GIRDING THE MIND

1 PETER 1:1

A. "WHEREFORE GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND, BE SOBER, AND HOPE TO THE END FOR THE GRACE THAT IS TO BE BROUGHT UNTO YOU AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST"
  1. The apostle of Jesus Christ:
    1. Admonishes the believers to gird the loins of the mind
    2. Some Bible translations read, "prepare your mind" - others read, "concentrate in your mind". The New English Bible renders these word with, "You must be like men stripped for action"
  2. Some modern teachers would have us believe that this is the age when the minds of men are challenged to expansion as never before:
    1. It is true that the human mind does things in our day that are phenomenal
    2. But it is equally true that the mind of man receives much attention in the Bible B. GIRDING THE MIND
  3. The mind:
    1. The mind is that faculty of a rational being that enables us to reason, to perceive or recognize things or facts
    2. It is the God-given ability to function in an atmosphere of intelligence
    3. "Come no, and let us reason together, saith the Lord" - Is. 1:18
  4. To gird the mind means:
    1. To inform or prepare the mind
    2. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" - Phil. 4:8
    3. To gird the mind is to be ready for any eventuality - get ready for action; Examples: Paul knew that he would be executed and he girded his mind for that oblation - "I am now ready" - 2 Tim. 4:6; David girded his mind to meet Goliath - 1 Sam. 17:46-48
    4. "Having your loins girded with truth" - Eph. 6:14; Peter understood this girding - John 21:18 C. LET US CONSIDER THE GIRDING OF THE MIND MORE CLOSELY:
  5. Satan makes the mind of man the field of his warfare:
    1. He blinds the minds of his victims - knowing full well that when the mind loses its powers man is totally incapacitated
    2. "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, least the light of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them" - 2 Cor. 4:4
    3. If Satan can fill the mind with sin, he has control of his victim - Rom. 6:16
  6. To gird the mind:
    1. Is to let the word of God dwell in the heart thus closing the life to sin - Col. 3:16-17
    2. If the mind dwells on the things that create pure and sanctified thoughts then the mind is girded with the truth
  7. Sobriety: To be sober means to keep the mind clear from the influence that will becloud the power of reason
    1. It means that we must keep the mind cool, away from intemperance
    2. It is a call to serious thought; this is a frivolous kind of butterfly age
    3. Yet, to be sober does not mean to be sullen or gloomy
  8. The optimistic mind:
    1. A child of God cannot afford to be pessimistic, but be of a cheerful mind
    2. "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken" - Prov. 15:13
    3. "Son be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee" - Matt. 9:2
    4. "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" - John 16:33
  9. What a timely admonition by the apostle:
    1. Safeguard the mind; that is the only power you have wherewith you can bless God and man
    2. Gird it with filling it with truth and let the truth control it; and you will have no need to worry
    3. We are nearing the end of time; the time when we need a balanced mind sanctified by the word of truth.


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