verses 6 to 8, tells us, Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

[2:26] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. We can pray.

[2:37] And prayer can be a wonderful guard over our mind, protecting our mind, our thoughts, our thinking, our heart. So, we see on this side, we've got some good things.

[2:52] Some good things. We've got peace. The peace of God is going to guard, act like a sentry. God stations peace, his peace, as a sentry over our heart, as a guard.

[3:08] We see, as we read on, some of the things that it tells us about, that he gives to us through his peace. He says, And 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, if there be any praise, think of these things.

[3:36] prayer. Good kind of mind control. Prayer. Good kind of mind control. Pray. If there be any praise. These are all good things that the Word of God tells us about.

[3:48] And these are things to do with God's life. Life. Life. Life. On this side you've got spiritual.

[3:59] On this side you've got carnal or sinful. Think on these things. So keep your mind thinking about these things. The trouble is that man outside of Christ is walking in a futile state of mind.

[4:14] He's walking in death. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. It says that we are dead in our trespasses and sin.

[4:25] Ephesians 4 tells us that of some they walk in the vanity of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who being fast feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness or lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

[4:51] So Ephesians 4, 17. We see some of the characteristics of the sinful or the death control.

[5:02] Their minds are darkened. Do you want the pulpit? Oh, it's fine. Sure. They're deceived.

[5:13] They're defiled. And they're disobedient. It's death.

[5:24] The Bible says that death works in people. It's a sinful thing. And Ephesians 4 goes on, But you've not so learned Christ, it so be that you've heard him and have been taught by him as the truth that is in Jesus, that you put off concerning the former conversation of the old man, which is corrupt.

[5:43] This is the old man, the sinful man. It's corrupt according to deceitful lust. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. You put on the new man who is renewed in the spirit of your mind.

[5:56] So what happens is there's a wonderful mind shift. There's a mind shift that happens. A mind shift.

[6:11] The Bible says that something happens when you trust the Lord Jesus Christ. A mind shift happens. A change happens. It's called repentance. It's called repensing.

[6:22] That's what happens when you trust Christ. A mind shift happens. So that we are changed from death into life. We pass from death to life. Are you in death or in life?

[6:37] Of some the Bible says God is not in all their thoughts. It says it's possible to deceive yourself.

[6:49] Galatians 6 verse 3. You can be deceived, not even know it. We need a changed way of thinking. We need a mind shift. We need to move from death to life.

[7:01] A radical change from the carnal or the sinful mind to the spiritual mind. In Romans 8 verse 6 it says, For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

[7:19] Now sometimes we have a lot of trouble with our mind because we haven't moved from death to life. When a person repents, when there's a mind shift, when we turn from our own way, when we turn from death to God's life, we turn from darkness to life, to light.

[7:39] We turn from our own will to God's will. We turn from our own way of living to obeying the word of God. And it changes us. It changes us in all of the dimensions of our lives.

[7:51] In Isaiah 55 it says, Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.

[8:03] So it happens even in the mind. As well as the soul, the heart, the whole life. As a transformation happens. A mind shift happens. Our knowledge, our thinking, our thoughts, everything changes when we become a Christian.

[8:19] Or it's meant to. We get a whole load of new thinking. A whole new mindset. A whole new mindset happens when you become a Christian.

[8:33] It says in the word of God, Set your mind on things above. It's a mindset. A mindset happens. A new way of thinking. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.

[8:47] A mind shift. Then we start to think about what really matters. Things like his mind. His will. And his kingdom.

[9:00] They are the things that matter for us when we get saved. The mind of Christ. The will of God. The kingdom of God. They are the things that count when we get saved.

[9:13] How does this mind shift happen? It happens by the word. It happens through the word. Psalm 1 verse 2 it says, For the godly man his delight is in the law of the Lord.

[9:25] And in his law does he meditate day and night. So we talked about mind control. We talked about a mind shift. Now we need to learn about brain washing.

[9:38] Sounds really new age today. Meditation. But we are not talking about people sitting on their haunches and saying om. And thinking and making their mind go blank.

[9:51] We are talking about Bible meditation. And that is something good for you. It is good mind control. It is Bible meditation. Meditating on the word of God.

