The Mind Of Christ
Spiritual Building-Stone No. 188
Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in CHRIST JESUS.”
Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The Prophet of God said about it:
That's what
we all want to do is: Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of our mind to do the perfect and acceptable will of God. Now,
that we have been saved, as we are; and that we have been filled with the
Holy Spirit, as we have; now we want the mind that was in Christ to be in
us, that we might be transformed from the natural things of life, and be brought
in to do the perfect will of God by transformation of God's Spirit by His
Word (Eph. 4:20-24).
"Renewing of your mind..." The things that you once thought upon
to be precious, lay that aside and be transformed to something else; to what
you was at one time, to what you are now. See?
Oh, that's what we all want to know, how to do it. See? We're here; we love
Him; He saved us, and now we want to know what to do. And we were trying to
take a little step this morning to raise up just a little bit higher.
Now, we want to be transformed, ourselves, by the renewing of our mind. See,
not what we have on this earth, what we are going to look for on this earth,
but what we are coming to in the world that is to come. Transformed by renewing
of our mind! [1]
May I just pass this to you. When the supernatural comes in, that's the mind of Christ. You become so far away from your own thinking till in your own mind... Don't let me try to explain that, because I can't. [2]
Whether you spoke with tongues, whether you jumped, shouted, or anything else, you know that God lives in you, that you don't walk with your own mind, it's the mind of Christ that leads you with that Word, just exactly the way It goes. [3]
'Cause remember. You can't have the mind of Christ and the mind of the world at the same time (I Cor. 2:11-16). You can't be in your way and God's way at the same time. You have to get out of your own way to let God have His way. That's the only way you're ever going to do anything. You got to get away from your own thoughts, your own reasons. Don't try to reason; just believe (Prov. 3:5-6). [4]
When new birth comes in, it cannot come until there's a death first. And people don't want to die (John 12:24-25). They don't want the simple leadings of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14). They want to take their own thinking of it. You can't think your thoughts. You got to think His thoughts. "Let the mind that was in Christ be in you." Amen. He who thinks God's thoughts, brings God's blessings, God's power to you. And it'll make a mess out of you, as far as the world is concerned, but it'll bring new life. It'll bring resurrecting life. It'll bring new thoughts. It'll bring a new person (II Cor. 5:17). It'll bring a new faith (II Cor. 4:13). It'll bring you from death unto life (John 5:24). [5]
That's why we're
baptized into His Name (Acts 2:36-39) that we might come forth in His Name,
in His death, in His resurrection, that we rise again testifying to the world
that we have new Life, that the old man is dead (Rom. 6:6). We buried that
first nature.
See, that first nature's gone, and now we are the nature of Him (II Peter
1:3-7). He lives in us, and we don't do our own will; we do His will. We don't
think our own thoughts. The mind is what thinks. The mind that was in Christ
Jesus is in every believer (Phil. 3:15-16). See? There is the soul, and that's
what we're speaking of. Now, that's the part that I'm thinking of now, that
that's within us, the soul. [6]
Now, He said, “He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he also.” (John 14:12). He cannot change that decision. He said, “These signs shall follow them that believe.” (Mark 16:17-18). If the Life of Christ be in you, if the mind of Christ, then we're concerned and do the things of Christ. He said these signs that He done will follow every believer that believes in Him. [7]
And we've got to let God's thinking be our thinking. Let the mind that was in Christ be in you. And this Bible reveals the mind of Christ. And the whole Book of Revelations, called the Apocalypse, is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. [8]
Well now, you'll never find Christ moving your papers. You have to move your thoughts. You have to move your thinking, and get away from reason and move your thoughts from your own way of thinking to what God thinks. "Let the mind that was in Christ Jesus be in you." And then when you begin to think His thoughts, you'll begin to live His life and do the things that He did. See what I mean? Now, because it's not you; it's Christ (Col. 1:26-28). [9]
We're invited
by God to take Him as an Example, and let our character be molded like His.
What a thing! (Rom. 8:28-30).
Then when we let His character be in us, then we have become sons by having
the mind of Christ: mind, which is His character. Your mind makes your character.
"Let the mind," Paul said, "of Christ, this mind that was in
Christ be in you." Let that mind of Christ be in you. That changes our
character. It molds the character of a son of God. [10]
And may we not think our own thoughts, but may we have our minds open to the great unction of His Presence that we might know His mind, to fulfill which was written in the Scripture, "Let the mind that was in Christ be in you." [11]
And you know,
it's usually when we're thinking about God and keeping our minds on God, that
God comes close to us.
