Two Differing Mindsets

Every day, as believers in Christ we face a decision will we follow the inclination of our old sinful self or do we choose to live as a new creation today on Truth for Life weekend. Alastair beg describes the internal battle we face as he continues her series called life in the spirit. The message is titled two differing mindsets so Romans chapter 8 and verse five reads as follows. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires by those who live in accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Sinful mind is hostile to God.

It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God, and you will remember that the sinful nature of the phrase the sinful nature is a way in which the NIV tries to help us out in understanding the phrase, the flesh, but I find it most helpful in going through chapter 8 to keep in mind the constant distinction between the flash and the spirit, flesh and spirit, not flash in terms of the physicality of life flash is human nature corrupted directed and controlled by sin I just a pause to ask for God to help us Lord, we pray.

Now a sense of brevity and clarity as we seek to make sure that we haven't left things trailing or left things unclear for one another in relationship to the truth of your word. To this end, we ask for your help in Christ's name on then. So what we really have here is a contrast that really couldn't be clearer as the contrast between as I say flash and spirit hits two different kinds of person to different people to different mindsets and so long, and what Paul is making clear here is the radical distinction between what it means to be in Adam which is an argument that is already teased out in the earlier chapters, and what it means to be in Christ. Elliott on his pointed out that by virtue of our physicality of our nature. We are all in Adam and as in Adam here are the characteristics of the flesh of our sinful nature, being corrupted and directed and controlled by sin. When by grace through faith we are placed in Christ that not only are our sins forgiven. Not only is it guilt removed. Not only is the power of God unleashed within us. But at the same time were given a whole new status as the sons and daughters of God at this contrast is so clear and the distinction is so crucial that we must understand that there is no middle ground. No middle ground and essentially what Paul is enforcing here is what he does elsewhere in his letters, where, for example, in Colossians chapter 3 and reminding the readers of their relationship with Jesus. He tells them of their new identity in Christ, he reminds them that they have a whole new mentality entirely different way of thinking because they are in Christ and that they as a result of an entirely different destiny from those who are not in Christ know you will notice that he begins with those who live according to the flesh. This is a description of the non-Christian and he tells us three things. First of all, that those who live according to the flash have their minds set on what that nature desires by those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires and the mind of sinful man is death day. In other words, the condition of man is then hopeless is not that one day he's going to die because that is true not only of those who are in the flesh, but also those who are in the spirit so he is not saying that the inevitability of life is death for this individual for the inevitability of life is death for both. All will rise some to eternity with Christ, some to eternity without Christ. What is actually seeing here is the controlling principle of the unchristian.

The non-Christian is that of death.

It is a salutary thought, and it is something that we actually never think about what we really have around us every day our men and women, dad men and women walking around if you wanted a cross-reference to go to, you could go to Jesus conversation with Nicodemus in John chapter 3 when remember he says to Nicodemus, you need to be born again and he says to flesh gives birth to flash by the spirit gives birth to spirit. You shouldn't be surprised that I tell you, you need to be born again is seaweed on men and women don't just need a new code of ethics.

They don't need a little Philip to help them in their life's as Philip with Annette the don't need something to just chart their course. You need to be set free from the controlling power of death, hopeless, and secondly hostile hostile the mind of sinful man. Verse seven is hostile to God. Again, we don't think in these terms, but this is what the Bible says cross-reference for this would be turned back to Romans chapter 1 and read on. From verse 18 and following and there you will find that it is absolutely clear that the animosity of men and women towards God is realistic, but people say well I don't see how that can possibly be because I'm an anthropologist and I have considered many cultures in the world. You may well have and what you have to point out is I've never found a people without God. So why does the Bible say there hostile to everywhere I've gone everywhere.

I research I found temples I find shrines I found rights and iPhone rituals, so presumably all these people far from there hostile to God, are actually very interested in the which God which God see the issue here is not God with a small G, which may be a principal in our thinking a notion that we project know what I was talking about here is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and men and women by nature are hostile towards God.

It really comes down to a battle for control. Who's in control of life who makes the decisions about where I'm going. What I'm going to be and when they discover that what God says is I am in charge.

I'm in control. You do what I say this at nine on my letter to all and so there is an enmity and as a result of that, and his authority.

Each they found that their helpless their helpless their helpless to do anything verse eight.

