Dharius Daniels - A Prescription for Peace

What’s up, everybody? Welcome to today’s Bible study! I want to give some of you a second to come on in the room. I’m incredibly excited about this time to share God’s word with you. One of the convictions I felt when we received news about the coronavirus and its potential implications for our country was a burning desire in my heart to partner with you in encouraging your soul. We are doing all that we can to help people externally as a church—we believe in that. Yet, at the same time, I felt a very strong conviction not to ignore the internal aspects because this virus has physical implications for a person’s health, but it also has emotional implications. That is where I feel God is calling me to come alongside you, help encourage you, and speak life into you. So thank you for being a part. Thank you for seeing this ministry as a trusted source of spiritual nourishment for you.

Now, listen, I’m getting ready to teach part two of a series we’re in called «Free Your Mind.» It’s our midweek online Bible study series, and there’s a scripture I want to read in Philippians chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4, I’m going to read a few verses beginning at verse 4. Now, I want you not just to spectate but to participate. We refuse to allow Corona to cause us to abandon community; we need community, we need each other. So your comments with «Amen» and your restating of the points—all of that helps create community and helps somebody else. Remember, there’s someone sitting in their house right now by themselves, and this is the only community they’re getting. So we need to be more than spectators; we need to be participators.

Alright, so Philippians 4:4 says, «Rejoice in the Lord always.» If we were in church, I would tell you to say «always.» And then it says, «And again, I say rejoice.» Let your gentleness be evident to all—not some, not most, but to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. I love this. He says, «Presenting to God.» He’s not saying, «Don’t talk to others, ” but before you talk to others, talk to me. Listen to this: He says when you do that, this is what will happen: „The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“ Finally, brothers and sisters, he says, „Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if there is anything excellent or praiseworthy—think on such things.“

I need to pause for the cause, and I want to talk for a few minutes from this subject, everybody. I want to talk about part two of the series called „Free Your Mind.“ I want to talk from this subject: „A Prescription for Peace.“ A prescription for peace—somebody note that subject because it is resonating with someone already! Someone just type, „I need that, I need that, I need that.“ In a world where we’re giving our prescriptions for everything, the Scriptures have given us a prescription for peace.

Family, as I ease into the introduction of this online Bible study, I want to offer you this axiom, this quote, this saying: Here it is for my note-takers: „We cannot have a free life if we have a bound mind.“ I’m going to say it again as we engage in part two of this series called „Free Your Mind.“ Write it down, take a picture, or screenshot it: „We cannot have a free life with a bound mind.“ Wherever my mind goes, my life follows. Romans chapter 12 corroborates this claim when the Apostle Paul says these words: „Don’t be conformed to the patterns, the trends, the social norms of this world, but be transformed.“ How, Pastor Darius? „By the renewing of your mind.“ Wow!

So, he says the transformation of my life is tied to the renewing of my mind. The transformation of my life, my marriage, my thoughts, and my career is based on the renewing of my mind. This means my mind is a minefield; it is the battleground for my future. Listen to this: If my mind holds my future, I need to pay attention to who’s holding my mind. Somebody better come get me today! I said, if my mind holds my future, then I need to pay attention to who is holding my mind. This is what this series is all about. Even though we are human beings with human thoughts and feelings, this series is about making sure that even though we have thoughts, we don’t let our thoughts have us.

I’m going to say it again: We are human beings, so we will have human thoughts. But because we are more than just human beings, we are followers of Jesus, empowered by God to live an extraordinary life, we can have thoughts but we don’t have to let our thoughts have us. It’s time to free our minds because it’s possible. I just don’t want you to forget your mind holds your future, so I have to pay attention to what’s holding my mind.

Are you following me so far? If I make sense, somebody type now, „I got you, I got you, I got you.“ Come on, let’s continue!