The Thought Life of A Christian Philippians 4:8,9 (NKJV)

Transcription

1 Message for THE LORD'S DAY EVENING, May 22, 2016 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister Message 14 in Philippians Sermon Series ( Living The Joy-Filled Life ) The Thought Life of A Christian Philippians 4:8,9 (NKJV) Tonight as we continue with our series from the Book of Philippians I would like to ask you to please turn with me in your Bibles to the fourth chapter of Philippians. And let's read verses 8 and 9. Philippians 4:8,9 (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. P R A Y E R ********************************************************************************** I N T R O D U C T I O N In tonight's message we are going to be dealing with a subject that is not addressed nearly enough in our Churches, and that is the subject of The Thought Life of A Christian. The Bible places a strong emphasis on the importance of one's private thought life. Proverbs 23:7a (NKJV) For as he thinks in his heart,, so is he. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 II Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, And here's a verse we looked at earlier in our study of Philippians. Philippians 2:5a (NKJV) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. The basic teaching of the scriptures with regards to our thoughtlife is this: The way one THINKS determines the way one LIVES. In other words, You are the product of your thought-life. You are what you think about the most. That's a scary thought isn't it? ILLUSTRATION: In his classic little book, As A Man Thinketh James Allen writes: A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it (the mind), then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind. Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts. ************************************

3 You remember back in Philippians chapter three the apostle Paul told us that our citizenship is in heaven. (3:20) As citizens of heaven living in this world we need to understand this world is very hostile towards our minds! Every single day our minds are bombarded by worldly books...magazines...billboards...television shows...movies...and websites. If we do not exercise due diligence to guard our minds, we will become conformed to the world's way of thinking which is hostile towards GOD. The apostle Paul clearly understood the importance of The Thought Life of A Christian as we will see in our scripture study this evening. Now before we go any further, I want to make it perfectly clear that Paul is NOT teaching the power of positive thinking in this scripture. That false teaching was first peddled in this country by the likes of Mary Baker Eddy, Norman Vincent Peale, and Robert Schuller, and is now being propogated by the likes of Joel Osteen, Ophrah Winfrey, Tony Robbins, and a host of others. As we turn our thoughts now to verse 8 Paul admonishes the Philippians, as well as you and me to THINK ON THE RIGHT THINGS! 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. The human mind will always set itself on something. If we do not discipline our minds to think on the right things our thoughts will naturally migrate towards the wrong things...unholy things...sinful things. That is because we are fallen beings, and fallen beings naturally gravitate away from God and towards sin.

4 So in this eighth verse Paul gives the Philippians, as well as you and me six right things to think upon. First of all, Paul tells us to I. Think On Things That Are TRUE 1. When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, Pilate asked Jesus, Are You a king then? Jesus answered You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the TRUTH. Everyone who is of THE TRUTH hears My voice. Pilate said to Him, What is truth? (John 18:37-38a NKJV) 2. What Is Truth??? -GOD IS TRUTH Titus 1:2 tells us, God cannot lie. -JESUS IS TRUTH John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus says, I am the Way, the TRUTH,, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. -THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TRUTH John 16:13a However when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth... -THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUTH John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 3. TRUTH is everything that agrees with and aligns with the word of God. Anything that disputes...contradicts...or stands in opposition to the word of God is a lie.

5 4. In an ideal world everyone would speak the truth and there would be no need for lies. But we don't live in an ideal world do we? We live in a fallen world filled with lies and deception and dishonesty. And it affects each and everyone of our lives whether we want it to or not. In the times in which we are now living we have literally seen an explosion of information. Daniel prophesied this would happen in the end times prior to the return of Christ. (Daniel 12:4) As more and more information has become available to us, the danger of being lied to and deceived has dramatically increased. From TV evangelists peddling a false gospel... to the NEWS MEDIA broadcasting reports slanted towards a certain political ideology...to Government cover ups and scandals...to people posting deceptive profiles on dating websites... and heresay or gossip being posted on Face Book...we are literally living in a mine field of lies and deception. 5. If you want to see how critically important it is to THINK UPON THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE TRUE look at how warped the thinking is in our American society. Millions in this country think the truth is a lie and lies are the truth... and that right is wrong and wrong is right...and that good is bad and bad is good. This is what happens when people feed their minds on lies rather than the truth.

6 6. There is only ONE reliable standard to determine truth from lies and that is the WORD OF GOD. Filter everything through the word of GOD! When we read and study God's word and saturate our minds in the truths of God's word we shall know the TRUTH and the TRUTH shall set us free from Satan's lies and deception. THINK ON THINGS THAT ARE TRUE! Secondly, Paul tells us to... II. Think On Things That Are NOBLE. 1. That means we are to think upon things that are dignified or honorable or worthy of respect rather than things that are irreverent, dirty, or trashy. 2. Think about the lives of the godly men and women in the scriptures. Study the noble lives of people like Abraham, or Joseph, or Daniel or the apostle Paul. In our Wednesday night Bible Study we are studying the Life of Christ, the most noble of all men who ever lived. 3. I would encourage you to read biographies of great missionaries like Adoniram Judson...Hudson Taylor... William Carey,and David Livingstone. We had to read these biographies in our Missions Class at Johnson Bible College. They were very interesting and inspiring.

7 4. When I think of noble things I think of our brave men and women in uniform returning home after a tour of duty. When I think of noble things I think of those brave police officers and State Troopers and Firemen who put their lives on the line every day. When I think of noble things I think of all those nurses who work long 12-hour shifts in our hospitals. 5. When I think of noble things I think of those loving moms and dads who lovingly care for a handicapped child every day. When I think of noble things I think of those loving care-givers who sacrifice their own comfort and convenience each day to look after an aging or dying family member. 6. You see, when you and I think on noble things it elevates our minds and our thoughts above the mundane, base things of this world and causes us to focus on things that are worthy of respect. Next Paul tells us to... III. Think On Things That Are JUST 1. That word just means that which is right. This has to do with our Christian duty towards others. There is a right way and a wrong way to treat others, and the standard for determining what is right or wrong is not our feelings or our emotions, but rather the word of GOD.

