Let Us Me Thus Minded — Stephen Kaung

Will you please turn to the letter to the Philippians, Philippians chapter 3, we'll read from verse 7 through verse 16, Philippians chapter 3, verse 7. But what things were gained to me, these I counted on account of Christ's loss.

But surely I count also all things to be lost, on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all, and count them to be filled, that I may gain Christ.

And that I may be found in him, not having my righteousness, which would be on the principle of law, but that which is by faith of Christ. The righteousness that is of God through faith, to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death.

If anyway I arrive at the out resurrection from among the dead, not that I have already obtained, or am already perfected, but I pursue. If also I may get possession of it, seeing that also I have been taken possessing of by Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I do not count to have got possession myself, but one thing, forgetting the things behind, and stretching out to the things before. I pursue, looking towards the goal for the prize of the calling of high of God in Christ Jesus.

Being Thus Minded and Walking in the Same Steps

Verse fifteen. As many, therefore, as are perfect, let us be thus minded. And if you are any otherwise minded, this also God shall reveal to you. Verse sixteen. But whereto we have attained, let us walk in the same.

May we commit his word back to him. Dear Lord, we want to thank thee for thy precious promise, that where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them. By faith we know that thou art here with us, and we do praise and thank thee that thou art one who delights to reveal thyself, to speak thy word to us.

So Lord, we are all here, waiting to hear from thee what thou hast to say to us. We do look to thy Holy Spirit to bring thy word into our heart, and make thy words life and spirit to us, that thou mayst be glorified.

We ask in the name of our Lord Jesus. The burden that the Lord has put upon my heart is in verse fifteen and verse sixteen. Actually, only two phrases. Verse fifteen. As many, therefore, as are perfect, let us be thus minded.

And if you are otherwise minded, this also God shall reveal to you. And I want to underline just two words. Thus minded. And then verse sixteen. But where unto we have attained, let us walk in the same steps.

And just underline walk in the same steps. Brothers and sisters, here you find two things. Mind and walk. And due to these two things are joined together. You cannot and you should not separate these two things.

Mind determines walk. And walk expresses mind. Our Christian life, in our Christian growth, these two things are very vital. What is in our mind? What does our mind set upon? How about, do we walk according to what we mind for?

You remember in Romans chapter eight, verse five through verse eight. It is said, they that walk according to the flesh, mind the things of the flesh. And they that walk according to the spirit, mind the things of the spirit.

The minding of the flesh is death. And the minding of the spirit is life and peace. So you find here, what do we set our mind on? We'll decide how do we walk. It's very important to have the right mind.

Because that will determine how do we walk and where do we walk towards. This morning we will focus our attention on thus minded. The apostle Paul said, anyone who is perfect or anyone who aims to be perfect.

Now the word perfect in the scripture, I believe we all know it does not mean seamless perfection. Because there is no one except our Lord Jesus who is seamless perfect. But the word perfect in the bible means mature, full grown, growing up.

Now if anyone desires to grow up spiritually. Now if you are contented to be just babes in Christ throughout your life. Then these words are not for you. But if you really desire to grow up spiritually.

And I wonder if there is any baby who does not want to grow up. I remember many years ago when my little sister and a little cousin. They were maybe four or five at that time. And I still remember they sat on the step of the stairway.

And I overheard they talked to each other. And they feel sorry for themselves. Because they find the grown up brothers and sisters can do many things that they cannot do. So I believe every young child wants to grow up.

Maybe the grown up wants to be young. But all the young children they want to grow up. And spiritually speaking this is the right aspiration. We want to grow up. To be perfect. If anyone desires to be perfect.

The Apostle Paul said he needs to be thus minded. That is to say he must have the same mind that Apostle Paul is describing in Philippians chapter three. Now if you are otherwise minded. Then the Lord will remind you.

This is the kind of mind that you must. So brothers and sisters. Our mind is very very important. Now when we believe in the Lord Jesus. Do you realize what? Now according to Ezekiel chapter thirty six verse twenty six.

The Lord said I will put a new heart into you. And I will put a new spirit in you. I will take away your stony heart. And put in you a heart of flesh. In other words. Here you will find when we believe in the Lord Jesus.

