The Mind of Christ

By E. June Roper

1 Corinthians 2:16. But we have the mind of Christ.
Everything we do, everything we say, everything about us should reflect Christ in us. Acquiring the Mind of Christ begins when we accept Him as our personal Saviorwhen we seek to increase our knowledge of Him and when we become doers of His Word.
We live in an ungodly world and evil will try with all its might to infiltrate our minds. Laws of the flesh war with laws of the mind! But we have help in Jesus the Christ.
Be encouraged as you read this book, that even though we are tempted and tried, we are determined to have the Mind of Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477102268

E. June Roper

Emily June Roper, is called June by friends and family, lives in Charleston, SC, with husband, Raymond. She is a retired secondary school administrator and continues her work as tutor and counselor to many students and adults. June is a member of First Baptist Church of James Island and works faithfully with several ministries in the church. Raymond and June have four adult children and several adorable grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2012 by E.June Roper

Library of Congress Control Number:            2012907459

ISBN:                     Hardcover                             978-1-4771-0225-1

ISBN:                     Softcover                               978-1-4771-0224-4

ISBN:                     Ebook                                    978-1-4771-0226-8

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Contents

Dedication/Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

The Mind of Christ

Anxiety

Loneliness

Depression

Anger

Envy

Fear

Bitterness

Pride

Greed

Lust

Gluttony

Drug and alcohol dependency

Financial difficulty

Other behaviors

On the mind of Christ

God’s traits—unattainable by man

God is spirit

God is eternal

God is omniscient

God is omnipotent

God is omnipresent

God is immutable

God is holy

Other verses to ponder:

God is unique

Pondering thoughts

God is infinite

God is self-existent

God is sovereign

God is immortal

God is self-sufficient

God’s grace and mercy

Other attributes

The freedom of God

The Holy Trinity

Sinless

Christ was guileless

Christ was spotless

Christ was innocent

Christ is undefiled

Christ is zealous

Christ is long-suffering

Christ is compassionate

Christ is benevolent

Christ is self-denying

God’s glory

God is inescapable

The mind of Christ

Love

God is a forgiving God

A just and merciful God

Jesus is kind-hearted

Joy

Patience

Goodness

Jesus as our friend

Faithfulness

God’s peace

Self-control

Gentleness

God’s divine and infinite wisdom

God’s dignity

God’s integrity

Obtaining and keeping the mind of Christ

Conclusion

About the Author

Dedication/Acknowledgements

To God be the glory, for the things He has done.

This book is dedicated to Almighty God. It is my prayer that many lost souls will come to know Christ after having read this book.

As we were given the great commission by Jesus the Christ, I hope in Him, that this book will find its way to the high-ways and by-ways and will pique the hearts of the sinner.

God bless!

I am very grateful to my family members who were my constant source of support during this journey. To my dear daughter, Shelly, who critiqued my work, I thank you and I love you. You may now have your afternoons free, but don’t be surprised if call on you again.

To Raymond, my beloved husband, my best friend and by biblical correspondent, I love you and I truly thank you for checking all the scriptures for me. Without your support and encouragement this book would not have been written. Truly, you deserve all the credit.

To those of you who will buy and read this book, thank you and God bless you!!!

Foreword

As I try to give strength and support to my Mom, it is with pride and humility that I write this foreword for her book, The Mind of Christ.

God’s desire is to empower us with His love and wisdom. He desired that we use our hands and hearts to help those who are in the miry pits of bitterness, defeat, despair and whatever other disabling situations they may encounter.

In order to carry out God’s Commission, we must be equipped to do so. Developing the same mind that Christ has is the only way we can follow His commands.

For those of us who desire to have a closer walk with God and those of us who want to clothe ourselves in God’s character, this book will provide inspiration, information and biblical directions to help.

Daily, some of us are negotiating raging battles, trials and tribulations. The Scripture reminds us that Jesus is a fear-terminator—a stress-buster—a pain-soother—a heart-stiller and a soul anchorer. It would help us all to believe and trust in Almighty God, and live by faith, in spite of what Satan may bring against us.

