The Things We Think

Text scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5   Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

1. God never tells us to do anything He does not give us the ability to do – EVER

2. Last week talked about the fact that we choose good over evil –

Only two choices Good or evil:

 Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

     

3. Last wk question asked about keeping line of thought while in prayer etc.
4. The fact is it is possible – our text says so! – we have to believe what Word says is true – take it as true – no matter what circumstances, your friends, your family, or anybody else tells you.

·        We need to start believing what God says instead of what the devil says –

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

• Always know that no matter what’s happening in your life right at the moment God’s Word is always true

5. Don’t believe it’s not possible to control what you think – God says it is! - its simple not easy!

6. When we slip up and think the wrong thoughts or negative (toxic) our brain actually emits a poison into our body. – This is not what God wants for you and me. (His kids) - 2 Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

7.     Don’t get down on yourself for this or any other thing we do wrong – do your best to make the    correction and go on in God (God sees your heart) (we all are responsible for what we know and the revelation we have) 

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit

Ehp 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

·         Paul says – if you don’t get anything else, GET THIS!

·         Wiles = Greek word “methodia” translated means “cunning” “crafty”, - comes from a root word “hodiu” which can be translated to journey on or road

·         Paul is saying here that the only road or access that Satan has to you is through our mind!

·         God has already told us that He has given us the ability to make choices – He wants you to make good choices.

About what we think – what we think about is what we do

Deuteronomy 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

2 Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

How do we take control of what we think?

1. God says to think more like Him  -  Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

Meditate on Word – mull it over, kick it around in your mind, your cunning and craftiness, use your roadway to access The Mind Of God – make the choice to do so!

   

2. Think about the right things on purpose -  2 Tim 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness   Phil. 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things  
   
• Follow after the things in vs. 2 Tim. 6:11 - righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (meekness = power under control / example of horses, Harley story)

God's Pursuit Of Man

·    
Gen 1 :1-3    God created heaven and earth – note The Spirit brooded over the waters – caring / salvation.  God is good…..all the time…..that’s the way God is - the model for all parents dealing with their children.

·        even before man’s existence God cared for and planned to take care of mankind to begin pursuit

·        Dictionary.com’s definition of “pursuit”

                              1. The act or an instance of chasing or pursuing.

2.  The act of striving: the pursuit of higher education.

3.  An activity, such as a vocation or hobby, engaged in regularly.

•      out of desire for fellowship and deep caring - established first a place for man and gave him everything he needed – you only pursue what you care about.

examples -

Adam / Eve – Disobedience in Garden

·        Gen 3:9  “where are you?” – among God’s first dealing’s/man – He had relationship (Gen 3:21) – walked in cool of day

• ·        When Adam disobeyed, God started relentless pursuit of mankind

                 

Dictionary.com

re·lent·less–adjective   - that does not relent; unyielding severe, strict, or harsh; unrelenting:   —Synonyms
rigid, unbending, obdurate, adamant, unyielding.

• God, without giving up – relentless – unyielding – never stops

•   Adam said “we are hiding because we are naked” – at that point (they didn’t realize it) they were spiritually as well as physically naked – without God – vulnerable.

•   Gen. 3:21 - God took care of them – made clothes for them from animal skins – already taking care of them. Begins pursuit – even though fallen state.

•   Gen. 22:7-8  Abraham knew God would provide either through his son or His Son – Abraham did not know specifically about Jesus, but knew God would reward obedience and provide one way or other.

•  Gen. 22:10-13 – Abraham / Isaac – God provided sacrifice (His compassion – He found one man faithful) – Was God bound to sac. Jesus since Abe willing to sac. Isaac? (would God be outdone – “no man is greater than his master”)

•   Took care of Noah (preserve Noah and family – as well as pursuing and preserving mankind) 

•    God takes care of man, throughout  history, in ALL dealings with mankind regardless of degree of  Love. God is Love – 1 John 4:8 – everything He does - whether it seems like it or not, is done out of love. – IT HIS NATURE!