He gave us a new heart. Now formerly our heart is a stony heart. Now it means that our heart is hard. Insensitive. Towards God. Towards spiritual things. But now he replaces it. With a heart of flesh.

Tender. Sensitive. To the touch of the Holy Spirit. Now in the old testament. You do not find the word conscience. But you find the word heart. So in the old testament. The heart here. Actually is what we will call in the new testament terms conscience.

You remember once David. He cut off a piece of the skirt of Saul. And the bible said his heart smote him. In other words his conscience. Was so sensitive. Because of his communion with God. That even when he was doing that thing.

His conscience bothers him. He felt uneasy. He shouldn't do that. So in the old testament. The heart really speaks of our conscience. Now when we believe in the Lord Jesus. He gave us a new heart. A heart that is tender.

Soft. Sensitive. To the touch of God. A heart that begins to love God. And love the things. That God loves. Now this is what happens. When we believe in the Lord Jesus. Now how about our mind. You know as a matter of fact.

The very word repentance. Means a change of mind. Formerly your mind. Is set upon. The world. The earthly things. On sin. You go for the pleasure of sin. But now being convicted by the Holy Spirit. You begin to change your mind.

You begin to see the sinfulness of sin. The ugliness of sin. You hate sin. You do not want to sin anymore. And you begin to turn towards things spiritual. Eternal. You repent of what you did before. And you turn your heart towards God.

Towards the Lord. You ask for forgiveness. Of your sin. You receive the Lord Jesus. By faith. As your saviour. A change of mind has happened. Now that's repentance. And no one can believe in the Lord Jesus.

Without repentance. We repent. We see the need. Of a saviour. And thus we believe. In Jesus Christ. Who is the saviour. Of the world. So as a matter of fact. Without repentance. Without a change of mind.

You won't be able to be saved. But the thing is. Even though repentance is a change of mind. But unfortunately. That change is superficial. And transient. It is not drastic. Thorough. And permanent. But in the beginning days.

Of your Christian life. You seem to be able to live. By your heart. And not by your mind. In other words. When you first believe in the Lord Jesus. You have such a love relationship with the Lord. That you live your first days.

In love. By your heart. You do not go by your mind. Formally. You live by your mind. You think. You consider. You weigh things. You reason. And you decide. What you do. But during the first days of your Christian life.

It seems as if you have forgotten your mind. You don't reason anymore. You do not calculate. But you just live by your heart. You live. You love the Lord. And you want to do everything to please Him. Your mind seems to take a back seat.

And your heart. Is driving you. Onward. Now if this will continue forever. How blessed that will be. You know this is the reason why the Lord says. You have to be converted and be like a child. For theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.

Child live by his heart. But a grown up unfortunately. We live by our mind. Our reasoning. But not very long. And you find your old mind begins. To assert. It's over your life again. You will discover that gradually.

Probably pretty soon. You begin to reason again. You begin to consider. To calculate. Whether it's beneficial to you. Or whether it will cost too much to you. And you find that your old mind. Has reasserted.

It's power. Over your life. And old habit. Is very hard to break. So brothers and sisters. In order to really live a Christian life. And to grow spiritually. You need the renewing of your mind. Because when you are first saved.

You have a new heart. But you still carry an old mind. So what you need is. You need a new mind. The renewing of your mind. In other words. You need to see things differently. To weigh things differently.

What you consider as precious before. You will look at these things as loss. But what things you may not count much. Value much before. You begin to value them. So very much. That you really desire after them.

A renewing of your mind. A renewing of your mind. Is an absolute necessity. To our Christian growth. Now brothers and sisters. The question is. Has your mind been removed. Renewed. Are you still thinking the old way.

The way that you used to think. Before you were saved. Or do you now think. Very differently. What does your mind set upon. Our mind set. Is very very important. If you set your mind. On the things of the flesh.

Then you walk. According to the flesh. And that is death. Spiritual death. But if you set your mind. On the things of the spirit. Then you are spiritually alive. Now just brothers and sisters. Under the light of God.

