Set Your Mind
God gives us a great promise in Isaiah 26:3-4 which says “You will keep him in
perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. trust you
in the Lord Yahweh for ever, for in the Lord Yahweh is everlasting strength”. Now
when the Bible tells us to “set your mind”, it shows that we have a responsibility to
accomplish this.
Daniel got a revelation as he was reading Jeremiah (Daniel 9:2-4) “in the first
year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof
the word of the Lord Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would
accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face to
the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting and sackcloth, and
ashes. And prayed to the Lord Yahweh my God, and made my confession, and
said, O Lord, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and mercy to
them that love Him, and to them that keep His commandments”. Daniel continued
by confessing his sins and the sins of Jerusalem, and asked for mercy. And then
after fasting 21 days the angel Gabriel appeared to him (Daniel 10:12) which
says “then said he to me, fear not Daniel for from the firs day that you did set
your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before your God, your words
were heard, and I am come for your words”.
The Bible tells us to set your mind on godly things (II Corinthians 4:17-18) Paul
says to the Corinthians “for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which
are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal”. Also to
the Colossians “if you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your mind on things
above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with
Christ in God”. This does not mean, you go around walking with your head in the
air. But you keep yourself focused on God’s word, regardless to what you see in
the natural. Romans 8:5-8 says “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. For to
be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God”.
You set your mind like you would set a radio dial, you place it there (Philippians 4:
6-9) says “be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of
God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. 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. Those things which you have
both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do and the God of
peace shall be with you”. You see we are told what to think on.
You do this by surrendering to God’s will (Romans 12:1-2) “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God”;
and (James 4:7-8a) “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you”.
A lot of people find this hard to do, because the Bible is not real to them. Some
even say “that’s not reality”; but the only real truth is the word of God. Make the
Bible the final authority in your life (II Timothy 3:16-17) “all scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished to all good works”.
Jesus set His mind to go to the cross (Luke 9:51-53) “and it came to pass, when
the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to
go to Jerusalem. And sent messengers before, His face and they went, and
entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him. And they did not
receive Him, because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem”. And we
are to do the same. We are set to be a light to the Gentiles (Acts 13:47) which
says “for so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of
the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth”; this was
being quoted from (Isaiah 49:6). And then in Hebrews 12:1-2 which says
“wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset
us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking to Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God”.
We are told in Philippians 2:5 to “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus”. After all “we have the mind of Christ” (I Corinthians 2:16).
We can pray for God’s help (Psalms 141:1-4) “Lord Yahweh, I cry to You; make
haste to me, give ear to my voice, when I cry to You. Let my prayer be set forth
before You as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch, O Lord Yahweh, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips. Incline
not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work
iniquity, and let me not eat of their dainties”.
David set his mind on God (I Chronicles 29:3) “moreover, because I have set my
affection (mind) to the house of my God, I have of my own personal estate, of
gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all
that I have prepared for the holy house”. Like David we have a covenant with
God; everything that belongs to God, belongs to us (Romans 8:16-17) “the Spirit
Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we
suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together”. David didn’t look at the
size of the giant, he looked at how big his God was (I Samuel 17:44-46); also look
at the situation in Ziklag, when the enemy set fire and took all the woman and
children, how David inquired of the Lord Yahweh and pursued and recovered all
(I Samuel 30:1-8). David reveals this many times in the Psalms; in Psalms 16:8-9
says “I have set the Lord Yahweh always before me, because He is at my right
hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
my flesh also shall rest in hope”.
Jesus rebukes Peter; as Jesus asked His disciples “who do they say that the Son
of man is”, Peter had just revealed who Jesus was saying “You are the Christ”; a
few verses later when Jesus was teaching them that He must suffer many things,
Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him. But He rebuked Peter, saying “get you
behind Me, satan, for you mind not the things that be of God, but the things that
be of men” (Mark 8:27-33). He also rebukes John and James when they wanted
to call down fire from heaven and consume the Samaritans, who rejected Him.
He turned, and rebuked them, and said “you know not what spirit you are of”
(Luke 9:53-33). We too must be aware of where our mind is. Remember that
James says “for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind, and
tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A
double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6b-8).
Paul warns us of those who did not set their mind on God (Philippians 3:15-19)
“let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing you
be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you. nevertheless, whereto
we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same
thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which wall so as you
have us for an example. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now
tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Whose
end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame,
who mind earthly things”. We have to make a choice every day, and we are to
tell our children so “that the generation to come might know them, even the
children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their
children. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God,
but keep His commandments. And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and
rebellious generation, a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose
spirit was not steadfast with God” (Psalms 78:6-8).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 8, 2009
God gives us a great promise in Isaiah 26:3-4 which says “You will keep him in
perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. trust you
in the Lord Yahweh for ever, for in the Lord Yahweh is everlasting strength”. Now
when the Bible tells us to “set your mind”, it shows that we have a responsibility to
accomplish this.
