Whatcha Thinking?

NRSV - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

8 Finally, beloved,[e] whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about[f] these things.

NRSV - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

In this era where the motto for the news media is, “If it bleeds it leads”, where it seems there’s more bad news than good and if the good is reported it’s labeled fluff or a human interest story we sometimes struggle with finding something to be rejoice about.

I’m going to read verse eight again in the King James translation

KJV – 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.

We know that words have power, God spoke and created everything; we talk about being careful what you say, watch what you put into the atmosphere, we warn Satan can’t read your thoughts but he can hear what you speak, so don’t speak negative things.

Our message title this morning is “Whatcha Thinking”?

We talk about what we say to our children and what was spoken to us as children. Some say it’s not what they call you, it’s what you answer to and we’ve learned the fallacy of the old adage, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me” and just how untrue these sayings are. Words.

In this era where the motto for the news media is, “If it bleeds it leads”, where it seems there’s more bad news than good and if the good is reported it’s labeled as fluff or a human-interest story, we sometimes struggle with finding something to rejoice about.

Words can build up and they can tear down. In fact, words can express love. One of the five love languages Gary Chapman tells us about is, words of affirmation.

We know that words have power, God spoke and created everything; we talk about being careful what you say, watch what you put into the atmosphere, we warn that Satan can’t read your thoughts but he can hear what you speak, so don’t speak negative things.

The words that come from our mouths matter. But can I put something else out there for you to ponder? Let’s back it up to even before the words come out of your mouth. Can I tell you that what you think may have even more bearing on your life than what you say?

How many of you have thought things you wouldn’t dare speak out loud? Because you would be embarrassed, or it might hurt someone’s feelings, or you just didn’t want it to be true, there could be a hosts of reasons you didn’t say it, but still you had the thought, and it still had a profound effect on your life; it still had an effect on your self esteem; it still had an effect on how you interacted with someone and they could tell something was wrong, yet you never said a word. But you thought.

We talk about what we say to our children and what was spoken to us as children. Some say it’s not what they call you, it’s what you answer to and we’ve learned the fallacy of the old adage, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me” and just how untrue these sayings are. Words.

You thought about what that person said to you and how it hurt your feelings. You reflected on what that person did to you and couldn’t understand how they could be so heartless. Maybe it wasn’t something bad, maybe you were like Mary and pondered something in your heart, but you never spoke to anyone about it.

Words can build up and they can tear down. Words can express hate and they can express love. In fact, one of the five love languages Gary Chapman tells us about is, words of affirmation.

The words that come from our mouths matter. But can I put something else out there for you to ponder? Let’s back it up to even before the words come out of our mouths. Can I tell you that what you think may have even more bearing on your life than what you say?

Our thoughts are powerful and what we think can shape and direct what we do. If you don’t think that chair will hold you, you’ll choose another chair. If you think something cost too much money, you’ll put it back. If you think your spouse or significant other is cheating, you’re going to have a reaction. If you think God is good and will answer your prayer, you’re going to continue to pray and trust and put your confidence in Him. Whatcha thinking?

How many of you have thought things you wouldn’t dare speak out loud? Because you would be embarrassed, or it might hurt someone’s feelings, or you just didn’t want it to be true, there could be a hosts of reasons you didn’t say it, but still you had the thought, and it still had a profound effect on your life; it still had an effect on your self-esteem; it still had an effect on how you interacted with someone and they could tell something was wrong, yet you never said a word. But you thought.

As Paul closes this letter to the Philippian church he gives them some instructions. First he tells them to rejoice in the Lord always and he repeats it, saying again I say rejoice. If you can’t find anything else to rejoice in, you can always rejoice in the Lord, because He is always good, He is always kind, He is always worthy and because he never changes. Our bodies change, circumstances and situations change, expectations change, attitudes change, children grow up, grown ups grow old. Change is all around us but in an ever changing world we have a never changing God. What was sin at the beginning of time is still sin today. It doesn’t matter what we call it, how we vote, what we’re willing to accept, how much we want to include, how desensitized we get—sin is still sin and the penalty for sin is still death. But we can still rejoice in the Lord always.