As we are in the process of acquiring the Mind of Christ, we need to come to the realization that no one can watch over us with such quality and determination, with such tenderness as our heavenly Father; no one can come to our rescue when we fail or falter like He can; no one will/can pick us up, clean us up and give us chance after chance after chance to make things right with God.

We are blessed with the opportunity to commune directly with God and to share His deepest thought. We not only have the thoughts of God, but we also have His words as our words.

As we work out our salvation, we should always remember that God holds us personally responsible for our attitudes and actions toward each other.

In reading this book, The Mind of Christ, we find many reasons why we should praise the Creator. God is great; therefore, He is to be praised greatly. Every fiber of our being is called to glorify God because He is worthy of our praises.

The scriptures used in this publication were taken from the King James Version and New International Version Bibles.

It is my hope and prayer that God will bless you as you read this book, The Mind of Christ.

LaShel Rayon Graham

Introduction

The grace of God is found in His great love for sinners, in His longing to do them good. His son, Jesus Christ, personifies grace, for by the offering up of His body, sinners are made whole and pure, once and for all. John Bunyon

I agree unreservedly with my wife that we are to have the Mind of Christ and am flattered to write the introduction to this book.

God has a plan for all of us to have salvation. The way to His holiness is not a big secret, locked away in some lockbox, but is readily available to anyone who will seek His way. The Bible, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, has answers for whatever our need is at any given moment.

As you hunger to have the Mind of Christ, I hope this book will help point you in the right direction.

Mankind could never have accomplished redemption because our human nature is sinful and weak. Only Jesus was able to bring salvation and it is given to us by His grace through faith.

One of the preoccupations of our time is the search for meaning and peace. Many of us spend countless hours searching in all the wrong places. For instance, money can provide a materially comfortable life. Friends may help fill our time with something to do and someone to do it with. Caesar’s law can provide physical protection.

But what can quench the human thirst for meaning and inner peace? More money is not a substitute for a lonely heart. Friend may never understand all of our hurts. So what do we do? Where can we turn? Whom do we go to?

Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all these things will be added. Let Jesus and His will infiltrate your mind until it becomes the Mind of Christ.

That means we have to become copycats of Jesus because we want to imitate everything He does. We want to follow in His footsteps. And, as God desires, we want to grow in goodness and in patience, and we want to mirror God’s love for everyone.

As Jesus the Christ is, we too, want to be slow to anger and to refrain from using words and doing things that hurt others.

As Jesus the Christ does, we too, want to put the needs of others before our own and reach out to those who are seeking godly role models—those who need a friend—and those who just need someone to listen to them.

After all, we do have a charge to keep—to go into all the world and spread the good news to everyone; to be a beacon on a hill that beckons others to seek the salvations of the Lord.

The best way to acquire the Mind of Christ is to align ourselves daily with God’s word. Get the word deep into our spirit until it is embedded and imprinted in our hearts, making it impossible to rid ourselves of it.

Even matured Christians sometimes tumble off the wagon. That does not mean that we are lost forever. It means that we all sin and fall short—but when this happens, it is our responsibility to get up, clean up, pray up and jump back on the wagon.

Everyone, including those of us who have the Mind of Christ, will have our share of ups and downs—highs and lows. But those of us who walk with God will be able to draw strength from Him. Our nights will seem shorter—our storms will not be as dark and dreary—and our burdens will not be as heavy.

As complex and as complicated as it may be, God has told us what we must do to inherit the kingdom of God. Clearly, we must conform our hearts and minds to enter into the joy of the Lord, for truly we do want to walk in the New Jerusalem.

Deacon Raymond E Roper, Sr.

The Mind of Christ

"My papa can fix anything," said the proud granddaughter of her grandfather. After fixing several toy items in the past, she was truly convinced that there was nothing he could not make like new. Look through the eyes of children—so trusting, so believing. One of the most remarkable and outstanding characteristics of a young child is their loving spirit. Young children give no thoughts to whether their parents will be there for them; they just know they will be whenever the need comes. They manifest a simple, loving trust and dependence upon their parents. Children forgive quickly and forget just as quick. They might fight one minute and without parental involvement, will forget what they fought about, or even that they fought, and playing very well together the next minute. What parents tell their children is what they will believe.

