A Renewed Mind: In Flesh or Faith?

Dear High Street Family,

I’ve had so many come up since Sunday and say how much the “Renewed Mind” from Romans 8 resonated in your life!

It’s so easy for us to talk about living-in and struggling with the flesh, but it’s not always easy to describe what it looks like to have our minds “set on the Spirit”…to have Him renew our thoughts, our perspective, our desires. 

- What does that even look like in our world? In your life?

- Can the things that pass through your mind actually be renewed through God’s Spirit?

Remember, the Lord knows your thoughts before they arise in your mind, He knows the words on your tongue before you even utter a syllable (Psalm 139:1-5)

Watch “A Renewed Mind” Sermon here.

Well, the conversion of revivalist, Charles Finney, paints a vivid picture of the tension we experience when pressing into renewal in the Holy Spirit. 

On one side of this tension, Finney was avoiding and managing how others perceived him, going to great lengths to hide his engagement with God. As he drew close to God, Finney grew more aware of all his surface correcting and his striving to manage how others saw him.

And his honest recount of this in his journals makes us laugh because it’s so accurate. We relate so easily to what it’s like living in the flesh. 

On the other side, when the Holy Spirit begins to meet him, everything shifts.

As Finney wrestles with these questions and temptations, the Holy Spirit moves in him, and eventually the power of God’s scripture and His love lead Finney into a life-changing encounter.

After, he becomes one of the greatest revivalists in Christian history. 

Click Here to Read the Full Story of Charles Finney’s Conversion

The hunger in Finney won out against any inner resistance and fear of man. And this can create a hunger in us, too—to wrestle with our own anxieties around God and faith, and encounter Jesus in that very area. 

Our Christian journey is always worked out between our ears.

You bring your brain everywhere. Memories fill your head. You think and dream and worry and pray, all there in your mind. The mind is the battlefield for flesh or faith. 

Entering into the renewed mind is really the best thing you can do for your life.

“Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh…but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death…but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” - Romans 8:5-6

During our second hour, I mentioned if it’s tough for you to know if you’re “setting our mind on the things of the Spirit,” consider the question…

- Am I in flesh or am I in faith?

- Am I living independent of God’s presence and love? Am I striving? Am I worried? Am I isolating? Am I catastrophizing? Am I living in fleshy effort?

- Or am I in faith? Am I hearing God’s word over this issue? Am I talking to God about what’s getting in the way? Am I praying with others about this? Where is my faith in this moment?

Need a New Way to Engage? Listen to The Message Version of Romans 8

Let’s anticipate God’s power renewing every area of our lives - see you Sunday!

Pastor Dave

PS. I’m so excited to welcome back pastor and leader, Brion Burkett, this upcoming Sunday speaking on Romans 8, A Renewed Creation. Brion has been saturated in this chapter for years, has deep theological insights from this, and some unbelievable stories too. Let’s be expectant for God to move as we lean-into this time of Renewal together! 

RESOURCES

Soaking in God’s Presence – Calming Video/Music - if your mind is racing and it seems hard to center on the Lord’s presence, then click on this and rest for minutes or hours in the presence of God. This calming music has been literally created in God’s presence, interceding, reading scripture, praying and asking for God to move in your life. Take a listen and receive some Renewal.

Stream the Chosen Series & Focus on Jesus – Video Series – If you haven’t heard about The Chosen, it is the largest crowdfunded series ever, breaking records and building momentum—and it’s totally about Jesus. The Chosen is releasing is fourth season in this series following the life of Jesus. It is biblically grounded, vivid and personal. I highly recommend it as a way to encounter Jesus and enter into Renewal.