Lesson 9
The Sense-Ruled Mind
Review
- Define Sense-Ruled Mind – To be ruled by the five senses.
- Carnal or Fleshly – Relating to physical, especially sexual, needs or activity.
- What does it mean to be carnal – Fleshly, sensual, an animal like nature, relating to the body. Carnal more often connotes derogatory actions or manifestation of a person’s lower than nature.
- The carnal mind or sense ruled mind is your five senses, sight, smell, hearing, taste and they will always be at odds with the Spiritual Power of God. To understand The Word and Power of God, you must see it through, the Spirit, which comes by reading and meditating on the Word of God. The Word of God is Spirit and Life. John 6:63; John 4:24.
- What are some signs of carnality? Lustful stirrings; unholy actions; a carnal yearning; undue affections and familiarity toward those of the opposite sex; wandering eyes or something in you that cannot be trusted, the type person that cannot be trusted if the opportunity presents itself.
- The Sense Ruled Mind or Unrenewed mind live in this realm.
- Why is there no fellowship between the unrenewed mind and the recreated spirit?
The unrenewed mind is always waging war against unbelief, ever praying for faith, but never arriving; always talking unbelief yet struggling to get faith; ever confessing failure, but at the same time confessing faith in the Word and denying it in actions; trying to believe, yet never acting on the Word! Romans 7:14– 23. The Law is Holy and demands me to be Holy!! Romans 8:6-7. James 1:23-24 For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, 24and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like …
- The unrenewed mind is a mind that has not been transformed by the Word of God. It is hostile against God. If the mind is not renewed, even if a person is regenerated in his spirit, evil spirits will still have a chance to work. Christians who fail to renew their mind with the Word of God will live harassed, troubled, and mentally beat up. When someone is renewing their mind, it will show up in their thoughts, their words and their actions. 1 John 1:1-3 Blessed is he who believed and have not seen. John 20:29.
- The sense-ruled mind has never been renewed, so there is no real fellowship between the recreated spirit and the mind, because the sense ruled mind is in constant contact with the world (TV shows, movies, dressing, hair styles, etc.), which it has been a part of forever, and largely ruled by it. The Recreated spirit believer is blessed with every spiritual blessing-wisdom, divine ability, strength, love, and every other thing that is necessary to make the believer’s life beautiful, helpful, victorious. 1:3… Blessings, the Pure Gospel, full Grace and Gifts of the Spirit, which are necessary to do the Will of our Precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- Why? Gal 5:16 – We Walk by Faith and not by sight
- God wants our spirits to be turned over to Him Romans 12:1-2. *****
- 1 Cor 2:14-16; 3:1-4, “Now the natural man (unrenewed mind) understands not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
- After we receive the Holy Spirit, we must train our spirit. How do we train our spirits??
- Some ways to train the Human Spirit?
Meditating on the Word of God - Joshua 1:8 Good success; make your way prosperous
Practicing the Word of God - James 1:22 Be Ye Doers; and not hearers only
Giving the Word of God First Place – Prov 4:20-22, Attend, Not depart; Keep in your heart; they are life; Matt 6:33
Instantly Obeying the Word of God – The human spirit has a voice. We call it a conscience. Sometimes it is called intuition. But the new birth is the voice of the Spirit. Your spirit has the life and nature of God in it, for He dwells in you. “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord”. God will use your spirit to guide you. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:6.
- What are the two confessions of the double-minded man? 1 Kings 18:21 – How long??
- Elijah was confronted with problems of dealing with double-minded Saints. The Church today has the same issues. They must see, hear and feel. John 20:24-29 Thomas was a sense knowledge believer. Jesus met that requirement for man 1 John 1:1-3, That which from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we behold, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life……………..
- Confession of a sense believer or a double minded man – (1) He has to see to believe (2) His senses have to be satisfied (3) He cannot take the Word of God independent of his senses.
- To be seen, felt or heard or any evidence before believing is sense knowledge evidence.
- What is one of the characteristics of an unrenewed mind?
