Rock Springs Family Values: A Kingdom Mindset
October 24, 2017
Experts estimate that the mind, your brain, thinks between 60,000 – 80,000 thoughts a day. That’s an average of 2500 – 3,300 thoughts per hour. That’s incredible. Other experts estimate a smaller number, of 50,000 thoughts per day, which means about 2100 thoughts per hour. That means while I’m speaking today, you may have anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 thoughts. And yet in opening God’s Word today, my hope is not just some change of those thoughts, but to bring all of your thoughts in line with God’s thoughts. And when you start to think about that, well that’s kind of mind blowing! Because our thoughts – how we chose them, how we use them, determine how we live for ourselves or for God. That’s pretty heady stuff. And yet, that’s just what I want to address with us today from God’s Word. For as the writer of Proverbs once wrote: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
So how we think shapes not only how we live, but also determines how we do life together as God’s people. That’s why as we talk about the kind of values that embody what we do together as God’s people – having a kingdom mindset must be central to all that we do together as a Church. So that’s the value we’re going to look at together this morning.
Now if you are with us for the first time today, or you’ve just made it back to the Ranch the last few weeks, let me catch you up. We are in a series called Rock Springs Family Values. We’ve identified five values that God wants us to embody in everything we do together as His people. As we embody these values we will be the blessing God calls us to be.
Six weeks ago, we looked at our first value: Radical Inclusivity. Jesus included anyone so we will do the same. There are no “ins” or “outs” with Jesus. He welcomed anyone in His presence. So as this value takes hold in us, we will not just welcome anyone but we’ll begin to see everyone as someone Jesus wants to love through us.
Five weeks ago, we looked at a second value: Extravagant Generosity. Jesus gave his all so we might give like him. As this value takes hold in us, not only we will give all of ourselves to one another, but we will also give of our time, our talents & our treasures in everything we do. In so doing we will fan the flame of grace all around us.
Four weeks ago, we unpacked our third value: Mutual Interdependence. Jesus put us together to do life together. And we learned this truth: We need each other. We need each other’s gifts, each other’s love, support, encouragement and prayers. When we love and serve one another this way, Jesus dwells in our midst and everyone fits in!
Three weeks ago, we unpacked a forth value: Unleashed Potential. Each one of us has a God given potential to live like Jesus; to do the good works God has prepared in advance for us to do; and to bear much fruit with Jesus. We have this potential because Jesus lives in us – and He wants to unleash that potential in each of us.
And then last week, we began to unpack a fifth value: A Kingdom Mindset. But we just barely touched on this last week, so I want to help us unpack this value in depth today. So, if you brought your Bible let me encourage you to open them to John 3, where we will begin by looking at what a kingdom mindset is. But before we do that, we need to spend a few minutes looking at what a kingdom mindset is not. So what it is not:
First, It is not human wisdom. The Bible tells us that human wisdom arises from the hollow and deceptive philosophies of man (Colossians 2:8); and God’s Word compares human wisdom to foolishness by saying, For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile. 1 Corinthians 1:19-20 In other words, mans thoughts are fruitless, useless, ineffective, and empty in comparison to His thoughts. God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts – by a long ways. So kingdom thinking is not human thinking. Not human wisdom.
Second, kingdom thinking is not political thinking. What does God’s Word say about political thinking? In 1 Corinthians 2:6 Paul spells it out for us: We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. God’s Word basically says that the political authorities of the day really have nothing to say. Their wisdom, their thinking amounts to nothing. There is no real life in their thinking. What troubles me is that today many of us get caught up in the thinking of political leaders – as if politics can ever offer solutions to the human condition. Now don’t get me wrong. Much of the foundation of this country was based on political thinking – but that thinking was the fruit of Kingdom Thinking. But sadly, that’s not so much the case today. So kingdom thinking is not political thinking.
