Treasures New and Old
Treasures New and OldSpiritual Warfare: Think on These Things
I would like to spend some time talking about using our mind constructively when we are not focused on work, school, conversations, etc. Where do our minds go when we are in “idle”? That is, where do we tend to wander in our thinking when not forced to focus on something like work?
This article is broken into three sections:
- Are we stewards of our own mind?
- Let the Mind of Christ dwell in you richly
- Think on these things
Let’s dig in . . .
l. Are We Stewards of Our Own Mind?
Not really all that bad of a question. Just like computers, garbage in – garbage out. What we fill our minds with will be how we think and how we filter the many influences, communications, information, and even our standards and character. Therefore, it is really important that we mange our minds as a good steward. Consider the following three questions regarding stewardship of the mind:
Are You Faithful?
1 Corinthians 4:1-2: “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
STEWARD: (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G3623): oikonomos: governor, steward, stewardship; [total count: 10 – steward 8, chamberlain 1, governor 1]: “from <G3624> (oikos) [house or home] and the base of <G3551> (nomos) [law-authority]; a house distributor (that is, manager), or overseer, that is, an employee in that capacity; by extension a fiscal agent (treasurer); figuratively a preacher (of the Gospel): -chamberlain, governor, steward.” Someone entrusted with a talent/gift and the oversight of that talent/gift.
FAITHFUL: (Wordsearch’s Strong’s G4103): pistos: faithful, faithfully; faithful 53, believe 6; “from <G3982> (peitho); object trustworthy; trustful :- believe, faithful, sure, true.”
Moreover, it is required that a receiver and manager of a talent or gift be found trustworthy and faithful in the use and practice of that talent or gift.
Are You Focused?
The strength of a single mind/heart:
1 Chronicles 12:33: “Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.”
Psalm 12:2: “They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.”
The danger of being double-minded:
James 1:8: “A double minded [(Wordsearch Strong’s G1374) di-psychos -double souled] man is unstable [(Strong’s G182) akatastatos – restless, unstable, not steadfast, not consistent] in all his ways.”
James 4:8: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded [di-psychos].”
The product of a single mind: faithful steward is focused on laying up treasure for the Master.
Matthew 6:19-24:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Two ways to live: Hebrews poetic structure A, B, B, A where phrases are tied to another with either opposing or contrasting content.
- Singlemindedness: Hate one (Satan and the world) and love the other (God and Jesus).
- Doublemindedness: Hold to one (God and Jesus) and despise the other (sin and the world).
Luke 16:13: “No servant can serve two masters: [A] for either he will hate the one, [B] and love the other; or else [B] he will hold to the one, [A] and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.“
Are You Firm?
2 Corinthians 13:11: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
Philippians 2:1-13:
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 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, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but not much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Ephesians 6:14: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”
Philippians 4:1: “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
ll. Let the Mind of Christ Dwell in You Richly
In this section, I want to introduce five attitudes that we need to be successful in while conducting our warfare of the mind. These attitudes will help us stay focused on the battle we will face daily as we master the errant thoughts that often besiege us. The section of Scripture I will pull my five points from is Philippians 2:1-11. Note that I have included the entire citation for reference even though I am pulling specific verses to derive three of my five points.
Philippians 2:1-13:
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, [BE LIKEMINDED] Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [BE LOWMINDED] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [BE LOVE MINDED] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 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, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
A. Be likeminded
“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)
Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:16: “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
1 Corinthians 1:10: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
Romans 15:6: “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:27: “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”
Philippians 3:16: “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
Philippians 4:2: “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”
B. Be low-minded
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
Acts 20:19: “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:”
1 Corinthians 2:16: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 13:11: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
Colossians 3:12: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
Philippians 2:3: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
1 Peter 4:1: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;”
C. Be love-minded
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:4)
2 Corinthians 7:7: “And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.”
Philippians 2:2: “Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
D. Be logos-minded
“And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.” (Luke 4:32)
Hebrews 8:10: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”
Ephesians 4:23: “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”
1 Peter 1:13: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
1 Peter 3:8: “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”
1 Peter 5:2: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”
E. Be “lost”-mind
“They that are of a forward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.” (Proverbs 11:20)
Titus 1:15: “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”
Romans 8:5: “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
Romans 8:7: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
lll. Think on These Things
When our mind is in idle, that is, not specifically focused on a task, a book, conversation, etc. where does it roam? Does it go to girls? Fancy cars? Bills? More to the point, does it meander toward spiritual or worldly thinking? Part of the battle we face is controlling our thoughts when we don’t have to be thinking about a definite task or concept. When we are in “idle mode” we are most vulnerable to be mentally attacked by the enemy of our soul which, by the way, includes our own carnal flesh.
