Many claim to have known God but living a life controlled by demons and devil with the attitude of devil.
Many may say, no we are not like devil- but Jesus even called Pharisees and the religious people who claim to be God’s children- children of devil (John 8:44)
Why does He say that? Because they manifest the nature and character of the devil- lying, deceiving, pride, anger, jealousy, unthankfulness, rebelliousness,etc?
Do we have these characteristics? Then who are we?
Transformation begins in the mind.
Mansantharam- change the way we think.
Devil came from heaven, Christ also came from heaven
The Devil knew God as an arch angel before his falling, Christ also knew God, His Father.
Then how, that arch angel became the devil and Christ became the saviour?
Sin first time originated in the mind of a created being
Isaiah 14: 13-14 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
Transformation begins in the mind.
Luke 15:17When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger
Romans 12: 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Hating the wrong things we loved once- turning away with hatred! That’s repentance- turning away with the desire to come back again is not repentance- there must be a holy hatred!
External holiness without a radical repentance is hypocrisy.
Following Christ means to have the mind of Christ.
The pious appearance, right language or supernatural gifts are not the true evidence of true repentance.
Philippians 2:5 — “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
The Christian life is not only about what we do, but about how we think.
To have the mind of Christ is to see life, people, suffering, and obedience through the lens of Jesus Himself.
1. The Mind of Christ Is a Mind of Humility
Sin came through pride but Salvation came through humility.
Philippians 2:6-7 tells us that Jesus, though fully God, “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself.”
Jesus willingly laid aside His rights for the sake of love. He chose the form of a servant.
He came down from His glorious throne as a man! He cannot cease to be God! He didn’t leave His divinity! But He emptied His privileges of being God from a season of being a man!
He has stepped down!
Have we stepped down? What did we forsake- when we started following the Lord?
Did we deliberately give up something for the sake of being a disciple of Christ?
Otherwise, it’s just an imagination- not a reality!
He depended on the Father (He could have been independent- He was equal with God, the Father)
During His earthly life, Jesus:
Prayed constantly- to Father
Was led by the Spirit- the Holy Spirit
Trusted the Father rather than acting independently
He didn’t break the unity of the Trinity, even when He was a man!
This shows what perfect human obedience looks like.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.
Jesus shows us that true greatness flows from surrender, not self-promotion
2. The Mind of Christ Is a Mind of Obedience
Sin came through disobedience but salvation came through obedience
Philippians 2:8 says that Jesus “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.”
The mind of Christ submits to God’s will even when it involves sacrifice, misunderstanding, or suffering.
Having the mind of Christ means saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
Hebrews 5:7- His earthly life was a clear expression of a God fearing man- He cried out in need and He was heard because of His obedience!
Right from His birth to His death- He was obedient to everyone and every circumstances- He was obedient to His earthly parents, elders, teachers and all around Him and His circumstance- Father said on the day of His baptism “ Here is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17)
Obedience is the ultimate expression of a Christ-shaped mind.
Jesus obeyed when it was painful. When it was misunderstood.
Mother Mary- She obeyed God when all misunderstood, She paid a price to be a channel for God’s purpose to send His Son to this world.
When it led to rejection and suffering.
3. The Mind of Christ Is a Servant Mind
When an angel had the mind to promote himself over others- sin came into the universe, but when the Lord came down with the mind of servanthood salvation came to this planet.
“But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant…” (Phil. 2:7)
His greatness was expressed through service.
The mind of Christ values people over position.
Self emptying
He gave up His divine privileges, not His divinity
Jesus willingly set aside:
His heavenly glory
His right to be honoured and served
The visible display of His divine power
He chose to live within the real limitations of human life—hunger, fatigue, pain, temptation.
He had power, but did not always use it for Himself.
Jesus did not come to be served.
He came to wash feet- John 13
To touch lepers-Matthew 8/Mark 8/Luke 17
To eat with sinners.
To serve without applause.
The mindset of Christ asks a powerful question:
“How can I love, serve, and lift others—even when it costs me?”
Servanthood is the language of heaven. There in heaven only servants are there. Only one master- we are all unprofitable servants
Luke 17:10
“So likewise you, when you have done all the things that are commanded of you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do”
Sacrificial life- A life laid at the feet of the Master- not because He demanded! But because He deserved it, we belong to Him alone!
Matthew 20:28/ Mark 10:45/John 13:1-17 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
By Pastor Renji George
Scriptures: Hebrews 5:7, Hebrews 5:7-10, Isaiah 14:13-14, Isaiah 14, John 13:1-17, John 13, John 8:44, Luke 15:17, Luke 17:10, Luke 17, Mark 10:45, Mark 8, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 3:17, Matthew 8, Philippians 2:5, Philippians 2:6, Philippians 2:8, Philippians 2:5-7, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 12
Sermon Topics: Servanthood, Mind Of Christ, Christ Example, Serving Christ, Following Christ, Self Sacrifice, God Man, Living For Others, True Christian, Denying Will
