Text: 2 Corinthians 10:4&5 | Numbers 23:19
Every human being on earth comes from a family and we are all shaped by the values, the ideals, and the cultures of the families we come from.
Values are principles or standards of living. Ideals are principles or behaviours of a person or group. While culture is the ideas, customs or social behaviour of a particular group or society.
These values, ideals, and cultures are what form our mindsets.
These mindsets will in-turn influence our thoughts, feeling, and behaviours because the way a person thinks influences their feelings and behaviours (Prov 23:7).
As Christians, if we want to experience the life that Jesus offers us, we need to adopt a Kingdom mindset (Rom 12:1-3).
A Kingdom mindset is one which embodies the values and ideals of God.
If you want to be a part of this Kingdom, you must adopt the mindset of God, which is the person of Jesus Christ
A way to know that your mindset has shifted to the mindset of the Kingdom is that your character will change.
When your mindset changes, the first thing that will change is your behaviour because your behaviour is connected to your thoughts.
If you want to build a kingdom life, you must adopt the Kingdom mindset.
It’s not easy to have a mindset shift, in fact, it’s a battle.
The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians10:4-5
When we think of things over and over again, it becomes magnified and eventually becomes a stronghold in our minds.
When God speaks to us, how we interpret it is subject to our mindset. If you have a growth mindset, you’ll see other people’s behaviours in a way that is not critical of you because you know that the world doesn’t revolve around you.
The way a person behaves is a function of their character not what you have done.
How do you experience a major shift?
1. Have a Vision
The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had left him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are standing, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever. 16 I will make your descendants [as numerous] as the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the [grains of] dust of the earth, then your descendants could also be counted. 17 Arise, walk (make a thorough reconnaissance) around in the land, through its length and its width, for I will give it to you.”
Genesis 13:14-17
If you wan to experience a major shift in your life and family, it starts by having a vision.
What kind of life do you want to live? What kind of life do you want for your family? What do you want to see in your spouse and what kind of spouse do you want to be?
If you are someone who only sees the flaws of other people, you will have a difficult time building a good family.
You are not perfect and even God doesn’t look at your flaws but on who He has made you to be (Judges 6:12).
What you see will determine what eventually happens.
2. Be Ready to Fight for It
When they left Pharaoh’s presence, the foremen met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them. 21 And the foremen said to them, “May the Lord look upon you and judge you, because you have made us odious (something hated) in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and you have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
Exodus 5:20-23
22 Then Moses turned again to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have You brought harm and oppression to this people? Why did You ever send me? [I cannot understand Your purpose!] 23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has harmed and oppressed this people, and You have done nothing at all to rescue Your people.
If you want to live a good life that comes from having a Kingdom mindset, you must be ready to fight for it.
If you want to be a good wife, there are steps you need to take and things you need to know.
If you want to be a good husband, you must find out what it takes and do them.
If you want to raise godly children, you must fid out what you need to do.
You have to keep evolving and keep growing. You have to keep fighting for it.
Pursue wisdom read books, get exposure.
3. Don’t Look Back
Now the people became like those who complain and whine about their hardships, and the Lord heard it; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp. 2 So the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire died out. 3 He named that place Taberah (the place of burning), because the fire of the Lord burned among them.
Numbers 11:1-9
4 The [a]rabble among them [who followed Israel from Egypt] had greedy desires [for familiar and delicious food], and the Israelites wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember the fish we ate freely and without cost in Egypt, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. 6 But now our [b]appetite is gone; there is nothing at all [in the way of food] [c]to be seen but this manna.”
7 The manna was like coriander seed, and it looked like [d]bdellium. 8 The people went about and gathered it, and ground it in mills or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes with it; and it tasted like cakes baked with fresh [olive] oil. 9 When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna fell with it.
Once you have a clear vision and you have figured out what to do, don’t look back.
When you start working on your vision, people are going to talk but you must ignore.
Don’t try to please them buy taking all their advice, but continue on your journey towards achieving that vision.
Don’t look back at the past either, just keep your eyes on the price.