“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2:5 ESV)

Sometimes, I remember something I did or said negatively to someone and then say to myself, “What was I thinking!” Of course, you usually can’t go back and fix poorly spoken words. But, you can seek forgiveness and determine not to make the same mistake in the future. I think the best solution, however, is to not make the mistake in the first place by having the mind of Christ on matters. The Bible has a lot to say on the subject.

To have the “mind of Christ” is to have Christ in your mind

The Bible says that Christ is the Word (John 1:1), so when you put His Words into your mind (memorize Scripture), you can transform your mind to His. This will help you understand His perfect will on things.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

Set your mind on the right things

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6 ESV)

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (Phil 2:5 ESV)

The spiritual person has the mind of Christ

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:14-16 ESV)

Prepare your mind for action

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13 ESV)

And…

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8 ESV

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3-4 NIV)

Fellowship: The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences, as by reason of profession, religion, or nationality.

My favorite definition of fellowship is: “Two or more fellows in the same ship.” You can have “fellowship” with anyone you share similar interests or experiences with. I watch fellowship going on continuously at the coffeehouse I visit each morning. People of all ages are sitting together, drinking their favorite beverages and engaged in every kind of conversation; hobbies, politics, sports, their family and God. The passage above says, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.” Fellowship is very  meaningful and exciting when it’s about proclaiming to each other what you’ve personally experienced in your relationship with God.

Walking in the light together

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1John 1:7 ESV)

You were called into fellowship

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9 ESV)

“When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” At that, Paul left the Council. Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed.”  (Acts 17:32-34 NIV)

The more people you tell, the more success you will have

I own a company that sells products and services to the automotive industry. To make sales I attend automotive trade shows from coast to coast. I’ve discovered that the biggest secret to my selling success is this: “The more people I tell to, the more people I sell to!” Therefore, I work hard to speak to as many attendees as I can in order to make some successful sales to a few of them. Not everybody I speak to is Interested in what I have to offer, but some are! I don’t worry about the negatives. I just talk to everybody I see at the trade shows about what I have to offer and I always find a few who do respond positively. It’s the same way with sharing about Jesus. The more people you share Him with the more people you are able to reach successfully. Of course, not everyone will be interested and respond positively, but that’s to be expected. In the scripture passage at top, the Apostle Paul got three types of responses from sharing the gospel with the folks in Athens: 1) some sneered, 2) some said they wanted to hear more about it later, and 3) some believed and became followers. The point is to just share with everyone and leave the results up to God.

roclaim the gospel  to everyone

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15 ESV)

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’” (John 29:21 ESV)

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9 NLT)

Are you hesitant to do anything for God because you have a few flaws or personal issues?  Someone has said, “If God only used perfect people without problems and faults, He wouldn’t have anyone to use.” Throughout scripture we see God using imperfect people for the sake of his mission.

If you feel like God couldn’t possibly use you? Remember:

• Noah was a drunk
• Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
• Abraham and Sarah were too old
• Isaac was a daydreamer
• Jacob was a liar
• Leah was ugly
• Joseph was abused
• Moses stuttered
• Gideon was afraid
• Samson was a womanizer
• Rehab was a prostitute
• David was an adulterer and a murderer
• Elijah was suicidal
• Isaiah preached naked
• Jonah ran from God
• Naomi was a widow
• Job went bankrupt
• Peter denied Christ
• John the Baptist ate bugs  
• The disciples fell asleep while praying
• Martha worried about everything
• The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once)
• Zacchaeus was very small
• Paul was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians
• Lazarus was dead!

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10 NIV)

“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” (Prov. 28:26 ESV)

Fool defined: The biblical definition of a fool is “someone who disregards God’s Word.” Webster’s dictionary defines a fool as “a person lacking in judgment or prudence.”

Reasons not to be a fool

• “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.” (Psalm 14:1 ESV)

• Fools despise wisdom – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:7 ESV)

• A fool is reckless and careless - “One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.” (Prov. 14:16 ESV)

• “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.” (Prov. 10:23 ESV)

• A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” (Prov. 18:2 ESV)

• ‘A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” (Prov. 29:11 ESV)

• “A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.” (Prov. 18:6 ESV)

• “A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.” (Prov. 18:7 ESV)

Therefore…

“Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.” (Prov. 14:7-8 ESV

Quotes

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” — Plato

“Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn—and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” — Dale Carnegie

“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” (Acts 3:16 NIV)

Nothing is too hard!

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jer. 22:37 NIV)

Everything is possible!

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23 NIV)

Faith as small as a mustard seed will move a mountain!

“He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20 NIV

“Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.” (Matt. 21:21 NIV)

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21 NIV)

Why don’t we see miracles happening?

In Africa millions are responding to the gospel with amazing miracles following; the blind are seeing, the lame are walking and the sick are being healed — like what we read about in the book of Acts. A visiting American, who witnessed seeing this first hand in Africa, asked the preacher there, “Why don’t we see miracles like this happening in America?” And the preacher said, “Americans are too religious and believe more in their churchy traditions than they do the Word of God. They don’t expect God to do miracles in America and they don’t have faith in it. So, miracles don’t happen in their churches. The Bible puts it this way, ‘Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.’ (Mark 7:13 KJV). In our meetings in Africa, we believe God will do miracles, people come expecting God to do miracles and, therefore, God does do miracles. It’s as simple as that.”

We are to be like Jesus in the world

“… as he is, so are we in this world.” (1John 4:17)

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 NIV)

In Jesus’ Name these signs shall follow those who believe

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:17-20 NIV)

 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1-4 ESV)

Christ redeemed you from the curse of the law!

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” (Gal. 3:13 ESV)

You are free indeed!

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36 ESV)

Therefore…

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 ESV)

Stand firm!

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1 ESV)

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16 ESV)

Prayer will bind and loose “whatever”

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19 NIV)

Pray with thanksgiving about every situation

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7 NIV)

Therefore…

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24 NIV)