Thirdly, it is not religious thinking. Religious thinking focuses on rules over relationship. Religious thinking focuses on rituals rather than love. Religious thinking weighs you down rather than lifts you up. Religious thinking leads people to be critical and condemning. Religious thinking says performance is the way to God… That’s why when Jesus came proclaiming the good news that the kingdom of God was near – he was offering a new way to God – not through religious works, but through faith in him. In fact, it’s pretty popular today to say that “all religions lead to God.” But when Jesus came preaching the good news of the kingdom of God, he was declaring once and for all that NO RELIGIONS LEAD TO GOD. So, kingdom thinking is not religious thinking. It’s not human thinking and its not political thinking. So just what is kingdom thinking?
First, It is a New Way of Thinking Look at John 3. Let me read the first 3 verses for us. Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:1-2 Wow. Look at what guided Nicodemus’ thinking. First, he was a Pharisee. That means he was steeped in the Law. Pharisees made it their business to be dedicated to the law, and they made it their business to make sure everyone else was keeping the law. So Nicodemus was steeped in religion. As Israel’s teacher, he was the leading authority on their religion. But more than that, he was also a member of the Jewish ruling council. So he was also steeped in politics. So who better for Jesus to set straight on just what kingdom thinking is: Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Right here, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he doesn’t have the capacity to see the kingdom of God. That the ability to see, to understand the truths of the kingdom do not come from human understanding. That to see the kingdom of God: to grasp the reality of the kingdom – you need something else – you need a rebirth – to be born again of the Spirit. What? “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
Do you see what Jesus is doing here? He is telling Nicodemus that kingdom thinking is not of this world: its not earthly thinking, its not human thinking, its not religious thinking. Nicodemus is thinking on a human level. He thinks that being born again means crawling back into his mother’s womb. Well, he just illustrates for us how foolish human thinking truly is… So Jesus reveals right here that Kingdom Thinking is new way of thinking. It comes from heaven. It is a thinking birthed by the Spirit of God. And you can’t see, enter or grasp this kind of thinking unless you are born again of the Spirit!
The Bible is very clear on this. We are told that we are spiritually dead – that we have no capacity to grasp God’s thoughts or please God in any way. That apart from God’s mercy to us in Jesus we’d be left to die this way, never knowing God, never knowing His forgiveness, never having any hope. But the good news is this: When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior Titus 3:4-6 The good news then is this: It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to grasp the mind of God. He awakens us to see and understand the thoughts of the God when we put our trust in Jesus.
That is why Paul writes these commands for us in Colossians 3: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3
Do you realize how fantastic this is? Nicodemus was Israel’s teacher, but he did not have access to what we have access to. We have access to the very thoughts of God. All we have to do is set our minds on the stuff of heaven. The stuff of earth is over-rated. Maybe its time we turned off CNN or Fox News, and tuned into the Jesus of the Gospels. Everything Jesus taught, every way Jesus lived reveals the new thinking of the kingdom – wisdom from above – life the way God meant it to be lived.
The good news is that now we get transform the way we think. God has made it possible for us to think His thoughts. And when we begin to think his thoughts, we’ll begin the live life the way He’s always wanted us to live. To be inclusive, to be generous, to be loving, to bear much fruit – to experience joy and peace and righteousness. You see, becoming a Christian is not about become a better person, it’s about becoming a new person, with a new mind so we can live this new life! So then, the Kingdom Mindset is the new way of thinking given to us by Jesus.
And yet, this Kingdom way of Thinking is also a Humble Way of Thinking. Jesus said as much in the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount when he said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 This makes sense. You can’t really have a kingdom mindset if you think you have all the answers. You won’t think kingdom thoughts if you are proud or full of yourself. That’s the idea here when Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in spirit” You see, in Jesus day they knew what he meant when he said, “poor in spirit.” For this is the disposition of the heart when a person realizes they are spiritually bankrupt. It’s that attitude that knows there is nothing in you that can please God. They agreed with Jeremiah when he wrote, The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 They agreed with Isaiah when he wrote, All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6
So when Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit” – for those who knew they had nothing to bring to the table spiritually – this was good news. For to be blessed by God meant that God wanted to pour out His favor on you. This was good news because anyone who is spiritual bankrupt knows that they are totally dependent on the mercy of God. And so Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” “Favored are you who know you are spiritually bankrupt, for God is giving you life as it was meant to be. Life under the loving reign and rule of God.” How cool is that? God rewards the humble, not the proud, with His kingdom.