You thought about what that person said to you and how it hurt your feelings. You reflected on what that person did to you and couldn’t understand how they could be so heartless. Maybe it wasn’t something bad, maybe you were like Mary and pondered something in your heart, but you never spoke to anyone about it.

Then Paul says, let your moderation or gentleness be known to everyone. Be courteous to people, show them kindness, even when they’re not kind to you. Show them the love of Christ who dwells in you by the Holy Spirit, even when they don’t show you love. When you profess to be a child of God, you don’t do what you do in because of what someone else does, you do what you do because you love God and you want to please Him. You let your gentleness be known to everyone because they too are a child of God and God loves them they same way He loves you, and remember when life get rough, the Lord is near. And because he’s near our focus can be on rejoicing.

Be careful for nothing, in another translation it says, don’t worry about anything, this is so easy to say but when it comes down to it, we have so many things we could find ourselves worrying about, yet, Paul says don’t worry about anything, be anxious for nothing, instead, in everything by prayer and supplication, you already know prayer is talking to God, but what is supplication, supplication is doing it humbly, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Our thoughts are powerful and what we think, can shape and direct what we do. If you don’t think that chair will hold you, you’ll choose another chair. If you think something cost too much money, you’ll put it back. If you think your spouse or significant other is cheating, you’re going to have a reaction. If you think God is good and will answer your prayer, you’re going to continue to pray and trust and put your confidence in Him. Whatcha thinking?

We come here every Thursday morning and we pray. We petition God on behalf of others. Sometimes the prayers are about our government, sometimes they’re are about those in prison, mental health disorders, our mates, the church, the saints of God, we pray personal confessions, we pray for the power of God to dwell and rest and rule in our lives and our church and our community and our nation. We pray. We pray and we know that God hears our prayers, we know that God is answering our prayers; we know this because He is a prayer answering God and He said His Word would not return to him void but it would accomplish that he sent it forth to do; and so we pray humbly and earnestly to God our Father. There is power in corporate prayer.

Oh it’s an easy thing to say but how easy is it to do, in a culture known for clapping back? For getting even, for making the declaration oh you gonna get yours and I hope I’m there to see it. Despite what’s happening around you, despite what’s happening to you, you be gentle, you show why you’re a child of the Almighty God.

But then there are times and things you can’t tell your brother or sister, there are some things you just need to meditate on and keep it to yourself. Let it be between just you and God. But whether you’re praying corporately or you’re in your own personal prayer time, when you prayer, you have to known that the peace of God, which goes beyond all understanding, shall keep your heart - you won’t be broken hearted when things don’t work out as you planned or like you thought they should. Not only will the peace of God guard your heart, but it will guard your mind.

Don’t worry about anything, this is another thing that is so easy to say but when it comes down to it, we have so many things we could find ourselves worrying about, yet, Paul says don’t worry about anything, be anxious for nothing, instead, in everything by prayer and supplication, you know prayer is talking to God, supplication is doing it humbly, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

When the peace of God is guarding your mind, it doesn’t leave any room for the enemy to come in and plant seeds of doubt or discord or discouragement. When God’s peace guards your mind, the enemy can’t throw you off your mission, you will complete your assigned task, even when it doesn’t appear to be perfect.

You can’t tell your brother or sister everything, there are some things you just need to meditate on and keep it to yourself. Let it be between just you and God. When you do that the peace of God, which goes beyond all understanding, shall keep your heart - you won’t be broken hearted when things don’t work out as you planned or like you thought they should. Not only will the peace of God guard your heart, but it will guard your mind too, you won’t go crazy or get depressed.