Those controlled by the flash cannot please God cannot please God. Lisa will, they could do something good to please themselves. They could convince themselves that what they're doing is acceptable to God, but this is the judgment the Bible gives us when we remain apart from Christ. We live in the realm of death were actually hostile to God and were hopeless.

You see it's only when those truths begin to gonna person, they start to say what what in the world am I going to do what will I do that Octavius Winslow lived in the 19th century and he wrote a book that ran through about 390 pages on Romans chapter 8, and I thought that I might read you just a little portion of it to reinforce this point, he tells a story of a professor of the distinguished Continental University who has a young man who has decided to study at the law school. The young man is is resolved to spend no amount of labor expense to spare no amount of labor expense. Just get through studies as quickly as he possibly can. And so he was hastening all his way through his courses. The old man. The professor would be listening to them with patience and kindness sent on one occasion well and when you finish your career of study what you mean to do that then I shall take my degree answered the young man and then asked his venerable friend, and then continued that the youth I shall ever number of difficult and naughty cases to manage shall attract notice by my eloquence and went to the cuteness and when a great reputation, and then repeated the limit and then replied the youth why there cannot be a question I shall be promoted to some high office in the state, and I shall become and then and then pursue the young lawyer that I shall live comfortably and honorably and well respected. Look forward to a quiet and happy old age and then repeated the old man and then something in that and then and then I show the hear his venerable listener lifted up his voice and again asked with solemnity and emphasis, and then, whereupon the aspiring student made no answer but cast on his head and in silence and and thoughtfulness retire this last and then had pierced his heart like a sore see men and women our friends and our neighbors are going about the business of their days thoughtless of these things, careless of these things and what the Bible says is that in mindset number one were reminded of man's total depravity and of man's total inability to fix it.

The contrast is with those who set their minds on the things of the spirit and you don't need for me to work this all the way through.

It is pretty straightforward as the contrast is obvious instead of hostility. There is harmony instead of hopelessness. There is joy_instead of doing everything to the pleasure of our own ends fulfilling our own agendas. The person who is controlled by the spirit of God is discovered the reason for their existence. Suddenly all that we are and all that we have are to be used in an entirely different way out ability, our skills, whatever they might be the gifts that we been given the graces that we enjoy with that we have time to use talent to spend more energy to expend all of it for the person who lives according to the spirit is guided by God's word and directed by God spirit instead of the prevailing sphere in which this individual lives being one of death. The speed in which this individual lives is one of life and one of peace doesn't mean that everything is ultimately peaceful but it means that the ultimate peace of knowing that, having been justified by faith I have peace with God, but all the record of things that were against me all the things that accuse me all the stuff that I have done as we sang this morning. You know all the things I've ever done. And yet here black has canceled everyone all wore white piece to qualify me as your own.

That's the distinguishing feature and it is the life of the spirit of God in the child of God that provides the basis if you like the roots for living this life is the life of God spirit set free within us, which gives to us the opportunity to enjoy a vigorous faith to live in the light of a bright whole defined increasingly in our hearts, affirm and love for Christ for his word for his people for his world. It is the power of the indwelling spirit given to us that enables us to repel their souls of the evil one to defeat the painful habits that grab us and seek to undo us and what Paul is making clear here is that those who live according to the flash live with the implications of the those who live according to the spirit controlled by the spirit enjoy the privileges that accompanied I wonder if sometimes each of us is not guilty actually beginning to act. Although we know this isn't right in such a way that suggests that we believe that all that Christ has accomplished for us somehow or another is all over the front end of how this thing is going to present a wonderful job of dealing with the predicament of our of our death in our hostility and our hopelessness, and so on. And then after that prayer to ours you know make of it what you can do your best.

Pick up some pieces along the way and the absence in that kind of thinking is the absence of the truth of Romans chapter 8 that the spirit of God has been given to the people of God in order that we the people of God might live to the praise of God, so that the things that threaten to undo us as I say the habits which so easily can chain us and enslave.

