An obsession is when one thing becomes everything. That
one thing dominates what we think about, dictates how we process information
and situations, and determines the choices we make. If one thing is going to have that power and
influence over us, what that one thing is is very important.
Woe to those addicted to
feeling good—life without pain! - those
obsessed with looking good—life without wrinkles! They could not care less about their country
going to ruin. Amos 6:6 MSG
Don’t be obsessed with
getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping
hand. Philippians 2:4 MSG
Don’t be obsessed with
getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured
us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” Hebrews 13:5 MSG
The dictionary defines obsession as the state of being
obsessed with someone or something – to continually and inclusively fill the
mind with that one person or thing. Is there someone or something that you
constantly think about? It doesn’t
have to be a person or object. It can be politics, what others think, have or
do, how things look – “the best” or perfect, emotional high – feeling good, the
thrill, etc., being in the know, being in control. The list is endless. What we continually, constantly and
intentionally set our minds on matters – REALLY MATTERS! It doesn’t just fill
our minds, it attracts our attention, dominates our affection, monopolizes our
schedule, activates our imagination, ignites our passion, energizes, excites,
distracts, controls and defines.
Proverbs 23:7 in both King James and New American Standard
translations states, “For as he thinks in
his heart, so is he!” The word
“think” is a very interesting word. It is the Hebrew word sha’ar, which actually means to split open, reason out, reckon or
calculate. It refers to opening something up and thoroughly examining the
quality of something to set a price or value. What defines the quality or true
nature of someone is what is going on inside their head and heart – what we
constantly and intentionally ingest and digest mentally. What we obsess over
shapes not only what we do and say, but who we become.
If we are going to be obsessed – continually and
inclusively filling the mind with that one thing, lets make sure that one thing
is God and things of God.
For those who are according
to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are
according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but
the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh
is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it
is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans
8:5-8 NAS
Those who live according to
the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those
who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit
desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit
is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to
God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot
please God. Romans 8:5-8 NIV
Those who think they can do
it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never
get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them
find that God’s Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self
in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open,
into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on
God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more
about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God
isn’t pleased at being ignored. Romans
8:5-8 MSG
There are several key words we need to understand in this
passage. The first one is phroneo, in
verse 5, translated “set their mind” NAS or “minds set on” NIV. It is a verb that means more than to simply
think about something, like what to have for lunch or what to wear. That is
unless you are obsessed with what you eat or clothes, then the word would be phroneo, which involves the head, the
heart and the will. It cares so much
about something that you give it your full attention, affection and allegiance.
It is the one thing we just keep thinking about, focusing on, are obsessed
with. The result of that continual and intentional focus is the word phronema, which appears in verses 6 and
7. Phronema is the result of one’s
thinking – the thoughts, the purpose, the plot and plans that take shape. When
discussing phronema, the Complete
Word Study notes, “The will follows or obeys the dominant interest of the
mind.” The result of our phroneo isn’t just what goes on in our
heads, but what is expressed on our face, what we say and how we say it, what
we do and how we do it.
Those thoughts and plots are either going to be shaped and
orchestrated by our flesh or by the Spirit. What is being referred to as “flesh”
is all the “me” anchored thoughts, feelings, desires and inclinations. The
thoughts and plots shaped by the flesh are going to lead to separation from
God, which makes sense because “me,” not He, is on the throne giving the
commands and determining the direction.
Those shaped by the Holy Spirit result in life and peace. Without the Holy Spirit in our lives, “me”
has little competition. Actually verse 7 says when it comes to aligning with
the desires and decrees of God, “it is
not even able to do so.”
We need to understand that Romans 8:5-8 isn’t just about
comparing how those “in the flesh” and those
“in the Spirit” think, but telling us, who do have the Holy Spirit in
our lives through faith in Christ, that we do have a choice. Having a
choice also means being responsible for what we think about as well as what we
choose to focus on and be obsessed with.
However, you are not in the
flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. Romans 8:9
In Matthew 16:23, Jesus identified the “not setting your mind (phroneo) on God’s
interest, but man’s” with Satan.
