God’s Grace in Romans – The Power of Your Mind
We saw in our last discussion that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled by Christ and deposited in us as a Free Gift, today; we are qualified to partake of the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Then we hear the apostle continue;
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:4
They that go after carnal things have their minds set on physical or fleshly things. The word translated above for flesh is the Greek word SARX and it means flesh as stripped of the skin, the meat of an animal, a symbol of external things etc… (Strong’s G4561).
You see, I admit that to go after the flesh also means to indulge in sinful acts, however, it is not just limited to that in this context: to be fleshly minded means to set your mind on external things.
For example, we learnt in the preceding verse (4) that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us.
However, if you go out there and find yourself missing the mark, maybe saying what you ought not to have said, the mind that is carnal will argue that ‘if I am righteous then why am I still failing?’
How can God still love me now after everything I have done?
How can I still be qualified for this blessing knowing what I have done?
That’s a fleshly mind, a mind that is set only on the external things. The mind that is set on the spirit will look beyond that and realize that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in me and not by me.
I don’t have to fulfill the law for God to bless me, I am blessed by the obedience of Christ, even though I have failed I believe God still loves me and I am qualified by the righteousness of Christ.
I may not feel healed but I believe by the stripes of Jesus I am healed. That’s a spiritual mind.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:5
When you think you are a sinner you will give birth to sin, when you think you are righteous, you will produce righteousness. Your reality is produced by the power of your mind, for “as he thinks in is heart, so is he” Proverb 23:7
The word translated above for carnally is still the same word SARX translated flesh in verse 4, this is why I shared with us in context it does not necessary means sinfulness.
To fix your mind on external things =death. Notice it doesn’t say to be carnally minded tends to death but carnal mindedness is death.
Death here doesn’t just speak of eternal death or departing from this world, but it encapsulates everything that came as a result of sin; depression, sickness, etc.
If you are depressed it just means that you have set your mind on carnal things, you are looking on things on the external.
It is never God’s fault that we are sick or depressed it’s always because we have let something else be planted in our minds.
On the other hand we hear that “to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
You may ask, what does it mean to be spiritually minded?
It means to be word minded. The Lord said “the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life” John 6:63
When you set your mind on what the word says concerning you the reality of the word becomes your experience. As you behold you are transformed into the same image.
In Romans 12:1-2, we are told to present our bodies, our entire physical circumstances before God and refuse to judge things after the world’s system but to renew our minds to what the word says concerning our circumstances, and we shall be transformed into the image of the word set in our hearts.
However, if we do not take upon us kingdom thinking, our minds are absent from the Lord, hence, the mind has become an enemy of the word or law of God;
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:6
As Christians we walk by faith; heeding only to the word and not by sight or carnal observations. When we set our minds on sight – we are far from the will of God. Our minds are eliminated from the will of God for they are producing the reality we have planted in them.
Confession
I set my mind on Spiritual things. I refuse to judge by what I see but I judge by the testimony of the word.
The word says I am righteous; I believe and confess I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; healed, delivered and set free. My life only radiates the glory and perfections of Christ. Glory to God!
Prophetic Insight
I saw as many sons and daughters of the Lord have prayed good prayers for years waiting to receive the harvest of their prayers.
The Lord began to minster to me that have been in his Good will, now
“Many of my sons and daughters are about to enter into my acceptable will. I have accepted your cries and you are going to be accepted in your ecosystem.
I am heightening the apostolic authority over you and you are going to command great changes in your sphere and even in the body of Christ. Many men and women will take direction by the sound of your voice.”
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2
Blessings in Christ;
~Pastor Jahfas Victor Ahua
Living Hill Christian Church.