Examine yourselves. Whether after you have believed in the Lord Jesus. Your mind has been renewed. Are you still thinking in the way. That the worldly people. Are thinking. That you used to think. Or do you see things now.

Very differently. What is your present situation. Now how can our mind be renewed. You cannot change it yourself. Somebody else has to do it for you. But there is one condition. And the condition is. Unless you present your bodies.

A living sacrifice. Which is holy. Acceptable to God. And it is your reasonable service. Your spiritual worship. Now unless you present your bodies. A living sacrifice to God. The Holy Spirit. Does not have the liberty.

To change your mind. To renew your mind. So what the Lord is working. Is waiting for you today is. Your consecration. Now brothers and sisters. You must have heard of our consecration before. Many times probably.

But you need to understand. That consecration. Is our first Christian experience. A sane person. Who has never. Presented his body. A living sacrifice. Has not. Begun his Christian walk. At all. He is a Christian.

But he hasn't walked a step. Consecration. Is the first Christian experience. That's why you find in Romans. Chapter 12. From Romans chapter 1 to 11. It is the mercies of God. All that God has done for us.

In Christ Jesus. And what a wonderful salvation. Wonderful work. Complete work. Finished work. He has done for us. Not only forgiveness of our sins. Justification. But sanctification. Glorification. You find that everything.

That God has purpose. For us in Christ Jesus. Has been done by our Lord Jesus. On Calvary's cross. The mercies of God. Many fold. Mercies of God. And then. From chapter 12. Therefore. Let us be moved.

By the mercies of God. And voluntarily. This is the first thing. That we do. Voluntarily. Everything God has done in Christ Jesus. For us. But then. The first thing. That we have to respond. And that is.

Present your bodies. A living sacrifice. Now brothers and sisters. Have you done that? Have you put your all. On the altar. And say Lord. This is all yours. I give up my right. To myself. I give up my right.

To live for myself. I give myself completely. The body. That is. That represents the whole being. Spirit, soul and body. I present my whole being. To you. As a living sacrifice. That is. It is a sacrifice.

Now. When you sacrifice something. It gets out of your hand. You no longer hold on to it. You lose your right. Your possession of it. It belongs to somebody else now. You sacrifice it. To God. To the Lord.

Who so loves you. And redeems you. You sacrifice. You give yourself. To the Lord. And say now Lord. It's yours. It's all yours. I have no right over myself. I do not possess myself anymore. You possess me.

You own me. You have every right over me. You can do anything you like. With me. Living sacrifice. Daily. You live. Under. That. Condition. Now. That is. Consecration. Now. Have you done that? If you have never done it before.

May the love of Christ constrains you. That you cannot delay. Your consecration. Anymore. Now. If you have done it. Are you. Still on the altar. Have you climbed down. Are you a living sacrifice. That is to say.

You are still living as a sacrifice. Or have you gone back. And live for yourself. And possess yourself. And exert your own right. Over your own life. Now. Brothers and sisters. Consecration. Is the first Christian experience.

And it is the last. Christian experience. In other words. It is a daily experience. Now. If. This is true. With you. Then the Holy Spirit. Will renew. Your mind. You do not need. To worry. How to. Change your mind.

You cannot. Just like you cannot lift yourself up. You cannot do it. But one thing you can do. And you must do. And it is daily. As a sacrifice. That is the way you live. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. But today.

And if this is the case. Then today. Your mind. Is renewed. And it will be renewed. Day by day. Progressively. And according to. Your renewed mind. You begin to see. Very differently. Look at. The Apostle Paul.

Saul’s Religious Ambition and the Road to Damascus

In chapter three of the Philippines. He told us. How in the past. He set his mind. On the things of the flesh. He was proud. Of his Jewish origin.

Of his pedigree.

Of his achievement. In Judaism. He set his mind. Probably to be. The Rabbi. Of Israel. You know he sat under. The feet of Gamaliel. And Gamaliel at that time. Was a great Rabbi. He was the grandson of Helio.

And we all know. That among the Jewish Rabbis. There are two schools. And Helio is one of the school. And Gamaliel is the grandson of Helio. And Saul. Sat at his feet. Learned from him. And he was more advanced.

