STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS (Part 3)

B. Unsetting the “Settings” of the Old Mind

The way our old mind is set is the basis of our action and behavior. Hence the need to examine the old natural mind in the light of God’s words in order to unset it.

i. Discuss the practical implications of a mind that is set (Rom. 8:5; Col. 3:1-3, 10-12, 15-16; Phil. 3:15-16; 1 Pet. 4:1-2) 

IF YOU MISSED PART 1 AND 2 FOLLOW UP HERE

Anything a man sets his mind upon is what he thinks about and what he aims at achieving. When you set your mind for example, on the belief that you cannot be influential unless you are rich, that is what will control your mind and that is what your mind will aim at achieving.

If forms the bedrock of your understanding and behavior in order to achieve that purpose. If you set your mind on pleasing the Lord at all cost, that is what you will keep thinking about and always aim at achieving. Your desire will be towards the things of the Lord and your behavior will be to please Him. Just as the radio or television programs you receive depends on the frequency you set your radio or television to receive, you cannot set or tune your mind on the things of the earth and receive the things of the Spirit. Before you can set your mind on things above, you have to undo the setting of your old mind. This is necessary before your mind can be renewed successfully with the word of God.

QUESTION

1. Name and explain the settings of the old man in your life and how it has affected your relationship with God?

2. Explain different ways to unset the old mind through God’s word?

3. What are the characteristics and practical implications of a mind that is set?

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STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS (PART 2)

A. Understanding His Mind (Prov. 23:7; Phil. 2:5)

i. Discuss the mind Jesus had that made Him to take the steps He took. Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 12:2-4; 1 Jh. 3:16; Rom. 5:7-8; Heb. 2:17; Lk. 23:34; 1 Cor. 1:27-29.
Look at His lowliness of mind in the following instances:

a) The way through which He came into the world. Lk. 1:26-27; Matt. 13:55; Lk. 2:5-20
He did not come through the family of the king or the high priest but through an ordinary virgin espoused to a carpenter. His birth was announced not to politicians or high class people but to shepherds. He identified with the lowly in His birth (Rom. 12:16).

b) His fore-runner, John the Baptist, was rugged and simple, Lk. 3:7-9; Mk. 1:6-8.
He did not choose orators or men of high taste. He was lowly in His choice.

c) He chose ordinary fishermen (Barbarians) as His disciples, not Pharisees or Scribes.
Are you lowly? Look at your friends, your choice of materials to use and people you work and walk with. Are you lowly?

ALSO READ STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS PART 1 HERE

ii. Discuss His life goal in order to understand His mind. Psa. 40:6-8; Heb. 10:6-9; John 4:32-34
He came with the attitude of obedience. His mind and His delight is to do the will of God, not to fulfill any selfish ambition. You cannot insist on satisfying your own pleasure and think you can follow Jesus. Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus, the mind to always do the will of God even when it hurts.

iii. What understanding of His mind can you discover from His pattern of life leadership and service? Matt. 20:25-28; Jn. 13:4-5, 12-17; Phil. 2:7; Isa. 53:1-9. His life pattern is that of humility and no reputation. He would not make a big name for Himself. Contrary to the world principles, for Jesus, leadership means service and the way into Spiritual Leadership is to bend down and serve. He had a mind of servant-hood. There is need to cultivate the same.

iv. Jesus never depended on Himself or want independence though at His disposal; Jn. 5:19, 30-32; Jn. 8:28-29; Heb. 5:5-8.

He did not seek His own glory but God’s glory. He did nothing of Himself but whatever God wanted Him to do. He knew that in man, there is nothing good. This mind must also be in you if you must follow Jesus meaningfully.

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QUESTIONS

1. What is the significant of Christ identifying Himself to the lowly at His birth in the life of Christians today?

2. Explain the criteria God uses to choose His own/people? Is it education, money etc.

3. What goal did Christ had while on earth and how can it affect our own goal?

4. What is the significance of Jesus washing His disciples feet to us leaders and Christians today? Jn. 13:4-5, 12-17

5. What does it mean to serve or be a servant as a leader following the footsteps of Jesus?

6. Give examples of situations that show that many believers don’t follow the footsteps of God, rather follow men’s ideology. How can we take God’s glory?

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STEPS UNTO FOLLOWING JESUS (Part1)

A. Understanding His Mind (Prov. 23:7; Phil. 2:5)

This is the first step we must take in order to follow Jesus and walk in His steps. There is need for us to understand His mind, what is behind His action, what made Him to do what He did, how He looks at situations. Our steps in following Jesus will be arbitrary, meaningless and unnecessarily difficult unless we understand the thoughts behind His actions. This is necessary because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

i. Discuss the mind Jesus had that made Him to take the steps He took. Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 12:2-4; 1 Jh. 3:16; Rom. 5:7-8; Heb. 2:17; Lk. 23:34; 1 Cor. 1:27-29.

"Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside His mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And He humbled Himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross."  Phil. 2:5-8.

What attitude do you discover in Christ here? It is that of humility, that of meekness. Even though he was God, he did not cling to His right as God. That is meekness. You can confirm this in Lk. 9:53-56; Jh. 18:10-11; Lk.23:35-39; Matt. 27:12-14. He never used His right as God to defend SELF. Even to come down to the earth in human form He had to put aside His rights as God. He willingly laid it aside and did not cling to His right as God even up to the time He was being crucified. You cannot continue to cling to your right and think you are following Jesus. You have rights….. But at every point and in every situation, you must be willing to release your rights in other for the will of God to be done. Men may cheat you and deny you your right. You will do well and be like Jesus by releasing and refusing to cling to your right.

ALSO SEE SALVATION BEFORE SERVICE

It was humility of heart that made Jesus to lay aside His glory and power and take upon Himself the form of a man. He bent down to serve man (even though He was God) and He went further in humility to allow ordinary human beings to crucify Him though He was without sin. He could have shown them His power and punish then in revenge, But He did not. God would have counted that as pride if He did. Could you be manifesting your authority and power to revenge and defend yourself in the face of provocation and still think that you are a follower of Jesus? How will God’s purpose for your life be fulfilled that way? That will render your salt tasteless and hinder you from being effective in serving God.

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It is necessary to understand and cultivate this mind, this attitude of meekness and humility and let it be rooted in us if we must follow Jesus effectively. You can also see an attitude of Love, longsuffering, forgiveness, mercy, faithfulness, loneliness of mind exhibited by the Lord Jesus. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” Then, following Jesus will be easy and His burden Light.

QUESTIONS

1. What are the things you must do to understand the mind of Jesus?

2. From our teaching, what is the reason behind the action of Jesus in going to the cross and in His sufferings by men (Heb. 12:2-4)

3. How can we apply Jesus actions to our lives as Christians?

4. How can we lay down our lives for our brethren? (1 Jh. 2:16-17)

5. What should be our reactions when we pass through difficulties and trials from the world (Lk. 23:34)

6. What is the level of humility necessary for Christians in authorities and leaders in diverse sphere of life (1 Cor. 1:27-29; Lk. 9:53-56; Jh. 18:10-11; Lk.23:35-39; Matt. 27:12-14)

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