Renew Your Mind 3

Josh Owens

Clear Springs Baptist Church

Renew Your Mind • Sermon • Submitted 3 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

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Power of the single mind

Text: James 1:1-12

Introduction

The mind of a true believer has now become a tool to conceive all things pertaining to life in a God-centered way. You see, God now dwells at the core of who you are (supernatural power source). If you are going to have any God-centered thoughts, it will have to come from God Himself. Due to God dwelling in you, that is very attainable. God’s Spirit is actually the one who accomplishes that in you. Again, the purpose of such God-centered thinking is to being about exclusive God-centered living. In other words, you need to be on the journey of renewal to reach a point to where you are fully persuaded that NOTHING is going to come between you and the Christ-life; God’s perfect will for you life…SINGLE-MINDEDNESS!

2 Corinthians 11:3 “3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Single-mindedness can also be called “one-souled.” There is only one life James presents to us to be lived. James is talking about living in word and action.

What should we know both about the double-mind and the single-mind?

1) THE SINGLE MIND

(product of pursuing renewal)

A. Discovering the single mind

James 1:1–6“1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

The believer is guaranteed to “encounter” a multitude of trials.

Trials will be processed in such a way that JOY is produced in the heart of the believer. (Reins, kidneys, fountain, eyes)

Your trials are allowed to take place with a beneficial purpose!

There is always a work toward “perfection” taking place in your life. (Purifying process is always painful, but the pain leads to a greater freedom)

To achieve singularity of the mind, the believer must give patience room to work.

Trials gives opportunity for patience, patience gives opportunity for growing perfection.

“Wanting” = deficient, lacking, insufficient, not good enough, etc.

The single mind will always seek further wisdom from God.

The single mind will produce an unwavering faith!

The condition of your faith has to do with your perception of who God is.

To doubt is to doubt Him. To worry is to not trust Him.

Renewing your mind = renewing your faith; removing doubt and having a stronger level of trust.

“Wavering” = like a flickering candle or a flashlight with failing batteries.

2) THE DOUBLE MIND

(neglectful of renewing your mind)

A. The conditions the double-mind creates

James brings the “mind” (the inner you) and your “life” (your outward living) into view.

James explains the kind of life you will live when not pursuing the renewal that develops the “single-mind.”

“The sea” = your mind \ “waves” = your living \ “wind” = circumstances

“Driven” = a driving power source (there are many around you)

The objective of Satan is to make your life appear unstable to those He has captive.

Satan knows God’s is giving you a burden for your marriage, children, family.

Satan knowns if you are unstable on the inside (double-minded) your example of life will be too.

2 Peter 2:14 “14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:”

2 Peter 3:16 “16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

B. Here are a few snares Satan uses to create a double-mind in you:

Disobedience

Disobedience to God’s Word

The excuse driven person is a double-minded person.

Satan is working hard to keep you more dependent on your own thoughts, emotions and hurt than upon God’s own Word.

Satan wants to keep your life HORIZONTAL!

DOUBT

Doubting God’s power.

Doubt is another way of saying you don’t believe God.

Satan loves to chip away your confidence in God.

Satan wants to take you from “Thy will” to “My will.”

PRIDE

This is a tactic to injur you and everyone around you.

This should be viewed as a spiritual cancer!

Pride is a path to being completely unwilling to follow God at all.

Pride hardens your mind against any self change.

C. The damage of the double-mind

Turn to James 4:1-8

James describes the kind of damage the double-mind brings to everyone.

“Members” = the parts that make up your body

In other words, because of the “lust” (aka, double-mindedness) you are fighting and at war with everyone.

There will never be any good thing added to your life when taking the “double-minded” approach.

You will have brought you life to become and enemy of God.

What does God give the double-minded man? NOTHING!

What does God give the humble (single-mind)? GRACE!

3) Recovering The Single Mind

Draw nigh is possible!!!

Clean your hands (repentance; turn from the hypocrisy)

Quote: “The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that’s also a hypocrite.” — Tennessee Williams

Purify your hearts — renew your mind

What does “drawing nigh to God” look like? (V9-10)

Truly feel the pain your double-minded life has caused God, you and everyone around you.

Mourn = deep regret

Weep

Joy to heaviness = inward repentance

God promises to lift you up from such a state.

Keep the future in mind (v10-12)

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