The Mind of Christ

by Pastor Marie Esposito

What is our true identity? How can we understand the mysteries of the kingdom? By taking on the mind of Christ.

The transformation of our thought life by taking on the mind of Christ [his ideas, images, information, and patterns of thinking] opens the way to deliverance of every dimension of the human self.

      Phil 2:5 – “ and consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us.

LET HIS MINDSET BECOME YOUR MOTIVATION.

We can live in a true spiritual atmosphere of light and life and joy as we worship God; and have pushed back the darkness; we stand clothed in the armor of light; ready to discern His voice as He walks in our garden: in communion with Him. 

         Can we? Yes.

         But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and  purpose I Cor 2:16   

It’s all written in the Word of God, and every verse has been breathed on by the Spirit of revelation to embed a deeper meaning of practical insight and guide our steps into the life God has meant for us.

     What is The mind of Christ? – the perspective of living and acting in the realm of the Spirit through

1. knowing Who He is

2. What He taught  and

3. Why He came

If we are truly born again and walking in the Spirit, we will engage in the process of being TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our minds every day…to prove what is the good, the acceptable, and the perfect will of God. The spirit of Christ transforms us.   Romans 12

Our mind involves at least four major areas: ideas, images, information, and our ability to think. In a sense, the greatest battlefield in the world is located between our ears, and the stakes are incredibly high.  Our “mind” constitutes the intellect or understanding and includes all that is described in the word “mindset,” that is, the feelings and the will  -The whole man.

Again,  “let HIS  mindset be your motivation.

           Be completely changed: renewed!  

“renew” –  a restoration to freshness.

It intimates the potential of redemption’s power to reinstate features of God’s original intention for humanity.  [A mystery of the kingdom]

God’s RESTORATION or renewal of us includes a recovery of many potentialities of the human mind and soul as designed before the Fall –  a literal change in the form of thought or being. [a mystery of the Kingdom]

This restored relationship through the Messiah’s life breaks the curse and leads to forgiveness, healing, freedom, and eternal life.

SHALOM- GOD’S REIGN OF HOLISTIC ORDER AND WELL-BEING, WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF DISINTEGRATION AND DESTRUCTION. 

Consider this:

     If God’s majesty, grace, and power are not being exhibited in us, God holds us responsible.

 In Peter:

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”   

       To DEMONSTRATE  His mind, His life, and His power.

      Col 3:10 “Take another mind.” Metanoia- repent and have a  transformational  change of heart, a change of your way of life, a change of direction due to a spiritual conversion. CHANGE YOUR MIND.

     When Jesus was alone with His disciples, He shared the truths of the parables, which explain the mysteries of the kingdom of God. 

His mysteries are the whole work of redemption [the full gospel]  from first to last.

Jesus told His disciples that it had been given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and He taught them what they were. Matt 13:10 

We are His disciples. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

We have access to the mind of Christ to understand the mysteries of Christ.

Phil 2:5 “And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. LET HIS MINDSET BECOME YOUR MOTIVATION.”

Phil  2:5 “Let this same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

Phil 2:6-11 His Way of living: His Mindset:

Emptied Himself, became a slave, became a human, Humbled Himself, was obedient. Totally dependent on the Holy Spirit of Truth.

HE WAS EXALTED AND EMPOWERED AS A RESULT

In Philippians 2:2 & 5, the Word reads: “Be of the same mind, of one mind, let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”  

In  Phil 3:15, “Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind.”

Phil 2:12-13 “ continue to make this new life fully MANIFESTED as you live in the holy awe of God – which brings you trembling into His Presence. God will continually revitalize you, implanting the passion for doing what pleases Him within you.

Manifest- [emphanidzo]  revealed radiance,  or 

      the self-revelation of Jesus to US.        

Paul describes the opposite of the mind of Christ as the struggles among believers in the Philippian church- because of this kind of thinking shaping behavior – people insisting on getting their own way and not being like-minded leads to discord. 

In Phil 4:2, Paul urges two women who had been disagreeing over some issue “to be of the same mind,” which is the mind of Christ

These issues continue to plague human relationships both inside and outside the church, but they don’t need to have the final word; we can change our minds about what is happening. 

