Romans 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."

Let the mind of the master be the master of your mind. (source unknown)

We become where we set our minds. What does it mean to set your mind? It is what we think about and where we spend time thinking. It is a decision to think on certain things. It means our minds are set on what our flesh wants, or if we are of the spirit our minds are set on what the Spirit wants. It is considering and planning. It is following the desires we have. It would be thinking, what it would be like if these desires happened.

I was thinking, that fleshly mindset was on the traditional ideas of sin, lust for money, booze and sex. Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Colossians 3:5-10; Romans 1:29-32; Mark 7:19-23 It is this, of course, but also it is shown to be interacting with people and how we relate to them. Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one with another.

A mind set on the Spirit is set on what the Spirit of God wants. There is a proper use for the flesh, but it is according to what the Spirit wants for us. The teachings of the Scriptures taught by the Holy Spirit give us a guideline for how we are to live in the Spirit of God. You can't take the Bible and understand it if you don't have the teacher, (the Holy Spirit) teaching. We get the Holy Spirit at salvation (Ephesians 1:13) and then are able to learn the Scriptures. If we reject the bible out of hand because it doesn't fit with our understanding, or hinders what we want to do, we gain nothing from it. Listen to the Spirit teach Scripture, with a willing heart to follow what it says.

Matthew 16:23 Peter wanted to deny Christ suffering and death. Jesus said this was setting his mind on man's interest and not God's. Therefore, God's interest is for advancement of the kingdom which came through suffering and death. Our work will happen as we deny frivolous pursuits and apply ourselves to win and train souls. Acts 14:22

Philippians 3:18-19 talks of people, who do not die to themselves and take up their cross. They walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose God is their apatite, set their mind on earthly things and glory in their shame. Following Christ is backwards to the natural mind. As we put effort into helping others we gain happiness and contentment. Satisfaction comes from service not self indulgence.

Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”

Don't think you know it all. Work with the people around you. And don't seek out the best or wise people, instead seek out the poor and associate with them.

Romans 15:5 “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,”

When we work with others we start to see their weaknesses. But God will give us perseverance and encouragement to continue to work with them. A fleshly mind will make decisions for themselves and not for the benefit of others. God helps us keep a mind on the Spirit by working with others. One of the ways of walking in the Spirit is to encourage others.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

Our mindset is not just on God but seeing God in others. Jesus prayed for us to live in unity with each other. in John 17. I would of thought that He would have prayed for us to be filled with power and knowledge. But it is not this, but unity that He is after. It is unity and love that Jesus wants from us. John 13:34-35 With love and unity, power flows effectively.

We don't set our minds on the things above if we don't die to our desires here. Galatians 2:20 is the verse of the cross. We live by faith, but if there is no death to the mind set on the flesh our faith will be compromised. For we will be doubled minded. Faith has to have a single purpose. James 1:6-7

This brings to mind the passage of Matt 7:7,8 Ask, seek, and knock. Keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. Keep seeking the things of God. Keep trying new ways and asking for God's directions. You don't keep on asking, seeking and knocking if there already is an answer. We hope for what we don't see, not for what we already see. A mind set on the Spirit will ask, seek and knock for the things sought for.

Paul talks about doing one thing in Phil 3. There is not a double mind. There is not an accommodation of the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14 Romans 7:25 shows the beginning of the answer when it says, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, ….”

Psalm 1 talks of not being influenced by the ungodly, sinners and the scornful. Instead we are to set our mind on God's word. Reading a Bible reading in the morning is not what this is talking about. Instead it is to consider God's ideas morning, noon and night. An impossible activity without the help of the Holy Spirit. We can't do what is needed without Jesus. I approach this in four ways. First, I memorize Bible verses that speak to me. This way I can meditate on Scripture while I am busy with many things of life. Second, I accept the cross of Christ each day. Meaning, not my will but the will of God. That way I can set aside what I want and desire and do what the Lord directs. Third I'm quiet before the Lord, as I muse on the meaning of a Scripture I have chosen. Forth, I see this verse happening in my life.

There are times when following Christ is unpleasing to me. I stop and commit my time to the Lord and this changes my attitude and I am willing to follow what Jesus has for me to do.

Philippians 4:6-9 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Much of the mind set on the flesh is a mind of worry. Use the plan of Phil 4:6-9 to counter worry with faith and action. Don't blow this verse off. It does not glorify God to worry or complain. Bring it to God in prayer with thanksgiving. Then guard your mind from the things that would bring back the worry. Find those who have had a good outcome to their faith and follow their example. Hebrews 13:7

Numbers 11:1 “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.”

Our worry brings complaints, which bring disaster on us by removing us from living in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. When we worry and complain we are expressing faith in the natural. Instead express faith in our loving and all powerful God. He will deliver us from the trap of the enemy, when we give Him opportunity to, by our faith.

Psalm 16:8-11 “I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasur
es forever.”

There is a real benefit to setting our mind on the spiritual things. Even when it seems like we are shaken, we are not. Because we are not looking to ourselves but Jesus in all things. As we put our mind on the Lord we learn the path we are to walk. Our mind on the things of the spirit will bring us pleasure for our desires are changed to those of Christ.

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