8 2. You may feel hatred toward someone. And if all you think about is how much you hate that individual your hatred is going to grow deeper and deeper. God's word tells you to LOVE them instead. That is the right thing or just thing to think about. Think about loving them! 3. You may feel bitterness and resentment towards someone you feel wronged you. Well if your mind thinks on that enough, it will completely poison your attitude, and your relationships, and your work, and even your relationship with GOD. God's word tells you to FORGIVE THEM instead. That is the right thing or just thing to think about. Think about forgiving them! 4. You may feel like getting revenge on somone, think about RECONCILIATION instead! Next, Paul tells us to... You may feel like making that individual's life miserable, think about SHOWING MERCY instead. THINK ON THINGS THAT ARE JUST! IV. Think On Things That Are PURE. 1. That means we are to think about things that are morally clean or morally right in the eyes of God. In today's vernacular Paul is saying is, Get your mind out of the gutter.

9 ILLUSTRATION: Those who work in the field of computer technology have a saying, G.I.G.O. ----which stands for garbage IN, garbage OUT. If a computer is programmed with bad information, it will give out bad information. 2. The same thing is true of our minds. If you feed your mind on garbage it will show up in your thinking and your behavior. Garbage in, garbage out. Think of people you know who have a dirty or filthy mind. A dirty or filthy mind is the product of feeding the mind on garbage. Usually someone with a dirty mind also has a dirty mouth, and dirty behavior. Garbage in, garbage out. 3. I know people, and so do you, who are almost obsessive over what they will and will not eat.some of them would never think of eating meat or anything that has been fried, or using artificial sweeteners. And yet while they obsess over what they put in their mouths, they give little or no thought as to what they put in their minds. 4. When Paul says think on things that are pure he is telling us to feed our minds on clean things, wholesome things, and inspirational things. There's certainly not much on TV that falls into that category these days, is there? That is why I still love to watch the old TV shows like The Andy Griffith Show and Bonanza and Little House on The Prairie...no cussing... no sex...just clean, wholesome humor!

10 5. But there is another side to consider, and that is If we are to think on things that are PURE that also means DON'T THINK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IMPURE. *Stay away from PORNOGRAPHY! *Stay away from SUPER MARKET TABLOIDS! *Stay away from the FILTHY ROMANCE NOVELS! *Stay away from TRASH TV like The Jerry Springer Show or Maury Povich. *Stay away from the TV SHOWS that glamorize and glorify smut and filth. *Stay away from THE FOUL-MOUTHED, IRREVERENT COMEDIANS. Remember: Garbage in, garbage out. Think on things that are PURE! Next Paul tells us to... V. Think On Things That Are LOVELY. 1. This is the only time this word appears in the New Testament. Lovely means that which is beautiful or graceful. Its not referring to a lustful attraction to the outward beauty of a woman or the handsomeness of a man. Rather it is referring to the loveliness or beauty of creation or nature. ILLUSTRATION: Last Monday morning as I was driving to the Church I had a mama bear and her cub run across the road in front about 200 feet in front of me. That's not a sight one sees every day. I have thought about the loveliness of that moment many times this past week.

11 2. I believe the LORD wants us to enjoy the natural beauty of His lovely creation, whether its the beauty of a sunrise or sunset... or the awesome display of lightning and thunder from a late-afternoon thunderstorm...or curiously watching a robin take a bath in a puddle of water...or the sight of a white-tail deer gracefully running across a wheat field. These things are reminders of the loveliness of God's creation! And finally Paul tells us to... THINK ON THINGS THAT ARE LOVELY! VI. Think On Things That Are Of GOOD REPORT 1. That means think the very best of people. Don't be quick to rush to judgment when you hear something about someone, especially if its a brother or sister-in-christ. 2. There is something about our human nature that gravitates towards evil reports about people rather than good reports. That is why these gossip TV shows and gossip tabloids are so popular. 3. Sadly, many want to hear all the nitty, gritty details about others in their own community. They feast on evil reports about who is having an affair with whom...or who is getting a divorce...or who has gone into rehab...or who got fired from his or her job......or who's teenager got in trouble with the law. 4. Paul is saying, Don't be one of those people! Don't revel in the misfortunes and mistakes of others! Think On Things That Are of GOOD REPORT!

12 5. Paul leaves us with this closing admonition regarding our thought life as a Christian. He says at the end of verse 8, 'If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy----meditate on these things! **************************************************** C O N C L U S I O N In his commentary on Philippians called The Joy of Living Dwight Pentecost give us this excellent summary of this passage. Listen closely... The greatest area of sin in the believer s life is not the area of actions but the area of thought. There is a whole classification of sins that we would have to call sins of the mind. What was the first sin of Lucifer? It was pride. What is that? A sin of the mind. What is lust? A sin of the mind. What is covetousness? A sin of the mind. Greed? A sin of the mind. Suspicion? A sin of the mind. Discouragement? A sin of the mind. We could go on and on. Those sins are more real to the child of God than such sins as adultery and murder and theft. That is a testimony to the fact that there is a warfare going on. Satan is attacking the mind. Therefore this word of the Apostle Paul concerning the use we make of our minds is so relevant to us today: meditate, ruminate, dwell on these things. (Pentecost, J. D. The Joy of Living: Publications) Pentecost, J. D. The Joy of Living: A study of Philippians. Kregel