9.71 Set your mind on the things of the Spirit
We have said that the spiritual battlefield for the believer is really in the mind. Do we align our minds with the finished work of Christ or do we not? Do we see our identity in Christ or do we not?
The finished work of Christ is a reality in the spirit realm. Your true identity in Christ is a reality in the spirit realm. Jesus has given us His Spirit in the spiritual realm. But we have a choice to make with our minds.
We can both set our mind on the things of the Spirit and live on the basis of the reality of the spirit realm, or we can walk according to the flesh in the natural realm.
We can look at the finished work in the spirit realm instead of looking at circumstances in the natural realm. We can see our true identity in the spirit realm, or we can see the carnal man in the natural realm. We can draw for the power of the Spirit in the spirit realm, or we can labor in our human strength in the natural realm. We can draw from the zoe life of God in the spirit realm, or we can experience death in the natural realm.
The following verse tells us how we should live our lives in the New Covenant.
(Romans 8:5-6)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
We are to live according to the Spirit by setting our minds on the things of the Spirit. When we do so, we will experience life and peace.
When we walk in the Spirit according to our new identity, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Fulfilling the lust of the flesh happens to those who set their minds on the things of the flesh.
(Gal 5:16-17)
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another…
This is a powerful verse to reinforce to us that dying to self is not about wrestling with self. It is about yielding to the Spirit. We do not wrestle with darkness; we simply turn on the light to dispel darkness. The key is to walk by faith in the Spirit.
The finished work of Christ is a reality in the spirit realm. Your true identity in Christ is a reality in the spirit realm. Jesus has given us His Spirit in the spiritual realm. But we have a choice to make with our minds.
We can both set our mind on the things of the Spirit and live on the basis of the reality of the spirit realm, or we can walk according to the flesh in the natural realm.
We can look at the finished work in the spirit realm instead of looking at circumstances in the natural realm. We can see our true identity in the spirit realm, or we can see the carnal man in the natural realm. We can draw for the power of the Spirit in the spirit realm, or we can labor in our human strength in the natural realm. We can draw from the zoe life of God in the spirit realm, or we can experience death in the natural realm.
The following verse tells us how we should live our lives in the New Covenant.
(Romans 8:5-6)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
We are to live according to the Spirit by setting our minds on the things of the Spirit. When we do so, we will experience life and peace.
When we walk in the Spirit according to our new identity, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Fulfilling the lust of the flesh happens to those who set their minds on the things of the flesh.
(Gal 5:16-17)
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another…
This is a powerful verse to reinforce to us that dying to self is not about wrestling with self. It is about yielding to the Spirit. We do not wrestle with darkness; we simply turn on the light to dispel darkness. The key is to walk by faith in the Spirit.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 12:48 AM
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