11-01-23-ENG.

"We have the mind of Christ. " 

1 Corinthians 2:16 
GOD'S BUTTERFLY 

Read It: Colossians 3:5-6 '
This week we want to look at some very practical ways that having the mind of Christ should impact our lives. Usually when you start talking ing about setting your mind on heavenly things, someone objects, "If you do that, you become so heavenly minded you're no earthly good." No, the idea is to become heavenly informed so you can become some good on earth. Our problem today is not heavenly minded Christians who are no earthly good. Our problem is Christians who are so earthly minded they are no heavenly good-people so obsessed with this world's way of thinking that they do not bring heaven's perspective to bear on life. Now we've explained that you have died to the old you. The butterfly fly has been set free. You must no longer hang out in "Caterpillarville." You are now set free to roam the heavens as God's butterfly. Your job is to "consider" this as so (v. 5), to realize that you are now dead. Dead to what? 

Dead to your old life, which includes the unsavory list that follows lows in verse 5. What does Paul mean when he says these things amount to idolatry? Because whenever you serve immorality, impurity, passion, evil desires, or greed, you have made those things your god because you have placed yourself under their control. You do not need to worship a wooden carving ing to be an idolater. All you need to do is serve and give yourself to something thing other than the true God. Instead, your mind needs to inform your body that it no longer has to serve these gods. Why? Because God is going to judge those who do these things. Why would you want to hang out where judgment is about to fall? If you knew there was going to be a drug raid at a certain location at 3:00 A.M., you'd be a fool to be there at that hour. You need to be as far away from that place as you can get. The same thing is true if you want to be governed by the mind of Christ. "Consider" yourself dead and run as far away as possible from the deeds of the flesh. Think About It Whenever you say, "I can't help myself," you're saying that this thing controls your being. And if it controls your being, it has become your god.