Introduction:
A. Whenever I got into trouble as a boy, which happened once in a while, my mother would ask me: “What were you thinking?”
1. Can you guess what my favorite answer was? “I don’t know.”
2. Truth is: most of the time I wasn’t thinking, or at least I wasn’t thinking clearly enough!
B. In reality, our brains are always at work.
1. Even while we are sleeping, our minds are still engaged – thinking, processing, planning, and trying to resolve problems.
2. Our mental computers never shut down.
3. Scientists say that about 10,000 thoughts go through the human mind each day (I would have guessed that the number was higher than that).
C. Because our brains are doing so much thinking, it is important to evaluate just what we are thinking.
1. What kinds of thoughts are running through our minds?
2. What kinds of thoughts are putting down roots?
3. What kinds of things are our minds really focused on?
D. Why is it so important that we evaluate our thoughts?
1. The answer is: because we are what we think.
2. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Beware of what you set your mind on for that you will surely become.”
3. Here is a more well-known quote from Emerson: “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
4. Where did the destiny begin? With a thought – in our minds.
5. The King James Version of Proverbs 23:7 says: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
6. All of us are a product of our thoughts.
E. The spiritual battle begins and is ultimately won or lost in our minds.
1. Proverbs 4:23 tells us: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
2. The apostle Peter gave this command: “Prepare your minds for action…” (1 Pet. 1:13).
3. The apostle Paul explained: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).
4. Paul also commanded: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom. 12:2)
F. My aim today is to encourage and challenge us to keep our minds focused on what is pure and true.
1. In our text in Philippians 4:8-9, Paul commanded the Christians in Philippi to lift the level of their thinking.
2. In our last sermon from this series, a couple of weeks ago, we examined the preceding verses and determined that if we were going to survive and thrive, we needed to be joyful, graceful, and peaceful.
3. I want us to add to that list that we need to be thought-full – full of the right kind of thoughts.
4. Allow me to share some suggestions for winning the battle of the mind.
I. First, Allow Only Good Thoughts to Stay In Your Mind.
A. Paul spelled out in detail the kinds of things we ought to be thinking about.
1. He wrote: 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Phil. 4:8-9)
2. Let’s briefly examine more closely each of these items from verse 8.
a. We need to think about “whatever is true” – opposed to things that are false and deceitful – notice that this is at the beginning of Paul’s list.
- We often start with the most important when we are listing things.
b. We need to think about “whatever is noble” – in contrast to things that are ignoble, dishonorable or unworthy.
c. We need to think about “whatever is right” – as opposed to things that are wrong or unjust.
d. We need to think about “whatever is pure” – in contrast to the things that are impure, unholy, or dirty.
e. We need to think about “whatever is lovely” – as opposed to things that are unlovely or ugly.
1. Some commentators say that “winsome” is the best translation of this word.
2. Webster defines “winsome” as “causing joy or pleasure; pleasant; cheerful; merry.”
f. We need to think about “wherever is admirable” – rather than things that are disreputable or scandalous.
g. We need to think about “whatever is excellent” – in contrast to things that are inferior or second-rate.
h. Finally, we need to think about “whatever is praiseworthy” – rather than things that are shameful or punishable.
3. That is a very all-encompassing list, don’t you think?
4. But the list becomes a good test that we can apply to our thoughts.
a. When we begin to think about something we can stop and check that thought against this list.
b. We can ask: Is this thought true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy?
c. If our thought doesn’t pass the test then it needs to be eliminated immediately.
B. Now let’s ask the question: What kinds of thoughts are always true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy?
1. Answer: God’s thoughts – God’s Word.
2. The very best thing we can fill our minds with is God’s words – God’s truths, principles and promises.
3. Look with me at Psalm 19:7-11.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
4. God’s Word is so good! God’s Word is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, righteous, and precious! It is so valuable – it is priceless!
a. That being true is there anything better than God’s Word that we can put in our minds and be thinking about?
b. And the only way to get God’s Word into our minds and hearts is to put forth effort to listen to the word, read the word and study the word, and meditate (think) God’s Word.
5. We learn from Psalm 19 that knowing God’s Word is not just a good idea, it is a matter of survival, and without it there is no spiritual growth nor any ongoing reward.
a. But when we treasure God’s Word and live according to it, then there is great reward.
6. To win the battle of the mind, we must put only good things in our minds, and God’s Word is the very best thing we can put in our minds and keep in our thoughts.
A second suggestion for winning the battle of the mind is…
II. Don’t Allow Bad Thoughts to Get a Foothold in Your Mind
A. I know that it is impossible for us to keep all bad thoughts from ever entering our minds, but we don’t have to allow them to stay there.
1. The old saying is true: “You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from nesting in your hair.”
2. When bad thoughts enter our minds – thoughts that are opposite of what we have just looked at, we need to kick them out – like birds, we need to shoo them away.
