EXORDIUM:
Some of Apostle Paul’s remarkable statements are found in New Testament’s book of Philippians. One of them is Philippians 3:10 where he stated what could well be regarded as Christian’s Mission Statement, to wit, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…”
In Philippians chapter 2, we come face-to-face with Apostolic Appeals and exhortations by one of the most practical Christians through the instrumentality of God’s Holy Spirit, to wit,
Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy; fulfill my joy y being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus….
What an awesome reminder of what we are called to be and to do: BE LIKE CHRIST and to POSSESS HIS MINDSET!
“…Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” Here, Holy Spirit of God enjoins us to have the Attitude and the Mindset of Christ Jesus. Attitude determines Altitude in the spiritual enterprise we are all involved in and Mindset is the foundation of Character. When we sow the Mind of Christ into our beings we reap the Character of Jesus in our lifestyles.
Someone might ask, “Which attitude or mindset are we talking about here?” As we page through the Word of God, we will encounter some of these attitudes and mindsets of Jesus Christ. However, one of the most outstanding mindsets of Jesus Christ was His positive and conquering attitude; the attitude of possessing one’s possessions. Jesus had the mindset of conquering His world (cf. John 16: 33; Matt. 28:18; cf. Psalms 2:7-8; Phil. 2:9-11). We would also do well to conquer the worlds of our situations and circumstances; favourable and unfavourable. We are called to be victors and not victims of life.
Welcome to this exciting study on, “Let The Mind of Christ Be in You.”
OUTLINE OF STUDY
1. Jesus Had the Mindset of Service and Sacrifice (Matt.20:28).
a). We are called upon to be like Him (I John 3:16-17).
2. Jesus Had the Mindset of Victory Over the World (John 16:33).
a). Faith is our victory (I John 5:4).
b). We must have victory over every difficulty of life (Rom. 8:37).
c). It is only in winning that we can be crowned (Rev. 3:21).
3. Jesus had the mindset of obedience (Heb.10:4-7).
a). We are Christians only when we obey (John 14:15).
b). God values obedience more than sacrifice (I Sam. 15:22).
c). The Lord is the epitome of obedience, setting for us examples
(Heb. 5:8-9).
4. Jesus Had the Mindset of Being consumed by the Needs of God’s House (John 2:14-17).
a). Paul had this same attitude (II Corinthians 11:28).
b). Those who have this kind of mindset seek for the good of God’s
house (Psalms 122:9).
5. Jesus Had the Mindset to Become the Light (John 8:12; John1: 4; 12:35-36; John 9:5).
a). We must remain as lights (Matt. 5:14, 16; Phil.2:15).
b). As Jesus was, so we are to be (I John 4:17; cf. I John 2:6).
6. Jesus Had the Mindset of Doing the Work of God (John 4:34).
a). There is a kind of food that perishes and one that does not
(John 6:27).
b). The work ethics of Jesus is the best that the world has ever
known (John 9:4).
c). We, therefore, must work the works of Him who created us.
7. Jesus Had the Mindset of Putting Into Practice What He Taught (Acts 1:1; I Tim. 4:16).
a). We need to emulate our Lord Jesus by calling on others to follow
our examples even as we follow His (I Corinthians 11:1).
8. The Lord Jesus Was Full of Grace and Truth - That Was A Mindset (John 1:14, 16).
NOTE: Grace empowers (I Corinthians 15:10).
I. Two things characterized Jesus’ life - Grace and Truth.
1. Grace - what is it? (Rom. 4:4-5). It is receiving the good that one does not deserve (cf. Rom. 12:20).
a). Possessing grace should make a difference (Titus 2:11-12).
b). The grace of God makes it possible so that God does not deal
with us as our sins deserve (Psalms 103:12-13).
c). The grace of God made it possible that we should have access
into the presence of God (Heb. 4:15-16; Romans 5:1-2).
d). As recipients of grace we should be dispensers of same.
II. There are many faces of Truth (Proverbs 23:23).
i). Truth as God’s Word (John 17:17).
ii). Truth as a Way of Life (I Peter 2:21-22; Colossians 3:9).
iii). Truth as an Act of Worship (John 4:22).
9. Jesus Had the Mindset of Mental Empowerment (Luke 2:52).
1. a). Get wisdom (Proverbs 4:7, Prov.18:15, Prov.3:13-22).
b). There are two types of wisdom: wisdom of God and of the
world (2 Tim 3:15, James 3:13-17).
c). Wisdom comes trough study and prayer (II Tim. 2:5; 1 Tim.