Now this is not to say you will always be happy about what is going on in your life, but you do know that rejoicing in the Lord is not contingent on your happiness - right? It’s not contingent on your plan working out. God will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. It’s not about your power; the peace of God shall guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

Paul is putting the finishing touches on this letter and as he brings it to a close he says, finally beloved and he has a list

whatever is true - we must learn to differentiate the truth from the lies, remembering truth has a name and it’s Jesus and Satan is the author of lies

whatever is honest or honorable - not everything you see, hear or say is honest or honorable. How is your behavior? Is it free from fraud and deception?

whatever is just - are you being fair in your dealings with other people

whatever is pure - as children of God we have been cleansed from all unrighteousness, are you staying that way?

whatever is lovely or pleasing - this would be things that are delightful for beauty, like a baby’s laugh or being in love, it’s about harmony and grace.

whatever is of good report or commendable - when someone does something for someone else they didn’t have to do we say their actions were commendable or praiseworthy

If there is any virtue or excellence and if there is any praise...

Do what?

Think on these things, whatcha thinking?

This is quite a list Paul gives us

true

honest

just

pure

lovely

good report

if there is any virtue

if there is anything worthy of praise

If you can focus on, think about these eight things,

you won’t have time to focus on the negative,

you won’t have room to focus on the problems that may be trying to overwhelm you,

you won’t have the opportunity to obsess about the issues of the world,

you won’t have the desire to think about anything that does not exalt itself in the knowledge of God.

Because what we need to think on and know is that when all is said and done, when this life is over, when Jesus returns for His church without spot or wrinkle, that’s us. What we need to remember is that in the grand scheme of things, what she said to you, what he did to you…it doesn’t matter. What matters is God loved us enough to send his only begotten Son to die for our sins and Jesus did it.

Jesus sacrificed His life so we could have life and life more abundantly while we yet live, we can have a wonderful, beautiful, glorious life right now, not just when we die. We have to stop looking at our circumstances and look to Jesus

As Paul closes this letter to the Philippian church he gives them some instructions. First, he tells them to rejoice in the Lord always and he repeats it, saying again I say rejoice. If you can’t find anything else to rejoice in, you can always rejoice in the Lord, because He is always good, He’s always kind, He’s always worthy and because he never changes. Our bodies change, circumstances and situations change, expectations change, attitudes change, children grow up, and grown-ups grow old. Change is all around us but in an ever-changing world we have a never changing God. What was sin at the beginning of time is still sin today. It doesn’t matter what we call it, how we vote, what we’re willing to accept, how much we want to include, how desensitized we get—sin is still sin and the penalty for sin is still death. But we can still rejoice in the Lord always.

who is the author and finisher of our faith,

Then Paul says, let your moderation or gentleness be known to everyone. Be courteous to people, show them kindness, even when they’re not kind to you. Show them the love of Christ who dwells in you by the Holy Spirit, even when they don’t show you love. When you profess to be a child of God, you don’t do what you do because of what someone else does, you do what you do because you love God and you want to please Him. You let your gentleness be known to everyone because they too are a child of God and God loves them the same way He loves you, and remember when life get rough, the Lord is near. And because he’s near, our focus can be on rejoicing.

our healer,

Be careful for nothing, in another translation it says, don’t worry about anything, this is so easy to say but when it comes down to it, we have so many things we could find ourselves worrying about, yet, Paul says don’t worry about anything, be anxious for nothing, instead, in everything by prayer and supplication… You already know that prayer is talking to God, but what is supplication? Supplication is pleading, petitioning, crying out or appealing to God, and with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. When we go to God in prayer, asking for something we need to be thankful for what He’s already done, we should go with a praise on our lips and thanksgiving in our hearts for the God of our salvation, without whom we would have nothing. Be thankful unto Him and bless His name, for the Lord is good and His mercy endureth forever.

our provider,

We come here every Thursday morning and we pray. We petition God on behalf of others. Sometimes the prayers are about our government, sometimes they’re are about those in prison, those dealing with mental health disorders, our mates, the church, the saints of God, we pray personal confessions, we pray for the power of God to dwell and rest and rule in our lives and our church and our community and our nation. We pray. We pray and we know that God hears our prayers, we know that God is answering our prayers; we know this because He is a prayer answering God and He said His Word would not return to him void but it would accomplish that which he sent it forth to do; and so, we pray humbly and earnestly to God our Father. There’s power in corporate prayer.