- A Critical Spirit – Romans 14:10-13
- What is a “critical spirit,” – It is an obsessive attitude of criticism and fault finding, which seeks to tear others down. This is not the same as “constructive criticism.” The only criticism that is ever constructive is that which is expressed, in love to “build up”, never to tear down-it is always expressed face-to-face, never behind their back.
- What causes a critical spirit?
- (1) Negativeness – A bad attitude and a negative view of life. A person may have unconfessed sin or may harbor unforgiveness or bitterness. Heb 12:15.
- (2) Insecurity – Criticism is often a subconscious means to “elevate one’s own self-image.” By putting others down, they are inwardly trying to feel more important or that “they know more.” Jealousy toward the spiritual victories of others is often the cause of criticism and belittling comments. Popular Ministers of the Gospels are often the target of such tactics. Just can’t say anything good about anybody.
- (3) Immaturity – Saints must always keep their focus upon Christ and His Word, not man, who will often fail Heb 12:2. The young or immature believer who has not progressed very far in their own faith, remain overly dependent upon the faith of those within the Body of Christ. Unfortunately, when they begin to notice the flaws in their brethren, subconsciously, this becomes a threat to their own sense of victory. Criticism becomes a reaction of disappointment, because their expectations in others have been crushed. They must learn to walk by the Word of God, which teaches us to bear the infirmities of the weak, to love, and show compassion and encouragement.
- (4) If we hope to bring improvement to others, we need to become people of encouragement. This is the only attitude that will change people, and our actions and words must be devoted to the positive progress of our brethren/spouses/children or family.
- (5) The person with a critical spirit usually dwells on the negative, seeks for flaws rather than good. They are complainers, sharp tongue, almost always mad, slanderers, little control over their tongue.
- (6) The devil specializes and is a major cause of a critical spirit. We must be on guard. Ep 6:12. We are to give no place to him Ep 4:27. Remember satan is an accuser of the brethren, Rev 12:10.
- Why is the old Covenant Law called the Law of the Sense?
- The Mosaic Covenant was given to the Israelites and included many detailed regulations covering various aspects of life, social behavior and rituals. These laws were tangible. They were addressing the natural and had to do only with the senses man. Seeing, feeling, hearing, tasting, smelling, which are all doors that lead to the brain. Again, we understand why God is asking that our senses be turned over to Him. Only by the renewing of our mind, can we please God. The law of the new Covenant begat love, faith, and confidence in the new creation. The battle that we fight in our daily walk is with our senses. The Holy Spirit must govern our senses, and our minds must be renewed by the washing of the Word. Eph 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word…”.
- What should be the relation between the senses and the renewed mind of an adult Christian?
The Adult Christian lives by 1 Cor 1:30-31, turns to 1 Cor 1:30, where Jesus is made unto us Wisdom; but the babe in Christ, the undeveloped Believer , has not yet learned the secret of trusting the Word. He feels as if he must do something in order to enjoy his privileges in Christ. Man cannot work His way into God’s heart. He does not understand that no flesh shall Glory in God’s Presence. We are of God, we are in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption; and that according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him Glory in the Lord. This is a new creation and a love creation, and the man that is not born again or a new babe cannot/may not yet understand God’s love life to him. 1 Cor 2:14.
Some Examples of an Adult Christian!
- He puts on a new man - Col 3:10-14
- He must love His Brother or Sister - 1 John 2:9-11 The sense man who saith He is light, and hates his brother, is in darkness, even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in Light.
- He follows God - John 8:12 I am the Light of the World, he that follows me shall not walk in darkness.
- He loves - The Light of life is love. God is light. In Him there is no darkness at all. We love because we have received His nature and His love is dominant in us.
- A new Spiritual knowledge - With a renewed mind we have a new spiritual knowledge. It Comes by knowing and acting on the Word.
- He walks in the Holy Spirit and is ruled by Him.
- The Adult Christian is a new creation and is a love creation, and the sense walking man cannot understand this love life.
