BEING HEAVENLY MINDED

BEING HEAVENLY MINDED

What does it truly mean to be heavenly-minded in our daily lives? Contrary to the popular belief that focusing on heaven makes us less effective on earth, we explore how adopting a heavenly mindset can actually enhance our usefulness here. Drawing from scripture, we emphasize the importance of prioritizing God's kingdom and righteousness. Discover how to align your life with God's purpose and invest in what lasts for eternity, rather than temporary things.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Being Heavenly Minded
• 5:30 The Impact of a Heavenly Mindset on Earthly Actions
• 10:00 Scriptural Insights: John 14 and Romans 14
• 15:00 Prioritizing God's Kingdom and Righteousness
• 20:00 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Guiding Our Mindset
• 25:00 Understanding the Lord's Prayer: A Model for Priorities
• 30:00 Conclusion: Living with an Eternal Perspective

Chapters

• 0:00 Heavenly Minded vs Earthly Useful
• 0:41 Jesus As Model For Kingdom Focus
• 2:04 Greater Works Through A Heavenly Mindset
• 2:04 Romans 14: Righteousness, Peace, Joy
• 2:28 Matthew 6: Do Not Worry, Seek First
• 4:19 What God’s Reign Looks Like In You
• 6:01 Seeking God’s Righteousness Over Ours
• 7:07 Eternal Investments That Truly Last
• 8:23 Youthful Zeal And The Spirit’s Lead
• 9:12 Priority Lists And Adding “All Things”
• 10:40 Light Afflictions And Lasting Glory
• 12:10 God First: Ownership, Not Add-On
• 13:09 Live For Eternity, Not Just Today
• 14:22 Seek Above: Mission And Mindset
• 16:31 The Lord’s Prayer: Priority Map
• 18:07 Daily Bread, Forgiveness, Protection
• 19:24 Closing Praise And Final Takeaway

