Renewing Our Mind - Part 4

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Phoebe McCoy
6 years ago
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1 Renewing Our Mind - Part 4 A PEACEFUL MINDSET Philippians 4:4-9 STIMULATE ** As our study concluded last time, we committed to the Lord that we would live out all three lessons we had learned so far in the "RENEWING OUR MIND" series. By way of quick review, let's look at the three mindsets that we have learned about from God's word. 1) "A Godly Mindset" Developed by following three steps everyday: 1) Deny yourself - Do not look out for your own interest! 2) Take up your cross - Be willing to suffer or die if necessary, for Christ's sake! 3) Follow Jesus as Lord - Be obedient to His Word! 2) "A Prepared Mindset" Composed of seven elements: 1) A spiritually disciplined thoughtlife 2) Fixing our hope on eternity in Christ 3) Avoiding conforming to our old lifestyle 4) Be holy, for our God is holy 5) Develop a reverence for God 6) Living in "obedience to the Truth" 7) Life based upon the foundation of God's Word 3) "A Loving Mindset" Seen through three components: 1) Compassion - "to be moved in the inward parts" 2) Caring - Don't stop at the emotional level but respond with action to meet the pressing need. 3) Covering the Cost - As the Lord provides for you, be willing to share for the provision of others that He leads your way. MOTIVATE ** Today we will conclude this series with part four, "A Peaceful Mindset", as we answer the fourth and final question of that series, "What is the main characteristic of a renewed mind"? For the answer, we once again turn to the beloved apostle Paul and his letter to the Philippians, chapter four, verses 4-9. Please open you Bibles to that passage as we enjoy learning what the Lord has for us today. Read passage (V.4-6) (V.7-9) Opening Prayer INVESTIGATE A Peaceful Mindset V. 4 ** As the apostle begins to wrap up his letter to the Philippian church, what heart response is he calling for as believers learn more about their relationship to God through Jesus Christ?

2 The response of rejoicing! ** How often should the believer be involved in this? "...always..." Even during difficult times, we should be about the business or heart attitude of rejoicing. ** How determined is Paul for them to get the message? He immediately repeats himself, "...again I say rejoice..." V. 5 ** By Paul's next exhortation, how do we know that the rejoicing he is calling for is while suffering in this world? Because he is calling for our "forbearing spirit" to be put on display before all men. The word translated "forbearing" is epieikes and means; seemly, equitable or yielding. While it is translated as forbearing only here, in is translated as gentle in four other passages. (cf. 1Timothy 3:2-3, Titus 3:1-2, James 3:17 and 1Peter 2:18) ** What reason does Paul give for Christians to rejoice and to have this "gentle" spirit about them? "The Lord is near!" In the context of his letter to the Philippians, the return of Jesus Christ is imminent! Either at the rapture of the church or the home going of each individual Christian, the Lord is very close and we are to rejoice always and be gentle to all, in the light of that marvelous truth, without regard for the circumstances in which we find ourselves. (cf. Philippians 3:20-21) V. 6 ** This is a noble calling indeed, but how do we do it? What are the steps to "A Peaceful Mindset"? There are only two! Paul gives them in order, first in the negative form and then the positive. 1) Be anxious for nothing... In fulfilling this command, how far reaching is the application to our lives? Paul says "...for nothing...", which totally eliminates all areas of life from our world of worry. There is nothing that we are allowed to be anxious for! (cf. 1Peter 5:6-7) 2)..in everything..let your requests be made known to God. This phrase indicates that we should be specific about our needs and involves another "constant", that being our communication with and total dependence upon God Himself! ** If we take a closer look at the second step in us acquiring "A Peaceful Mindset", we will see the guidelines for our requests, as we make them known to the Lord. Do you see them? 1) Prayer - this is the attitude of worship 2) Supplication - an entreaty, crying out to God 3) Thanksgiving - for the answer that will display God's will for our lives. V. 7 ** As we faithfully obey both of these steps or commands by the apostle, what will happen to our minds? "And the peace of God...shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ** Is this the peace with God, that we receive because Jesus bore our sins on the cross?

3 No, that peace rescued us from being the enemy of God through our sin, but is not the peace spoken of here. ** Then what is this peace and how does it effect us? Isaiah 26:3 - A calm, settled state of mind, because of our trust in the Lord. John 14:27 - Heavenly deliverance from earthly troubles and fear. Colossians 3:15 - God's peace is the "arbitrator" for us against all of life's daily woes. ** Can you explain this "peace" to someone else, so that they might experience it apart from knowing Christ? No, the natural or unsaved man cannot understand the peace of God, because he is still at war with Him and as such has no capacity for understanding. (1Corinthians 2:14) But further, Paul adds that this peace "surpasses all comprehension" and is only for those who are "in Christ Jesus". ** What would you say is the main characteristic of a mind that has be renewed in Christ Jesus? It is "A Peaceful Mindset", or a mind that is at peace because of all that we have gained through our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. V. 8 ** As he sums up this portion of his letter, Paul now maps out the thoughtlife of a mind at peace. What are we to let our minds dwell upon? For the answer to that question, let's look together at eight insights from the word of God! Whatever is:...true - John 17:17 God's Word...honorable - 1Timothy 3:8-9 Our Faith...right - Matthew 6:33 His Kingdom...pure - 1John 3:2-3 Our Holiness...lovely (acceptable) - Romans 12:1 Our Offering...of good repute - Acts 14:27 His Deeds...of excellence - 2Peter 1:5 Our Morals...worthy of praise - Psalm 150:1-6 Praise the Lord ** Now back in Philippians 4:8, what are we to do with this impressive list? "...let your mind dwell on these things." It does matter what we spend our time thinking about and the child of God is not to be thinking like the natural man of the world. (cf. Psalm 1:1-2) V. 9 ** What is it that makes the rubber meet the road in a Christian's life? Practice, practice, practice. ** Had Paul merely taught them these truths, or did he do something even more profound? It wasn't enough to only teach, he also had to live out these truths himself. The mind of the apostle was to be peaceful even though his life was traumatic! cf. 2Corinthians 11:23-28

4 ** Life comes with few guarantees, but if we will truly practice what Paul has taught us this today what will be the guaranteed outcome? "...the God of peace shall be with you!" EXTRICATE ** From verse four in today's passage, what is to be the response of our heart to all that the Lord has done? "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice!" ** What should all men be able to see in us? Our forbearing [equitable, yielding, or gentle] spirit. (V.5) ** What was the reason for this "gentle" spirit that continues to rejoice no matter what are circumstance? "The Lord is near!"...and coming soon! (V.5) DELINEATE ** What was the two step plan to acquiring "A Peaceful Mindset"? 1) Be anxious for nothing! 2) In everything, let your requests be made known to God! ** What would you say is the main characteristic of a mind that has be renewed in Christ Jesus? It is "A Peaceful Mindset", or a mind that is at peace because of all that we have gained through our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. EVALUATE ** Our series entitled "RENEWING OUR MIND" has been designed to help us dispose of our pre-salvation, fleshy thinking process and replace it with the mature spiritual posture or "Biblical thinking process" that honors our Lord and Savior. Would you ask yourself, "What difference has this series made to how you think through the challenges of life?" Here again is a brief review of what we have learned throughout this marvelous series. Renewing Our Mind 1) "A Godly Mindset" Developed by following three steps everyday: 1) Deny yourself - Do not look out for your own interest! 2) Take up your cross - Be willing to suffer or die if necessary, for Christ's sake! 3) Follow Jesus as Lord - Be obedient to His Word! 2) "A Prepared Mindset" Composed of seven elements:

5 1) A spiritually disciplined thoughtlife 2) Fixing our hope on eternity in Christ 3) Avoiding conforming to our old lifestyle 4) Be holy, for our God is holy 5) Develop a reverence for God 6) Living in "obedience to the Truth" 7) Life based upon the foundation of God's Word 3) "A Loving Mindset" Seen through three components: 1) Compassion - "to be moved in the inward parts" 2) Caring - Don't stop at the emotional level but respond with action to meet the pressing need. 3) Covering the Cost - As the Lord provides for you, be willing to share for the provision of others that He leads your way. 4) "A Peaceful Mindset" Attainable in just two steps: 1) Be anxious for nothing! 2 ) In everything, let your requests be made known to God! ACTIVATE ** To help us better digest all that we have learned, I am going to make a rather unusual request. Please review the above list and write down on paper the response of your heart to just one of the Biblical "mindsets" that we have studied. Then share that response with one of your brothers or sisters in the Lord, so they can see how your "Renewed Mind" is learning to think in such a way so as to bring glory to Jesus Christ. Closing Prayer

Philippians, Chapter Four, Lesson One

Philippians, Chapter Four, Lesson One LIVING IN HARMONY Philippians 4:1-7 STIMULATE ** As we began our study together last week, we noted the single most effective method of teaching; that which also proved