TOPIC:‌"Let Christ Capture Your Mind"

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌Philippians 4:1-9

 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

 

‌This first century Christian, the Apostle Paul, understood all too well the influence that the mind has on one's life as a follower of Jesus Christ. It certainly matters a great deal how we as Christians think. What we permit to occupy our minds will eventually determine our actions. The way we think will affect the way we live. Solomon wrote of this in these words: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). In other words, we are the products of our thinking. As we think, so we act. As someone has put it:

 

‌‌"Sow a thought, reap an action.

‌‌Sow an action, reap a habit.

‌‌Sow a habit, reap a character.

‌‌Sow a character, reap a destiny."

 

‌The thought life of the Christian was very important to this man Paul. Earlier in chapter 2 verse 5 of this Philippian letter he wrote: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." We are to have the mind of Christ. Later Paul declared to the Colossian believers: "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2, NIV). The New Living Translation renders these words: "Let Heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth." In these verses Paul exhorts us as followers of Jesus Christ to focus and discipline our minds upon those things that make for a wholesome thought life.

 

I.

 

‌To start with, think of the CONDITION of a DEPRAVED mind. I wonder if you have ever been struck with the full force of Paul's description of a mind that has never been redeemed by God. Let me show you what I mean. To the Romans when speaking about sexual sin Paul wrote: "Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind" (Romans 1:28, NIV). To the Corinthians Paul wrote: "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not" (II Corinthians 4:4). To the Ephesians Paul wrote: "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God" (Ephesians 4:18). There you have the futile thought life of the man without Christ. . . .