Than his contemporary. Because he set his mind. To be a great Rabbi. So he walked. After it. And he achieved. To a very high. Place. He was almost there. And he took pride. Over it. That was everything he wanted.

That was gain to him. And in order to gain that. He was willing to sacrifice. All the other things. Other young people. Maybe playing. But there he was studying. At the feet of Gamaliel. That was his mind.

His mindset. And he set his mind. On the goal. He persecuted. The believers of Jesus Christ. Because he considered Jesus as an imposter. Of Judaism. Should be wiped out. And he was so furious. He even went to the Gentile cities.

To seize those disciples of Jesus. And brought them to Jerusalem. To be condemned. And when Stephen was stoned to death. He was the cause. Of these murderers. Now that was all. That was his mindset. He was almost inhuman.

He was such a moral person. He kept all the letters of the law. And yet he was so inhuman. He went to houses. Seize women and children. Put them to prison. Sentence them. And he was happy. When Stephen was stoned to death.

Think of that. The mindset. But the Lord. Evidently. At the martyrdom of Stephen. His conscience. Was touched. He saw something that was heavenly. And real. A person can die. In such a way. Saw the heavens open.

The Son of Man standing there. Waiting to welcome him home. And before he died. He asked. Lord forgive them. That must touch Saul. Very deeply. His conscience was bothered. But in order to silence his conscience.

He doubled his effort. To persecute believers. He hardened his heart against it. Because his mindset. Was to be on the top. Of Judaism. But thank God. The Lord allowed him to go. Just so far. To the limit.

He almost arrived Damascus. And the light from above. Smoked him. He heard a voice. Saul. Saul. Why do you persecute me? It is hard. For you. To kick the hands. I have a purpose. For your life. You are.

To serve. My purpose. It is hard. To kick against the court. You only hurt yourself. You cannot overcome me. I am. My dear. And Saul said. Lord. You are Lord. I was Lord before. But now you are Lord. Now who are you?

And the voice says. I am Jesus. Whom you persecuted. And the next question he asked was. Lord. What shall I do? I know. What to do before. I have set my goal. And I walked towards my goal. I almost reached there.

But now. I am lost. I do not know what to do now. Tell me. You are the Lord. I give up my right. For myself. My future is yours. I cannot decide what to do. Lord. What do you want me to do? Brothers and sisters.

At the very time he was converted. He present his body. Of living. Because of this. There is the renewing. So from what we have heard. His testimony. In Philippians chapter 3. Now he said. What things were gained.

To me. These I counted. On account of Christ. Suddenly his inner eyes were open. He saw that all the things that he considered as gains. Actually was lost. And the reason is. On account. When he saw Christ.

That excellency. Of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Makes everything. In this world. Not only as lost. But as filthy. They are filthy. These are no longer gain to him. These are lost to him. Why lost? Because they hinder him.

From gaining. The real thing. Do you regret. That you believe in the Lord too late? I never heard a person. He regrets. He believed the Lord too early. That he wants to believe the Lord. At the moment of his death.

I never heard it. But I heard many people said. How they regret it. They do not believe in the Lord earlier. Why? Because. All these. That they consider as gain. Were actually lost. How much better if.

You let these things go earlier. That you may gain him more. There is nothing that can be compared. With the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters. What a change of mind. And that is permanent.

To the apostle Paul. It is drastic. And that change. The course. Completely. He is willing to suffer the loss of all things. In order. To gain. What he is after. What his mind is set on. He said. To gain.

Seeking the Things Above and Knowing Christ

You remember in Colossians chapter 3. Verse 1 through verse 5. Paul said. If you know. That you are risen. With Christ. Then. Seek the things. That are above. Where Christ is. Because. You are. Are hidden.

With Christ. In God. And. Christ. Is. Your life. Brothers and sisters. Are you still seeking. The things. Below. Or. You are seeking the things. Are you still. Minding the things. Of the flesh. The lust of the eyes.

