1Peter 1:13
Repairing A Ruined Mind
For the first message in this series, Ruining A Sound Mind, 2Timothy 1:7.
Last week, I brought a message on the danger of ruining one of the most precious
assets that God has given to us, our mind. The Bible teaches that we are a
trichotomy; that is, that we are made of a body, a soul (which includes the mind),
and a spirit. If we should lose our mind, we should be greatly handicapped.
It is my desire to be spirit-driven and controlled. It is my prayer that if a
disease of the mind, such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, should rob my ability to
know who I am, that my spirit would still cause me to behave as Christ would have
me behave. However, even if we can do that, we still need a sound mind.
Again this week, let me say at the onset, that I am no expert of the mind. My
field of study is the Bible. My goal is not to tell you there is no mental
illness or that you should not and will not have any mental illness. My goal is
to teach you the danger of ruining your own mind and hopefully show you how you
can repair the damage that has already been done.
Last week, I told you that there are three stages when it comes to the spirit and
a sound mind.
1. Having a sound (sane) mind, one that can function in society.
2. Having an unsound (insane) mind, one that will not function in society.
3. Having a spiritual mind, one that recognizes and serves God.
We are looking at the first two kinds of minds.
I also told you that when people with a sound mind become unsound, it most likely
due to wrong thinking.
1. People often allow themselves to think in ways that the Bible teaches us
is harmful.
2. When you think wrong over and over again, you create a rut in your mind
that you will one day not be able to get out of.
The Bible warns us of several kinds of wrong thinking.
1. Fearful thinking
a. Giving your mind over to worry, panic, and paranoia.
2Timothy 1:7-For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of
love, and of a sound mind.
b. The cure if faith.
2. Irrational thinking
a. Following the facts to the wrong conclusion.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth
unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 18:17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour
cometh and searcheth him.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth
the hearts.
b. The cure is gaining knowledge, wisdom, and understanding from the Bible
and surrounding your self with good counselors.
3. Confused thinking
a. Thinking that has no direction, no control.
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all
churches of the saints.
Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
b. The cure is gaining knowledge, wisdom, and understanding from the Bible
and surrounding your self with good counselors.
4. Wicked thinking
a. This ranges from thinking impure, fleshly thoughts to have an evil,
murderous mind.
Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth
walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God
through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
b. The cure is giving yourself to Christ, to His Word, and separating
yourself from the evil of this world.
I. So, let’s say that you have ruined your mind, can you get it back? Can you
repair the damage that sin has done?
A. The answer is YES. You can change your mind through the power of Jesus
Christ and hard work.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will
of God.
1. You can RENEW or CHANGE your mind through Jesus Christ.
2. I believe in the power of Christ.
a. I have no knowledge or understanding in any other field of
helps.
b. Sometimes people want me counsel with them about problems.
(1) I always start at the same place, Jesus.
(2) Marriage problems-Jesus.
(3) Problems with your children-Are you saved?
(4) Healthy problems-Have you been born again?
(5) Financial problems-How are things with you and Jesus?
(6) Your car won’t crank? Are you living for Jesus?
c. Why do I do that? Because the only thing I know anything about
is the Bible and the Bible only works for believers.
d. If you want to fix your broken mind without Jesus, good luck;
but I can’t help you.
3. The Bible is clear, through Christ, your mind can be changed.
B. However, it will likely be a very long and difficult journey.
1. It takes years to ruin a mind. It may take years to repair it.
2. It will likely be a very difficult experience.
a. The truth is that it is much easier to keep a healthy mind well
than it is to fix a sick one.
b. The reason-Because it is easier to stay out of sin in the
first place than it is to get out of it once you are in it.
C. But if you will turn to Jesus and work hard, I believe people who have
ruined their own mind with wrong thinking can repair it.
II. So how do you repair your mind?
A. You repair your mind by controlling it.
2Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against
the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ.
1. The Bible is teaching us that we have charge of our mind.
a. Both of these verses are talking about minds.
b. The Bible says that we can pull down the devil’s strongholds
within our mind.
(1) This would apply to pornography or any other kind of
thinking that takes over your mind.
(2) These are the kinds of thoughts that once they get into your
mind, they seize control of your mind.
c. We can cast out the imaginations of the mind and every other
high thing that would seek to occupy it. This would apply to
fear or any other kind of mental thinking where the mind is
dwelling on things that might be, could be, but probably never
will happen.
d. And we can bring every thought under control so that we are in
obedience to Christ. This is all the other kinds of wrong
thinking.
2. The key is to take charge of what our mind is thinking.
a. Allowing our mind to think WRONG is what damaged it.
b. Forcing our mind to think RIGHT will be what repairs it.
B. Let me say again, if you ruin your mind by letting it run wild, the
only way to repair it is to take control over it.
1. I have seen run-away bitterness warp the mind. Something bad
was done to an individual, and they dwelt on it until they could
not stop.
2. I have seen run-away grief warp the mind. The loss of a loved one
is something to grieve over, but it if, after a time, we do not
quit dwelling on it, it will ruin our minds.
3. I have seen run-away fear warp the mind. Exaggerated thinking
about bad possibilities can become a mindset that will won’t
stop.
4. I have seen run-away lust warp the mind.
5. I have seen run-away jealousy warp the mind.
6. But you can stop it.
III. How do I take control of my mind?
A. Choose to think correctly.
1. The Bible gives us a principal that is universal; that is, we
should apply it to any battle of good and evil.
Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
2. Whenever an evil attempts to overtake us, find a godly good that we
can replace it with.
3. The more we love that specific good, the less we will commit that
specific evil.
B. So how should we change our thinking?
1. Choose good over evil.
Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
a. You can use other synonyms for those words , i.e. replace bad
with good, wrong with right. etc.
b. The botto0m line is, if you want to a different mind, you must
refuse to think the wrong kinds of thoughts and replace them
with the right kind.
c. A person is jealous.
(1) He/she beings to think the mate is unfaithful.
(2) Stop that!
(3) You want to love and trust your mate so do it!
(4) Unless they give you some legitimate reason, determine to
quit thinking that way.
2. Choose truth over error.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
a. Most irrational thinking is a result of false facts.
b. Too many people today accept what they are told and never
investigate to see if it is true.
c. This is not just outside of the church, it is inside of the
church too.
d. Christians throwing away the KJB, mixing creation and evolution,
and generally refusing the Bible as their sole authority are
just a few examples.
3. Choose spiritual over carnal.
a. This has more to do with having a spiritual mind than a sound
mind; but whenever possible, the child of God should be
motivated by the spiritual rather than the carnal.
b. Somebody goes to church, reads their Bible, tithes because they
are supposed.
c. No, that is just carnal thinking.
d. We do those things because we are the Lord’s and we want to
glorify Him.
4. Choose faith over fear.
Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
a. That may be a simple Bible verse but it is packed with power.
b. Trust God.
5. Choose clean over dirty.
Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things.
6. Choose discipline over wild, random thoughts.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
7. Choose others over self.
Phil 2:12 …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
a. Sometimes finding help for yourself is as simply as taking your
eyes off of yourself.
b. It is good for you to see that others have greater needs than
you, but it is also an opportunity for God to bless you.
You can fix the damage of self-inflicted mental unsoundness, but the longer you
live in the rut of wrong thinking, the harder it will be. Help yourself by
taking control of your mind today.
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