Being spiritually minded – Part 1

Many believers think that to be ‘spiritual’ the mind must be suppressed, or at the very least disengage it. As a result, their actions are often bizarre and they become a stumbling block to those around them. I believe that your spirituality should never bring about uneasiness. The people you come into contact with should be as comfortable with your spirituality as you are! But in order for this to happen, your mind should be fully engaged at all times - it must be “switched on” to their needs and sensitive to their impressions / perceptions.

However, this doesn't mean that you must compromise your beliefs or water down the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is purely an attitude that is driven by a genuine love for the lost. The apostle Paul said, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” – 1 Corinthians 9:22. Every one of us is encouraged to fulfil God’s plan and purpose by living in the power of the Spirit. “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). A life energised by the Spirit will directly renew your mind. Only the Spirit of God within you is able to give “life” (zoë) to your mortal body. And this includes your mind! The Greek word for “mind” denotes the seat of reflective consciousness (all your mental faculties).

Note God doesn't want you to loose your mind, but rather, to renew it. And changing the way you think is the first step. 2 Corinthians 10:5 states that you should bring “every disobedient thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Ephesians 4 also insists that you “put on the new man,” and this new person is being renewed in his mind (by the Spirit of God). The mind is where it all takes place! The thoughts that fill your mind each moment through out each day are very important to God! He expects them to be in perfect harmony with His thoughts, and His thoughts are revealed in His word. But this process demands that you “not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” – Romans 12:2.

Here Paul urges us not to let the world mould us into its way of thinking. Because we are in God’s family we are expected to abandon the thought patterns provoked by the world system. Even superficial conformity to its tabloid morality would be fatal. We may be in the world, but we are not of this world! Notice, you shouldn't just be separated from the world you should be transformed by the renewing of your mind! This means that you ought to progressively think the way God thinks - as revealed in the Word. It’s only when you’ve had direct guidance from God that you can really find out what is His good and acceptable and perfect will.

Where do you find this out? In your mind! Your mind is illuminated or “renewed.” Ephesians 4:23 says, “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” To “renew” in the Greek means “to make young or recent” and not “to make different.” Yet, the renewal here is not that of the mind itself (in its natural powers of memory, judgement and perception), but the spirit of the mind - that which directs and energises its inclination toward God. If your natural mental abilities were being renewed, you would acquire mental powers far beyond your normal capabilities. However, God wants to influence the spirit of your mind - that controlling force behind all your decisions and attitudes. The Holy Spirit in you seeks to direct your mind to enjoy constant fellowship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. He wants to make your mind truly spiritual!

Romans 8:5,6: “For those who live according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires, set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit, set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the Holy Spirit. Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is a death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin. But the mind of the Holy Spirit is life and peace in the soul.” [AMP]

You, as a believer, can have two dispositions (two mindsets); (a) you can lean toward or indulge the things of your flesh and become a carnal Christian who is at enmity with God or (b) you can incline toward the things of the Spirit (being spiritually minded) and enjoy an abundant life and be at peace with yourself and others. A carnal mind cannot please God; only the Spirit effectively working in and through you can please God.

Constantly remind yourself of this; you do not owe the flesh anything, for sin can never be rewarded, and therefore, you are not obliged to listen to its promptings. Verse 12 says, “We are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” Your indebtedness and obligation is to the Holy Spirit and His influences alone! It is God’s Spirit who convicted you and showed you your need for a Saviour. It was the Spirit who imparted saving faith, who created a new nature inside of you, and who daily witnesses within that you are a child of the living God. What a great debt you owe the Spirit! Jesus Christ loved you so much He died for you; and God’s precious Spirit loves you so much He has chosen to live inside of you. Isn’t that truly amazing?

Just imagine what He has had to endure during your time as a Christian? Daily He has probably needed to tolerate your failings. And how often has He been grieved by your badness or selfish ways? Yet, He cares for you and remains in you as a seal of your Heavenly Father’s love. The Holy Spirit will always lead you into a glorious life of liberty and victory in Christ! But liberty to you, should never mean freedom to do as you please, for that is the worst kind of slavery - bondage to the flesh! Rather, liberty as a Christian is complete freedom in the Spirit so that you may please God and become the very person God has predestined you to be. Liberty is a spiritual attribute because it is manifest in those who are spiritually minded.