Except you become as little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. (Matt. 18:3)

Our eternal home is what we are striving for after our life on earth. Having minds like the little children—innocent and trusting—is what will help us acquire the mind of Christ—to trust God totally and completely as little children trust their parents. This we should do, for every area of our life is controlled by God.

My mom used to sing a song, Let Jesus fix it for you, for He knows just what to do. Every morning when we wake up, he is waiting to fix it for us.

His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness. (Lam. 3:22–23)

No matter what our adversity is—fear, loss, sickness, financial need, or whatever—we can find comfort in the God we trust.

I like to think of my heavenly Father as the greatest fixer of our mind, body, soul, heart, broken emotions,e wants to, and he most definitely can and will.

As we mature in our Christian lives, we learn more and more of God and His expectations of us. Just as we want more and more and expect Him to fix everything for us that go wrong in our lives, He, too, has expectations of us. But we need Him to help us meet these expectations. His requirements of us are no small orders; nonetheless, it is clear to us that we are to obey His commands. We are to let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Do you want to keep your mind sound and safe from evil? Good! I will tell you just how that can be done. Read Matthew 1–6. When Jesus called a little child to come to Him, the child came right away and stood beside Him. As adults we are to obey Christ as the little child did. When we truly walk with God, we will learn to obey Him as little children. We will immediately listen to and trust Him in all areas of our lives.

Let this same mind be in you that is in Christ Jesus. No matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, your mind is always involved. We have our own minds, but we can also have the mind of Christ. We have to decide which one we’d rather depend on. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ (Phil. 2:5). This means thinking like Christ, having the same attitude and character, and, most of all, His humility. We must follow the commands of Christ, seek His will, and practice love. Jesus was humble and obedient to His Father, so should we be. Jesus was also a servant to others. So should we be.

He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. (Phil. 2:7)

How many young kids do you know dream of being a nothing or a nobody? How many young people wake up saying, I’m going to become a drug dealer or a murderer or a robber? All of us want to be something and/or somebody. We all dream of being successful in our chosen careers. And we can be. Flowery beds of ease were promised to none of us. But how determined are you?

Christ did not have an easy life on earth. Does having the mind of Christ mean that we will have trials and tribulations? I believe that as we pray to be like Jesus, knowingly or unknowingly, we are asking to be more than just Christians. We are asking Him to lead us and help us in our struggles of pain and suffering that we will surely endure in this life.

We were created to worship God throughout our earthly life and on through eternity. God desires continuous fellowship and wants our lifestyle characterized by worship. How is this possible? First, we must get to know Him personally; study His Word; become a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.

Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only of things down here on earth. (Col. 3:1–3)

We are, under no uncertain terms, to have the mind of Christ—not an easy task but possible. As we go through this lesson, we will point out some of the things that will hinder us from having the mind of Christ and try to fix them.

We want to look at some of the problems that wreak havoc in our minds and how having the mind of Christ is the key to successful living. Regardless of our struggles, Jesus, a splendid example, spent much time talking to those who were in need. Apostle Paul said that we who are strong should bear the infirmities of the weak. The weak that he spoke of had doubts, fears, and many other problems that a lot of us face today.

Jesus, our wonderful counselor, had the skills and the knowledge, personality, and character that allowed Him to help those who needed help. He used different technique to reach different groups; at times He confronted; other times He listened; and at times He taught—frequently through parables and sermons. He welcomed those who were sinful and needy, expecting and demanding only that they repent for their sins and follow His commands.

We will later present the character traits that made Jesus an effective teacher and tell why it is important for all of us to acquire the mind of our Savior. In studying the methods that Jesus used to reach the people, it appears that there were those who needed someone to listen to them and understand their needs before they learned the way of salvation.

As Christians, we are commanded to go into the world and teach all that Christ taught us through his Word. This we do by the aid of the Holy Spirit.