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:00

How can we be heavily minded? We are in the end time. We are in the end time. And I believe God wants you and I to be heavily minded. You know, there's people say that when you are heavily minded, you are heartily useless. That is not true. There's nothing like that in in the Bible that states that if you're too heavily minded, you won't be artily good. That is not in the Bible at all. But I'm here to encourage you as child of God that when you and I we are heavily minded. Like I said, not just heavenly minded, too heavily minded. Guess what? We will actually become artly good. Because Jesus says that in John chapter 14, verse 12, most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will also do, and greater works than these he will do because I go to the Father. So Jesus is a perfect example of someone who is heavenly minded, too much of heaven in the head of Jesus. So you can be heavenly minded and heartly useful. Actually, if you are artly useful and you're not heavenly minded, your life is vanity, grasping the wind. If you read the book of Ecclesiastes, that was the observation of the wise man, the teacher. He was heartly minded and heavenly useless. He was trying to figure out life under the sun. But whereas Jesus, who came from heaven, came with this mindset of heaven, and as a result, he was able to accomplish so much for us in three years. Three years. And now Jesus is sent to us as a church that when we and I we are heavenly minded, greater works we can do. Greater works we can do. Greater works we can do. What does it mean to be heavenly minded? Look what it says in Romans chapter 14, verse verse 17 to 18. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by man. Okay, let's read another another scripture in Matthew chapter 6, verse 31 to 34. Therefore, do not worry, what shall we eat? You see, these are all earthly minded. There's nothing wrong about being earthly minded because we are body, soul, and spirit. Amen. So we're reading from Matthew chapter 6, verse 31 to 34. Jesus is saying that don't be anxious. Don't be don't be anxious. I know, yes, we have earthly responsibilities. You know what we shall eat, what we shall drink, what we shall wear, is just illustrating to us that these are all earthly responsibilities. Yes, our minds are set to these things. But look what it says. For after all these things, the gentle sick, the unbelievers are looking for these things. For your heavenly father knows that you need all these things. You see, God is not a wicked God. God knows that you need food to eat, God knows that you need a place to stay. But what God is trying to achieve in your life is your priority. God is trying to put your priority in place. God is not neglecting your earthly responsibilities. God wants to get your priority right. So Jesus is trying to affirm and confirm that our Father knows that we need these things. God is not a wicked God. That's why Peter said, Cast all your cares upon him because he cares for you. That cares include the earthly things. But God is saying, I want you to be heavily minded. And Jesus said, But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. So, what does it mean to be heavenly minded? Number one, to be heavily minded means to allow God to reign. To allow God to reign because Jesus said, seek first the kingdom of God. What do we mean by the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is God reigning in your life. It's not just God reigning in heaven and on earth, but God also reigning in your life, God in charge of your feelings, God in charge of your mind, God in charge of your soul, God in charge of your entire being. So God wants to rule in you, He wants to be king over you. That is why Jesus is Lord. Yes, we call Him our Savior, but do you see Him as your Lord? It's very hard for us as believers to see Jesus as our Lord because when we see Him as Lord, He comes and takes control, He is in charge. That's why Paul said it's no longer I who lives, but Christ that lives in me. So to be heavily minded until that you allow God to reign, meaning that the kingdom of God is in you. God wants you to pursue his reign in your life, and God also wants you to share the gospel about his son Jesus Christ so that people can have access to the kingdom. Priority. God is saying, prioritize. I want your A list, your A to do list, to be to seek me first, my kingdom, allowing God to reign. And then number two, look what it says after the kingdom, Jesus said, and his righteousness. So that kingdom belongs to God. So God wants us to seek his kingdom, not your kingdom, not the church kingdom. And he also said, I want you to, I want you to seek his righteousness, not your righteousness. You don't define what is right. We live in a world where people can tell us today something is wrong, tomorrow something is right. But God is saying, I want you to seek my righteousness. What is God's righteousness? It's God's way of living, it's God's lifestyle, it's Christ's likeness. So pretty much what Jesus is trying to say, heavenly-minded believers set their affections, their desire on the things above. They are kingdom-oriented. They are not opera room-oriented, they are kingdom-oriented. Because your mindset is so broad. Everywhere they go, they make impact. Everywhere they go is greater works. So when you are kingdom-oriented, you are heartly useful because Jesus said that greater works you and I we can do. That we are God's workmanship for good works. So if you want to impact your world, if you want to influence your world, you need to be heavenly minded. I just realized this today. But we want to be heartly minded and heavenly useful. We see people who achieve so much in life, but they have not achieved anything when it comes to the things of God. And the things of God are eternal, the things of God will remain, the things of God will stay forever. Jesus said, if you're going to make an investment, invest in the things of God, invest in souls. That's what we're doing right here. We invested in things that will last. I know people will laugh at us coming to church. I know people will laugh at us singing, but these are things that will last forever. They will last forever. So we are in the right place making an investment. We are seeking the kingdom, coming this night to pray, to worship God. This is something that will last forever. This is something that God will reward you and I. So this is the greatest investment that you can give to your children. Bring them in the house of the Lord, just like the woman of God was praying, to be planted. David said, May I dwell in your house forever. That's a kingdom mindset. Remember when Jesus was young, he had a kingdom mindset. So his kingdom mindset was not just when he was an adult, he said, I'm about my father's business. Wow. At the age of 12, Jesus is kingdom oriented. He said, I'm about my father's business. The Bible says in the days of your youth, do not forsake your creator. Remember your creator in the days when you're young. Why do you want to wait till you're you're 50, you're 80 years old to remember God to be to have a kingdom-oriented mindset? Jesus said, I'm about my father's business. And the Bible says his parents couldn't understand what he was saying because he had a kingdom mindset. And I realized that for you to have the kingdom mindset, you need the Holy Spirit to really direct you. You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to navigate your life. That is why Paul said, walk in the spirit. Because when you walk in the spirit, the spirit will tell you the things of God. When you walk in the spirit, the spirit will reveal to you the things