Thinking Like a Servant Thinks

Introduction

First of all, we are not talking about mind control or brainwashing as used by Jim Jones and The People’s Temple. Jones was a master manipulator! He preached a radical social gospel and promoted communal living in the San Francisco area. He eventually misled over one thousand people to move to the tiny nation of Guyana, South America which later became known as Jonestown. Who can forget the infamous story of California Congressman Leo Ryan and his group of investigators who flew to Jonestown and were murdered with machine guns? In the aftermath Jones persuaded his followers to commit mass suicide by drinking a concoction of Kool Aid and cyanide?

Today’s lesson, Thinking Like a Servant is a message on how the believer can have the mind of Christ.In other words,how can the believer (servant) think scripturally, biblically and spiritually? Notice two thoughts:

1ST OF ALL THE MIND OF A SERVANT:
I. MUST BE RENEWED.

See Romans 12:1-2

1. Renewing my mind includes presentation.
“present”- paristemi- is translated yield 5x and means to place a person or thing at one’s disposal. The mind will guide my bodily members.

A. I must present my mind a “living sacrifice”- meaning not a dead sacrifice.
B. I must present my mind to be “holy” (hagios).
C. I must present my mind so that it will be “acceptable” to God. “acceptable”-is translated well pleasing 4x.
D. It is only “reasonable”-logikos this is where we get our English word logic.

2. Renewing my mind includes transformation.

1. Notice the negative “And be not conformed to this world:” (v. 2).
“conformed”- suschematizo means to shape like or to be squeezed into the mold. Our minds must not be shaped like this world. Our thought process must be different! We cannot be squeezed into the mold of this world. Our thought development must be different than the world.

2. Notice the positive “but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”(v. 2).
“transformed”- metamorphoo means to change into another form. How does this happen? By the anakainosis (renewing) or renovation of our minds. Our minds must be remodeled! Replace the old thought pattern with the new thought pattern! Remove and replace the old thought process by renewing your mind with the Word of God.

2NDLY THE MIND OF SERVANT:
II. MUST BE RECEPTIVE.

BECAUSE OUR MINDS HAVE BEEN PROGRAMED TO PICK UP SECULAR HUMANISTIC SIGNALS, GOD’S VOICE MAY BE MUFFLED WHEN HE SPEAKS, PROMPTS OR ENDEAVORS TO INTRODUCE BIBLICAL TRUTH.

2 CORINTHAINS 10:1-7 WE SEE FOUR BARRIERS TO HEARING GOD’S VOICE:

1. Human resistance is a barrier to hearing God’s voice.
v.4 “strong holds”- literally a fortress.

 AS THE HOLY SPIRIT ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE GOD’S TRUTH TO US, HE RUNS UP AGAINST OUR “WALL” OR “STRONG HOLD” WHICH IS OUR NATURAL, CARNAL MIND SET!
 Such as prejudice (hating certain races).
 Such as doubt.
 Such as a negative mentality instead of a faith mentality.

2. Human reasoning is a barrier to hearing God’s voice.
v.5 “casting down”-kathaireo is translated take down 4x and is translated destroy 2x!

 THIS MENTAL BARRIER TO HEARING GOD’S VOICE,THIS WALL MUST BE TAKEN DOWN OR DESTORYED! v.5 “imaginations”- logismos meaning reasoning or computation.

 AS CHRIST PRESENTS HIS TRUTH TO OUR MINDS, THE WALL OF HUMAN REASONING GOES UP AGAINST THE ENTRANCE OF SUCH ALIEN THOUGHTS! THUS A WAR BEGINS IN OUR MINDS BETWEEN THE FLESH AND SPIRIT!

3. Human regard is a barrier to hearing God’s voice.
v.5 “exalteth”-epairo is translated lift up 15x and means to be lifted up with pride.

PRIDE PROMPTS: Arguments, Stubornness, Unteachable spirit, a refusal to Change. THE UNRENEWED MIND WILL ALWAYS RESIST AND DISREGARD GOD’S WORD!!!

4. Human reactions are a barrier to hearing God’s Word.
v.5 “thought”-noema meaning mental perception.