Title: The Steadfast of Mind will be Kept in Perfect Peace
Chinese word used for ‘mind’ is ‘心志’ which means ‘the will of mind, will and mind.’ Bible says that God will keep those in Perfect Peace whose will and mind are strong firm.
We are living in God’s redemptive history. We are the part of God’s salvation and His redemptive history. Therefore, we should know and understand this plan of universal salvation and the plan of God’s redemptive history which were set before the beginning of the world. God’s plan of universal salvation is unchangeable and unmovable. God’s saving plan doesn’t change either according to or because of the history of mankind (Num 23:19; 1 Sam 15:29). We should overcome the fear of Covid-19 by putting our trust and faith in God. It is not because we are strong but because God’s mercy and grace are great (Isa 26:1-3).
- We should praise God for giving us a strong city
Isa 26:1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security.
The people of Israel believed that Jerusalem was the strongest and most fortified city, the most holy city, and the most dignified city. Yet, this city was lost and completely desolated for 70 years. Now, God is promising that He is going to rebuild the city and make it strong again. How can they not praise God at that moment!
- We should praise God that it is God’s grace we are saved
Isa 26:1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.
The people of Israel praised God that He made salvation to its walls and ramparts. It means that they were confessing that it is God’s grace that they were saved. Exo 15:1-18 recorded that there was another song of praise the people of Israel sang for God after they crossed the Red Sea. There, they praised God that by God’s mighty right hand, by God’s nostrils, by God’s arm, they were saved from the enemies. In the same way, God’s salvation became the walls and ramparts of the city means that they were saved by grace.
- We should praise God that we are enabled to enter the righteous nation
Isa 26:2 “Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, The one that remains faithful.
If we look at the Revelation, there comes another city and it has 12 gates which are open for 24 hours a day (Rev 21:12). 12 gates signify that everyone can come in, regardless their position or race or achievement. And to be open for 24 hours signify that people can enter anytime. The kingdom of God is also the kingdom of trust. Therefore, if we want to enter the kingdom of God, we also should keep the trust.
- We should praise for protecting the steadfast of mind with perfect peace
Isa 26:3 The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in Thee.
The steadfast of mind means that there is no doubt, no shaking, and no tossing back and forth. The one of Jesus’ beloved disciples, Peter, promised Jesus that as he loves Jesus so much, he will go to jail with him. When Jesus was caught, he indeed followed Jesus up until the courtyard of the high priest. However, when he was about to be caught, he denied Jesus 3 times that he never knew Him. Peter was a man of weak mind and will. Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “Sanity is very rate, every man almost and every woman has a dash of madness.”
What is madness in the Bible?
It is the heart and mind that easily shaken and tossed back and forth. Where there is no stillness, that is madness.
Conclusion:
What kinds of mind should we have?
- The mind of Jesus (Phil 2:5; Rom 8:9)
The mind of Jesus is the mind of sacrifice and the mind of becoming the lowest, and the mind of denying Himself. We must have the mind of Jesus, in order to become the people of Jesus.
- The mind of oneness (Phil 2:2)
As one church, we should have the same mind. As the followers of Jesus Christ, we should have one mind.
- No two minds (Pslm 119:113)
Double-minded person is one who has no faith determination, but always changes up and down according to what other says about it.
- No wicked mind (Pslm 66:18)
If we have the wickedness in our hearts, God will not listen to our prayer. Jer 5:25 says that our iniquities have withheld good from you
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 