[10:02] And it says much about that. In other words think about what God says. Think about what God is teaching us. Meditate on God's word. On his commands.

[10:13] It says that the word has a washing effect. In Ephesians 4, 5 rather. Verse 26. Ephesians 5. He sanctifies and he cleanses the church.

[10:26] There is a washing of water by the word. Is the Bible something that we think about? Are our thoughts dwelling about the Bible throughout the day? Do we love the word of God?

[10:37] Do we meditate on it? Will we be like the blessed man, someone that he meditates on it day and night? Amen. So think about what are you meditating on?

[10:49] What preoccupies your thoughts and your thinking? Is it the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge? Romans 11, 33 to 34. It talks about the mind of the Lord.

[11:02] What is our mindset? Is it thinking on things above or on things upon the earth? What is it that we've got our mind set upon? Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

[11:15] It's been said that where the mind goes, the man will follow. So what is it that's preoccupying our thinking? We've got to question that. Challenge your thinking. Have you got the mind of Christ?

[11:27] In Philippians 2, verse 5 it says, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Have you got his mind? The mind of Christ. What is the mind of Christ?

[11:39] What does Jesus think like? What does our Lord think like? It says in 1 Peter 4, verse 1, Christ suffered for us. Arm yourselves with the same mind.

[11:50] We've got to be willing to go through the tough times of life. He was willing to suffer for us. We read in Philippians 2, how he humbled himself and became obedient unto death.

[12:03] We see of Christ perfect contentment, even though he had very little to claim his own. And in a world of discontentment, we can find the contentment that he can bring.

[12:14] In a world where so many are caught up in chasing useless things. In a world where many people just want to drink themselves stupid.

[12:25] The Bible says to think soberly. Romans 12, verse 3. Think soberly. In other words, exercise self-control. Keep that mind clear. Don't make it fuzzy with drink and drugs or such things.

[12:39] Exercise self-control. Think soberly. You know, some of what our brother read earlier was talking about soberness. There's much to commend being sober-minded. Having a sound mind.

[12:51] In a world where many are chasing after vain things. It's just leaving people empty. Or filling them with depression and heaviness. What does the Bible say? Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind.

[13:05] Amongst other things, with all thy mind. Love God with your mind. He's given you a brain to think with, to reason with. The Bible says God reasons with us. He says, come, let us reason together.

[13:18] God uses our brain. He doesn't bypass our brain. Some would think it's all about feelings or all about the buzz. God's given us a mind to reason with us. To urge us to come to him.

[13:30] So that we can come to love the Lord our God. With all our mind. With all our soul. With all our heart. With all our strength. And the Bible speaks also in 2 Corinthians 10. How we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

[13:50] Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Think of his mind. Have you got the mind of Christ? Are you like him? Are you seeking and striving to be like him?

[14:01] Have you got his will? Where it's his word that drives you that obeying God is what matters. Not what you would feel to do. And his kingdom counts for you.

[14:14] Such as the kingdom of God is that which is the driving priority. Meditate on the word. That's how we can grow. The Bible says as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

[14:27] Our behaviour is based on a belief. Is it the word? Is it the word of God? That is that upon which we meditate. That which we follow.

[14:38] That which we obey. In Joshua 1 our Lord says to Joshua, he says, Only be thou strong and very courageous. He goes on, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night.

[14:57] Meditate. In the word of God, Joshua was commanded to meditate day and night. Joshua 1 verse 7 to 8. Then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and then shalt thou have good success.

[15:10] We see in Psalm 1, Blessed is the man. Meditate day and night in the word of God. Think of that. Brothers and sisters, I want to urge you today.

[15:21] How can I be a Christian who meditates on the word of God? Dwell upon the word. Get the word into your heart. Into your thinking, into your mind.

[15:32] Memorise the word. That's a good and precious thing to do. Look at Psalm 119, which tells us about the word. Psalm 119. Read through that.

[15:43] I know my life was urging me through the week. Of the wisdom in the book of Proverbs. There's wisdom. There's the word. Brings wisdom. The word helps our thinking, our mind.

[15:55] To dwell on things above. To set our affection there. Apply the word. Let the Bible change your thinking. To make your mind more Christ-like. That it be renewed. That it be changed.