Thank God, you have no obligation to the flesh – to feed it, pamper it or obey it. Instead, you can put do death the deeds of the flesh by being spiritually minded, and in so doing, allow the Spirit to direct you in all matters of life. Generosity is one of the most dynamic fruits of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22) There are great graces in the river of generosity. When you jump in, you may find it uncomfortable at first; the current might be strong, and the water cold. You will probably also feel more vulnerable, less secure. But significantly, you are actually discovering that you were living in an illusion. Like most, your security has been placed in things, or in your bank account. Real security is in God. In time, as you become more spiritually minded, you begin to grow in generosity.

You also grow in trust in God! The more you give, the more you will receive. God is even more present to you, for by the very act of giving you become more united to God who is the perfect expression of generosity. You are not the river, but are one with the River! You become one of the many currents and streams of this glorious river of generosity flowing from God Himself that gives life and healing to the whole world.

Right now – start to see yourself as being one with the River. Allow the Holy Spirit to direct you, and trust God. Remember, the mind of the Holy Spirit is life and peace in the soul. Many times, people refrain from doing good to others because they do not trust God enough. If they put themselves out, they worry about what will happen to them. Generosity may jeopardise your security, but this is exactly what God intends. He desires for you to place your trust in Him and nothing else! Jesus told us not to worry. “Your Father in heaven knows what you need before you ask him.” (Mt 6:8)

God’s generosity comes to us in many different ways, even through unbelievers and complainers.

Once upon a time, an atheist moved in next to an elderly woman of deep faith. She was known for her generosity to the poor and her gratitude to God. Whenever she walked outside, she would lift her hands to heaven and say, “Praise the Lord!” and followed the praise with much thanksgiving. This is how she always started her day, and she spent her day doing good for others whenever she could. “Praise the Lord” was always on her lips. This irritated the atheist very much. Every time he heard her say this, he would yell back, “There is no Lord!” She was not discouraged. She kept praying and praising the Lord.

One day in the winter, she went outside and praised God for the snow, but she added, “Dear God, I thank you for your constant goodness to me. I know you take care of all my needs. I am having trouble getting my groceries this week with all this snow but I trust you will send me what I need. Thank you Lord!”

Well, the neighbour atheist overheard her prayer and had an idea. He would show the woman how silly it was to pray to God. He went out and bought her some groceries and put them on her doorstep. The next day, when she came to the door and saw all the groceries, she lifted her hands to heaven and shouted out, “Praise the Lord!”

The atheist neighbour who had waited for this moment with much glee stepped out from behind the pine tree in her yard and said, “There is no Lord to praise, ha-ha-ha! I bought those groceries myself and put them on your doorstep!” The little old lady, with an even larger smile on her face, raised her arms to the sky and said, “Praise the Lord! You sent me groceries and even made the devil pay for them!”

Yes, God can use anyone to meet your needs, but He would far prefer it if you were to become one with His river of generosity. First, you must acknowledge that it is far more beneficial for you if you were to willingly cooperate with God (rather than remain stingy, selfish or in unbelief). This is the fruit of a renewed mind!

As mentioned, generosity is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, so we must acknowledge clearly that it is a work of God’s grace within us. But we all have a free will - an ability to choose. Today, you can choose to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. You can let the river of grace flow through you. You can remove the debris and clutter that bottlenecks the river and then dive in. It’s your choice! So don’t hold back. Let go and jump in! You will find it a joyful and peaceful experience.

In closing, I would like us to pray…

Lord, everything I have is a gift from you. Help me to make a generous offering of all that I am, and all that I have, back to you. Give me the grace to say “yes” to you, whatever you may ask. May I discover joy in sacrificial giving and look at each moment of the day as a gift from you. Let your river of generosity flow through me. I ask this in the name of Jesus my Lord. Amen.

Chris Demetriou, 23/11/2008