The Battle for the Mind

I listened to a sermon this morning by Dr. Martin Lloyd -Jones called “The Battle for the Mind.”  Jones was born on 20, December 1899  and died 1, March 1981.  As I listened to the sermon, I got a cold chill and thought what this sermon might say if he were still alive.  Dr. Lloyd-Jones based the sermon on 1 Peter 1:13.

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV). 

Now I listened to him speak, and I read these words, and as I read I thought of something Pat says often, and I am paraphrasing, “God gave us a mind, and we should use it.”  So that is what I did…  I saw the “Therefore” at the beginning of this verse, so I went to the beginning of chapter one.

1Peter 1:3-12

In these nine verses, Peter speaks of the glory of God and the gift He gives us to know Him and worship Him.

 ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ¹¹ inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Meditating on the Words

As I read and meditate on these verses, I am filled with joy and thanksgiving.  My mind goes to Ephesians 2:8-10

 ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

As I ponder all this I am humbled by God’s love, and grace.  I cannot help but be overwhelmed by verse 12 in 1 Peter 1.

 ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. 1 Peter 1:3-25 (ESV) 

That passage takes me to the “Therefore.”

Therefore 1Peter 1:13

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV). 

What a powerful verse.  Peter tells us that we must prepare our minds for action and be sober minded.  Instantly I go to Gods Word.  There is no other source of absolute truth… there is no other source of true wisdom.  In God’s Word are the answers to all my questions, but I must seek them out.  It is not enough to let others tell me about God.  I must seek His face.  I like what James says in James 4:7-8.

 ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8 (ESV)

Through Peter God warns us to be sober-minded and through James, He tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from us.  Both situations require serious action on our part.

Brain Washing and Group Think

Dr. Jones, in his sermon, speaks of brainwashing and the effort by the adversary to try to get us to stop thinking for ourselves.  He spoke of how the World caters to our every desire.  We no longer makeup games or challenge ourselves we look for others to do that  for us and we prefer to be entertained rather than an active participant.

I thought of how I played as a kid.  We made up games and challenged ourselves to come up with ways to entertain ourselves, but as I got older it became easier to listen and watch than do.

Jones also spoke of “submitting to the expert”.  My thoughts automatically went to global warming.  Regardless  of which side you are on the debate we rely on what the “experts” say to reinforce our position.

These same experts introduced evolution and deny the flood, and if I disagree with the experts I am labeled a “flat Earther” or bigot of some sort.

…  and that takes me back to God’s Word.

1 Peter 1:13-19 the Therefore

Therefore, I turn to God’s Word and seek His sound counsel revealed through His servant Peter.

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” ¹⁷ And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, ¹⁸ knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

God paid my debt with the blood of Christ.  Jesus was without blemish or spot, but He took on my sin and paid my debt in full.  Given that how can I do anything but strive to know him by prayer and study?  I owe Him so much more than to simply be entertained on Sunday or Wednesday.  I need to pray and study for myself.

1 Peter 1:20-25

I read the close of this chapter in Peter and my heart aches.  I think about all the times I have claimed to be too busy or too befuddled to seek God in His Word and then I read this passage.

²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴ for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Busy- Being Under Satan’s Yoke

My wife Pat learned this acronym for BUSY in a women’s small group many years ago and as I listen to Dr. Jones sermon and studied God’s Word it seems fitting.  All too often I get busy.  Busy watching TV or busy surfing the net or busy getting caught up in what the talking heads say about the world.

It is easy for me to get sucked into the relying on the experts instead of seeking to understand on my own.  That includes relying on my preacher or small group leader or Sunday school teacher to tell me what to think.

Closing

I must use the mind that God gave me and His full armor to seek the truth.  For that I will turn to God’s Word.

 ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.    1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (ESV)

Prayer

Father help me that I should not become complacent.  Stoke the fire that burns in me for your Word.  Help me that I do not allow myself to become comfortable in being entertained, but test everything and hold on to what is true.

In Jesus name, I pray!  Amen!