God’s Spirit and power will be increasingly evident in our life as we will imitate Christ’s humble, obedient service as we surrender. 

Paul says this is the central defining act of the Christian faith: the attitude, the approach that all Christ-followers are to demonstrate. It may go against our human nature, it goes against the tide of popular culture, but it is the way Christians are supposed to be in having the mind of Christ. 

Phil 2:5 “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,”  

Col 3:2  Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, not with the distractions of the natural realm.

                                         It will change your life.

The Renaissance Church – 10-Apr-2022

Palm – Symbol of victory over death.

John 12:12-16 – ” Now, Jesus’ disciples didn’t fully understand….”
Matthew 22:37-40(TPT) – Love God and each other with all the passion of your Heart.
1 Kings 3:9 – Solomon asked God for an Understanding/Hearing Heart
Daniel 11:32b – The people who know their God’s Heart will be strong and do great exploits.

The Gospel is not simply Information; it must be “lived out” to be effective.

“Information is not knowledge.
Information must be followed by interpretation for it to yield knowledge.”
Albert Einstein

1 Corinthians 14:13 – Pray for the interpretation of the mystery. Why? 
Because mystery needs interpretation. 
“1. What does this mean?  2. What must I do?”
1 Corinthians 14:19 – Paul said he would rather speak 5 words with understanding

Experiences with God help to develop Trust in Him yielding increased spiritual maturity.

“Each person who chooses to be an adult in faith
must Trust his or her Experience of God.”
William Callahan

Matthew 11:28-29 – “Learn of Me…”
Learning God’s Language
Have a desire to learn – be motivated
Get equipped – a) Study the Bible, it’s God’s language book b) have solid teaching of how He’s moved in the past
Be in an environment where His language is “spoken”
Embrace Humility
Be Patient
Remember: God wants you to understand Him

The Renaissance Church will transition from a Church of rules and rites to an instrument of God’s power.

A Present Word For Today:
Proverbs 22:20-21(TPT) – “Pay attention to these excellent sayings of three-fold things. For within My words you will discover true and reliable revelation. They will give you serenity so that you can reveal the truth of the Word of the One who sends you.”

Insight Beyond Analysis: A Hearing Heart

by Pastor Roy Esposito

James 1:2-4(Message) “…let it (the challenges) do its work, so you become MATURE and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

Daniel 11:32b – “The people who know their God will be STRONG and carry out GREAT EXPLOITS.”

1 Kings 3:9 – Solomon asks God for an “Understanding Heart.”

Spirit – PNEUMA – The Breath or Wind of the Spirit “Let the Spirit BREATHE LIFE into all my choices.”

Orthodoxy – Proper Belief   Orthopraxy – proper Practice of those beliefs

                 Orthocardia – practicing with the proper HEART (1 John 4:8)

As I allow my trials and challenges to shake me and awaken me, I’m refocused. I learn to TRUST God’s love for me, and I gain maturity. Here, the Mysteries start to become unveiled and unraveled, and I see from an elevated viewing platform.”– PR

“Praying from behind.” – AFTER something happens

“Praying from an elevated platform” – Praying with Prophetic Insight inspired and empowered by the FAITH of the Son of God.

Galatians 2:20(KJV, TPT) “…I live by the faith OF the Son of God.”

Colossians 1:27 – ”Christ WITHIN…” – Jesus’ faith LIVES in me!

Exodus 3:1-4 “Burning Bush” – Moses had a simple faith

Faith will ACTIVATE the promises of God. It is the doorway to REVELATION

Keys: ASK – SEEK  – KNOCK – Wait patiently

Luke 24:49 – Wait in Jerusalem for the power on high

Acts 2:5-13 – The kingdom age starts with a dramatic demonstration and revelation of Mystery.

Questions asked then and now:
1.” What does this mean?”
2.“What must we do?”

“What does each event I experience mean, and what should my reaction to it be?

“The degree to which we are able to answer these questions with the proper ORTHOCARDIA will determine the influence we will have over the circumstances we’ll encounter.”  – PR

Mark 4:26-29 Jesus will return when the CROP is mature

We serve a God who granted Solomon his wish.

1 Samuel 3:7-11 – “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.”