You Are Too Expensive: Let the Mind of Christ Be in You

Sermon outline

Because of the cross we got our minds back, so think the way Christ thinks: stay under your God-given covering, don't live by feelings, and know you are priceless because Christ paid for you with His blood.

1. Let this mind be in you: attitude and purpose

   The NIV speaks of your attitude and the Amplified of 'attitude and purpose', with Jesus as your example in humility. The Greek word means to exercise the mind, to be of the same mind and to think, so we must think the way Jesus thinks, and that is possible because of the cross. The Bible is God's thoughts penned to man, and the cross takes away shame, guilt, poor self-esteem and racism: Jesus took your shame that you may have His glory and your poverty that you may have His abundance.

   Illustration: Understanding brings clarity, clarity brings direction, direction brings focus, and focus brings objectivity, so you stop comparing yourself with others. An illiterate person need not feel small next to a highly educated one, because Jesus has become wisdom to both.

   “The Bible literally is God's thoughts written for us to meditate on.”

   • Philippians 2:5
   • Amos 3:3
   • 1 Corinthians 1:30

2. We got our mind back at salvation

   When Adam fell, man lost his mind, but Christ the second Adam brought restoration, renovation and newness of life, so at salvation the possibility exists to have His mind. Stop saying you have a lousy memory or do badly in exams; keep confessing that you have the mind of Christ. He cancels every negative word spoken over people by parents, teachers and others, calling such words a curse.

   Illustration: He has the church put a hand on their forehead and say, 'I have the mind of Christ.'

   “At salvation, you got your mind back.”

   • 1 Corinthians 15:45
   • 1 Corinthians 2:16

3. The prodigal son: don't leave your covering too soon

   In the parable, fathers give sons identity, inheritance, mentoring and direction, and dysfunctional fathers produce dysfunctional sons. The younger son left too quickly and too early, and when you abdicate your place prematurely you abort your destiny and lose your inheritance; a hireling is always waiting to use and abuse you, while a true shepherd prays for and nurtures you. When he came to himself he made a double apology, to heaven and to his father, and his humility reconnected him to his destiny; the father ran, embraced him and said 'this my son was dead', because walking away from your God-given place is spiritual death.

   Illustration: The son went from his father's house to feeding swine for a citizen of a far country, a double embarrassment for a Jew. If you have an argument and can't sleep until you put it right, rejoice: the Holy Spirit's conviction means God is still on speaking terms with you.

   “You abort your destiny when you abdicate your position prematurely.”

   • Luke 15:11-32
   • Matthew 4:8-10
   • John 10:12-13
   • Philippians 1:7

4. Don't walk by feelings: God always hears you

   You may feel nothing, but we walk by faith, not by sight; when you no longer feel goosebumps, God has simply brought you to a place where He trusts you more. Jesus said 'Father, I know that You always hear Me', so he decided long ago never to doubt God when he prays. We have a High Priest touched with our weaknesses, our names are on His palms and in the Lamb's book of life, and the angels of the Lord camp around us.

   Illustration: A woman in the church came to him trembling under the anointing and said that God had opened her eyes while he preached and she saw an angel walking behind him.

   “Every time you pray, whether you feel like it or not, God hears you.”

   • 1 Corinthians 2:9
   • 2 Corinthians 5:7
   • John 11:41-42
   • Hebrews 4:15
   • Isaiah 49:16
   • Psalm 34:7

5. When I found His house, I found His table

   Coming out of the religion he grew up in, he knew nothing about church, but when he came to his right mind he looked for God's house, and there he found God's table: provision, protection, healing and wholeness, which is why the devil fights you coming to the house. There is God's perfect, acceptable and permissive will, so make sure your marriage, your job and your church are His perfect will, and once you are there, don't move. God isn't looking for perfect people but willing people, and you are bread to everyone around you.

   Illustration: Things cook when it gets hot: raw chicken is no good, but baked at the right temperature with the right marinade it is delicious. In the same way, we eat of the bread of life to become bread to our families, workplaces and neighbours.

   “When I came to my mind, I looked for his house. And when I found his house, I found his table.”

   • Psalm 23:5
   • Romans 12:2
   • John 6:35

6. Bought with a price: you are too expensive

   For years the devil told him he was not worthy to preach, until he realised that God called him and paid the price. Paul persecuted believers, Thomas doubted, Peter denied and David fell into adultery and murder, but Jesus paid for them and counts you worthy too. Your value is the value of the blood of Christ, so there is no opening or closing price on you; Christ walked as though He owned everything, looking at water and seeing wine and at a dead man and seeing life.

   Illustration: At an auction everything has an opening and a closing price, but there is no price on you. Spouses in a quarrel should not tell each other 'you're not a Christian', because Christ paid in full for both of them.

   “Your value is the value of the blood of Christ.”

   • 2 Corinthians 7:2
   • 1 Corinthians 6:20
   • John 2:16-17
   • John 2:7-9
   • John 11:39-43

7. Pick up your value: the end of pleading poverty

   He grew up poor and hated poverty, and he urges people to stop pleading need and say instead, 'I have seed to sow'. God wants His people to do extremely well, and the foundation for prosperity is the tithe, on whatever amount you earn, so that God sees a faithful steward. Believers carry the presence and glory of God on their faces, and he prophesies that their suffering days are over.

   Illustration: When he paid at a supermarket, the cashier saw an old ID card photograph with a moustache and said he looked old there but looked good now. He says what she didn't know was Christ in him.

   “Because of the price that was paid for you, pick up your value.”

   • Romans 8:19
   • Matthew 7:26-27