4:13; James 1:5).
d). Intellectual development is an important aspect of life.
2. Favour with God and Man (Luke. 2: 52b).
Jesus had favour with God and Man.
a. He was not alone, Samuel did (1 Samuel 2:26).
b. This meant that both lived right before God and Men (cf. II Cor. 8:21; Rom 12:17).
c. The growth of the early Church was tied strongly to members enjoying Divine and Human favour (Acts 2:47).
d. Favour is a cultivated art. How then can one generate these favours?
i). By marrying kindness and truth (Proverbs 3:3-4).
* Kindness is an important trait in one’s life (Prov. 19:22).
* What you make happen for others in kindness, God will
make happen for you in return (Proverbs 11:24-25; Luke
6:38).
ii). Obedience to the Word of God (Wisdom Proverbs 8:34-35).
10. Jesus Had the Mindset of Dispensing Goodness (Acts 10:38).
a). As Christians, we are recreated in Christ to do good works
(Ephesians 2: 10).
i). The word, “Recreate” points to the fact that we are “New
creature” only in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). Having put off the
“Old man” (Colossians 3:10).
ii). In Christ we find “Re-mission” (Acts 2:38 KJV).
*After creation, humans became marred (cf. Jeremiah 18:1-6; II
Samuel 14:14) but Christ came to give back to humans what
we lost through sin. To accomplish this, man has to be
Recreated in Him (Christ).
*The purpose of this re-creative work of Christ is that we
should be as He was (cf. Titus 2:14; I John 4:17).
(b) Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38).
i). In the same vein, we have to manifest the knowledge of
Christ to people wherever we go (II Corinthians 2:14-17).
(A kind of MTN…. Yhello! Wherever You Go!)
ii). Jesus did “great works” but we are called to do “greater
works” (John 14:12).
iii). What does “good work” accomplish?
i. They bring glory to God (Matt 5:16; Col.1:10).
ii. Enriches our lives and testimonies (I Tim. 6:18).
iii. Sets us out for emulation (Titus 2:7; 3:8).
iv. Muzzles the mouth of evil speakers (I Pet. 2:13).
11. Jesus Had the Mindset of Compassion (Matt. 9:35-36).
a). Compassion, by my own definition is, “Come, share my passion.” Compassion is the feeling of pity backed with the willingness to help. It is a spiritual economic law of Effective Demand, which is defined as “Willingness backed up with the ability to pay.” Spiritually, this law say that Opportunity plus Ability equals to Responsibility and Accountability (Galatians 6:9-10). Therefore, if I have an opportunity to do and the ability to do it, then it translates to responsibility on my part and I will stand to give account of it to God.
Compassion is feeling another’s person’s feeling. Compassion characterized of Jesus’ life (Matt.14:14; 15: 32; Mk. 8:2-3).
b). The compassion of our Lord spread to all and sundry (Matt.
20:34). His compassion caused Him to reach out to people in difficult situations (Luke 7:11-16; John 11:32-35).
c). Human beings of godly extraction irrespective of race, social, political, economic and spiritual leanings have demonstrated compassion to others.
i). Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:6).
ii). Israelite leaders (II Chronicles 28:15).
iii). Job (Job 29:13).
iv). Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33-34).
v). Unbelievers on others (Acts 28:2).
d). Christians are encouraged to become people of compassionate dispositions (Philippians 2:1-2;I Pet. 3:8).
12. Jesus Had the Mindset of Counting Time (John 7:6).
a) The problem of mankind is the lack of appreciation of the need to know their time (Ps 90:12).
b) Knowledge of how brief our times on earth are would determine how well we live in the present (I Cor.7: 29-31).
c) So, how much time do we still have left? (Eccl.9:12; Eccl.8:5-7).
d) Jesus knew the time that was left for Him and what He ought to do.
