Thinking

  1. INTRODUCTION:
    1. SCRIPTURE READING:
      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."
    2. DEFINITION OF THINKING:
      1. Think: Webster -- "To meditate or reflect upon; To exercise the poers of judgement, conception, or inference: to reflect for the purpose of reaching a conclusion; reason."
      2. Thinking: Webster – "Having the faculty of thought".
      3. Think: The Greek word is logizomai, pronounced (log-id'-zom-ahee); Meaning to take an inventory; Translated: Conclude, esteem, impute, reason, reckon, and think on.
    3. MAN HAS THE POWER:
      1. To think --- Man in this regard man stands above all other living creatures of God's creation.
      2. To control what he thinks:
        1. Man can think in the areas of Science, Nature, or any great host of things.
        2. Man can think about things grand, holy, and pure.
        3. Man can think about things that are degrading, vile, and impure.
      3. To understand that in the areas of that which he thinks comes responsibility.
        1. Man is accountable for what he thinks.
        2. Man is accountable for not only for what he meditates upon, but the resultant actions that come forth from his thinking.
        3. To put this in proper prospective give attention to the wisdom of Solomon: Eccl 12:14 = "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
          Comment: This passage is including more than actions, deeds, or words spoken in secret, but "…Every secret thing,…" and that includes even what we are thinking in the secret of our mind. This is made clear by these Scriptures:
          Prov 23:7 = "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee."
          Matt 5:28 = "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
    4. CONSIDER WITH ME THE FOLLOWING:
  2. DISCUSSION:
    1. THINKING MAY EITHER BE:
      1. Positive -- Note our opening text:
      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."
        1. That which Paul has written in this verse is all positive and beneficial --- True, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having any virtue, and any praise.
        2. This means that the opposite of what is positive is not beneficial.
      1. Negative – Note the opposite of our opening text:
        1. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are not true, whatsoever things are not honest, whatsoever things are not just, whatsoever things not pure, whatsoever things are not lovely, whatsoever things are not of a good report; if there is not any virtue, and if there is not any praise, do not think of these things."
      2. This includes all that is false, dishonorable, unjust, impure, ugly, of a bad report, the lacking of any beneficial quality, and slanderous blame.
    2. THE THOUGHTS OF MAN BECOME THE ISSUES OF LIFE.
      Prov 23:7 = "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee."
      1. We must understand that:
        1. We are not what others think that we are.
        2. We are not what we think that we are.
        3. The truth is -- what we think is what we are.
      2. We are the sum total of our thoughts.
        1. If what we think on is:
          1. True -- We will be true.
          2. Honest -- We will be honest in our manor of life.
          3. Just -- We will be just in our every day dealings with mankind.
          4. Pure -- We will be pure in the life that we live.
          5. Lovely -- We will be found loving in all that we do.
          6. Of a good report -- We will become the bearer of good reports.
          7. Any virtue -- We will become the example of the Christian virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity.
          8. Any Praise -- We will manifest praiseworthiness in our actions.
            Note: We will be just as good as the thoughts we cherish.
        2. If what we think on is:
          1. False -- We will be false.
          2. Dishonest -- We will be dishonest (dishonorable) in life.
          3. Unjust -- We will be unjust in our deals with mankind.
          4. Impure -- We will be impure in the life that we live.
          5. Ugly -- We will become ugly and undesirable to be around.
          6. Bad report -- We will be the bearer of bad reports or gossip.
          7. Vices -- We become active in these vices.
          8. Blame -- We become seekers of others faults.
            Note: We will be just as vile and vulgar as the thoughts we cherish.
  3. CONCLUSION:
    1. THE WAY WE LIVE DETERMINES OUR DESTINY:
      Comment: What was said in a college class, states very well what I am trying to say --

"You sow a thought and reap a deed;
You sow a deed and reap a habit;
You sow a habit and reap a character;
You so a character and reap a destiny."

    1. WE MUST LEARN TO USE CONTROL OF OUR THINKING:
      1. When we control our thinking -- we determine our words and deeds.
      2. When we control our deeds -- we determine our habits.
      3. When we control our habits -- we determine our character.
      4. When we control our character -- we determine our destiny.
    2. YOUR DESTINY IS CONTROL BY YOUR THINKING THIS HOUR -- WHERE WILL YOU SPEND YOUR ETERNITY?

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