welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
The Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
This week we continue our study focusing on Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
Today we are talking about The Mind of Christ.
Text
1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV
16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 2:9-16 NKJV
1 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Introduction
It is odd but interesting how minds are directed toward the same thing.
In some small towns the Methodist and Baptist churches are near each other.
And have you noticed that on their notice boards out the front that announce the weekly sermon topics, that the topics are similar.
Or have you told someone what God is talking to you about and the person you are talking to says “Me too.”
This may just be the mind of Christ in each person.
- The need of a Scriptural analysis is evident.
Look at the text today.
The context of the passage is a contrast between those who are spiritually minded and those who are not.
In the text itself, a reference is made to Isaiah 40:13, Who has known the mind of the Lord or been able to give him advice?
Our text goes goes on to affirm that believers are able to discern the things of the Lord because they possess the mind of Christ.
Philippians 2:5 commands that believers have the mind of Christ, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,”
You will notice this context is similar to 1 Corinthians 2:16, For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Here it refers to our attitude.
The right and wrong attitudes are contrasted.
Philippians 2:2 speaks of love, and verse 3 speaks of lowliness of mind.
The contrast in attitudes is seen in verse3, where the attitude of trouble or pride or vanity is prohibited.
First Peter 4:1 commands believers to arm themselves with the same mind as Christ.
The context here is to have the mind of Christ as it relates suffering to sin.
Jesus suffered in the flesh to redeem sinners.
Believers are to be willing to suffer as Christ suffered.
2. The need for determining what is the mind of Jesus is also evident.
The one basic purpose of the Lord Jesus during His earthly life was to do the will of the Father.
John 6:38, For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
He prayed in Luke 22:42, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”
He made frequent references to His and His Father’s relationship.
Those who have the mind of Christ will have as their chief purpose in life the will of God.
In doing the will of God, Jesus was busy serving humankind.
Matthew 20:28, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
A close study of Jesus’ life reveals it was totally dedicated to service.
The New Testament reveals several characteristics of Jesus as He did God’s will by serving others.
These characteristics were compassion, humility, and suffering.
3. The need for determining some reasons for having the mind of Christ is evident.
Each person is able to determine right or wrong because of this mind.
The Holy Spirit is at work enlightening the mind.
The person who has the mind of Christ will be involved in serving others under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The spiritual person is superior to others who attempt to give instructions.
The Spirit knows about all relationships at all times and the ultimate consequences.
When a believer acts in this light, they have a fuller and more meaningful life.
Conclusion.
To have the mind of Christ, you will not only think like Him but also act like Him.
This is life’s greatest achievement.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
2022 IS A YEAR OF REPENTANCE AND BLESSINGS
© www.refinerylife.org 2021 All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968, no part of this Article may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission.
Visit us at
@PastorGaryHoban
@RefineryLifeGC
@PastorGaryHoban
@RefineryLifeChurch
@gary_hoban
@refinerylifechurch
YouTube
Gary Hoban
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxvrTCsjg98vGjMTObxJhtQ
Refinery Life Church Australia
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkvD9z50SuKWxhSw0TPQkgQ