In this section, I would like to have us consider thinking on the things that God approves. The “think list” is included and numerated, and then a discussion follows that might be helpful getting us to focused on things that are beneficial and not harmful to our spiritual welfare.
The “Think List”
Philippians 4:7-9: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren,
[1] whatsoever things are true,
[2] whatsoever things are honest,
[3] whatsoever things are just,
[4] whatsoever things are pure,
[5] whatsoever things are lovely,
[6] whatsoever things are of good report;
[7] if there be any virtue,
[8] and if there be any praise,
think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
How important are our thoughts and our thinking? Proverbs 23:7 tells us, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: . . .”
Garbage in – Garbage out
The Lord Jesus teaches His disciples (and therefore us), “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” (Matthew 15:18). Jesus also taught that “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).
So, in other words, what we think will find its way out of our mouths, and the things we think determine what we will become.
We Are in a Spiritual Battle
Now consider that from the time that the Lord Jesus rose from the grave until that future time recorded in Revelations when Satan will be bound, the adversary has no power over us EXCEPT that which we grant him by giving him access to our minds. If we believe his lies and haven’t any of God’s truth to counter it, we lose control or ground in our souls to the enemy.
We are admonished to:
- “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).
- “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” (Ephesians 4:23).
That is why the “think list” can be very helpful. When we are mentally idle, we need to use this eight-point list to help us focus on things that are good for us and not just let our mind wander. Consider this verse from the Book of Proverbs: “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls” (Proverbs 25:28). When a city is without walls, it is ripe for thieves to break in and steal as well as enemy forces to conquer the city.
Finally, brethren,
[1] whatsoever things are true,
[2] whatsoever things are honest,
[3] whatsoever things are just,
[4] whatsoever things are pure,
[5] whatsoever things are lovely,
[6] whatsoever things are of good report;
[7] if there be any virtue,
[8] and if there be any praise,
think on these things.
Our thinking determines what we become, and our mouth reveals what’s in our hearts. That is why we must keep our hearts with all diligence. How do we keep our hearts? By renewing our minds and thinking on those things which are true (what is true?), honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue, and praise-worthy.
We Have Been Issued Mighty Weapons
Do you know where the battle is fought? The battle is fought on the ground of our thoughts. Consider:
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).
Our God has given us mighty weapons for the destruction of strongholds, for casting down imaginations, for casting down every high thing which exalts itself against the knowledge of God, for bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and for revenging all disobedience (those times when we didn’t discipline or control our thoughts and allowed our minds to wander and dwell on things we should not). These weapons are activated whenever we make our obedience complete. Part of making our obedience complete is thinking the right thoughts.
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).
Every Day Must Start with Surrender to Jesus
In this mind-warfare battle, we will struggle and, at times, seem to be easily defeated. Therefore, it is important that we surrender ourselves to God every day before we take on the day and even give the mind a chance to wander or the enemy to attack us. Consider: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
It has been said, “unconditional surrender brings undeniable transformation¹.” Whenever we surrender our bodies to God and yield our minds to Him, we will be transformed by His presence. Consider: “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
We are to replace our former behaviors (which were corrupt because of deceitful, selfish desires) with new behaviors which spring from renewing the thinking of our mind. We are to follow after God for which purpose we were made new creations in righteousness and genuine holiness (set apart from and to). This happens as we change our thinking. This happens when we give God our unconditional surrender which brings godly transformation. Start with adding “think list” items into your thought life.
I hope this article has been helpful in guiding you towards more control over your mind, especially when it shifts down to the “idle” gear.
Maranatha!
Bro. Joe
References
Strong, J. Strong’s Talking Greek_Hebrew Dictionary. Wordsearch. (2020). Wordsearch Bible. [computer software] . Nashville, TN: LifeWay Christian Resources. (Original work published 1890).
¹Unknown.