Everything that is experienced by society today has been happening since the beginning of time. After all, there is nothing new under the heavens. The following adversities were always in the midst of society: sickness, poverty, violence, envy, sadness, grief, doubt, discouragement, loneliness, and many other personal problems. Many of our biblical leaders and early Christians had their struggles. Look how Joseph, Job, David, and several others struggled through their trials. But with their focus on God, the things that were meant for bad turned into good for them.

Even if we trust God, believe in Him, and make sure our faith is properly focused, we will still face adversities—some more difficult than others. When this happens, our prayer to God is to help us understand His will and purpose. We need to indulge in reading God’s Word in order to find hope. We will find that we are not alone. There are many people facing the same adversities that we face.

As mentioned, we will see that many early saints faced tremendous trials and discouragement; many of them had feelings of fear, and many felt defeated. But their faith sustained them. God can and will do the same for you.

Actually, it is because of adversity that spiritual growth is acquired. When everything is continually going right, there is a tendency for us to forget our need for God. It is when trouble comes that we turn to Him, looking to Him for comfort, support, and ways of getting out of the crises we’re in. Our faithful and loving God never lets us down.

Jesus is asking you, What can I do for you today? He desires the best for all of us, both physically and spiritually. He wants us to focus our faith and needs on Him. God works mysteriously, but He is a God of order. He is well aware of our thoughts and life patterns, and He is attuned to every individual. All people are important to God, for His Son died for all and His call is to whosoever will.

So whosoever will can expect needs to be met as we look to God, our source, through faith and expectations. Remember that Jesus used two fishes and five barley loaves to meet the needs of thousands of hungry people. Another time when His disciples needed money to pay their taxes, He told them there was a coin in a fish’s mouth.

God surrounds all of us—under, above, and around—and He is the source of every good and perfect gift. Not only that, but He also knows everything about you and me: name, address, phone number, and even the number of hair strands on our heads; He knows the good, the bad, and the ugly, yet He is concerned about you and little ole me.

He cares about the big things as well as the small things in our lives.

God counts the number of stars and even calls them by name. (Ps. 147:4)

We are created in his image, so surely He is concerned about us. He is aware of all our struggles, and He cares even when our disobedience causes these struggles. God came in the form of His Son Jesus walking among us. So He understands all that we feel; He is familiar with all our emotions and hurts.

We are to live with courage, through the faith that God gives us. Whenever we accept our troubles with humility, we will learn not to live for ourselves but for the will of God (1 Pet. 4:2). God is compassionate and does not forget to lead and guide us through our afflictions. He is an infinite God, and His time and love for His children are limitless. Nothing is too large or too small for our God, for we all matter to Him.

As we go through life, we will have many spiritual lows and highs. During these times, we put forth extra effort to deal with these problems. Many, many episodes in the Bible deal with crises. Solving life’s emergencies and unexpected problems allow us the opportunity to grow spiritually, to even change and learn new and more positive coping skills.

In the Old Testament, we come in contact with Adam, Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, and many others who faced crises. These are described in great detail in the scripture. These verses serve to give us courage when we are discouraged.

Jesus Himself faced crises. So did Paul and many other believers. There are several epistles (letters) written in the Bible to help us deal with our life problems. As we read our Bible, we get great encouragement and stimulation from Abraham and Sarah who had to cope with moving about and years of not being able to have children. Then when God blessed them with Isaac, He commanded that Isaac be sacrificed. You talk about emotional stress!

Then there is Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. Don’t forget about Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus. Even Job suffered but submitted himself to God as he struggled. He asked God, What has become of me, and what will happen now? All these people had faith in God, to know that in his omnipotence, He knew their pain, He cared, and He would deliver them.

All of us struggle in life, be it personal problems or family problems or loss. There are many powerful truths found in the Bible that will help us emerge as a stronger, wiser, and better person through faith. No matter what we face in this life, God has a plan for us. For I know the plans I have for you. This comes directly from God. Plans to help you and not to harm you (Jer. 29:11). We know how to face life’s challenges because God provides the wisdom we need. As we read His Word and learn to set goals for ourselves related to His Word, we will draw closer to Him and realize that He is at work in our lives at all times.

So now let us now look at and try to solve some of the personal problems that can interfere with our desire to have the mind of Christ. With God’s help, every one of these problems can be overcome. We must shake off these problems if we are to have the mind of Christ.

