Will to Win and Determination to Defeat the Opposition
I don’t think I could say this any better than Reverend Gerald Lamont Thomas, Ph.D.
From Shiloh Baptist Church out of Plainfield New Jersey. I don’t know Dr. Thomas personally, but his teaching on will is right on.
The Will Principle – You must set your mind. You must decide, choose or determine the focus of your mind. That is where you start in developing the mind of Christ. The opposite of will, is instinct, or unwilled reactions. With human beings, the will, is that part of you mind over which you have control. Read Phil 4:8. The will enables you to obey in spite of your feelings or intuitions. Often you cannot control your emotions, but you always have control over your will. What you want to do is take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (IICor.10:5). Giving God your will is the first step in having the mind of Christ. Read Matt.26:36-42; Ps. 40:8; Ps. 143:10; Mt. 12:50; Jn. 7:17; Eph.6:6; Heb. 13:18-21.
In the Beginning Stage, YOU must set your mind on Christ. You give your will to God and seek His will as your own. Christ repeatedly identified His will with that of His Father. Study John 12:27 & 28. Jesus openly confessed that His emotions were in one place, but His will was in another. As in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus determined to let His will rule over His emotions or feelings. Shiloh Baptist Church515-521 W. Fourth StreetPlainfield, NJ 07060Rev. Gerald Lamont Thomas, Ph.D.
Jesus’ performance was flawless, because He set His will from the beginning. His mind was given to God. Therefore, His actions worked out the implications of a blameless mind. Jesus’ mind was set on things above. Only the will can choose beyond feelings.
Whether in the pool, classroom, or out in the world, you will have opposition. Sometimes it’s the clock, and you’re swimming against your own times. Sometimes it’s a friendly teammate competing with you for a spot on the relay team (yes, we do that). But what about when it’s emotions or temptation? What if that opposition comes in the form of doubt or disbelief? How about if that opposition is a person who seems put on this earth to make you miserable? Go back to the Will principle and determine that whoever or whatever you are struggling against will not defeat you. In the case of friendly competition, you focus your mind on the outcome you are determined to have. The same with doubts, emotions, or temptation. Set your mind on Christ and determine to use your will. Dwelling on the opposition takes the focus off of the outcome and puts it onto the circumstance. How about that real person who it seems is trying to take you down? This is where we recognize that opposition can come straight from the enemy of our souls. Recognize that that person is being used as a tool. They are not your real opposition--it’s the enemy who vowed to hurt God by hurting the ones God loves.
Questions for your consideration:
Why is it absolutely necessary for a believer to have their will focused on God?
Is it true that a believer can overcome temptations through a determined will?
What are some of the tempter’s snares that easily removed us from God’s will to seeking our own will?
How can a child of God maintain a Christ-like mind that is “set” beyond the earthly things toward their heavenly blessings?
Can you name a few of the required mandates that will empower us to not only “set” our minds on God’s will, but will also “keep” our minds there also?