The Importance of the Mind — Part 5

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Title: The Importance of the Mind — Part 5 ------------------- Date: 5/18/2002
Keywords: "addiction" "mind"
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Passages: Romans 1:28 and 8:5-7*

1:28 And just as they [unregenerated men] did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

8:5. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

7. because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is note even able to do so,

8. and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Questions

1. According to Romans 1:28, what happens to people who discount God?

 

2. Put 8:5 in your own words. What is Paul saying? Have you found it to be true in your own life’s experiences?

 

3. How is a mind set on fleshy things (like viewing pornography, for example) actually playing with death?

 

Practical help

If you tend to kick yourself for continually returning to pornography even when you know it is unhealthy, a waste of time, and embarrassing, you need to study these verses very carefully. The Apostle Paul is making the case that behind the pornography issue is a question about our relationship with God? If you don’t have one or are not sure, then I am fairly certain you don’t have the desire or power necessary to obey Him.

It is impossible to obey God, if you don’t believe in Him, and most of the time, people don’t believe in Him, not because there isn’t good evidence to do so, but because it would "mess up" their lives (so they think). Nothing actually could be further from the truth, but stepping into the unknown does seem scary, no doubt about it.

Understand that your emotions and physical drives may attempt to lure away from surrendering to God’s will in your life. That’s why it’s so important to think through these problems and issues with the mind He has blessed you with. Remember, you didn’t make your brain, so don’t take the credit for being so clever. One thing I can promise you — if you give your life to God through His Son, Jesus Christ, your eyes will be opened and you will begin to see life in a totally new (and frankly, liberating) way. May this day contain more blessings than you can hold! See you tomorrow for our last study in this series.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."