“Minding Spiritual Things”

Romans 8:1-6

1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death

3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

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o do this, one must first keep his mind on the things of the Spirit. Rather than exercise self-restraint and control and make an effort to change one’s emphasis, too many make excuses. The problem is that after salvation, there is no excuse for going back to fleshly things.

Why is it so dangerous to go back to our “pre-salvation” mind? If is because it is that mind (its thinking and orientation) that bound us—both to sin and its consequences. Therefore, if we reinstate that mind, we will once again place ourselves under the oppression of the enemy. This message from the Lord is so important because if we can get our minds under control (through the Lord), we will be able to be “at peace” in the Lord.

So, how do we accomplish the goal of “minding spiritual things?” It is done by us allowing ourselves to think as spiritual beings. That is, we acknowledge that all that comes our way is authorized by the Lord. Since it has come, He already knows that we can handle it. When we take things personally, we negate all the power and authority we gained through the New Birth. Obviously, one who exists in the natural, is severely limited to his operation. He is dependent upon physical laws and circumstances. Conversely, when one operates in the Spirit, his ability is unlimited. To win this war, spiritual things must become foremost in the mind and life of the believer. One with this orientation need never feel condemned again, for there is no condemnation when one walks in the Spirit. It is the Word of God which helps us prioritize and define His goal for us. Therefore, it must have and take effect.

We must remember that the Law was weak through the flesh. Therefore, trying to keep it was dependent upon man controlling his flesh, which was impossible. No one can live a productive life worried about doing wrong. This is why we have the Spirit of God: that through not being dependent upon the flesh, but rather being under control of the Spirit, we can be victorious in all situations and circumstances.

Once the Holy Ghost is conferred upon an individual, nothing can or should be able to tie him down. For you know, when your mind becomes spiritual, your life becomes spiritual. No longer can we afford to “gloss over,” ignore or excuse the absence of truth, but rather illusion. This makes us responsible for “sharing” the truth. Part of this truth we all have to face is that the Lord controls things natural as well as spiritual.

We are told to mind spiritual things for God’s benefit as much as for ours. We need to understand that no matter how steeped in a circumstance we are, Jesus can deliver; for nothing is hopeless as long as there is life in the body and breath in the lungs.