RE/THINK - PART 1: THINK BETTER

SETUP

Ever wished you weren’t the way you were?

Romans 7:21–25 (NIV) 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Statistically 80% of your thoughts in a given day are negative in nature...

Re/Think: Think Better

SCRIPTURE

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 (NIV) 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

“Wage war/weapons” = man made instruments

“Divine power” = dunamis = dynamite

Explosive, always capable, power of God

“Demolish” = kathairesis

To completely and utterly incapacitate

“Strongholds” = ochyrōma = Fortified stronghold // Prison

Prison of lies =

Locked by deception =

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

“We demolish” = Jesus has given us the tools, but it is up to us to use them

“Arguments and every pretension”

Arguments = Lies

you can’t // you won’t // you will // you’ll always // God doesn’t love you // no one cares

Every Pretension = Every single supernatural work set against you

“We take captive every thought” = We identify every thought in our mind that does not come from God…

“Make it obedient to Christ” = We make it conform to what God says

SERMON IN A SENTENCE

The life you have is a reflection of the thoughts you think.

Many of us need to start thinking better… so we can live better!

SUBSTANCE

Your life is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts

If you will change your thinking, you will change your life!

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Think you can’t — Probably won’t

// Think you can — Probably will

Dwell on problems — Feel overwhelmed

// Look for solutions — Find some (see God using all things for good…)

Pull the victim card — Become one

// Believe that you are an overcomer by the blood of the lamb and word of your testimony — Overcomer

Most of life’s battles are won or lost in the mind…

Bench press 225 pounds as a freshman — Chad convinced me I could

God’s truth about you vs. Satan’s lies to you

Think about what you’ve been thinking about?

Worried or Peaceful?

About our country, economy, finances, kids, future, job, health

Negative or Positive?

About yourself, your appearance, other people, the preacher, this sermon :-)

What comes into your mind will come out in your life

Critical thoughts = critical spirit

Believe day will be hard = day will be hard

Assume the worst in others = will see the worst in others

No matter:

WHAT YOU DO — WHAT YOU HAVE — WHO YOU KNOW — WHAT YOU BUY — WHERE YOU LIVE — WHERE YOU TRAVEL

You cannot have a positive life when you have a negative mind!

Your life is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts...

Question: Are you excited about where they are taking you?

Confession: My “thought” life has historically been pretty poor.

Except for when I’m preaching. 3 days before and 3 days after :-(

HOW CAN WE THINK BETTER?

1. IDENTIFY SATAN’S LIE

What lie(s) have you believed?

Not good enough // Past is too bad // Can’t trust people // Never get ahead // Will always be an addict // Marriage is beyond repair // I always mess things up // I’ll never lose/gain weight // Never be out of debt // God’s mad at me // If it can go wrong it will go wrong

Neuroscience: The more you think a thought, the more you think that thought (The Power of Habit)

Neural Pathways: The more you think a thought, the easier it is to think that thought again

If I’m going to change my thinking, I have to change my path - CREATE A NEW PATH IN MY BRAIN

FOUR WHEELER TRAILS/PATHS = MACHETE

Romans 12:2 (NIV) 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world [their pathways], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Science says rewire your brain

God says renew your mind

Identify the number one lie you have chosen to believe

You can’t defeat what you will not define

Not lovable // ugly // screw-up // not smart enough // broke // depressed // angry // critical // anxious // hopeless // helpless // always be single // never get pregnant

2. REMIND YOURSELF OF GOD’S TRUTH [worship team]

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (NIV) 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Captive — We arrest it by force

Not with a machete, but with the Sword of the Spirit = The word of God!

The only offensive weapon in the Armor of God

Can’t get it all done

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

In my weakness His strength is made perfect

Not a good mom (Instagram/Pinterest)

Christ in me is more than enough

Worried about the future

Worry is not my master, my faith is in the God who will never leave me nor forsake me

I don’t like what I see in the mirror

I’m the workmanship of God, fearfully and wonderfully made

I’m not good enough…

2 Peter 1:3(NIV)

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

SHUTDOWN

My greatest struggle...

I don’t belong // I’m an outsider

John 1:12 (NLT) 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

I have the Spirit of God living in me

I have the resources of heaven at my disposal

I am a child of God

I am part of the family of God

I have the creativity, energy, wisdom, skill, ability to do everything God has called me to do.

I am not who the enemy says I am

I am who God says I am!

I can do what He says I can do

I can change the way I think

I can change the way I live

PRAYER

Name the lie

Remember God’s truth

Create a new path