We don't have to fight them on our own. This is not a mythology, the indwelling reality of the Spirit's power and some of us actually need to go away and ask God to fill is a fresh with his Holy Spirit because Jesus said that if we being carefully know how to give good gifts to our children how much more will our heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask and we have every legitimate right every necessary right to ask God the father asked the Lord Jesus to give to us all the power that we require in order to be the people that he is designing for us to be. We do not need to be constantly hampered and hindered and beset, and the devil by all of these things and I suggested for one moment everything up broaching a life of sinless triumphant perfection. We await that one day and have but I am suggesting to that God is far more willing to bless us and we are to take the time to ask him to and that he is far more resources to entrust to his child. Then we as his children may even think to appropriate so what you really have are two kinds of people to differing mindsets to resulting lifestyles and to ultimate destinies. I see you again, this is what makes sense of the words of Jesus of the absolute necessity of the rebirth because without that rebirth, we remain totally depraved and totally helpless. But in Christ all that is necessary has been accomplished on our behalf.

We give the final word to Graham Goldsworthy, whom I like to quote and like to read. This is what he says only the message that another true and obedient human being has come on our behalf that he is lived for is the kind of life we should live.

But can that he has paid fully.

The penalty we deserve for the life we do live but shouldn't only this message can give assurance that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words, is when I look away from myself to Christ that I find my assurance. The work of the evil one is always to suggest that we should look into ourselves, to find aground about assurance but when we look into ourselves were back in Romans seven, saying, oh what a wretched man. I am who will deliver me from this body of the where then same, but actually there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus before we go crazy. We say. I guess I just need to turn my eyes upon Jesus and to look full in his wonderful face. I guess I just need to saying to myself in my bedroom in my car spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Break me, melt me, mold me Sumi spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me and the promise of God's work is that if we ask, he will wonderful promise.

God's spirit will fill us and shape us if we only ask listing the truth for a weekend. Alastair begs in the study of Romans eight called life in the spirit. Today's message is titled to differing mindsets.

Alastair will close in prayer in just a minute, so please keep listing.

First I will remind you if you're joining us on the radio today and you missed the start of this program you can find the complete message online at Truth for Life.org while you're there, you can also catch up on previous messages in the series, or use the search function defined topics of interest to you. All of this is completely free to access. It's a privilege to be able to open God's word with you on truth for like were grateful that we been able to make this program available on so many different platforms, and in addition to Alistair's teaching. We like being able to supplement your study of God's word with books and other resources affect each month. Our team spends a great deal of time selecting two different books to highlight that we believe will be a and encouragement of a blessing to you right now are featuring a book that's a 31 day devotional addressing a sensitive but relevant subject. The subject of anxiety estimated that there are 23 million Americans who suffer from panic attacks, millions more identify themselves as battling routine anxiety or worry this isn't just something nonbelievers struggle with either countless Christians find themselves plagued by chronic fear. So what's the solution is a path to freedom while thankfully the answer is yes, and this book explains, in brief daily readings, how to identify the source of your fear.

The key to releasing it and then how to discover the joy that comes from lasting peace in Jesus, the author Paul tell juices a pastor and a certified biblical counselor. He has also struggled with anxiety in his own life. So he writes from a place of personal experience is insight is both biblical and tender. It will be a comfort to you. Learn how to request your copy of anxiety knowing God's peace. When you visit Truth for Life.org today. Even if you don't personally struggle with anxiety during the season of your life. It's possible that a friend or family member could benefit from the wisdom found in this book. Maybe you'll consider requesting an extra copy to pass along again go to truthfully.org. Now here's Alastair to close with prayer God our father, we thank you that we have the opportunity not only to sing your praise to study your word. We thank you for your goodness to us as a church throughout the hours of this day for the privileges of service that we've enjoyed in many different ways and to different places, not only in this room, but in many places, and behind the scenes so many have displayed the fact that they are not in the flesh but in the spirit their minds controlled by your word. Their life led by your power and your truth which really and all, God of your goodness to us in Jesus because we know what we wear and we know what we are and the fact that your kindness, your love should lead us to repentance calls for songs of loudest praise and when we think about our responsibilities as a church family. When we think about the challenges that each of us face in anticipation of a new day tomorrow. We want to ask that you will abide with us you will dwell with us even as Jesus said would be the case if a man loves me, he will keep my commandments and I too will love him and the father will come to him and we will make our home with come Lord Jesus Christ, and make our hearts your home.

Come Lord Jesus Christ and rule and reign over our church family for the glory of your name for our good. For Jesus sake Bob Lapine next weekend. Alastair continues her study in Romans eight with an encouraging message on the power of the indwelling Spirit of God and his role in our Christian walk shortlisted next time this program in the Bible teaching of Alastair Bragg is furnished by Truth for Life Learning is for Living