Heart Detox #3: Renewing of Our Mind
I. INTRODUCTION
Renewal of our mind is essential for a vibrant life.
II. UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF THE HEART: COGNITION, EMOTION AND VOLITION
a. Cognition (Thinking)
i. …making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding (Proverbs 2:2)
ii. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4)
b. Emotion (Feeling)
i. Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes (Proverbs 6:25)
ii. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matt 5:28, NET)
c. Volition (Choosing)
i. My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments (Proverbs 3:1)
ii. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (Matt 18:35)
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds (thinking). 18 They are darkened in their understanding (thinking), alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance (thinking) that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous (feeling) and have given themselves up to sensuality (choosing), greedy (feeling) to practice (choosing) every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires (feeling + thinking), 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds (thinking), 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (thinking + choosing). [Ephesians 4:17-24]
III. COUNTER LIES OF THE ENEMY WITH TRUTH OF GOD
“lusts of deceit” (v. 22) vs. “righteousness and holiness that comes from truth” (v. 24)
A. Guard your mind from the lies of the enemy.
B. Fill your mind with God’s truth.
IV. LIVE OUT YOUR NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST
“But sexual immorality, and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints” (Ephesians 5:3)
“FOR BELIEVERS, SIN IS AN ACT OF BETRAYAL AGAINST THEIR NEW IDENTITY. FOR UNBELIEVERS, SIN IS AN ACT IN KEEPING WITH THEIR CURRENT IDENTITY.” (Michael Emlet)
V. CONCLUSION
“Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” (Eph 4:23, NLT)