Let this Mind

Kingdom Citizens Worldwide Outreach

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For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.* Romans 8:6

To be carnally minded means to have ones life dominated by the sin nature. To be spiritually minded is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. To be transformed by the renewing of our minds is to take on the mind of Christ; meaning the way that Christ will have us to think, believe and behave. To be spiritually minded is to be controlled by the Holyspirit. To be controlled by the Holyspirit means that we are now led and governed by the spirit and its desires and not the desires of our flesh; in which is death. To be carnally minded is to complain about trials and tribulations rather than understanding that trials and tribulations are to strengthen us and to build our character. Romans 8:28 says; all things work together for the good of those that love God who are the called according to his purpose: The good and the bad works together to produce a favorable outcome. Think for a second about the ingredients of a cake; the eggs, water, and butter are added to the cake mix to make a complete batter and the outcome of mixing the right ingredients properly will produce a good cake when baked. Without the chastening of the Lord as his children we are then bastards instead of sons and daughters. We must see the blessing of everything that we go through and this can only be perceived through the eyes of faith. God may allow that situation or predicament that is unpleasant to strengthen and mature you. We do not know everyone that we will be called to reach and going through that unfavorable situation with a positive mind-set will strengthen them when we overcome and share our testimony of how Christ brought us out, but our testimony should not only be how Christ brought us out, but instead it should be about the lessons that we have learned while going through what we go through. So many times while going through trials all we can think about is how we wish we can get out of what we are in, but God desires us to stay in trials that he has orchestrated or is allowing for his glory for our good and his glory. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptation;* Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.* James 1:2-2

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In this epistle on Christian living, James opens with a most crucial topic: the trials of life are what he is referring to here. These verses describe the various testingswhether from the world and Satan, or from Godinto which godly Christians fall (Gr. Peripipt). These negative experiences are to be accepted with GREAT JOY, not for the sake of the trial itself but because of the positive work God can accomplish through the testing. The words in verses 2 and 3 (temptations and trying) are often regarded as virtually synonymous. If this were true, then trials themselves would produce spiritual maturity. But they do not. Often, testings make Christians bitter instead of better, with no spiritual growth occurring. The Greek word for trying (dokimion) might be better translated as approving. It is not merely ones presence in such trials but ones victory over them that brings spiritual growth and maturity. Those Christians whom God can use the most are those whom God has bruised the most. I like what Matthew Henrys Commentary Says about Romans 8:6

8:1-9 Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? The unrenewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience. God showed abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer's person might be pardoned and justified. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner. By the Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that in all true believers, which answers the intention of the law. The favour of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which way go our plans and contrivances? Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls? Those that live in pleasure are dead, 1Ti 5:6. A sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace. The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself. The carnal man may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but the carnal mind never can; that must be broken and driven out. We may know our real state and character by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not, ver. 9. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ, means having a turn of mind in some degree like the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and is to be shown by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:* Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:* But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8 The next time we go through something and think about what we can get out of it or how we can escape that trial without maturity, let us think of our lowly Savior that humbled himself in his obedience by taking on the form of a servant. He was God but didnt claim his lordship, but he humbled himself even unto death. We should humble ourselves; believers even unto death of ourselves or even maybe our lives. Living for Christ is never about us and our rights, but its about the glory of the resurrected Christ being displayed in our lives. Submitting to Christ; my
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friends, never means to become enablers to sin of self or others, but to become instrument of righteousness.

We often say that the word in us has to be tried but Psalm 18:30 says;
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. It is not the word that has to be tried, it is the vessel that is carrying the word that has to be tried as the word in a person that God places his word is already tried and his way is perfect. We must allow the word of God to work in us to bring us to perfection. Are we mature enough to handle the word and the ministry that God has placed inside of us??? Without trials and tribulations, we will never know.

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