If we had the mind of the Spirit, which is the mind of Christ, then the precious blood of the Lamb is very important in every aspect of our being. This is a perfect combination of a conquering mind of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Define: "Bloody Minded" (Dictionary) Stubbornly contrary or obstructive. Inclined towards violence or a bloodshed. Rebellious, Complacent Mind, Dirty Mind, worst is a Reprobate Mind, (Scripture) - Believer's conquering faith as we respect & honor the precious blood of the Lamb as wall of protection (Rev. 12:11)
Paradox - A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which, when investigated, may prove to be well founded or true.
Challenge: We know that prayer is a very important lifestyle. When we read the Bible, God is talking to us, but when we pray, we're talking to God. What about the mind of the Spirit or the mind of Christ? We will continue to struggle in our prayer, without the mind of the Spirit (Romans 8:27)
Question: Why we need the mind of the Spirit? Because we don't know what we should pray. "Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it. Tell your neighbor: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ.
I. Introduction:
Can we give command to God? Yes! As we attracted His eye! The problem is not the know-how to command God, but the problem is: knowing not what we should pray. Many believers are inflicted & died in the pandemic because of not knowing how to plead for the precious blood of the Lamb. It blinded the minds of many, especially Christian, as they unknowingly dishonoring the redemptive plan of God through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that was shed for the remission of our sins. It is easy for the god of this world to blind the mind of many Christian, because of knowing not the mind of the Spirit. It's too easy to claim that we are God's Children, but we don't know what we should pray (no contact). Therefore, we need to know what is in the mind of the Spirit, then we can command God as we are His Children filled with His Holy Spirit trusting and claimed that our heart is fix on Him.
II. Message:
A. The Two Greatest Commandment and the Two Component of the Great Commission. The perfect combination of these two reveals the full truth. (v.40) "...hang all the law and the prophets" meaning if the life of God is real in our life, it will show by the presence of this love for God and others. In the OT-they have the law but they do not have the Spirit, while in the NT-they have the Spirit, therefore no need of the law.
1. The two greatest commandment (Matt. 22:37-40) "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart & with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
2. Two component of the great commission (Matt. 28: 19-20) Go therefore & teach all nations to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you & lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
a.) First greatest commandment (v.37) Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
a-1) Very important need. In Acts 2:38 and John 3:3-6, we need to become a true born again christian to have the mind of the Spirit in order for us to know the love of God.
a-2) Obedience to God's will. If we have the love of God, then we can do everything according to His perfect will.
a-3) First component. It is very important in order to obey the first greatest commandment.
b) Second greatest commandment (v39) Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
b-1) Love neighbor, include our enemies. If we have the mind of the Spirit or mind of Christ, it's easy to love our neighbor. (Good Samaritan)
b-2) Second component. It is very important in order to obey the second commandment.
B. The Mind of the Holy Spirit and the Mind of Christ (Mark 16:17) "And these signs shall follow them that believe" All authority in heaven & earth belongs to Jesus & He has now officially vested that authority to His Church, Acts 1:8 "And ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you..."
1. Power of loosing & binding. Matt. 16:19 "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound."
2. A word of caution here: When we make ourselves available and start to bent our knees, we must be aware that we have the power & authority vested upon the Church of Christ. Therefore we must meet certain condition & criteria because if not then we can be the same with exorcist & 7-sons of sceva (Acts 19:15-16)
a) The Keys - Have we got the keys of the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 16:19, and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven? Matt. 16:19 "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever..."
b) The Name - Do you have the Name that is above every name. "Name above every name, every knee should bow... every tongues should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9)
c) The Baptism - Are you baptized with Holy Ghost and fire? Acts 1:8 "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me..."
d) The Holiness - Do you live righteous in the sight of God? James 5:16 "The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much"
C. Reason why we know not what we should pray? Rom. 8:27 "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
1. Poor Spiritual Life - in Prov. 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he, Eat and Drink, saith he to thee, but his heart is not with thee." Here observe:
a) Infirmity - Rom. 8:26, meant weakness of the spiritual life. The mind of the Spirit help our weaknesses for we know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
b) Disturbances - (Eph. 6:18) We must do with all in the spirit of perseverance. Not cutting it short when our hearts are disposed to enlarge and there is time for it.
c) Laziness - (Matt. 26:41) The worst kind of temptation is lazy in prayer. The spirit indeed is lazy, so the flesh starts to sleep. We know that prayer is important but because we are tired abusing our body and mind, then resting in the armchair theater is more important than to attend church.
d) Battle of the mind. (Gal. 5:17), Mind is the leader of all actions. Our actions are a direct result of our thought. Do not forget the flesh (corrupt & carnal), lusts (strives & struggles with strength) against the spirit it opposes all the motions of the Spirit & resists every thing that is spiritual.
e) A confused mind (Rom 7:15), Without directions that will lead to destructions. The law of sin & death is against the law of life in the Spirit. We should know the mind of the Spirit to be able to discern life and death. Confused mind will lead us to destructions & choose our destination.
2. No knowledge to plead the precious blood of the Lamb. The blood of Christ is a counter agent to all that is corrupt and sinful in this world. When there is not a blood covering, sin is free to corrupt and destroy whatever it can come close to. Therefore the application of the precious blood is very important in our spiritual walk with God and then we can be able to know how to plead on it.
3. Not equip with the whole armour of God. Why do we need the armor of God, satan has always been a formidable enemy of mankind, countless people have succumbed to his attacks & cunning lies. He use many strategies: to convince us that following our lusts will bring happiness, to telling us that we are hopeless sinners, beyond help. However he knows what is prophesied about him - that his bitter end is looming (Rev 20:10), While he still can, he wants to take down as many as possible with him.
D. The making of today saints (Read, memorize & Meditate daily)
1. Pleading the Blood (The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man is to plead the precious blood of the Lamb "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb & by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death" (Rev. 12:11)
2. Declaration of Faith. Paul exhorted in (Eph 6:10) "Finally my brethren.." and continue his colorful description of a spiritual warfare in using God's armor. "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle..." (v11-20)
III. Conclusion: The present crisis in the church today is the shortages of believers that is extremely hot w/ fervent heat in prayer and fasting. These are terrible diseases or an epidemic that is widely spreaded in the modern day church. Blind minded Spirit Christian. They love to sleep more than to pray, to chat in the internet than witnessing, watching pics in the youtube more than publishing the gospel. Internet HBS more than from house to house, facebook to facebook more than reading the book of God. Fast eating or eat all you can instead of fasting.
IV. Challenge: Meet the challenge from the heart of Edr. Bayan:
1. Prosper in your soul - John's mind of the Spirit 3John2, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper & be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came & testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
2. Need God's direction? David's mind of the Spirit, Psalms 37:23-25, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young & now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
3. Answer to all your prayer? James mind of the Spirit (James 5:15) Confess your faults to one another and pray one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
4. Declaration of faith - Edr Bayan's mind of the Spirit pleading the blood, "And they have conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb & by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death, (Rev. 12:11) and equip with whole armor of God (Eph 6:10) "Finally my brethren..." & Continue his colorful description of a spiritual warfare in using God's armor (v11-20), "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh & blood..."