that God likes. When you walk in the spirit, the spirit will tell you, who dictate, who direct you where to go, will tell you what to prioritize. You see, I have learned this in my own personal life. Whenever I put God first, I know we have 24 hours and we have so much to-do list. You know, we have A to do list, B to do list, C to do list. But I realized that for my own personal life, whenever I put God on the A to do list, I'm able to achieve the B to do list, the C I'm like, God, how this is impossible. I think I'm not gonna have enough time to do the A to B to do list, the C to do list. But whenever I put God on B and C and I put something else on A, I feel like my time is wasted, my days wasted. Because I'm telling you, child of God, when we put God first, Jesus said when we seek Him first, all these things shall be added. Oh my god, all these things. You don't have to stress, you don't have to stress, you don't have to sweat. It's all about priority, child of God. You see, why do we have to be heavily minded? Because that's where our glory comes from. That's where our glory comes from, child of God. Look what it says in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4, 16 to 17. Therefore, we do not lose heart. We do not lose heart. 2nd Corinthians chapter 4, 16 to 17. Therefore, we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, that is our earthly man, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, whatever child of God we're going through is temporary, which is but for moment, it's working for us. Oh my god, our sacrifice in the things of God, our giving in the things of God, our singing in our singing in church, our worshiping, our Bible study, our media, whatever it is that you're doing for God. Oh my god, the persecution that you're going through, the tribulations that you're going through for the sake of God, child of God, all these things they are temporary, they are they are they are but for a moment. Guess what is happening? But they are working for you because the Bible said God causes all things to work together. Oh my god, the Bible says God causes all things to work together to those who are called according to his purpose and those who love him. When you are heavily minded, another thing that I've learned when you are heavily minded, God causes all things to work together for you. Oh God, there's no way you can invest in God and God doesn't invest back in you. There's no way. God is a businessman, God is a businessman, that's what we get it wrong. We want to put God last, but God is saying, No, I want to be first. I want everything to be, I want life, I want your life to revolve around me. But we want God to revolve around us. No, God is saying, No, no, no. You see, God is a jealous God, He's a lover, He's a He's like He likes to take ownership, He likes to be in church. That's why He said, I will not, I will not share my glory with any man when Satan tried. God did not give him a second chance. Child of God, let's prioritize God, amen. And then why do we have to have a kingdom mindset, heavenly minded? It's where our eternity exists. We are just here temporarily. The older you the older you get, the closer you are to your grave. I'm telling you, eternity lies in heaven. That's why Jesus is saying that prepare yourself to make it to heaven. Jesus is coming very soon. Let us be the five wise virgins who are wise, who are awaiting the bride, who are awaiting for that glorious return of Jesus. Jesus is coming very, very soon. Where is your treasure, child of God? I know yes, we're making money. I know yes, we're having babies, but God is saying, Where is your priority? All these things will fade. You are made from dust, you will go back to dust. So be heavily minded means you are seeking those things which are above. That is your life mission according to Colossians chapter chapter 3, verse 1 to 4. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. So Paul is saying that for you to be heavily minded, you have to seek the things which are above. You see, the things which are above, they're not gonna come easy because they're treasures, they're diamonds. Oh God, that's why the Bible said the kingdom of God is like mysteries. Oh God, the kingdom of God is so far violent, the violent take it by force because Satan is not gonna allow you to have access, oh God, to those treasures that God has for you in heaven. That's why we have the first heaven, which is the atmospheric heaven. We have the second heaven that is where oh my god, demonic powers stop prayers, and then we have the third heaven, that's where God is, that's where our prayer prayers are answered. But because our prayers are answered from the third heaven, there's a transition. Well, the powers of darkness, it happened to Daniel. Daniel prayed, God answered while Angel Gribble was bringing the prayer. Oh my god, in the second heaven, interruption. So for you to receive the things of God, things from heaven, you have to seek it, you have to search for it, you have to, oh my god, it's not gonna come easy. That's why Paul says, seek, seek those things which are from above. He didn't just say pray, you can pray, that's one thing, but you have to seek diligently, meaning that it's your mission in life, it's your mission in life to be heavily minded, and then look what it says to be heavily minded means you are setting your mind on the things above, that's your mindset. Two things here: your mission and your mindset, your mission and your mindset, your mind influences your life. So, Paul is saying that to be to have a kingdom mindset, you need to set this mind. Oh God, that's what the Bible said, do not be conformed to the world. Because when you are conformed to the world, guess what? You are heartly minded. When you are conformed to the world, you are heartly minded, but when you allow the word of God, the Holy Spirit, to renew your mind, the spirit will tell you what is oh my God, what you should think about. It says, set your mind on the things above, where Christ is sitting, where Jesus is sitting, where Jesus is residing at the right hand of the Father, sitting beside, because in heaven that's where God's judgment is, in heaven, that's where God's degrees are, in heaven, that's where God's leadership is. Everything, everything, the will of God is in heaven, everything, the plans of God, the purposes of God, everything is in heaven. Our prayers are answered in the heaven, the word of God is settled in heaven, so that's why we have to be heavenly minded. And finally, look at the Lord's Prayer. You know why we have the Lord's Prayer? Have you ever read the Lord's Prayer? It's not a prayer point, it's a it's a prayer format by Jesus, right? But this prayer format, listen to this, it tells you your priorities in life. Okay. I want somebody to read for me. We're gonna I'm gonna this is where I'm gonna stop. That is Matthew chapter 6. I want everybody to focus on Matthew chapter 6, verse 8 to 13. The Lord's Prayer, okay? It's it's going to illustrate our priorities in life. I just learned this today, and I want to share this with you guys. Pay attention to this. Matthew chapter 6, verse 8 to 13. Okay, I'm gonna break it down into two categories, okay? Actually, yeah, two categories of priorities. The first category is heavily minded, and then the second category is artly minded, and then we're gonna take all the items in the verses, and then we're gonna place them in your right category, dividing it into two sections. Heavenly minded, that is the first. Again, heavenly minded, that's the first, and then artly minded, that is the second. Okay, now Anna, I want you to take your time and first read for me Matthew 6, verse 9.

