Thinking by Faith

Introduction

Let me ask you a question tonight.

Does it really take that much for us to get our minds off track?

You can get up from what was a full night’s sleep, the sun is beaming in the room, its going to be a beautiful day, the aroma of the coffee is already brewed in the pot and you anticipate that first sip for the morning and then the phone rings.

One of your loved ones say, “I need to tell you something.”

And guess what, your mind is off to the races.

Or, you look at your online banking statement and discover a charge you do not recognize.

You get in the car and your check engine light is on.

Your boss says, “Can you come into my office before you leave today?”

Your spouse sends you a text that says, “we need to talk when you get home.”

Now, at this point nothing has actually happened yet, but by this point in time you have rehearsed umpteen stories or endings to the story you haven’t even heard.

Or, maybe the Doctor’s office calls you and says, “The doctor would like you to come back and discuss the test results.”

Immediately, your mind goes somewhere and has a tendency to go to the worst.

Someone at church walks past you without speaking—and instead of thinking, “Maybe they didn’t see me”, you spend the afternoon wondering:

What did I do?

Are they upset with me?

What have they heard?

Isn’t it amazing how the human mind can take one fact, add ten assumptions, and worry about all eleven of them?

Here’s what we want to think about tonight:

Where does your mind go when life doesn’t go as you expect it to?

And I say that because soon or later something will happen that gets us all off kilter.

The question is not whether troubling thoughts will come.

The question is:

What do we do with them when they arrive?

And perhaps and even more important question:

Does our faith determine how we think-or do our thoughts determine how strongly we believe?

Philippians 4:4–9 NKJV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 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.

And think about where Paul is when he writes this letter?

Prison

1. DOES GOD EXPECT US TO HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK?

When you hear the phrase, “positive thinking”, is that a biblical idea or a worldly idea?

Norman Vincent Peale wrote The Power of Positive Thinking, first published in 1952.

Peale (1898–1993) was a Protestant minister and longtime pastor of Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. The book became enormously influential, combining Christian themes with ideas about optimism, confidence, prayer, and changing one's thought patterns.

Does having faith mean that Christians should always expect good things to happen?

The biblical answer is no—if by “good” we mean pleasant circumstances. But yes—if by good we mean that God remains good, sovereign, present, purposeful, and faithful regardless of our circumstances.

Let’s take a moment and remember the sobriety of scripture:

Have someone read:

John 16:33 “33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

Jesus is speaking here.

Notice that Jesus combines realism and optimism in the same verse.

Reality: “You will have tribulation.”

Faith: “Be of good cheer.”

Reason: “I have overcome the world.”

That's biblical positive thinking!

Faith doesn't deny the trouble. Faith denies the trouble the right to have the final word.

Have someone read:

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Does Romans 8:28 say everything that happens to us is good?

No.

It says God is capable of working through all things for good.

That is a tremendous distinction.

2. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN OUR THOUGHTS BEGIN TO CONTROL OUR FAITH?

Philippians 4:6–7 “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

So I ask you:

Which normally comes first—troubled circumstances or troubled thinking?

The response: Circumstances

But what often continues long after the circumstance occurs?

Our thoughts about it.

That's where I think this study can become especially practical.

Something happens.

Then our mind begins:

What if this happens?

What if it gets worse?

What if God doesn't answer?

What if I can't handle it?

Why hasn't God done something?

Maybe nothing is going to change.

And before long, we are suffering not only from what has happened but from everything our mind tells us might happen.

Now as we think in these terms, let’s relate it to our faith.

Someone read:

Numbers 13:30–33 “30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.””

Twelve spies saw essentially the same circumstances.

Ten said:

“We are not able…”

Caleb said:

“Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

Same giants.

Same fortified cities.

Same land.

Same God.

Different interpretation.

What was the difference between Caleb and the ten spies—their circumstances or their perspective?

Their perspective was determined by what occupied their thoughts.

The ten compared themselves to the giants.

Caleb compared the giants to God.

Fear asks, “How big is my problem compared to me?” Faith asks, “How big is my problem compared to my God?”

3. CAN WE ACTUALLY TRAIN OUR MINDS TO THINK DIFFERENTLY?

How do we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in renewing our minds?

Because the Spirit is the One doing the transforming, but Scripture clearly gives us responsibility.

Philippians 4:8 “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.”

That is an imperative.

God is telling us we have some responsibility for where we allow our minds to dwell.

“Is this thought TRUE?”

“My situation is difficult.” True.

“God has forgotten me.” False.

“I don't know how this is going to work out.” True.

“Therefore it isn't going to work out.” False.

“I don't know what tomorrow holds.” True.

“God knows what tomorrow holds.” Also true.

Now, let’s apply what we have learned tonight when we hit the pavement tomorrow morning.

1. RECOGNIZE IT — What am I thinking? Don't simply let thoughts run unchecked.

2. TEST IT — Is it true? Compare it with Scripture.

3. REPLACE IT — What has God said? Romans 12:2 speaks of being transformed by the renewing of our minds.

4. RELEASE IT — Have I prayed about it? Philippians 4:6 moves anxiety into prayer.

5. REST — Can I trust God with what I cannot control? Then comes Philippians 4:7—the peace of God guards heart and mind.

I particularly like the progression in Philippians:

Anxiety → Prayer → Peace → Thinking → Practice

Philippians 4:6 — Pray about it.

Philippians 4:7 — Receive God's peace in it.

Philippians 4:8 — Think biblically about it.

Philippians 4:9 — Practice what you know.

Closing Illustration:

Let’s consider for a moment a radio.

There are countless radio signals passing through the room right now. But the radio receives the one to which it is tuned.

Our world is broadcasting constantly:

Fear. Anger. Bad news. Uncertainty. Comparison. Worst-case scenarios.

God's Word is also speaking.

The issue isn't whether fear is broadcasting.

The question is: What have I tuned my mind to receive?

Someone read:

Romans 12:2 “2 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.”

Let’s vow this statement this week:

I cannot always control the thoughts that knock on the door of my mind, but through the Holy Spirit I can become much more selective about which ones I invite inside, sit down with, and allow to stay.

As we prepare to close say this statement with me:

We don't strengthen faith by pretending our problems are smaller. We strengthen faith by remembering that our God is greater.