3. It really is that simple – we need to stop the bad thoughts in their tracks.
B. How can we overcome those bad thoughts and bring them to an end?
1. A primary way to do it is by fighting them with the truth of Scripture.
2. Paul instructs us to “take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17)
3. We see that Jesus used the Word of God to fight the temptations of Satan in Matthew 4.
a. With each temptation, we countered with “It is written…”
4. So how can we fight bad thoughts with Scripture.
a. If your bad thought is something impure, then you can learn a Scripture that commands purity and use that verse to dispel the temptation.
b. If your bad thought is something untrue that is causing you to fear, then learn a truthful promise of God that can be thought about to push the bad thought away.
c. If your bad thought has to do with hatred or revenge, then focus on God’s commands to love your enemy, or focus on Scripture that reminds you of how much God has forgiven you.
5. If this seems too simplistic, then keep in mind that this is the method the Psalmist proposed in Psalm 119.
a. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” (vs. 9)
b. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (vs. 11)
C. I think it is important that we talk for a minute about the need to reduce the evil that enters our minds.
1. I realize it is impossible for us to never see, hear, or think about something evil or impure, but it is important that we do our best to keep that which is evil or impure out of our minds.
2. When we are trying to eat in a more healthy way, we watch what we eat and try not to take into our body things are unhealthy – like processed foods or things that are high in salt or sugar.
3. In the same way, if we are trying to have a healthier mind, then we need to try not to take into our mind things that are unhealthy.
a. That means we have to be careful about the things we are reading, watching, listening to, or surfing on the internet.
b. As you know very well, much of the media – TV, movies, music, books, magazines, social media, and websites promote what is false, ignoble, impure, unlovely, and detestable.
c. That is not to say that everything about TV, movies, music, books, magazines, social media and websites is evil, but if we are honest in our assessment, we would have to admit that a lot of it is.
D. So, what am I trying to say? We need to be careful about what we allow to enter our minds.
1. Why am I saying that? Because whatever is in our minds has an influence on us.
2. Anyone who says that they can fill their minds with that which is evil without being affected by it is fooling himself or herself.
a. That person may not be able to recognize the effect immediately or overtly, but they are being affected nonetheless.
3. Solomon asked the rhetorical question: “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? (Prov. 6:21)
a. What is the obvious answer? No he cannot.
b. You can’t play with fire without being burned!
4. Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” (Mt. 12:34-35)
5. What we allow to come into our minds gets stored there and it does have an effect.
a. If what we allow in is good, then the effect is good.
b. If what we allow in is bad, then the effect is bad.
Conclusion:
A. And so, just like my mother used to ask me, I ask you: “What are you thinking?”
1. The apostle Paul understood the power of the mind and he understood the importance of filling our minds and focusing our minds on only good things.
2. I pray that each of us will fill our minds with God’s Word and with every other good thing, but I also pray that we will keep that which is evil out of our minds.
3. Let’s keep in mind that we are products of our thoughts.
4. Charles Swindoll explained this truth this way: “Thoughts form the thermostat which regulates what we accomplish in life. My body responds and reacts to the input from my mind. If I feed it with doubt, worry and discouragement, that is precisely the kind of day I will experience. If I adjust my thermostat forward – to thoughts filled with vision, hope, and victory – I can count on that kind of day. You and I become what we think about…Happiness, like winning, is a matter of right thinking, not intelligence, age, or position. Our performance is directly related to the thoughts we deposit in the memory bank. We can only draw on what we deposit.” (Come Before Winter, Charles Swindoll)
B. We notice that Paul ended this section with another promise of peace – He wrote: “And the God of peace will be with you.” (vs. 9)
1. We want the God of peace to be with us, don’t we?
2. When looking at the entire verse, we notice that Paul was again challenging them to follow his good example.
3. Paul wrote: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.”
4. So, we need to think the right things, and we need to practice the right things.
5. And when we think the right things and do the right things, then we know the God of peace is with us.
6. Isaiah wrote this wonderful promise: “You [God] will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
7. Have you disciplined your mind to be steadfast in trusting God?
C. Let me end with a story of a boy with a one-track mind.
1. One day a teacher asked this question of a little boy in her class: “Johnny what is your favorite animal?”
a. Little Johnny replied, “Fried chicken!”
b. Being a vegetarian and PETA supporter, the teacher sent Johnny to the principal’s office.
2. The next day the same teacher, wanting to give Johnny a second chance asked him: “Johnny, what it your favorite living animal?”
a. Again, little Johnny answered, “Chicken.”
b. The teacher asked him, “Out of all the various kinds of animals, why is your favorite animal a chicken?”
c. Little Johnny said, “Because I love fried chicken!”
d. Off to the principal’s office Johnny was sent again.
3. The next day, the teacher, wanting to take Johnny in a different direction asked him, “Who is the famous person you admire most?”
a. Little Johnny replied, “Colonel Sanders!”
b. Little Johnny had a one-track mind!
D. I want to encourage us to have one-track minds, not on fried chicken, like Johnny, but one-track minds on the things of God.
1. One-track minds that focus on Jesus and doing our best to think like Jesus and act like Jesus.
2. One-track minds that do all we can to fill our minds with that which is true and noble, right and pure, lovely and admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
3. How blessed will our lives be if we have minds focused on those kinds of things?
4. How much of a blessing to God and to others will our lives be if our minds are focused on those kinds of things?
5. Surely the God of peace will be with us and do amazing things with us and through us, when we have our minds focused on the right kinds of things!
Resources:
The Bible Exposition Commentary, Philippians, by Warren Wiersbe, Victor Books, 1989
