INSANITY GRIPS THE WORLD.
THERE COMES A POINT IN A HUMAN’S DEVELOPMENT WHEN THEY HAVE REJECTED GOD’S WILL SO MUCH THAT GOD ALLOWS AN INFLUENCE OVER THEM WHICH DESTROYS THEIR ABILITY TO THINK AND REASON PROPERLY.
WHY DO PEOPLE THINK DIFFERENTLY TODAY ? THEY HAVE BEEN BLINDED. FIRST, AS A RESULT OF JUDGMENT FROM GOD. SECONDLY, FROM THEM YIELDING TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE DEVIL.
2 Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
CAN SATAN CHANGE A PERSON’S THINKING ?
CAN GOD CHANGE IT BACK ? GOD GIVES IT TO US. BUT WE CAN LOSE IT.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
RENEWING OF THE MIND.
Romans 12:2 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. THE WORLD HAS ALREADY CONCLUDED THAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS INSANE.
**Government officials have stated that for a person to think that homosexuality is wrong or that abortion is wrong, that those people are not mentally balanced. In other words, they are calling true Christians insane.
A. THE WORLD ACCUSED JESUS OF BEING INSANE.
John 10:20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
HE WAS CONSIDERED INSANE BECAUSE HE SPOKE THE TRUTH AND WAS UNWILLING TO AGREE WITH THE WORLD’S LOGIC.
B. CHRISTIANS ACCUSED OF BEING INSANE.
Acts 26:24-25 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
–MISUSE OF THE GIFTS WILL CAUSE THE WORLD TO ASSUME WE ARE INSANE.
1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
–FALSE CHRISTIANS ARE INDEED AWAY FROM THE MIND OF CHRIST.
1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
2. WE DON’T WANT TO ALLOW THE INSANITY OF THIS WORLD TO AFFECT US.
A. BEING TOO SPONTANEOUS IN OUR SPEACH DOES NOT ALLOW OUR HEARTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE SP[IRIT OF GOD. THIS RESULTS IN FOOLISH TALK.
**THE WORLD TODAY WANTS INSTANT COMMUNICATION AND INSTANT ANSWERS. THIS IS NOT GOOD. THEY NEED TO ALLOW GOD’S SPIRIT TO WORK.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
–O.T. JURIES SOUGHT ANSWERS FROM GOD. THEY TOOK TIME TO COME TO A DECISION. TODAY, EVERYTHING IS TRIED IMMEDIATELY IN THE PRESS, AND PEOPLE ACCEPT THOSE VERDICTS BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BUSY TO THINK AND PRAY THINGS THROUGH.
Leviticus 24:12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.
B. MISINTERPRETING INFORMATION CAN MAKE A PERSON’S MIND DRAW THE WRONG CONCLUSIONS. NEBUCHADNEZZAR THOUGHT THE ACHIEVEMENTS WERE HIS OWN.
Daniel 5:20-21 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
3. THOUGH INSANITY MAY BECOME EPIDEMIC, CHRISTIANS STILL HAVE POWER AND HEALING FOR THE MIND AND SOUL.
A. WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.
DOES HE FREELY SHARE THINGS WITH US ? YES ! WHAT IF ADAM AND EVE HAD SOUGHT THE MIND OF THE LORD INSTEAD OF ACTING SPONTANEOUSLY ?
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
B. WE ARE EXPECTED TO BE REASONABLE PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO ACT UPON GODLY LOGIC, NOT THE LOGIC OF THIS WORLD.
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.