I think that's one of the great troubles of the people of this day. We have
too many other things on our mind. [12]
Oh, if we didn't have so many other things on our mind. You know, sometimes we'll come to church, thinking about, "Tomorrow I gotta do this; the next day, I've got to do this." When we come to church, we ought to lay aside every thought and every thing of the world, and enter into fellowship with Christ and worship: meditating, worshipping in our hearts, and giving songs and praises to Him, thinking of His goodness, and what He means to us, worshipping in the Spirit, singing spiritual songs, making melodies in our heart. Even the Bible said, "Is any merry? Let them sing songs." (James 5:13). Be happy; be in meditation, always expecting God at any moment to appear to you. [13]
Yes, sir, I did lose my mind; I had to, to find the mind of Christ. Every other believer has to (That's right.) they have to find the mind of Christ by losing our own mind. [14]
Let us go beyond the camp now. Let us go beyond our own thinking. Let us go by the thinking of God. The Bible said this: "Let the mind that was in Christ be in you." So let us think His thoughts, not our own thinking, because most the time we're wrong. So to be sure, let His mind rest in us. And His mind was to do the Father's will, and the Father's will is His promised Word. [15]
The human mind is not capable to interpret the mind of God. How can the little finite mind interpret the infinite Mind, when we can't even interpret one another's mind. [26]
Now, man is a
prisoner. God said that a man was a prisoner. So until something has happened
to the man... I want you to get this now. That before this certain thing,
called the new birth, ever happens to the man, he cannot no way at all understand,
or ever understand God, or have any knowledge of God. Though the Word speaks
it, his mind can't comprehend it, because it's a human mind. He's got to have
the mind of God in him to understand godly things. See? So all the reading,
all the schools, all the teachings, as good as they may be, yet that's not
the real principle yet.
And so is it today. The same things will blind the eyes of the carnal mind,
because it can't understand the things of God. It's against God. It's an enemy
of God's. The human mind is an enemy to God. You've got to get out of your
own human mind and be borned anew by the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8), and get
the mind of God in you. Then you can believe those things. Then it becomes
a reality. Amen. [27]
If the mind of Christ is in us, then we'll recognize that Word to be the Truth, and It lives right through us. You can't help it; It's Christ. [16]
See, then it isn't your thinking; it's His thinking through you, and you're not expressing your own words; you're expressing His Words. [17]
So there is genuine faith, but you must come into the real channel of God to have that genuine faith. There's human faith, then there's faith of God. And you must have a godly faith to believe. Now, then to have godly faith, you must have the mind of Christ in you. Then that's how God projects to you visions, revelations, and all these things come by the mind of Christ being in you. You get it? [18]
All right. That's exactly what Paul said many times over:
Romans 7:25, ”I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
When I would
do good, evil is present (Rom. 7:18-24). See? That's exactly what you do too.
With your mind, that's your heart. See? Now, remember, you do not think with
your mind; neither do you see with your eyes. You see with your heart. Did
you know that? Did you know your heart has another person in it besides yourself?
Science just found that out about four years ago, you know. Little compartment
in the heart, they say the soul lives.
So with my mind... He said in another place, "I think I have the mind
of Christ." (I Cor. 2:16). Now, in that mind you serve--with the mind
of Christ you serve God. See, the inward part, the inward part, you serve
God. That subconscious, there's where faith lies.
Paul said then, "With my mind... ('And I have the mind of Christ, you
see?' he said.) I serve God with my mind, but with the flesh, the law of sin."
What is it? My flesh says tonight, "You are too tired. Your throat is
too sore. You've been out in the wind today. You shall not go to church tonight."
That's the law of the flesh."
Now, my mind, on the inside the Holy Spirit said, "You keep your promise."
But the flesh said, "You're too tired." See?
Now, the flesh say, "Now, there's no need, you pretty little thing, you're
the prettiest little thing in school. Now, don't you pay any attention to
that holy-roller mother of yours or that fanatic father. See? You're the best
looking girl in school." "You're the prettiest boy, the best looking
boy, the best built. You're the most popular there is in the city." You
see? And you yield your members to that, and where do you come out at? The
little end of the horn every time. See?
Paul said, "My flesh wants always to yield to that." Your flesh
does too. See? But the law of the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:1) in the heart overcomes
the flesh and makes the body obey what the heart says do. Hallelujah!
Look, then if it will do that for a sinner, then won't that work for sickness
too? The law of the Spirit of God in the heart that knows that "By His
stripes we were healed," (I Peter 2:21-24) they stand with their power
to make that sickness in that body obey them, because it's a devil. There
you are. That's got cream on it that deep. I tell you. That's it. See?
Now, the law of sin and death works in your flesh, but the law of the Spirit
of Life works in your heart. So your heart, your spirit in your heart will
make your body obey what it says do. That's exactly right. Now, that's what
Paul said. Always the flesh, “I'm too tired; I'm unable; I'm not sufficient;
I cannot do it.” [19]
When He, our
Lord JESUS CHRIST, was here on earth, He did not follow His Own thoughts,
His Own will, but He sacrificed His Own will and His Own thoughts to follow
the mind and the will of His Father. "I come not to do My will, but the
will of Him that sent Me." (John 6:38). You see it?
Now, Christ come to do the will of the Father. Then if we can see what Christ
did, and what kind of a faith that He gave to the people, or preached to the
people, then that should be the faith that we contend for. [20]
Oh, brother,
you never know what it is, till when you get down and really commit yourself
to God. Don't use your own mind. Don't use your own thinking. Just commit
your ways to Him and just walk the way He leads (Rom. 8:14). Wherever...