Being obsessed with who he was and what he wanted, when and how he
wanted it was how he fell from being an archangel to becoming an arch-nemesis. The end results are not pretty for him or
anyone else.
For, as I have often told
you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross
of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their
glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Philippians 3:18,19
Instead …
Set your minds on things
above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 NIV
Actually …
Have this attitude in
yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 2:5
The word attitude is phroneo
– have the same mindset, focus, obsession as Jesus.
- · How is this different than simply having the same attitude?
- · What was Jesus’ mindset, focus, even obsession according to John 4:34, 5:30 and 8:29?
- · What does it mean to you to have the same phroneo as Jesus?
According to 1 Corinthians 2:16, we “have been given the mind of Christ.” The
word “mind” is nous. Nous
is the faculties of perceiving, understanding and feeling. It is the capacity to think and imagine in a
specific way.
Romans 11:33, 34 asks “Who
has known the mind of the Lord?” Who has the capability to see things the
way He sees things, to understand what He fully comprehends, to feel in a way
and to the full depth that He feels? If
we have the mind of Christ and it is fully engaged, the answer, believe it or
not, is us! If we are going to be able to phroneo
- think like Jesus thinks, focus on
what He focuses on, share His obsession with pleasing the Father and doing His
will, we need to change our mind (nous) –
or at least the one we are using.
Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV says we need to be “made new in the attitude of our minds.”
The word translated “made new” is ananeoo = to be made something different. The word “attitude” is pneuma = spirit, the core of how we think – how we function. Instead of thinking our old way out of a
self-serving core, we need to think with the mind of Christ we have been given
as part of the Body of Christ. This is a
constant choice: Which thought generator am I going to plug into here and now,
in this moment, in this situation? One I control or one the Holy Spirit
controls?
In Romans 12:2, we are told to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The word “renewed” is anakainos = to be made qualitatively different. The quality of what and how we think, our
perspective, our ability to process information and situations needs to be
radically different. The dictionary has two different meanings for quality: (1)
the standard or degree of excellence; and (2) the distinct attributes or
characteristics. Which definition do you
think applies to our minds and the way we think being qualitatively different? Both! It needs to be transformed – metomorphoo = to expand until it becomes
all that was intended. It needs to become like Jesus.
This is not something we can do simply out of
willingness. It requires partnership
with the Holy Spirit.
For who among men knows the
thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one
knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the
spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what
God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians
2:11-12 NIV
Our translations add the word “thoughts” to this
statement. However, in the Greek it states, “Who among men knows the The of a
man …? No one knows the THE of God except the Spirit of God.” What
is this “THE”? It is the phroneo, what makes me, you, Jesus
“tick.” It is the mindset, the focus, the process, the filter, the heart, mind
and soul of thinking. We have been given the Spirit of God so we can receive
the THE of God which has been freely given to us so we can think and thus be
like Jesus. The Holy Spirit is what
connects us to God and enables us to receive all He has for us. In a very inadequate example, it is like a
fax machine. No matter how vital the information or how often it is sent, if we
do not have the means to receive it, it won’t get through.
If we each have the same phroneo as Jesus, we will have the same phroneo as each other. Read Philippians 2:1-5. Paul’s
heart desire was that they/we have one phroneo
(“being of the same mind”), one agape (choosing to love/care), one sympsychos (“united in spirit” = united
inner life – soul connection), and then seemingly repeating himself phronountes = always thinking, focusing,
giving this your attention, affection and allegiance. Why do you think he repeated the desire for us to singularly and
specifically focused? The answer is
in Romans 15:5-7.
Now may the God who gives
perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one
another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one
voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept
one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. Romans 15:5-7
The “so that” purpose of this “same mind” (“spirit of
unity” NIV) – phroneo –
thinking, focus and obsession is glorifying the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
- · What does it mean to you to be obsessed with glorifying God?
- · What impact would it have on your life and relationships with others?
Jesus was obsessed with glory and grace. If you are to have the same “attitude” – phroneo as Jesus, what would that kind
of mindset, focus, obsession require of you?
Do an honest evaluation:
What are you obsessed with?
