Sabbath: Reformation: Thinking New Thoughts
Read for This Week’s Study: Col. 3:1-4; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; 10:3-5; Rom. 12:2-3; John 10:10;Matt. 5:13-15.
Memory Text: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2, NKJV).
Isaac Watts is credited with over seven hundred fifty hymns, many of which are sung by thousands of Christians today. On one occasion, a parade was held in London in Watts’ honor. People thronged the streets to get a glimpse of this famous man. As his carriage passed under a balcony filled with spectators, one lady was astonished that this short, elderly man now hunched over in old age had written such mighty hymns. She shrieked, “What, you are Isaac Watts?” Watts motioned for the carriage to stop. He stretched himself up to his full frame and exclaimed, “Madame, could I in fancy grasp the poles or hold creation in my span, I would still be measured by my mind, for the mind is the measure of a man.”
Isaac Watts was right. The mind is the measure of a man, and reformation is about our minds. If we have a reformation in our thinking, we will have a reformation in our actions. Reformation occurs as the Holy Spirit brings our thoughts into harmony with Christ’s thoughts. When that happens, our actions will follow.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 14.
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To be in harmony with God not to get God in harmony with us.
Today's lesson is very important and it is just a preview of the week's messages. Yes, I agree that reformation is centered in our minds and hearts. When the mind is new the thoughts will follow new patterns of thinking with pure thoughts, and with new thoughts what follows is new actions. I agree with Pastor Mark Finley that the source of renewal is the holy spirit. The holy Spirit transforms our minds and gives us the power to be more like Jesus. It is the holy spirit that gives each person the mind of Jesus, and when the holy spirit unites our will and thoughts with Jesus' will and thoughts a transformation takes place and minds, thoughts and actions are made new.
Well said, Frank.
I agree that the Holy Spirit should lead us but sometimes we expect too much. I am sure that some of us are waiting for some epiphany or great uplifting feeling that sort of says, "Hey this is what I want you to do/think". We look at the experience of Saul on the Damascus road and say, "I will have some of that, please!"
For most of us the Holy Spirit is a subtle small voice. Too many of us have noisy lives filled with activities that drown out little voices. We need to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in the words and actions of our colleagues, maybe even in the words of someone we do not like.
I am reminded of the story of a man who was stuck on a cliff. He prayed that God would save him.
A boat came to the bottom of the cliff and the boat person told the man to jump into the water and he would pick him up and take him to safety. The man responded that he was waiting for God to save him.
A helicopter pilot offered to winch him off the cliff but he responded that he was waiting for God to save him.
At the end of the day the man was berating God for not having saved him. And God replied that he had sent a boat and a helicopter to save him. What more did the man want?
If we are waiting for the Holy Spirit to do some great thing in our life then we are missing the ordinary opportunities that are being presented all the time.
Let our hearts keep God's commandments; for that will give us length of days...(Proverbs 3vs1)
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True that Bro Maurice. I also think whilst waiting for the Holy Spirit to work in us, what are we beholding. It is important that our focus may change, feed ourselves with spiritual matters, what we read, listen, eat, be in line with the Christ we want our mind to change to be like.
God is wonderful and that is the reason to invite him to grow us in grace and be renovated for him.
Brother Morris, I agree with you. I feel that many people fail to hearken to the Holy Spirit, but expect miracles. We have a major role in our own salvation. When our mind is set to listen and obey, then will we see the works of the Holy Spirit, and realise that man with on a boat and indeed the helicopter is God Himself trying to save.
Without the holy spirit we are indeed nothing.He is always willing to help but most people i included don't harken to its voice
Our mind once is set to the significant thing, it drives us to incline to the direction of our interest. If Jesus is main point to focus our life then all our mind needs is food to satisfy, it will be satisfied. Jesus will indeed the Bread and Water for Life.
Actually the mind and the heart are one and the same thing.
And God saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. Genesis6:5
The bible then says in Luke17:26,27 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
God has given us laws whereby to live, but now, as in the Noachic age, the imagination of men's hearts is evil and only evil continually; men walk after the desire and devices of their own hearts, and so accomplish their own ruin. God would have men stand in their God-given manhood, free from the slavery of appetite.
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Isaac Waatts,yeah u r true,mind: Nothing is more easy than to think and nothing is as more hard/difficult than to think well.
We can only begin to think new thoughts when we first take a step to accept the gospel of Christ. That is the starting point. The power to decide and choose who to obey and follow squarely lies in our own power.
If we have not made up our minds to follow Christ, it will be hard to have new thouhgts in our lives. Revival and reformation take place when we decide to to the will of God, leave the old mnnaer of life and embark on the new life as it were.Then we would have set a fertile ground for the Holy Sprirt to plant in new thoughts in us.
We must remember also that without Him(Holy Spirirt) there is nothing that we can do on our own. God who knows our capabilities and limitations empowers us with His Spirit to enable us have soldier on in our new foud life in Him.
In Friday's discussion questions #2 the question is asked "What principles or practices have you found helpful in controlling your thoughts when tempted?" I am interested in hearing what works for any of you. My strategies are not working so well...Can you help?