But you see, those who insist on arguing with God; who think their way is the right way, – they receive nothing from God because they still believe their own thoughts are above God’s thoughts. And this way of thinking has tragic consequences. Not only do they miss out on the new life God wants for them. But the Bible tells us that their prideful heart is the one thing God opposes. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5
So then Jesus tells us right here that Kingdom thinking is humble thinking. It is agreeing with God that you are spiritually bankrupt and morally broken. And until you come to that place where you admit your own failure, your own sin, your spiritual poverty – you will never experience the new life God wants to give you, and you will never think like Jesus. Perhaps that is why Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:16-17
Maybe that’s where you find yourself this morning. You’re tired of struggling with God; you’re tired of thinking you’ve got the answers. Maybe its time to admit, you’ve got nothing on God. Confess that you’ve been wrong about Him, that you’ve been proud in your own thoughts. Humble yourself before Him and confess to Him that you are spiritually bankrupt, morally empty, and you need a Savior. And if you can do that, then the good news is this: Jesus will forgive you, He will welcome you into His kingdom and God will give you this new life. Kingdom thinking begins here. It’s coming to the end of yourself and recognizing that God is all you need.
And once you come to this place, you’ll begin to see that God’s way of thinking, Kingdom thinking, is vastly different than the thinking of this world. In fact, I would go so far as to say that Kingdom Thinking is an Unconventional Way of Thinking So let me close with Jesus words that show how different God’s way of thinking really is. In Luke 6 Jesus says to us: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:32-36
This is not just unconventional thinking, it is a revolutionary way of thinking. Look at what Jesus does here. He breaks the mold on how we think about people who are difficult, people you might even consider your enemy. He says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. Luke 6:32
We get this don’t we? We love our friends. We love those who are like us. We love those who root for the same teams as us, have the same politics as us, share the same beliefs as us, have the same morals as us. We love people who think, act and believe like us because its SAFE to be with them; and EASIER to love them. But Jesus says that this mindset is no different than that of a “sinners.”
Now “sinners” in Jesus day was a distinct category of person. This was the person who had no regard for the law, who had no fear of God and had no place in the religion of the Jews. Such a person was a moral outcast. So if you followed God, you wouldn’t be caught dead hanging out with such a low-life. Yet, Jesus says, when you love just those who are like you, you are no different than them.
So what Jesus illustrates for us here is this: a kingdom mindset is a revolutionary way of thinking. Because it means loving a sinner the same way you love your best friend. It means having them over for barbecue and serving them rib-eyes. It means loaning him money knowing that you may never see it again. And conventional wisdom tells us – “You shouldn’t do that.” “You shouldn’t waste your time on a looser.” “He’s a lost cause.” “She’s a piece of work.” “Don’t waste God’s resources on him.”
Ever catch yourself saying that? If you have, then you are being guided by conventional thinking – not kingdom thinking. But Jesus says, lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
That’s kingdom thinking. It’s a way of thinking that says every person is worthy of love. It’s a way of thinking that holds the things of this world loosely. It’s way of thinking that may cause you to do some pretty questionable things. But it’s the way of our Father who thought that way about you.
I know this talk is challenging to us. It challenges me. But Jesus doesn’t want to challenge the way you think. He wants to change the way you think. And the best way I can think of to let him do just that is simply to pray the prayer He loves to answer. You know that prayer. It’s the Lord’s prayer. Would you pray it with me now:
“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.”
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