1. Satan
1.1. Definition
1.1.1. Adversary
1.1.1.1. friends, co-workers, advertisers, music and tv people, false teachers, etc
1.1.1.1.1. just because someone has good intentions , they can still tempt you unintentionally
1.1.1.1.2. person may unknowingly teach, advise, live contrary to God’s word – good intentions, stumbling block
1.1.1.2. anyone who puts a temptation in our path (stumbling block) is our adversary
1.2. whenever someone puts a stumbling block in our path, they’re doing Satan’s work (minister)
2. Stumbling Block
2.1. when someone puts a stumbling block before us (temptation), we should move them (order them) out of the way
3. Mindset
3.1. things of God
3.1.1. - must be careful where we get our information - 2 Tim. 3:16-17
3.1.2. - must be careful who we believe - Rom. 1:16; 10:17
3.1.3. - Col. 3:1-3, 5a, 10 raised, seek things above, set mind on things above, earthly body dead, new man, knowledge
3.1.4. athletic metaphor, run with endurance the race, fixing our eyes on Jesus
3.1.5. deliberate choice, willfully direct mind
3.1.5.1. true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, excellence, worthy of praise, dwell on these things
3.1.6. Gal. 2:20 been crucified with Christ, no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me
3.1.7. knowledge from God’s word applied to your life, resulting in spiritual strength from God
3.1.8. God empowers the people who obey gospel, set mind on things of God
3.1.9. set mind on obtaining crown of life, heaven, eternal life – Col. 3:2
3.1.10. - consider self dead to all other things – Col. 3:5
3.1.11. - remove all other distractions from mind, focus completely on everything must do to win
3.1.12. knowledge
3.1.12.1. carefully study every aspect with of spirituality from God’s word: obey, worship, live according to His word
3.1.13. live as an Olympian
3.1.13.1. exercise control in all things, reward, discipline, make body slave, so not disqualified
3.1.13.2. carefully study every aspect with of sport: diet, physical and mental health, sports psychology, location of events, weather, competition, clothing and apparel, physical mechanics to make body perform at its peak, etc.
3.1.14. not care about other things of the world, or will get off track and pursue other things
3.1.15. athletic metaphor (run, box) win, compete, exercise control in all things, reward, discipline, make body slave, so not disqualified
3.1.16. You’re paying a price, for setting your mind on the things of God!
3.1.16.1. Matt. 16:24-26 deny self, take up cross, follow Jesus, lose life, not exchange soul
3.1.17. count all things as loss for the sake of Christ, in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ, counting them as rubbish to gain Christ, and be found in Him
3.1.18. pressing on to lay hold of eternal life
3.1.19. pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
3.1.20. do all things for the sake of the gospel
3.1.21. ’ You’ll be rewarded, for paying the price and setting your mind on the things of God!
3.1.22. Jesus coming again, remain each man according to his deeds
3.1.22.1. the price Jesus paid, and the price you pay, are worth it
3.2. things of Man
3.2.1. We are doing Satan’s work, when our minds are set on the things of man!
3.2.1.1. had worldly thoughts, not godly thoughts
3.2.1.2. whenever we put human reasoning, logic, emotions, desires before God’s word, our minds are set on the things of men
3.2.2. any time we sin, we’ve taken our mind off the things of God