What In the World Are You Thinking?
Philippians 2:5

 Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Interesting verse in light of the conversation Paul is having with the Christians of the Philippian church.

In 1:27, 2:2-3 … Paul speaks to them about their mind … how it affects their conduct, love and life.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

   

Have you heard someone say, "Don't tell me how to think!" Well, Paul is taking the divine liberty to state how we ought to be thinking in this world …

like Christ. People want to do their own thing! Hardly anyone likes for others to tell them how to think or act.

We see this in small children very early. Just how did Christ think about this? What did He say? How did Jesus think?

Let us see…

 Well in viewing the scriptures we notice one thing … He thinks differently than the world thinks.

1. The World Thinks: "You’ve got to find yourself."

The world is "faddish" … not trendsetters as some might think. People who follow the latest fad do so only until the next one comes along.

"Where's the beef?"

"Is that your final answer?"

"You are the weakest link!"

"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?"

Even, "This Bud's for you," will all too soon be forgotten and go the way of other faddish things like Pet Rocks, Mood Rings, Hoola-hoops, Howdy Doody, and others.

People spend their whole lives trying to find themselves in order to fit in.

Jesus’ thinking was so radically different . . . a real trendsetter.

 Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

If you want to find yourself … give up trying to find yourself and lose or give up your life to the life of Christ … living and thinking like Him.

So this is radical thinking at the least!

2. The World Thinks: "It’s every man for himself."

The world looks out for number one.

It is told that in 1938 when Orson Wells aired his famous radio program, "War of the Worlds" the actor John Barrymore was among those convinced the Martians had landed. He contained his fear until he heard the invaders were coming down Madison Avenue. Rushing out to his kennel where he kept his twenty St. Bernards, he flung the door open and yelled, "It’s every dog for himself!"

The prize possession of the world is "numero uno."

Jesus’ thinking again is radically different.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

Jesus thinks and acts the opposite of the world. Jesus speaks of giving up one’s life for another.

Selfless love will always seem strange in the face selfish love.

3. The World Thinks: "Get all you can, can all you get and sit on the can."

The number one motive of the world is money. The desire for more money quickly turns into greed. Greed of every kind breaks and destroys life.

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Jesus’ way of thinking says be on guard … not against those who can take your money, but against the things that can steal your heart and then your life.

4. The World Thinks: "Whoever has the most toys wins."

The world wants you to think the more stuff you have the better off you are. From one adventure of wanting and getting to the other our life is filled with the momentary.

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

The radical thinking of Jesus states we are at a state of loss if we clamor for the things of the world.

Jesus asks us to value the eternal over the temporary.

Conclusion:

What in the world are you thinking? Thoughts of more of the world or the thoughts of Jesus that radically and realistically challenge our everyday living?

 

This sermon was adapted from a sermon preached by Robert AuBuchon at Trinity Baptist Church in 2001 - found at: http://scan.missouri.org/~aubuchon/sermons.html Preached by me 5-20-01 East 38th Street Free Will Baptist. PM service.