Philippians 1:8-9

Think in these things. (Artillery against wrong thinking)

Intro: A troubled mind is a a place for the seed of doubt despair, and wickedness.

Proverbs 23:7 KJV 1900

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.

Dealing with worry is a matter of proper thinking and proper action. Paul speaks of promised peace to those who follow this truth in God’s word.

a. The Bible makes it clear that when ever we believe a lie, satan takes over.

John 8:44 KJV 1900

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

b. Satan wants to corrupt our minds with lies.

2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV 1900

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

II Corinthians

c. However, the Holy Spirit controls our minds through faith.

1 John 5:6 KJV 1900

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

Paul makes it clear that there is a battle and we need His weapons to win.

II Corinthians

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 KJV 1900

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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;

I. The warrior’s concentration. VS 8a “Finally - good report”

“Finally” The remaining.

“Whatsoever things” These things will win over worry brought on by wrong thinking.

A. INWARD ARMOR:

“true” as opposed to untrue, not plastic, genuine, sincere. True to God, to others, and to oneself.

Ephesians 6:14 KJV 1900

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Ephesians 6

2

a. When someone thinks on things that are not true it is not long before your life reflects the falsehoods that have endured the mind.

2. BE RESPECTFUL.

“honest” (noble)

a. Honest, honorable, things which claim respect.

b. If someone is honorable, it is the result of honorable thoughts.

c. Our thoughts should include only that which is worthy of God.

3. BE RIGHTEOUS.

“Just”

a. Both by divine and human standard; suggest fair dealing with others. That which is right is what the believer is to think about.

B. OUTWARD ARMOR.

Be pure.

“pure”

1 John 3:3 KJV 1900

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

I John 1

1 Timothy 5:22 KJV 1900

22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

I Timothy

a. Some thoughts leave a stain, which is difficult to erase. When the mind is permitted to drift, it often settles on that which is impure.

1 Peter 1:13 KJV 1900

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

2.BE PLEASING.

“lovely”

Pleasing and orderly; speaks of harmony or admirable rather then strife.

3. BE POSITIVE:

“good report”

a. fair speaking; that which is appealing. Listening to such reports builds one up spiritually.

II. THE WARRIOR’S CONSIDERATION VS 8b

“think”

a. To ponder, to consider, to give proper weight and value to; to meditate. Present tense-continuously consider these things.

A.ON MOTIVATION THINGS.

“Praise”

a. It is worth commending to others.

III. THE WARRIOR’S COMMITMENT VS 9

Proper actions are a result of proper thinking.

“do” To practice, constantly demonstrate.

A. CAREFUL EXHORTATION VS 9A

A. LEARNING EXERCISE.

“received” fact in the heart; demonstrated. They responded to the information by taking it to themselves.

a. The truth is not simply something to be understood, discovered, admired, preached; it is something to be done.

B. CONCRETE EXAMPLE. VS 9B

“Heard and seen in me”

SEEING-CAUGHT

J. Dwight Pentecost- “Maturity in the Christian is not measured by what a man knows but by what he does”

a. Paul was a living example of the conduct he expected from them.

C. CONSTANT ENCOURAGEMENT VS 9C

a. Living a Godly life is necessary for experiencing the peace of God and the peace of God.