SPEAKER_00: 18:28

Matthew chapter 6, verse 9. In this manner, therefore, pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

SPEAKER_01: 18:38

Stop there, okay. That is under the category of heavenly minded, right? Because we're looking at the person who we are addressing our prayer to, we are looking at the person, the person here is our father, our father who is in heaven. See, heavenly minded, that should be our priority. God as a person, Jesus is saying that see God as a person. Why is Jesus saying that see God as a person with this title of a father? Because Jesus is in that prioritize a relationship with God the Father. Oh my god, prioritize your relationship with God the Father. Because the word father means source, the word father means source. So Jesus is saying that have this heavenly mindset. I want you to start off by addressing God as a father, have a personal relationship with Him. Okay, so that's what we see here now, and this father is located in heaven, and the Bible says, Hallow be his name, because his name is what you and I we carry. God as a person has a name, just like you see, every human being has a name. There's no way you can be a human being with no name. That is why Jesus is saying that. See God as a father that has a name, and he has a specific name. Moses asks, God, who are you? He said, I am that I am. See? So read the next one for me, verse 10.

SPEAKER_00: 20:14

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

SPEAKER_01: 20:19

Awesome. So this is still under the kingdom mindset. Okay, the kingdom mindset category. We identify to for us to view God as a person. Now we're seeing the position and the power of God, the position, kingdom. For you to have a kingdom, you must be a king. So God is in a leadership position. So Jesus is saying that for God's kingdom to come, you have to see God as a king. That is why he said, Seek first. You see, even when Jesus was saying that don't be anxious for nothing, even our the prayer pattern that he gave us is in line with his priority. He said, He said, Your kingdom come, your kingdom come. Our father, God as a person, hallowed be your name. But I want your kingdom to come, meaning that I acknowledge your position as the king, I acknowledge your power as the king, and I want your kingdom, your kingdom come. Okay, your kingdom come now. The other one is your plan, your plan, your plan, because he says your will be done. So we see, let's your meaning that God is saying that I want my reign to be done on this earth, and then I want my plan to be done. God wants to be in charge, and God wants his plan to be done, and that plan is into twofold. Number one, the overarching plan of God that is salvation winning souls, and then God has a specific plan for you. That is why this is just a prayer format. He said that let your will be done. That will of God can be generic, it can be like let's say, for example, for upper room ministry, but in upper room ministry, God has a specific will for Musumba. God has a specific will for Nathan. Amen. So now let's go down to okay. He's saying that let your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Wow, whatever is in heaven, whatever is in heaven, your reign is in heaven, you being a king in heaven, I also want you to be king on earth. Whatever your will is in heaven, I also want that to be on earth. That's why to have a kingdom mindset, Jesus is saying that prioritize God, his will, and his kingdom. Let's finish up by by by in verse 11. What does it say?