•  rescued nation from Egypt

•  provided means for escape – Pharaoh – Red Sea

•   gave them manna, quail, water

•  Duet 30:19 told them what was good for them and then told them what to choose/do

             (life-death - choose life)….not  only physical but spiritua

• even though trip took longer than it should have God took care of them and got them there

•  Through tough love – a cycle of God punishing and man coming back and the falling away again - etc. etc. He (God) pursued (pursues) man relentlessly because of unquenchable desire to have relationship with him.

•    God made final sacrifice for us – taking care of and providing sacrifice in His Son (Him) for us – we can not be good enough or take care of ourselves.

•  How to accept His help – Rom 10:9…Eph 2:-9

• His pursuit so relentless He made it about Him rescuing us – not us rescuing us, then up to us to make final decision whether we want to be rescued or not.

• He knew and we proved time and time again He would have to do redemptive work for us.

• One final plea for us – Rev 3:20 (door of heart and knock) (pursue/knock example)

• Rev 22:13 – Alpha & Omega – 1^st and last to say about our lives –

•  Eph 1:4 foundations of earth 1^st thing to say -

•    John 3:17-18 – last thing to say JUDGED ALREADY in the sense that His decision, should we not accept Christ has already bean made.

• God does not know time – past, present and future are all the same (my opinion). So “where are you?” has same relevance today to us as it did to Adam

• He always pursues us – it’s His Nature / up to us to answer call (at the door of our hearts) –

•  Heb 11:6-7 - When we respond the circle of pursuit beginsHe rewards us with his presence

throughout the Bible God seems less interested in proving existence but more interested in showing what He is like.

So You Call Yourself A Christian

Not sure how many times I have heard this but it really drives me crazy when it comes from a believer.  As if the practicing “Christian” is perfect like the one he follows.

I expect non-believers to have this attitude - but not from followers of Christ. As long as we are in the flesh and have un-glorified bodies we will fight the flesh (James 4:4, and      2 Corinthians 10:4).  We should know that.

           What happened to extending the Grace that has been extended us to others? What gives the saved in Christ the right to be judgmental of anyone? Especially our brother in Christ. Our place is to help physically if we can and to pray – not to judge people. As Thomas A Kempis puts it in his treaties Imitation Of Christ

Look well unto thyself, and beware that thou judge not the doings of others. In judging others a man laboureth in vain; he often erreth, and easily falleth into sin; but in judging and examining himself he always laboureth to good purpose. According as a matter toucheth our fancy, so oftentimes do we judge of it; for easily do we fail of true judgment because of our own personal feeling. If God were always the sole object of our desire, we should the less easily be troubled by the erring judgment of our fancy.

Instead of looking at ourselves first,we take the attitude that the expectation is perfection instead of the forgiveness and the Grace that has been extended to us. We get as judgmental as the not born again - and we complain about the audacity of them judging us so unfairly.

            You see, non-believers, for the most part, don't hang with believers, they don’t understand the concept of forgiveness, the absoluteness of God’s love or Law, Grace, the non-degrees of sin, loving the person but hating the sin – etc.. Those are all foreign - almost ridiculous concepts for the non-believer.

 God is a perfect God of absolute right and wrong, who hates sin but LOVES the sinner (all people – Romans 3:23). WE ARE SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND THIS and cut everyone slack. Instead, we go even further and get ticked at everyone including our alleged co-worker In Christ or better yet the new Christian striving to be co-workers.

 As a believer in Christ your foremost calling is to take Him to the world (Mark 16:15).

 Ephesians 3:6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body,
and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News ...

The Word makes the point that the Gentiles of Paul’s day were just as much a member of the body of Christ as the Jew. If that obstacle could be cleared then, we can surely treat our fellow believer as the asset that he truly is.

With the empowerment of The Holy Spirit along with help of or brothers and sisters in The Lord we can take the Gospel to the world.