the Mind of Christ (M.O.C.) vs. the old man (T.O.M.)

[Risen]

Hello my fellow believers, today my Pastor gave a sermon about the process of changing the way we think from the world's way (T.O.M.) to the the believer's way (M.O.C.). I know from scripture we are to renew our minds with the accurate Word of God, I just wondered since, it seems to me that the mind is THE battleground, and the key determination of progress in our walk with the Lord, have any of you thoughts or scriptures that help you renew your mind and grow? Thanks! Carol

[Scribe D'Nucov]

Risen, I find that reading the whole Bible is profitable for this.

Most importantly, I think that meditating on truth and then committing to do it, is the most valuable. To really be transformed with the Mind of Christ, you have to read the words of Christ. But, according to John, the entire Bible is a representation of him.

My favorite places for inspiration to my walk are in the New Testament, the Psalms and the Prophets.

Bear in mind that the whole of scripture is valuable for your maturity. As it has been said: "the new testament is in the old testament concealed; and the old testament is in the new testament revealed". There are "types and shadows" as Paul puts it in Colossians, in every book of the old testament, which reveal the nature of Christ.

For instance, one of the most empowering accounts in scripture for my life has been the life of Joseph. He embodies the Character of Christ better than any other Old Testament character - as I see it. I have often wondered why we don't claim to follow the "God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph". It seems that Joseph trusted God better than his father; and had more in common with Abraham than Isaac did.

What Joseph did was act on what he believed. He chose to trust and follow the voice of God, no matter what adversity came. He had only the spoken history passed on to him from Jacob, and the dreams God gave him. Yet, he chose to obey the little he was given.

Keep reading the whole Bible. It is one book, in 66 parts. The more we choose to become doers of the word, the faster we gain that mind of Christ.

[deanna]

the bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ. I received this word from Brother Kenneth Copeland, on his teaching cd, You are The Prophet Of Your Own Life. He said to start in the book of Acts and write down all the "in him" "in whom" scriptures. I've been doing this for awhile now and I've learned so much about who I am in Christ Jesus. It really has me thinking since I've started this personal journey. Scripture shows me over and over that Jesus paid for everything and that as a believer we have alot of benefits that I don't think we exercise at all. The scripture promise a wonderful existence with persecutions but Jesus promises over and over he's always there.
Here's some scripture that stand out for me
2Thess3:3 1Peter2:24 1 Peter2:29 Romans8:1 Romans 8:31 Romans 10:17 2Cor1:20
I could go on and on. Read your bible everyday its your instruction manual for true life.
your sister in Christ
Deanna

[Risen]

Thank you for your reply, I can't wait to start doing as you suggest. A scripture for you, that's been on my heart and mind all week and is awe-inspiring, IJohn1:1-3. We are Children of God now, a different species here on earth! In Him, Carol

[Scribe D'Nucov]

Risen, a caution for you: there are many good and godly teachers of the word. None of them are a replacement for studying and following Christ himself.

If we keep our eyes on men, we are destined to rely on their understanding of the revelation of Christ and then be subject to their failings. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, we are able to become his disciples. Good teachers can guide us to do that, but they are still fallible.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth [John 14]. That requires that you do what Jesus said: "abide in me". [John 15]

We gain that mind of Christ by meditating on what Christ himself has taught, and learning how his disciples also meditated on his word.

[Ron Payne]

It's all about revelation and growth. God reveals His secrets when He knows you are ready to receive them. I am sure that there have been several instances when a scripture that you have read a dozen times or more, suddenly jumps out at you and you sit back wondering, 'how is it that I never saw that before?' This is a joyous and special moment in every Christian's life as God reveals something special to us through His Word. It is particularly special because God and not a friend nor a pastor revealed it. It is God revealing His mind to you and becomes another step further towards you receiving the mind of Christ. It is also something that no one can ever take away from you.
Bless you Carol as you grow in strength and walk closer to Him each day. - Ron.

[Risen]

Hi Ron, and thank you! I know exactly what you mean, I immediately am reminded of times God has revealed blessed truths to me in that manner! Other times, it's that small, still, quiet voice that I have learned to recognize after many, many years. Nothing on this earth can compare to a wisp of love from Him in our life, oh to know Him more and more is my heart's desire!!

[Joe Boyce]

The mind of Christ,
Hi Risen,
Phil 2:5-6 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
We can let the mind of Christ be formed in us: by meditating on the Word and obeying it.
It would be a renewing of the mind from thinking as the world thinks to thinking as God thinks, acknowledging Him in all of our ways and in everything we do. Galatians 4:19-20 Till Christ be formed in us. 1Cor.2:16 But we have the mind of Christ.

Now James is one of my favorites, He tells us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves. For if we are just hearers and not doers, Then it would be like us getting ready to go out, we look at ourselves in the mirror, we see our tie is not straight or we have a spot on our jacket, we go away and just forget it and don‘t do anything about it. Or we forget what we really look like.

Also we see the bible as a mirror and it is a reflection of Christ and it is what we should be, or look like when we look in that mirror. We see our selves as the righteousness of God, We see ourselves healed, We see ourselves as the head and not the tail and etc. We should not see ourselves broke, sick, weak, barely getting by and etc. We should see ourselves as God sees us. As sons of God and not just a mere man. That would be to me a renewed mind.
See an un-renewed mind is always battling against doubts and unbelief’s, Always praying for and asking God for faith, but they never get there. Talking unbelief, yet they are struggling to get faith, they are always confessing failure. But at the same time trying to confess faith in the Word yet they are denying it in their actions, Trying to believe what God says in His Word, but they never act on the Word.
We must act on the Word if we want to see results in our walk with the Lord. We are new creatures, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
I am what He says I am: whether I feel like it or not!
A friend
Joe

[Jeanette B]

Hey, Risen!!

A simple thing I have done since I was a new Christian. Write down the Word of God. When I would read the Bible, and a particular phrase, verse or paragraph hit me, I'd write it down in my daily notebook.

Sometimes it was a promise... something I wanted to keep to remind myself! Other times, instruction or guidance... so I could stay focused! Then other times, it would be a verse I didn't quite understand, so I'd write it down so that I could meditate on it, until the Lord gave me the light.

These were my special verses. They were God's rhema word to me!!

Do you know about the two words for the Word of God ... logos and rhema?

Logos is the written Word that we find in the Bible. That is where we get our theology from.

Rhema is the Word which is spoken. I see that as the specific words, from the Bible, that God speaks to our heart. It's like the-light-came-on kind of words. And those are the ones I'd write down. Those are the ones that change our thinking!!

I hope that helps. It has for me!!