13. Mindset of Fulfilling All Righteousness (Matt. 3:15)
a) To “Fulfill” is to make complete (cf. I Thess. 3:10; cf. Matt.5:18).
b) If Jesus had not been baptized He would have been incomplete before God, but He had to be baptized in other to be complete before God. Rejecting baptism is rejecting God’s purpose for one’s life (cf. Luke 7:29-30). If you have not been baptized into Christ, avail yourself of this opportunity. Baptism for non Christians is not to “Fulfill all righteousness” but for the remission of one’s sins (Acts 2:37-39; Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:21).
c) It is the will of God that all of us be complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4) WHY?
i. Because there are people whose works, lives and obedience are not complete before God. (Revelations 3:2).
ii. There are lacks in people, which they must complete or make-up (Mark10: 21).
iii. What is the one thing that you lack or the things that are lacking in you? God wants to perfect it (I Thessalonians 3:10).
d) Some people think that perfection is not possible, but it is God’s Will and expectations for and from all of us (I Thessalonians 5:23-24; Matthew 5:48).
e) God is at work in us to bring about the doing of His Good Will (Philippians 1: 6; 2:13).
f) What then are we to do? Purge ourselves “from all defilements of body and spirit to be able to perfect holiness in the fear of God” (II Corinthians 7:1)
14. Jesus Had the Mind-Set of Non-retaliation (Matt. 26: 51-52).
a) Retaliation is pleasurable because it appeals to the base and weak sides of man.
b) One of Victor Ulojiofor’s novel published in Macmillan’s Pacesetters Series was titled, “The Sweet Revenge.” Fact is, there is nothing sweet about revenge. It is beastial and foolish to retaliate. It was late Indian leader, Mahatma Gandhi who stated, “If we return eye for an eye, the world would soon go blind.”
c) By the very nature of Jesus, we are taught to let go and let God (I Peter 2:21-23; Hebrews 12:3).
i). Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated that the best response to
wrong is goodness (Luke 22: 50–51).
ii). This principle of non-retaliation was graphically demonstrated by
Prophet Elisha through the King of Israel (II Kings 6:21-23).
iii). Sometimes, the people we respond to with love to their wrong
doings against us do not appreciate our large heartedness
(cf. John 18:10, 26) but this should not deter us (Rom. 12:21).
d). By our calling as followers of Jesus Christ, we are not called to
employ “Fire for fire” (I Peter 3:9). Praying “Holy Ghost Fire”
against “our enemies” is Unchristian (Luke 9:51-56).
i). When we do not engage in revenge we demonstrate our godly
characters while those who engage in attacks on our persons
show that they are evil (cf. I Sam. 24:1-19; vs.12-19).
e). The Lord forbids His people from rejoicing over their known
enemies misfortune (Prov. 24: 17–20).
15. Jesus Possessed the Mindset of Treading Softly In Other
Peoples’ Affairs (LK. 12:13–4).
a) The man is the text seemed to have made a good request from Jesus to come and settle a family misunderstanding. But a closer look at the text reveals that the man was trying to rope Jesus into what was not good. His words, “…Ask my brother to DIVIDE…“makes it clear that he was wrong and wanted to bring Jesus into wrong.
b) The Word of God is clear regarding how a dead man’s property should be shared among his children. (Deuteronomy 21:15–17).
c) It is evident that this man wanted to make Jesus break the law of God and endanger his relationship with others. But He was wise enough not to, but made the man to understand that He would not meddle into what did not concern Him (Luke 12:14).
d) Jesus possessed wisdom (Luke 2:52; Matthew 11:18). We are called to posses same to avoid unnecessary conflicts with others in life (Matthew 10:16).
e) There are people who get involved in what they cannot fully explain why they are involved (Acts 19:32-33, 40; cf. vs.23-41).
f) We are counseled to, “Mind our own businesses” (I Thess. 4:11).
g) This means not to get involved in matters do not bear directly on us (Proverbs 3:30).
h) Not to do this is to court trouble (Proverbs 26:17). Jesus knew this and avoided it. May we know it and avoid it, too.
CONCLUSION:
Do you have the mind of Christ? Do you strive to have the Mind of Christ? A review of the above discussion points and personal examinations of our hearts would determine if we do have the Mind of Christ or not.
May the Lord enable us to have the Mind of Christ and be like Him in all things.
SCRIPT BY:
Evangelist Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah.
Township/Campus Church of Christ,
14, Agbugwu Lane Lane, Off,
University Market Road, P.O.Box 351, Nsukka-410002, Enugu State, Nigeria. West Africa.
E-MAIL: hilaryjohnsonc@yahoo.com
Hilaryjohnsonc@gmail.com
PHONE: 234-08039596919; 08182820677
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