To Be Spiritually Minded

by:  Matt Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

96017

03/10/96 - Peru, Indiana

 

I.  Introduction

A.  We live in a world that is anything but spiritually minded.  Selfish ambition,  deviance from the laws handed down from the government,  and greed are some of the attitudes of the world.

1.  Is tempting sometimes for Christians to be caught up in worldly things.

2.  Romans 6:23 says sin will bring forth death. 

B.  Romans 8:5-8

1.  Paul presents a stark contrast to the two minds.  One leads to life,  the other to death.  There is no middle road,  they each end at two distinct places. 

2.  The two minds defined:

a.  to be “spiritually” minded:  having a mind set on the Spirit.

b.  to be “carnally” minded:  “having the nature of the flesh, i.e, sensual, controlled by animal appetites, governed by human nature, instead of by the Spirit of God. - Vines p.169

3.  This is why it is so important to follow Christ.  To follow anyone/thing else means death!

C.  Today we want to assess some qualities of being spiritually minded.  By the end of this lesson you should be able to answer:

1.  What does it take to be spiritually minded?

2.  Am I spiritually minded?

3.  Where Do I need to make corrections in my life?

 

II.  Those Who are Spiritually Minded:

A.  Love Doing Spiritual Things!

1.  Do we have the attitude of David in Psa. 122:1?  OR:

2.  Do we have the attitude of the Israelites in Malachi 1:13?

a.  The Israelites by the time of Malachi were giving the Lord the leftovers.  The lame, sick, and dying animals was what they were offering in sacrifice unto God.  It displeased God that they were doing this.

b.  Those who are carnally minded do the same.  Give God the last $1 in our billfold for offering,  dread to assemble to worship for only 4 hours out of the week?, ashamed to serve Him throughout the week?  Rather associate with friends of the world than fellow Christians?

3.  Many have the attitude that when they do the things required of them, they deserve special recognition.  But remember the words of Jesus in Luke 17:7-10...

a.  Parents didn’t give me special recognition when I did my chores.  It was expected of me.

b.  Many Christians expect special treatment when they do things commanded by the Lord,  when they don’t receive it, they get discouraged, and turn away.

4.  We need the attitude of Peter, Andrew, and John.  They dropped everything they were doing so that they could follow Jesus. 

a.  John 1:35 - 42.

b.  Sadly, we can hardly turn of the television to read the Bible with our family.

c.  We can hardly find time to do our Bible class lesson, or we just wait until class to get the answers from someone else.  (no studytime..)

1.  Our minds drift off during the sermon:  our minds drift away during communion: 

5.  Some hardly ever focus on spiritual things!  Do You love to do Spiritual things?

 

B.  Love the Company of Fellow Christians and Love to Do Good Things.

1.   Throughout the Scriptures, Christians are exhorted not to associate with the world.

a.  Many are caught trying to look back at the world.  We wonder why some fall away...  Because of the inward struggle inside of them to go back to the pleasures of the world.

1.  Many times they are influenced by their old friends of the world...  We associate this many times with younger Christians.

b.  But, are You looking back?  Luke 9:61-62...

2.  If we keep trying to hang onto the world, we are going to fall into a pit!  Paul warned the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 15:33:

3.  Paul told the Ephesians in Eph. 5:11-12:

a.  Why should we have no fellowship with these things?  They could drag us in with them.  Their influence WILL have an effect on you.

4.  Instead, we should abhor what is evil.  Rom.  12:9

5.  Psa.  119:104 - do we feel this way?

 

C.  Let the Holy Spirit Lead or Govern Their Life.

1.  In Acts 11:24 we read of Barnabas being full of the Holy Spirit & in Faith.  What does this mean?

a.  He was full of the fruits of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22-23.

b.  He was trying to be like Christ.

2.  In Rev. 2:11 Jesus exhorted the churches to hear what the Spirit says.  It says:  .............  We as individuals need to hear what the Spirit says.

3.  Rom.  8:14 says, those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

4.  Turn to Gal. 5:16-17.  Are you walking in the spirit or abiding by the lust of the flesh?

a.  Lust of the flesh defined in Gal. 5:19-21

b.  Do some of these things inhabit your life?  If so, you are not walking by the Spirit.

c.  Notice Gal. 5:17 - they are contrary to one another...  parallels our opening text in Rom.  8:5-8.  One leads to down paths of righteousness, the other down paths of destruction.  NO MIDDLE GROUND!

5.  Which are you being led by?

 

D.  Seek those things which are above.

1.  The Spirit said through Paul to set our minds on things above, and not on things of the earth in Col.  3:1-5

2.  These are the things that the world tells us is religious nonsense.  We can easily be swayed by the opinions of the world, if we are not careful!  They had this problem in the 1st century.

a.  Paul said in 2 Cor.  2:14:

1.  Paul meant here by using the word natural as one who stood opposed to spiritual things.  (the world)

3.  The Devil tempts us to think that we should spend our time acquiring bigger & better things here upon the earth.  We spend more time worried about getting material possessions, and then keeping them than about the work of Christ.

4.  David realized the need to seek the things from above.  Psa. 19:7-11 tells us:

a.  He realized the reward in seeking things from above.

b.  Do we realize the punishment for seeking the things of the world?

 

E.  Long for a Heavenly Home.

1.  If one were to take a poll out on the street, among 1000 people, I feel safe to say that at least 80% would say they long for a heavenly home. 

a.  All of you long for heavenly home - or else you wouldn’t be here today!

b.  My point is, ALL long for a heavenly home, but few are willing to work for it.  Few are willing to pay the sacrifice required to receive such a reward.

2.  Paul said in Phil. 1:21 - Paul meant here that he was doing his best to live in a way pleasing unto Christ.

a.  What ever was necessary, Paul was willing to do it, so that he could reach the goal of heaven.  Are we as willing to do that?

b.  For some, to live is earthly gain & prosperity, or to have fun.

c,  If you live for anything other than Christ, then Heaven is NOT your goal.  You want the reward w/o paying the price.  God doesn’t respect that attitude.

2.  Paul also said in 2 Cor. 4:16-18

a.  do we have this attitude?  If you do, then you are going to be willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this goal.

b.  Because of the attitude of Paul, he could confidently say what he did in 2 Cor. 5:1

3.  If you long for heaven, are you willing to do what it takes to get there?

 

III.  Conclusion

A.  Back to text in Rom.  8:5-8:  To be Carnally minded is death.  To be Spiritually minded is life & peace.  Which are you?

B.  We have talked about how those who are spiritually minded:

a.  Love to do spiritual things.

b.  Love fellowship with fellow brethren & abhor that which is evil.

c.  Let the H. S. guide their life.

d.  Seek things from above

e.  Long for a heavenly home.

C.  Where is your life headed?  Are you working on spiritual things?

a.  why not turn your life around? 

b.  why not turn it around before it is too late?

1.  come forward repenting of your sins.

2.  come forward confessing Jesus as the Christ...

3.  come forward and be baptized for the remission of your sins.

c.  It is sad, when someone knows what to do to be saved, but doesn’t.

d.  come while you have the chance.