Anxiety

We can use the words or phrases stress, panic attack, and tension interchangeably to describe a problem that attacks thousands of people on a daily basis. These feelings can cause us to feel uneasy, worried, dreadful, and/or deeply concerned. Sometimes anxiety is more intense for some than for others.

Many people don’t think much about worry. To some of us it is a normal behavior; we equate loving our families and caring about them to worrying about them. But it is indeed a habit that can stop the Word from working in our lives.

Jesus taught that we should not be anxious about anything—food, clothing, or shelter. Matthew 6:25 says that our heavenly Father knows what we need, and He will provide. As we continue in His Word, Philippians 4:6–7 reads, Stop perpetually worrying about even one thing. We are to cast our cares upon the Lord. Why? Because He cares for us.

While we live on this earth, we must deal with whatever problems we are dealt. The Bible tells us over and over to go to God in prayer and commit all our problems to Him. This is easier said than done. For one reason, we are very impatient. Sometimes God’s schedule is not our schedule… . We can’t wait, so we take charge. Bad mistake!

Anxiety can happen as a result of conflict, fear of something or someone, needs that we have no way of meeting, and numerous other reasons. However, our freedom from anxiety comes only when we are at peace with the Almighty God.

Anxiety, believe it or not, is not always bad. In moderation, anxiety can motivate us and add zest to our lives. If not resolved, however, anxiety can cause physical ailments. Severe unresolved anxiety will produce physical illness.

Those of us who hope in Christ, can rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 4:4) when we have our problems. Also we know not to let our hearts be troubled (John 14:1–3). We can also pray when we are facing our struggles because Philippians 4:6 tells us not to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. This verse unequivocally tells us that one way to rid ourselves of anxiety is to pray. The Bible instructs us to be doers of the Word; therefore, the conclusion reached here is that in order to decrease tension in our lives, our behavior should exemplify godly behaviors by doing what the Bible teaches.

When we walk daily with God and learn to trust Him wholeheartedly, and when we are secure in our conviction, anxiousness becomes nonexistent or will come in very small doses. Reading the Bible encourages us to confront our problems in a realistic way. In the meantime, we are able to grow while strengthening our reliance on an all-powerful, all-loving, and Almighty God.

Anxiety can and usually does keep us thinking obsessively about certain problems we face. This takes away the time we should be doing other things and also robs us of our energy. Sometimes, even when we pray about the situation, we still cannot shake it. The only way we can come to peace with our struggles is to be willing to trust God to work it out any way He chooses. God is completely trustworthy with our problems.

Our anxiety comes from a nonrealistic sense of control and makes us believe that we alone can work out these problems, when, in fact, that’s what God is here for. We are to let Him do His job so that we can be at peace.

We are not to let worries hold us back from what God may be trying to teach us, for He wants us to release our anxiety to Him. We know that God did not call us to bear the burden of anxiety. To be anxious as Christians is to misuse the mind the Lord has given us and to set aside the promises He has made to us. Just know that God can deal with anything that seeks to threaten us. The following scriptures will further verify this: Isaiah 40:31, John 14:1, Philippians 4:13, Deuteronomy 31:78, and Romans 8:31. The more we learn about God, the more confident we become in trusting Him, for it is written, God has promised peace of mind to those who are willing to commit their anxieties to Him (John 10:33).

In overcoming the problem of anxiety, there are practical and realistic steps that we must take. As Christians, trying to obtain the mind of Christ, we must commit ourselves to God’s safekeeping and continue to grow in our knowledge of God and our love for Him as we study the Bible, pray, and meditate on His promises to His children.

God does not want us to be overcharged with anxiety because He is our burden-bearer.

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. (Prov. 12:25)

Have you ever wondered why God is so concerned about our anxiety and our other problems? Because, as Solomon said, it encumbers us—it’s a big load to carry—it is a heavy burden. This is not the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. These burdens make us lame so that we cannot do God’s will and enjoy His presence. When we are absorbed in our problems with worry, we are not absorbed in God. When we let anxiety control us, we are saying that our anxiety is more important to us than