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The Mind of Christ

The Mind of Christ
Words of Faith 5-2-17
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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1 Corinthians 2
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. [11] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [12] We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. [13] This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. [14] The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. [16] "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

What is the mind of Christ? Paul was probably not talking about "knowing all things" as much as "surrendering all things". The mind of Christ is partly the ability in the Spirit to see things the way that Jesus does but it is also the ability to respond as Jesus does and surrender as Jesus did.
Paul wrote to the Philippian church: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (2:5 NKJV). We are to have the attitude of Christ. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude (or mind) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (2:3-7 NIV).
Having the mind of Christ is not about having the arrogance to instruct Him. Having the mind of Christ is having the humility to obey Him. Having the mind of Christ does not carry an air of triumphalism. Having the mind of Christ carries the air of a servant. Having the mind of Christ does not puff us up. Having the mind of Christ motivates us to let go of pride. Having the mind of Christ gives us the enormous power to allow others to be first and not demand primacy.
Only the Spirit teaches all of this! The Spirit forms all of this within us as we trust Him. The spirit of the world teaches exactly the opposite of the Spirit of God. The spirit of the world forms in us the mind of the world. The spirit of the world causes us to reason like the world does, think as the world thinks, choose as the world chooses, react as the world reacts, and live as the world lives. This is not the mind of Christ.
Only the Spirit reveals in us what God has freely given. Only the Spirit convinces us of the mammoth impact of God's grace up our lives as the work of Jesus is applied in us. Only the Spirit could convince us of our utter unworthiness to enjoy even slightest breath of His love and grace-- and at the same time convince us of our immeasurable value in Christ because of what He has done for us. Only His Spirit reveals just how amazing the mercy and presence of God is in our lives.
Only the Spirit motivates us to surrender so that we may trust in God's grace and receive His salvation by faith. Only the Spirit teaches us spiritual truths in spiritual words. Without the Spirit we cannot even begin to accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. They seem foolish to us! The direction of God seems absurd. The leading of God seems silly. The vision of God is impossible. But with the Spirit we can turn loose of the way the world views things and follow Him.
Are you walking in surrender to the Spirit today? You can start right now.

Father God, I thank You for the gift of Your Spirit. Build in me the mind of Christ. Apply in me the work of Jesus. Change my mind and form it to the view of Jesus. Help me to see people today as You see them. Open my heart to people the way that Yours is open to them. Open my hands to do Your leading, no matter how absurd it may seem. In Jesus' name.