[16:07] In Psalm 19 verse 14 it says, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

[16:20] A change happens. And it's the word of God that makes it happen. It's as we obey God's word. When God says repent, we obey.

[16:31] There's a mind shift. We turn from our sin and we find the Holy Spirit. We experience God's life, His changing power.

[16:42] The word of God. The word of God. It says in Hebrews 4, it's a discerner of the thoughts and intent of the heart. The word of God. A mind control that's a good thing.

[16:55] It says in Psalm 104 verse 34, my meditation of Him shall be sweet. I will be glad in the Lord. You know, the American Medical Association reported on a conference of doctors who were looking at treating ulcers of some kind.

[17:15] And the findings of this great conference were that there was much to be commended for placing an emphasis upon faith, hope, love and forgiveness.

[17:28] Faith, hope, love and forgiveness. If you've got trouble with ulcers, then here's your remedy. Faith, hope, love and forgiveness. It's the word of God that can change us, that can transform us.

[17:41] And these qualities of our life that even the medical profession says is going to be helpful to us in the physical, can be helpful in the spiritual.

[17:52] It's eternal life we're talking about. The Bible teaches us how to think. Wholesome thinking, godly thinking, right thinking. The Bible says that God searches our hearts and our minds.

[18:05] Revelation 2 verse 23. And friends, take stop today. What are your thoughts filled with? Are your thoughts filled with heaviness?

[18:17] With anxiety? With frustration? With doubt? With unbelief? Is God in all your thoughts? You may still experience such things, but is God in all your thoughts?

[18:32] Are you meditating on the word? Day and night? Day and night. Day and night. Have you experienced that radical mind shift? That radical change of mind?

[18:44] That change of heart? That change of direction? When you trust him? When you're saved? The Bible says, repent. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.

[18:57] And let him return unto the Lord. And he will abundantly pardon. There's life in Christ. I urge you to that.

[19:09] That radical change of mind that the Bible calls repentance. It's a change of heart. It's a change of direction. It's our only hope. And then when you've experienced that mind shift, learn to develop that mindset of setting your affection on things above.

[19:27] You're preparing for eternity. This is just boot camp for eternity. Amen? We're just at boot camp at the moment. But beyond that threshold, we'll see him face to face.

[19:40] If we know him. If we know him. If we trust him. And friends, I just want to encourage you. You're preparing for eternity. Be you transformed by the renewing of your mind. Our mind can be made new again.

[19:55] Search me, O God, and know my heart. See if there be any wicked way in me. And lead me in the way everlasting. To be spiritually minded is life and peace.

[20:08] Let us pray. Lord, we thank you that your word is life changing. It's alive. It's powerful. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our heart.

[20:19] Lord, we pray that your Holy Spirit would work by the word. That you would mix faith with your word. This morning, to each hearer, each heart.

[20:31] Lord, that if there's any here present, they've yet to trust you. They've yet to find that life more abundant. They've yet to experience that mind shift, that radical shift from our own way of thinking to your way of thinking.

[20:45] They've yet to take on the word of God and its message of life. Of that saving hope that is only found in Christ. Lord, we pray for any such here today.

[20:56] That they'll make today a day of decision. That they'll come and reason with you today. They'll come and make peace with you today, Lord God. And for we that are saved, that we can grow by the word.

[21:11] As we grow thereby, by that word. As we meditate therein, day and night. Day and night. Help us, Lord, to develop that habit of daily searching your word.

[21:24] Of daily investing in your word. Of daily dwelling on those promises that you have for us. Lord, that it might change us. It might change our thinking and in turn will change our actions.

[21:38] Lord, it will change our behaving as it changes our believing. Lord, we pray that you'd help if there's any here present. Who want to make a decision to trust you this morning.

[21:50] That they'll seek prayer before they leave this place. And for we that are saved, help us, Lord, to be challenged. To challenge our thinking. When the world would want to conform us. Lord, we pray you will transform us.

[22:03] Transform our thinking. Help us, Lord, to put your kingdom, your will, your word. First and foremost. That we might grow in holiness and righteousness.

[22:14]  By your Holy Spirit's help. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.