If He goes this way, that's all right. Sometimes it leads through deep waters,
but you know the song says: “Some through the waters, some through the
flood, some through deep trials, but all through the Blood.”
God's ways lead right through the deep sea, into the wilderness, and up over
the hills, through the wilderness of sin, and so forth. But God will bring
you out, if you'll just follow Him and not try to use your own thoughts. Just
do what God says do, and you'll be all right. You believe that? [21]
We could be so committed to God that we wouldn't think our own thoughts, but we would think His thoughts. And may I be so committed to You, Lord, that Your Spirit would use my lips to speak, my eyes to see, not for a glory of man, but that the people might know that God keeps His Word, and it's at the end time. [22]
When you come
to total obedience, then you can have possession. But until you totally obey.
You've got to completely surrender your own thoughts, your own will, your
own mind, and let the mind of Christ operate in you. Now, do you think the
mind of Christ, in you, would say, "The days of miracles is past"?
Do you think the mind of Christ, in you, would say, "The Bible's right
in some places and not in others"? The mind of Christ would sanction
every word that Christ ever said. It's right. So if you don't use your own
mind, just use His mind.
But just yield myself to Him, and then He uses my mind, my eyes, my mouth.
He's my all. Just yield! That's the way you do it. That's the way these ministers
do when they're preaching the Gospel. They get up there and take a text, why,
they just start off to preach, and yield themselves to God, their ministers,
the first thing you know, the Holy Spirit maybe take them on another text,
take them somewhere else. [23]
Notice, what
harmony! Jesus never did anything until seen of the Father or the Father showed
Him first: Harmony between God and Christ. See? (John 5:19). So will the Bride,
and He shows Her His Word of Life (He shows Her), and she receives It. She
never doubts it.
Nothing can harm Her, not even death; for if the Seed be planted, the water
will raise it up again. Amen. Here is the secret: the Word is in the Bride
and the mind of Christ to know what He wants done with the Word, and She does
it in His Name. She has THUS SAITH THE LORD.
Then it is germitized; so the Holy Spirit waters it until it is grown and
serves its purpose. They do only His will. (Amen. I'll believe that.) No one
can persuade them different. They have THUS SAITH THE LORD, or they keep still.
Then they will do the works of God. For it is Himself in them, continuing
His Word to fulfill as He did complete in His day. He did not complete all
when He was here, for it was not time yet. [24]
The Body of Christ
(which is the Bride) isn't finished yet. How many knows that? A man and woman
is one. And Christ is one Body, the Word. The Bride will have to be the rest
of that body, and the two together make the one body again, like Adam was
at the beginning. Man and his wife are one.
Now, She, the true Bride, so sold out to Him that She uses no mind of Her
own. His mind, of course, is His will, and His will is His Word. [25]
Oh, people, God
bless you. Hear me! I can't believe nothing but God's Word, and I want It
to be my life, everything that I am. I want you to do the same. Let your walks,
your talks, your moves, everything you do, be in the Word of God! Let the
mind of Christ come into you, and that'll pregnate you with the Word. If you
let the mind of the denomination come in, you'll be denominational pregnated.
If you let the mind of Christ come into you, He can't deny His own Word, 'cause
He's God. You'll be pregnated with the Word and believe It. I don't care if
they put you out, kick you out, run you out, and every door is closed, you'll
go just the same. Amen. [24]
References:
[1] “Power of Transformation” (65-1031M), par. 38-39, 47-48, 59
[2] “Seventh Seal” (63-0324E), pg. 530
[3] “Questions&Answers” (64-0830M), COD pg.1080
[4] “Witnesses” (54-0303), par. 27
[5] “Balm In Gilead” (59-1124), par. 23
[6] “Souls In Prison Now” (63-1110M), pg. 9
[7] “The Countdown” (62-1125E), par. 54
[8] “Why Against Organized Religion” (62-1111E), par. 43
[9] “Jesus Christ The Same” (55-0806), par. 19
[10] “Identification” (63-0123), par. 51 / (64-0216), par. 190
[11] “Jesus Christ The Same” (63-0604), par. 15
[12] “Mary’s Belief” (59-0409), par. 9
[13] “Mary’s Belief” (60-0311), par. 16
[14] “World Is Falling Apart” (63-1115), par. 164-165
[15] “Going Beyond the Camp” (64-0719E), par. 155
[16] “World Is Falling Apart (63-1127), par. 194-196
[17] “Future Home” (64-0802), pg. 24
[18] “Queen of Sheba” (61-0219), par. 8
[19] “Questions&Answers” (59-1223), COD pg. 490-493
[20] “Earnestly Contending For The Faith” (55-0123E), par. 4-5
[21] “At Thy Word” (53-1204), par. 48
[22] “We Would See Jesus” (59-0422), par. 59
[23] “Jehovah Jireh 2” (60-0802), par. 14
[24] “Spoken Word Is The Original Seed” (62-0318E), par. 120;
97-5
[25] “Choosing A Bride” (65-0429E), par. 26
[26] “Christ Is Revealed In His Own Word” (65-0822M), par. 91
[27] “Proof Of His Resurrection” (55-0410M), par. 35, 104