The lust of the flesh. The pride. Of life. The world. Are you still. Setting your mind. On these things. How can I be successful. In this world. How much can I. Gain. In this world. What glory. Can I have.

In the eyes of the world. Are these things earthly still. Attract you. Still seems a gain. Or do you look at these things as a loss. You spend your time. Your energy. Your life. On these things. Is it worth it.

And all the time. You are not seeking Christ. Who is eternal. Unsearchable. Seek the things that are above. Now what are the things above. Is that where Christ. Is. Where is Christ. Christ is now at the right hand.

Of his father. Things above. Are the things. That concerns. Anything that is not related to Christ. Anything that is not of Christ. Are not the things above. Or to put it in another way. All the. Anything that is of Christ.

Are the things above. Are the things spiritual. Anything that is not Christ. Not of Christ. Are things earthly. Things of the flesh. Now what. Are you seeking. Where do you set your mind on. Is your mind set on Christ.

I need to ask myself. Where do I set my mind on. What do I really. Seek for. Is it. Self. Me. What about me. What happens to me. What can I gain. For myself. Or is it Christ. What can Christ. Gain. In me.

What place do I give to it. Is he. Is it he who lives in me. Or I. Who lives in me. Is it he. Magnified. In my life. Or in my death. Or is it. Who is manifested. In my living. And even in my death. Now who.

Brothers and sisters. It is not matter of things. It is a matter of a person. When do your mind set on. The person of yourself. Or the person. If you read carefully you will find. The apostle Paul said.

To know him. Is different. In the past. He wanted to know all about. Judaism. All about. The rabbinical teachings. All about the traditions of the fathers. All about the. Old testament. The law. All the letters of the law.

And he tried to keep. Every one of them. According to the righteousness of the law. He was. Blameless. Such a person. But he never met God. Now. He is not. Looking for just some teaching. Some doctrine of Christianity.

He wanted to know a person. He is experiential knowledge. How much of Christ do you really know. And you really experience. He is the one that you set your mind on. Brothers and sisters. Are you thus.

If you want to be perfect. That is the only way. Only mind. And if you are otherwise minded. God will remind you. This is the mind of Paul. And this. Ought to be. Our mind. Are we thus. Only he sought.

For the righteousness according to law. His. But now he said. That is a loss. The righteousness of God. Through Jesus Christ. Christ. Is my righteousness. I have no righteousness of I of my own. But Christ.

Is my righteousness. And he experienced it. Brothers and sisters. I believe. It is true. With all of us. But is that all. Is that all you know about Christ. Justification. Now thank God for that. That is great.

So far as the word is concerned. Nothing greater than that. But so far as God. Is concerned. That is the beginning. To know him. Because he has justified me. Because he has closed me. With his righteousness.

Because he enables me. To go to God. The Father. Therefore. I want to know him more. To know the. Of his resurrection. Brothers and sisters. We are surrounded. By death. Not only surrounded by death. But death is even in us.

We are facing death. Every moment. Of our life. The wages of sin is death. We are tempted to sin. That death may come. Into our life. The world. The things of the flesh. Is death. Is death. Unclean. We are literally.

Living among death. And with death. Even within us. Do you feel the deadening power. Over your daily life. The outside forces. Pulling you to death. And even the inside. The fifth columnist. Is there.

Trying to. Bring you to death. That's why we need to know. The power of his resurrection. Christ is your life. And his life. Is resurrection life. And you find the things. You cannot overcome. He overcomes.

In you. Because resurrection. Is life out of death. He goes into death. Robbed death of his power. And come out. In glory. And brothers and sisters. That should be our daily experience. We all daily experience.

This is the power of his resurrection. And that's knowing Christ. It's not. It's not teaching. It's not doctrine. It's not Christianity. It is life. It is a person. Living daily. In you. And if you allow him to live.

Out from you. That's resurrection. But if you live by yourself. That's death. So Romans 8 again said. If we live. According to the flesh. Then we die. But if we live by. The resurrection power of Christ.

We live. Because it's Christ. Who lives in us. It's a daily experience. Knowing Christ. And then he said being conformed to his death. Now when I read this. I think well. This should be the reverse. Conformed to his death first.

