VETERANS DAY- Recognition and Prayer

Our sermon title for today is Godly Thinking. So “How do we grow in our faith lives?”

In Philippians 4, Paul exhorts us and then, reveals HOW we can develop Godly Thinking.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ESV

We can trust that God is working out His perfect plan. One of the most interesting illustrations from scripture involves Jonah. Jonah, called by God to go to Nineveh, rebelled and went the opposite way.

God stirred up the sea and Jonah was cast overboard and he was swallowed by the great fish. As you come to Jonah chapter 2 it simply says,

Jonah 2:1
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish. ESV

Jonah understood why he was there and then he reached out to God in his circumstance. What is your circumstance today?

Paul in our sermon verse reflects that the peace of God will bring tranquility and contentment beyond human understanding. Spiritual stability is a result of how we think.

The Bible has a lot to say about thinking. What does scripture say about the unbelievers mind?

The Unbelievers Mind

Romans 1:28- Your mind is depraved
2 Corinthians 4:4- Your mind is blind
Ephesians 4:17- Your mind is futile, vain, worthless,
Ephesians 4:18 -Your mind is ignorant

We then receive Jesus as Lord and we are called to give a thoughtful defense of our eternal hope.
1 Peter 3:15
… but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ESV

Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing about Christ. And in Luke 10:27 it says you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.

Paul Tillich quote “True faith is a reasonable trust in the revealed truth about the true God. It is a process of thinking. Salvation is impossible without thinking.”

Salvation is not purely an intellectual process, but certainly involves our minds.

And Christ Himself is wisdom to us.
1 Corinthians 1:30
But God has given you a place in Christ Jesus, through whom God has given us wisdom and righteousness and salvation, and made us holy. BBE

Knowledge of Christ and walking in obedience to Christ become a life lived for Christ. Part of our obedience is godly thinking, putting our mind under the authority of God and submitted to God.

2 Corinthians 10:5-6
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. ESV

Our mind needs periodic cleaning. So how do we do that? Well it’s our sermon verse from earlier

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ESV

Six important statements for the Believers Mind from this verse:

First

Paul says, Finally, brethren, whatever is true. Now if you want to know what’s true, where are you going to go? To the Word of God.

Secondly

Then he says, Whatever is honorable that means worthy of respect. Whatever is held in high regard, whatever is greatly respected, that’s what we are called to think about.

Thirdly

Paul says, Whatever is right The word used is righteous. Whatever is in perfect harmony with the eternal unchanging divine standard of a holy God revealed in Scripture.

Fourth

Whatever is pure meaning morally pure and morally clean, I will think on those things, not the other junk.

Fifth

he says, Whatever is lovely that means pleasing, attractive. It’s one of those words that we only find here in the New Testament, an unusual word, it means whatever is sweet or gracious or generous or patient.

Sixth

Last Whatever is of good repute which means well thought of, or whatever is highly regarded. If I look around at the world, am I going to put my thoughts on what is honorable, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is a good report? When I go to the theater, is that what I’m going to see? When I read a book or a magazine, is that what I’m going to see?

These 6 truths will help us to develop and expand our Godly thinking.

We must learn to guard our minds. We cannot expect the fullness of spiritual joy and usefulness unless we develop our Godly thinking.