SPEAKER_00: 22:45

Give us this day our daily bread.

SPEAKER_01: 22:47

Now, this is where we this is the the second category, heartly minded. You see how Jesus started the prayer? He started by saying that guys, I want your prayers based on this priority, heavenly minded. Father God, your name is holy, let your kingdom come, and you will we'll be done. But most times as believers, we jump straight into earthly minded material things. Oh God, when you come to church, God bless me with millions, oh God, bless me with God, oh God, bless me to wife, oh God, bless me with husband. But God is saying that you haven't come and say, Ah, our father, how beautiful you are. Ah, oh my god, I want to worship you. Oh Lord, let your perfect will be done in this church, oh God, Lord, let your will be done as it is in heaven. Oh God, rain down, rain down your righteousness. It's you have to be a mature believer to pray like that. We just jump in, start asking God, God, give me this, God, give me this, God, give me this. But we never ask God, what would you like? We come to church, we say, God, you give me, but we never ask God, what would you like? How would you like this service to go? God, ha ha let you will. You see, part of God's will be done is using that. God come in, take charge, take charge of the service, God, even though I have my own plans, I have my own notes, I have my own uh list of songs. Holy Spirit, feel free to lead me. I don't want to be too structured, but feel free. I don't want to put you in a box, whatever you want to do, stop me. That is heavenly minded, okay. And then, so what we see here is earthly minded because he said, Give us our daily bread again. When we read Matthew, Jesus said, Your father knows that you need these things. You see, it's in our prayer. So now Jesus is saying that now you can focus on earthly things because I know you need food to eat, I know you need water to drink, I know you need clothes to wear. Now you can focus on this in your prayer point. That give us our daily bread.

SPEAKER_00: 24:56

Okay, and then read the next one for us and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

SPEAKER_01: 25:04

You see, this is also this is also earthly matter, but this one has to do with what relationship. Oh god, listen to this. This is also earthly minded because when you're on this earth, you are dealing with people. When you are on this earth, you are dealing with believers who are who are former sinners, they're gonna they're gonna they're gonna bite bite you, they're gonna sin against you. It's a principle and relationship that we are learned that Jesus is saying that hey, make sure you pray to God that when God forgives you, you also forgive your debtors, because this is an earthly matter. We are dealing with human beings on this earth. As long as human beings exist on this earth, somebody's gonna betray you, somebody's going to lie to you, your wife is gonna cheat on you, your husband is going to kick you. Things like this are gonna happen. No, no one won't happen to you in this church, amen. Because these are these are these are earthly matters, it's a principle that Jesus is saying that when you because all forgiveness is deadly, it's a God, we sin against God, and we also sin against one another, amen.

SPEAKER_00: 26:14

Now, finally, let's let's finish the rest 13 and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, amen.

SPEAKER_01: 26:28

Now, child of God, do not lead us into temptation, that is prevention that has to do with the enticement of the world, the enticement of yourself. These are all earthly matters. So, Jesus is wanting you to deal with your prayer point based on you, based on things that you have to relate with on this earth. Do not lead me into temptation. You can lead yourself into temptation. Society around you can lead you into temptation. But Jesus is saying that pray to God that God prevent me from temptation, and then lastly, deliver me from the evil one that is protection. Because we have an enemy who is trying to take us down, we have an enemy who's trying to steal, who's trying to kill, who's trying to destroy. Amen. Jesus finished off by going back to being heavenly minded. Look what he says. This is is is concluding with praise. He said, God, after all this prayer, after all what you have done, indeed, yours, yours, yours, what belongs to God, yours is your kingdom. Again, kingdom, kingdom is kingdom, is oh God. There's no way you you can you are God. You see, your citizenship is in heaven. This is not our home. Don't make yourself too comfortable on this earth. You become useless for God, amen. So Jesus said, For yours is the kingdom, power, and glory forever and ever. Child of God, the takeaway from this is that the word of God is settled in heaven. This word that we read, this Bible, it's already settled in heaven, and secondly, our prayers are answered from heaven. So that is why we have to be heavily minded. We have to be heavenly minded, okay.