And then the power of his resurrection. How can you. Not experience death. Before you experience resurrection. Now that is our human logic. But the spiritual logic is. Knowing the power of his resurrection.

Then be conformed. To his death. Because if you don't know the power of his resurrection. When you go to death. You are finished. Nothing comes out on the other side. And when nothing comes out on the other side.

Well. Experience one death is enough. You dare not be conformed. To his death. Now conformed. What is conformed? In Romans 12. It says. Do not be conformed. To this age. Now formerly. We were conformed.

To this age. You know this age. The current. The fashion. The present way. Of life. We were conformed to it. We belong. We want to be what they are. Formerly we were conformed. To this age. But now. We are to be conformed.

To his death. What a difference. Death is everything. Anything that is. When Christ died. He not only died to sin. To the power of sin. To the world. To the flesh. To the enemy. To anything that is not of God.

I to all these things. So what remains. Is God. Christ all in all. Now that's being conformed. To his death. And you won't dare. To be conformed to his death. If you do not know the power. Of his resurrection.

Pursuing the High Calling and the Goal of Christlikeness

This is gain. This is everything. With this. That he may. Arrive. At the out resurrection. From among the dead. In other words. That he will have a part. In the first resurrection. Which means. One day.

He will reign with Christ. Brothers and sisters. This is the mind of. And he said. Now does it mean that. Because of this Paul have arrived. He said no. He said I haven't arrived yet. Why? Because I want to possess.

All that. I have been. Possessed. In other words. Jesus in each of us. He wants to possess us. Fully according to his. And Paul said. I do not want to possess. A little less than what. I have been possessed of.

Now that is. His mindset. Not because I have possessed. A little bit. Of what he has possessed me for. I am satisfied. He said no. The lord of glory has such a glorious. Purpose for me. I want to possess it all.

Therefore. I do not consider myself. As arrived already. I am pursuing. I am running. I am walking. Towards it. For the on high calling of God. In Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters. We have a high calling.

And that on high calling. Is our goal. Now what is that on high calling? The on high calling. Is to be light. You know God said. It is not good for man to be alone. Let us make him. A help mate. His light.

Now that is what God's purpose. For all of us. That we may be like Christ. Just like him. His character becomes our character. It is he. Living in us. Fresh through us. And that is the body. The fullness of him.

Who fills all and in all. It is a glorious church. To be an eternal bride. Of the Lamb of the throne. Brothers and sisters. This is the goal. You know there is a hymn. My goal. Is God himself. Not joy.

Nor peace. Nor his blessing. But himself. To lead me there. Not mine. But his. At any cost. Dear Lord. By any road. And that is the right. And what is the price? Christ is the goal. And the price. You gain him.

You gain him by losing yourself. You gain him. By allowing him. To be your all. And it is. A priceless. Do you think it is worth.

To pay any cost. By any road. The apostle Paul thought. May the Lord have mercy upon you.

Prayer for a Renewed Mind and Complete Consecration

Dear Lord we thank thee. For thy servant Paul. Thou hast so. Attracted him. Thou hast so revealed thyself to him. That he counted all things. As few. As lost. And he minded only. To gain thee. And how much.

Thou hast rewarded him. With thyself. Lord. We feel ashamed. We come to thee this morning. Exposing ourselves. To thy light. Oh examine us. See if there is any evil. Within us. Pray that thou will turn.

Our mind. Completely to thee. There is nothing more precious. All things will pass away. But Lord thou are eternal. Thou are the only. Real. Living. Oh how we praise and thank thee. That thou want to give thyself to us.

And yet Lord. Lord. We are seeking. Forgive us. Do pray thy Holy Spirit. Will touch our hearts. We pray that there will be. A drastic. A permanent. Change. Of our mind. A renewing. Of our mind. The spirit of our mind.

Being renewed. Lord. That we may. Be conformed. To the image. Lord we trust thee. To do this work. In each one of us. Do not let us go away. Lord clear our mind. That we may really see. Your value. That we may devaluate.

All the things. That we valued. And to thee. Be all the glory. In the name of our Lord Jesus.