Daniel got a revelation as he was reading Jeremiah (Daniel 9:2-4) “in the first
year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof
the word of the Lord Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would
accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face to
the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting and sackcloth, and
ashes. And prayed to the Lord Yahweh my God, and made my confession, and
said, O Lord, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and mercy to
them that love Him, and to them that keep His commandments”. Daniel continued
by confessing his sins and the sins of Jerusalem, and asked for mercy. And then
after fasting 21 days the angel Gabriel appeared to him (Daniel 10:12) which
says “then said he to me, fear not Daniel for from the firs day that you did set
your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before your God, your words
were heard, and I am come for your words”.
The Bible tells us to set your mind on godly things (II Corinthians 4:17-18) Paul
says to the Corinthians “for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works
for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which
are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal”. Also to
the Colossians “if you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your mind on things
above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with
Christ in God”. This does not mean, you go around walking with your head in the
air. But you keep yourself focused on God’s word, regardless to what you see in
the natural. Romans 8:5-8 says “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. For to
be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God”.
You set your mind like you would set a radio dial, you place it there (Philippians 4:
6-9) says “be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of
God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. 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. Those things which you have
both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do and the God of
peace shall be with you”. You see we are told what to think on.
You do this by surrendering to God’s will (Romans 12:1-2) “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God”;
and (James 4:7-8a) “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you”.
A lot of people find this hard to do, because the Bible is not real to them. Some
even say “that’s not reality”; but the only real truth is the word of God. Make the
Bible the final authority in your life (II Timothy 3:16-17) “all scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished to all good works”.
Jesus set His mind to go to the cross (Luke 9:51-53) “and it came to pass, when
the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to
go to Jerusalem. And sent messengers before, His face and they went, and
entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for Him. And they did not
receive Him, because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem”. And we
are to do the same. We are set to be a light to the Gentiles (Acts 13:47) which
says “for so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of
the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth”; this was
being quoted from (Isaiah 49:6). And then in Hebrews 12:1-2 which says
“wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset
us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking to Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God”.
We are told in Philippians 2:5 to “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus”. After all “we have the mind of Christ” (I Corinthians 2:16).
We can pray for God’s help (Psalms 141:1-4) “Lord Yahweh, I cry to You; make
haste to me, give ear to my voice, when I cry to You. Let my prayer be set forth
before You as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch, O Lord Yahweh, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips. Incline
not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work
iniquity, and let me not eat of their dainties”.
David set his mind on God (I Chronicles 29:3) “moreover, because I have set my
affection (mind) to the house of my God, I have of my own personal estate, of
gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all
that I have prepared for the holy house”. Like David we have a covenant with
God; everything that belongs to God, belongs to us (Romans 8:16-17) “the Spirit
Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we
suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together”. David didn’t look at the
size of the giant, he looked at how big his God was (I Samuel 17:44-46); also look
at the situation in Ziklag, when the enemy set fire and took all the woman and
children, how David inquired of the Lord Yahweh and pursued and recovered all
(I Samuel 30:1-8). David reveals this many times in the Psalms; in Psalms 16:8-9
says “I have set the Lord Yahweh always before me, because He is at my right
hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
my flesh also shall rest in hope”.
Jesus rebukes Peter; as Jesus asked His disciples “who do they say that the Son
of man is”, Peter had just revealed who Jesus was saying “You are the Christ”; a
few verses later when Jesus was teaching them that He must suffer many things,
Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him. But He rebuked Peter, saying “get you
behind Me, satan, for you mind not the things that be of God, but the things that
be of men” (Mark 8:27-33). He also rebukes John and James when they wanted
to call down fire from heaven and consume the Samaritans, who rejected Him.
He turned, and rebuked them, and said “you know not what spirit you are of”
(Luke 9:53-33). We too must be aware of where our mind is. Remember that
James says “for he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind, and
tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A
double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6b-8).
Paul warns us of those who did not set their mind on God (Philippians 3:15-19)
“let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing you
be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you. nevertheless, whereto
we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same
thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which wall so as you
have us for an example. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now
tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Whose
end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame,
who mind earthly things”. We have to make a choice every day, and we are to
tell our children so “that the generation to come might know them, even the
children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their
children. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God,
but keep His commandments. And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and
rebellious generation, a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose
spirit was not steadfast with God” (Psalms 78:6-8).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 8, 2009
