We have much to thank God for – especially for the manifold blessings that we received during last week’s church camp (5-9 June 2023). The LORD’s goodness was abundantly evident in all aspects of the camp. We remember everyone who have laboured with sincerity and love for the smooth running of the camp (organising, logistics, music, chairing, preaching, etc.), for the safety and health of all the participants, and for the encouragement and edification of all through fellowship and acts of kindness. Above all, thank God for enabling His servants to teach God’s Word, so that our hearts may be renewed and revived to live a spiritually-minded, prayerful life of love and service in these end times – as we look forward to the coming of our Lord and Saviour.
While “the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7a) and amounts to “death” (Rom. 8:6a), “to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6b). Those who live unashamedly according to their unregenerated, carnal self are in a state of spiritual death, which will culminate in eternal death or “second death” (Rev 21:8). All those who have sincerely turned to Christ in repentance and faith are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, that they may live as spiritually-minded people.
Spiritual-mindedness comes through Spirit-given beliefs from the Bible. A spiritually-minded person acts on spiritual convictions that the Spirit gives according to His truths, which He has revealed in God’s Word. Such spiritual convictions stem not from personal feelings, thoughts, preferences, or opinions. Neither are they natural convictions resulting from external sources of people, occasions, or experiences. The source of our spiritual-mindedness is the Holy Spirit. “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” (Romans 8:5).
In every regenerated person, the Holy Spirit works to exert His spiritual principles. He instructs the saints and leads them according to His Word. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14).
Because all the regenerated people now still live in their sin-marred bodies, they will encounter “fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). Paul spoke of this great conflict he had within him in Romans 7:23 – “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Here, “the law of my mind” that Paul mentioned is the spiritual or biblical principles of his mind as a Christian. But in the members of his body, he experienced a “law of sin”, or the carnal principle of the flesh that exerts its enslaving control. However, he says, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Like Paul, all genuine Christians can thank God for the enabling (and experience) of the Holy Spirit’s help to serve the Lord with spiritual-mindedness – though “the law of sin” works continually through our “flesh” or body.
Cultivating Spiritual-Mindedness
Our minds must therefore be carefully guarded against carnal influences and be guided according to biblical truths, in order to live a life pleasing to God as His spiritual people. Scripture cautions us in Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Scripture instructs us to diligently keep and guard our heart / mind because “the issues of life” come out of it.
The following 15 biblical exhortations must be carefully observed so as to keep ourselves spiritually-minded: