It’s All in Your Mind

J @wpln 8 g1u Jpmhud Jllind ". ..ilwJ f.lud ,UR, a/In nu J,miL l mi.ltd} flu lhi.,uµ IJ/ llu Jpi¥iL" Romans 8:Sb The opposite of the carnally minded Christian is the spiritually minded Christian. If the carnally minded believer is concerned with the things of the flesh, then the spiritually minded believer is concerned with the Holy Spirit. In fact, that simple statement is the test to detennine if you are spiritually minded. As simple as that sounds. we must go further and find out that which concerns the Holy Spirit. This would seem like a difficult or a tedious task. but it is rather simple. In John 16, Christ teaches the disciples about the Holy Spirit. The chapter rings with the work of the Holy Spirit and, without much imagination, shows us what our concern should be as spiritually minded individuals. "olnd wJun lu u ttJnu, lu will lfqutJO#, flu ~ "'mt, "'~ and 6/. ;, «l.tp, wd" (John 16:8). Here we see three concerns of the Holy Spirit. The first is sin. As a spiritually minded believer, you are going to be concerned about sin. Second ·is righteousness. The word possibly includes right conduct and activity. The Holy Spirit is concerned about our conduct, our outward expression of that which is within. Third, the Holy Spirit is concerned about judgment. Again, as believers, we try to lay this word aside. but Paul reminds us that all believers will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ. We know that this is not judgment for sin, but the deeds the believer does after he is saved are tested for rewards. Spiritually minded Christians are concerned with rewards if for no other reason than to cast them at the feet of the Savior. Immediately we see that conduct is important to the Holy Spirit; conduct regarding sin, and righteousness. and judgment. Here is an area of test for the Christian. Are you concerned about sin, about conduct, about rewards? But even greater than these, the Holy Spirit is primarily concerned about Christ. John writes that the Holy Spirit, when He is come, will "(Jll.i.<h ,p,a i,nh,. all ln.JJJ,_,, (John 16:13). Truth is Christ and His Word. A spiritually minded believer will be_ concerned about Christ and the Word of God. Be careful of those who say that a really spiritual Christian will manifest the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit never pushes Himself. He always glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is also concerned about discernment. As 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, <¥(Ruf flu IUl.h.ua.l ma.n u.ttllJ#Jh nol I.Ju lhi.,uµ ol- lite Spir-il "' .(JML: I"'- dul,I till ~ un1.tJ.. him; nmlto: lll.ll lu luwm. 11um., bttnau dug, flll ~ di.wnu.d. " 33