our way out of no way,

But then there are times and things you can’t tell your brother or sister, there are some things you just need to meditate on and keep it to yourself. Let it be just between you and God. But whether you’re praying corporately or you’re in your own personal prayer time, when you pray, you have to know that the peace of God, which goes beyond all understanding, shall guard your heart - you won’t be broken hearted when things don’t work out as you planned or like you thought they should. Not only will the peace of God guard your heart, but it will guard your mind.

our interceder,

When the peace of God is guarding your mind, there’s no room for the enemy to come in and plant seeds of doubt or discord or discouragement. When God’s peace guards your mind, the enemy can’t throw you off your mission, you will complete your assigned task, even when it doesn’t appear to be perfect.

our interpreter,

Now this is not to say you’ll always be happy about what’s going on in your life. But you do know that rejoicing in the Lord is not contingent upon your happiness – right? You do understand rejoicing in the Lord is not contingent upon your plan working out. God will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. It’s not about your power; the peace of God shall guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

our way maker,

Paul puts the finishing touches on this letter and as he brings it to a close he says, finally beloved and then he has a list

our waymaker,

• Whatever is true - we must learn to separate the truth from the lies, remembering truth has a name and it’s Jesus and we must also know that Satan is the father of lies

our heart fixer,

• Whatever is honest or honorable - not everything you see, hear or say is honest or honorable. How’s your behavior? Is it free from fraud and deception?

our mind regulator,

• Whatever is just - are you being fair in your dealings with other people

our morning, noon and night

• Whatever is pure - as children of God we have been cleansed from all unrighteousness, are you staying that way?

our deliverer

• Whatever is lovely or pleasing - this would be things that are delightful for beauty, like a baby’s laugh or being in love, it’s about harmony and grace.

our all and all

• Whatever is of good report or commendable - when someone does something for someone else they didn’t have to do, we say their actions were commendable or praiseworthy

our joy in sorrow

• If there’s any virtue or excellence and if there’s any praise...

our hope for tomorrow

Do what?

HE IS GOD

Think on these things. Whatcha thinking?

And He is good and He is worthy to be praised. When Paul said to rejoice in the Lord always, it wasn’t a suggestion, He didn’t say if you can or when you find the time or if you feel like it or if you want to he simply said, rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. He meant that, get out of yourself, your problems and the strife going on around you and think on what is true and honest and just and pure and lovely and of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.

This is quite a list Paul gives us, there were eight things on his list, whatever is

Now whatcha thinking?

1. true

2. honest

3. just

4. pure

5. lovely

6. of good report

7. if there is any virtue

8. if there is anything worthy of praise

If you can focus on, if you can think about these eight things,

• you won’t have time to focus on the negative,

• you won’t have room to concentrate on the problems that may be trying to overwhelm you,

• you won’t have the opportunity to obsess about the issues of the world,

• you won’t have the desire to think about anything that does not exalt itself in the knowledge of God.

Because what we need to think on and know is that when all is said and done, when this life is over, when Jesus returns for His church without spot or wrinkle, that’s us. What we need to remember is that in the grand scheme of things, what she said to you, what he did to you…it doesn’t matter. What matters is God loved us enough to send his only begotten Son to die for our sins and Jesus did it.

Jesus sacrificed His life so we could have life and life more abundantly while we yet live, we can have a wonderful, beautiful, glorious life right now, not just when we die. We have to stop looking at our circumstances and look to Jesus

• who is the author and finisher of our faith,

• who’s our healer,

• our provider,

• our way out of no way,

• our interceder,

• our interpreter,

• our way maker,

• our heart fixer,

• our mind regulator,

• our morning, noon and night

• our deliverer

• our all and all

• our joy in sorrow

• our hope for tomorrow

• HE IS GOD

And He is good and He is worthy to be praised. When Paul said to rejoice in the Lord always, it wasn’t a suggestion, He didn’t say if you can or when you find the time or if you feel like it or if you want to, he simply said, rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. He meant that, get out of yourself, get out of your problems and the strife going on around you and think on what is true and honest and just and pure and lovely and of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Now whatcha thinking?