It’s All in Your Mind

We have not only been given the ability to think or to have intelligence. The word is closely associated with l Corinthians 2:14 which speaks about discernment or wise discretion. Spiritual discernment is a gift. Of course it will need to be stirred up. If the believer does not use his spiritual discernment, whose fault is it? His own, because the gift is there. Have you ever grasped the gift of right thinking? The word is also close to our previously studied word translated soberness, discreetness, or riyht-mindedness. IfTimothy did not stir up his gift of the ability to think, he would at some time find himself in trouble. When our children get into trouble, we say, "Y"ou didn't think!" God could easily say to His children, "You didn't stir up the gift of thinking!" This word sound mind is dose to our translation of the word discipline or self control. Because of the gift of the Holy Spirit, we as believers are responsible for self-control through the spirit of our minds. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is listed as self-control. In fact the fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22,23, fits under the spirit of love and of a sound mind. The mind controlled by the Holy Spirit is important to discretion. discernment. and self-control. Many believers convince themselves that they have weak minds. Pastors convince themselves that their minds cannot find messages; so they borrow from others. Sunday school teachers and others in the lord's service do not grasp the gift of the Holy Spirit, which includes a beautiful, intelligent mind controlled by God. "Timothy, stir up that mind!" Think of these three gifts or this three-fold gift. One is outward; one is inward and outward toward others; one controls our person. God has covered our entire being. Possibly until you revive the Holy Spirit to do, you might not be able to revive the Holy Spirit ID love and without bath af these revivals. you may not revive the ability ID think. It is your choice. Was there anyone in the Bible who was just average and who proves our thoughts? In Acts 6 we read of a man by the name of Stephen. He was an ordinary layman who became one of the first servants of the fellowship at Jerusalem. Acts 6:3 reminds us that they were to "l.tMlt... oat amJJnfJ (them] UMJt mm, o/. hMud ~ /.u1l o/. flu '](;"'1.J .fjJuJ.JL" Stephen fulfills these qualifications. Full of wisdom is a mental term. Deacons are to have the ability to do and the ability to think, but they will have to continually stir up these gifts. Stephen is described as "a mn.n lull oJ /,nj1Jt and o/- l1u ;,&,Ly, .{jJuJ.J.l." We have leamed that fearfulness is the opposite of faith; so Stephen had the ability of power, the ability to think. He did not have the spirit of fear because he had the gift of the spirit of faith. He is just an ordinary human being saved by grace. Verse eight says, "~ /.ufL tJ/ /,aiJJ,, [the opposite of fear] and p,tJ-WO (the ability to do] ..."' Over and over in the history of this ordinary believer we are reminded that he did not have the spirit of fear. He had the spirit of power, and the spirit of wisdom, and he had faith. What about the spirit of love? In Acts 7:59,60, we have the record of the stoning of Stephen. "'dbul IJuy, ~ ~ eoliuuJ UflJ'l'l . {J.od , tmd llHJ,UYJ-, ..&ml ~~ my, .l.pi.nl. dbuL he knufu/, ·dtmm,, and ohLL wiJlt a lhud ocin., ,,12n.,d, lm,J nol lhu mt l.o. l1ui,. e.'1.anµ." Is this not the ultimate spirit of love? He bore all things; he believed all things; he endured all 80 Ir