So, leave the brain door open. But no entry for a Complacent mind, that is not open minded in the Truth. "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, & be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in" (Psalm 24:7). Do you hear that? Who heard it? Therefore, God had captured your mind. If not, we're all in troubles. A mind is like a parachute. It does not work if it is not open. Both the body & the brain have a tendency to be lazy! Our modern technology allows and encourages us to put our brain in neutral & allows these devices to do the thinking for us. People boast of being broad minded, but are too lazy to think about what is right and wrong. Think about it!
Define: "Complacent" - Contented. Showing smug (proud of oneself) or satisfaction with one self or one's achievements in pursuit of materialism. Complacency in Christ however, is very different. Christian contentment means that no matter what happens, we are fully satisfied in Jesus. No matter what happens, we are fully self-satisfied with our current personal effort in pursuing Christ.
Challenge: How sad it is to see people (even God's people) who close their minds to truth and open it to sin and errors. This problem is not new for Jeremiah confronted it in his day. "For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish (stupid or stubborn) children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. (Jer. 4:22). What a sad culture indeed when we know more about evil than we do about good. The gates of our minds were wide open welcoming the pollution that destroys our lives & yet remain closed to "thus saith the Lord" Do you hear it? It is not what you eat, but it is what eating you. What is worse than an empty stomach, is an empty mind. As we feed our stomach with fatty foods and cholesterol, we also feed our mind with rotten foods of the thought.
I. Introduction:
In Paul's second letter to Timothy, we get some insight into the aged apostle at the close of his life. He is ready to be offered. These last two letters to Timothy will enable him to carry the baton faithfully long after Paul is gone. He wrotes in 2 Timothy 4:13 "The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the pachments." In his dying moments, he desires that the physical, mental & spiritual all stay right, "My body is cold, so bring me my coat. My mind is weary, so bring me the books. My soul is hungry, so bring me the scriptures. I have a few more hours to use for Christ. This is no time to be complacent." What a testimony! Paul was practicing what he had preached.
II. Topics discussion: In 1 Tim. 4:13, Paul presents the three (3) Dynamics of a sound or sober mindedness:
A. The challenge of a searching mind. Apostle Paul shows Timothy a more excellent way in 1 Tim. 4:13a, "Till I come, give attendance to reading..." Reading the bible were centered on God's Word. In Psa. 119:11, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee"
1. Digital dangers - While reading is important, what we read is far more important. The information system mess up with garbage & debris that detouring many lives from God's destination for them.
2. Open minded people - They enjoy listening to gurus of ESPN or FOX news and talk show but when the pastor stand to read scripture, our mind wander & our attitude is "I've heard all this before"
3. No wander we are in such a mess in this world, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children" (Hosea 4:6)
4. Keep focused on life and ministry - Paul instructed in 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
5. Search the Scripture - Jesus said in John 5:39, "Search the scripture; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me."
6. The gems of the scripture aren't all found on the surface. - They must mined by diligent search. "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."
B. The challenge of a stirred mind. Apostle Paul shows Timothy the next more excellent way. Here observe in 1 Tim. 4:13b, "Till I come, give attendance to.. exhortation,.."
1. To stimulate mind. 2 Peter 3:1, "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you, in both which I stir up your pure mind..." The faithful preaching & teaching of God's Word is designed to stir our minds to wholesome thinking. It is enlightening our mind (spiritual awakening)
2. A reminder. In 2 Peter 3:1, "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you, in both which I stir up your pure mind by way of remembrance"
3. To establish the faith, Peter's audience had heard the truth many times before, but it was his desire to keep preaching it so that their minds would be established in truth. Yea, i think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance, "1 Peter 1:12-13)
4. Sharing ministry. In Heb. 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
5. Empty pews with empty heart. The parking lots of stadium, movie houses, bars, casinos, & shopping malls are packed daily as we fill our lives with all that the well of the world has to offer, while there are pews at the church that have not been sat on in years to listen to God's Word.
6. The need in this age. In a world that daily numb our minds into believing a lie, we need the exhortation of God's Word to stir us up to truth, In Heb. 3:12-13 "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
C. The Challenge of a sound mind. Apostle Paul shows Timothy the third more excellent way. Here observe, 1 Tim. 4:13c "Till I come, give attendance to... doctrine"
1. Searching mind. Paul exhorted Timothy in 2 Tim. 1:6-7 "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." A mind that searches the scriptures & is constantly stirred up through the preaching of those scriptures, will be a sound (sober or right) mind.
2. People go through life seeking peace and contentment. They try all that the devil has to offer, but nothing satisfies. From party to party, weekends to weekends, they are left empty with a craving for more of which never satisfies. Isaiah wrote, "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There's no peace, saith my God, to the wicked" (Isaiah 57:20-21).
3. The trouble mind. Jesus calls, "Come unto me, all ye that labour & are heavy laden & i will give you rest:
4. The mind that fixed trusting God. In Isa. 26:3-4, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:"
5. Do not let your mind become complacent. In Matt. 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled"
6. Food for the soul. Job said, "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food."
III. Conclusion: The making of today saints. Paul exhorted in Eph. 6:10, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Continue to v11-20, Paul's colorful description of the declaration of our faith in the Spiritual Warfare and the armor of God. "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 and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."