Would you like to be a lighthouse? If yes, then, alter your course & be guided by a "Censored Mind" (The Holy Spirit, a consuming Fire).
Define: "Censored" (Dictionary) - Supressed any parts that are considered obsence (dirty), politically unaacceptable, or a threat to security. Censored in the Film Industry. Altered, deleted as objectionalble, subjected to censorship. (Scripture) - in the Book of Acts, the tongues of fire represents the presence of God the Holy Spirit. This fulfills John the Baptist's prophecy that are the Messiah would baptize "With the Holy Spirit and Fire" (Matt. 3:11-12). This also means that the purifying (consuming fire) work of the Holy Spirit carries in our lives today.
Challenge: God desires that the Holy Spirit serve as a censor or filter to our minds so that the things of this world are not able to enter. "Mind control?" Why not? We are all being influenced by something. People today are being influenced by "LIKE" in the facebook. How about? I "like" the results of being influenced by the Spirit, much better than the results of being influenced by the flesh. Do you have the desire to be guided into the truth? Do you "like" your entire life to be under control by God? Think about it!
I. Introduction: How we need a generation of people today who will not ignore the truth of God's Word, but rather be impacted by that truth. John 8:31-32, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth.." Every child of God has the opportunity & ability to understand the truth of God's Word because, "howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. for he shall not speak of himself; but whosoever he shall hear, that he shall speak and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)
II. Topics Discussion: The Holy Spirit serving as a filter, then censored all the pollution that is entering into our minds. These continual process of filtering makes possible for us to be wise, "For your obedience is come abroad unto all men, I'm glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." (Rom. 16:19). How then, can we have this censored mind?
A. Through the Gift called Men. "And he gave some apostles, & some, prophets; and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:11)
1. The 12 Apostles - They were the first to follow Christ in His ministry. and were later designed as such because they were eyewitnesses of His life after the resurrection.
2. The Spiritual Apostles - This gift is not in existence today because the qualification of being an eye witness is impossible. But if we experience Jesus death, burial and resurrection, we become spiritual apostles. In Matthew 28:16-20, "Then, the eleven disciples.. Go ye therefore.. teaching them.."
3. The Gift of Prophecy - Likewise, the prophets as listed here are no longer needed because the canon (or accepted standard) of Scripture is completed. But the gift of prophesy will help us to be edified to our faith in God.
4. The Gifted Ministers - However the office of the evangelist, pastor & teacher is still very functional and important today in the local church.
a.) A Shepherd and a servant heart - Those who preach faithfully the truth of God's Word are given to us a gift from God to help us have censored minds.
b.) Preach in wrong spirit - There may be some hypocrites in the pulpit just as there are in the pew.
5. To observe all things. God doesn't need us to build the church but for sure the need the church to build our lives, as we'll continue the Lord's Mission. "Teaching them to observe all things..." (v.20)
6. Truth cleanses the mind. God has called men to preach and commanded us to submit to authority.
7. The judgment day. The preacher will give account of his faithfulness to preach the truth, & every person who has heard that truth will give an account of his obedience to that Word. "Obey them that have the rule over you. and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Heb. 13:17)
8. The empty mind. How sad it is that many people today find excuses week after week to miss the preaching God's Word and then wonder why their minds are stained with worldly thoughts.
B. Through the Goal of Christ-like Maturity . "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ..." (Eph. 4:12-16)
1. God wants us to be like Him - If that is going to take place, we must filter out that which does not assist in that goal. (Rom. 8:29a), "For whom he did foreknow, he also, did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son..."
2. In a very general sense, there are three stages in God's plan for our lives
a) First Stage - There is salvation takes place the moment we put our faith & trust in Jesus Christ
b) Second Stage - There's sanctification which begins the moment you get saved (faith to faith)
c) Third Stage - It doesn't end until glorification, when we are with the Lord and then be like Him
C. Through the Grief (deep sorrow) over corrupted Morality (Eph. 4:17-18). "This I say therefore and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Walk not as other Gentiles walk in:
1. The vanity in the mind - When light is turned out, darkness prevails. When we turn our back unto the Lord Jesus, that will be the darkness night in our lives. Like Judas, commit suicide.
2. Having the understanding darkened - When a person closes his eyes to the truth of God's Word, no light can enter his heart, therefore that person closes his eyes to the truth of God's Word, no light can enter his heart, therefore that person is walking in total darkness, no direction at all, no light can enter his heart, therefore that person is walking in total darkness, no direction at all.
3. Being alienated from the life of God. As the result, he is forced to walk in "vanity of his mind" Life has no meaning & life is like a cycle. The vanity of vanities. "What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?" (Ecc. 1:3)
4. Through the ignorance that is in them. Jesus declared Matt. 22:29a, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures..." and (v-29a) "...nor the power of God." The greatest nation on earth has:
a) no knowledge - Therefore, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God.." (2Tim. 2:15)
b) no power - The promised (Acts 1:8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost..."
5. Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit - Life is going to be filled with all kinds of problems when our minds are not being censored on a regular basis by the truth of God's Word, (John 16:13) "howbeit, when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..."
6. Consistent reading the Bible - Are we reading God's Word daily? Do we use to meditate, (Joshua 1:8)? Are we listening to God's Word being preached? If not, "You're getting closer to reprobate mind."
7. Warning to a reprobate mind - How do we expect to "walk as children of light" or to become the lighthouse, when we are doing nothing to dispel the darkness? Therefore, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates? (2 Cor . 13:5)