TOPIC: I’VE GOT MY MIND MADE UP!
I’ve got my mind made up! But for what? Good or bad?
Some Christians decide to do evil, while others commit to do righteousness.
Ps 45:1(KJV) “My heart is inditing a good matter…”
It takes a spiritual mind to make a spiritual decision.
Remember, the mind is the battlefield. Indecision and uncertainty are signs of losing battles within, which can make you feel like something is wrong with you. But the truth is, your mind just needs discipline.
When you make decisions in line with God’s will, you will find peace and satisfaction.
You can’t be carnally minded and except to make decisions that are rooted in the Spirit.
Rom 8:13-14(KJUV) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Being heavenly minded strengthens your Christian life as you compare spiritual things with spiritual.
I can’t understand how some born-again Christians focus more on worldly things than on the heavenly.
1 Cor 2:13-16(NLT)13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.
There is a clear difference between a worldly mind and a spiritual mind.
‘Let this mind that is in Christ be in you also.’
Phil 2:5-11(KJV)5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Most importantly, take time to renew your mind with God’s Word every day. As you do, you’ll discover that many of your problems were rooted in wrong thinking patterns.
Rom 12:2(NKJV)2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
If you cannot make up your mind to worship God without hypocrisy, then you have not truly started worshipping.
Isa 29:13(NLT)13 And so the Lord says,”These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.
Ezek 33:30-33(NLT)30 “Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’ 31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. 32 You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it! 33 But when all these terrible things happen to them—as they certainly will—then they will know a prophet has been among them.”
God is looking out for a sincere heart that is determined to follow Him – Prov 23:26 My son, give me thine heart…”
Jer 17:9(KJV) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
SONG : I’ve got my mind made up and I won’t turn back
Because I want to see my Jesus someday
I’ve got my mind made up and I won’t turn back
Because I want to see my Jesus someday
Are you still undecided about whom to give your heart to?
Luke 9:57-62(NIV)57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Don’t you think it’s time to make up your mind? If the Lord is God, then serve Him. If He isn’t, then go ahead and serve whatever has your heart.
Joshua 24:15: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
But remember you cannot serve two masters at the same time.
Matt 6:24 (NKJV)”No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Ps 119:111-115(NLT) Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.112 I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end. Samekh 113 I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions. 114 You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. 115 Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
We must have a made-up mind to serve Christ and get to heaven!
Paul said in the book of Philippians 3:13-14, “13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.
1 Peter 1:13-16(NIV)13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Running the race set before us requires doggedness, resolve – a determination to stand firm in what you believe.
Heb. 12:1-2(KJV) “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Nothing can make you change your mind.
2 Cor 11:24-33(KJV) 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
BENEFITS OF THOSE WHO MADE UP THEIR MINDS.
When your mind is with the Lord, you will experience peace.
Isa 26:3(NIV)You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Col 3:1-4(NKJV)If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Rom 8:6(NIV) 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
