Walking the Spirit-filled life Part 1 - Where are our minds at?

Call to worship (voice recorder) 2min

Welcome to our family service this morning! We are going to do some things a little bit different as we are going to start with not one, not two, not three but four songs - all except the first one are quite short.

Some of you know that I went to hospital this week, and it was to check that I did not have something very serious, and Irena was not a little worried - and whilst I know that to die is gain - they did not find anything really bad that was going to kill me. So, praise God, right! We should always celebrate good news! And we should always seek to encourage one another when its not.

Let’s sing our first Hymn...

SONG: To God be the glory 3.5min

SONG: Our God is an awesome God 2.5min

SONG: In the name of Jesus (Pakistan!) 2.25min

Kid’s Song: I’m gonna jump up and down 2.5min

Children’s Talk 6min

Hi kids! Today I want to talk to you about the bible!

I want you to focus on me because today I am going to read your thoughts!

I want you to imagine a screen between us and now I want you to think of a shape that is not a square, now I want you to put another shape around the shape you already have. Triangle, circle - go to Matteij

Now this one is for you are cleverer in your thinking and makes me even cleverer to know what you are thinking.

Choose a Number between 1-10, now times 9, add the two digits together and take away 5,

transfer to letter of alphabet and name a country,

next letter of the alphabet think of an animal -

grey elephant from Denmark - go to Nick (if he doesn’t get it right - this means I heard someone else’s thoughts instead - whose thoughts did I read?!

Now this has given me access to all your minds. You don’t believe me? I can hear what you are thinking. .

You’re thinking: I hope he cannot read my thoughts!

And you’re thinking: I don’t believe him

And you’re thinking: I like ice cream!

And you’re thinking: Oh! I can’t repeat that!

Well, of course, I cannot read your thoughts but there is One who can, of course...

And we read in the bible that when he was in a friend’s house:

Luke 5:22 GW

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “What are you thinking?

Whilst I cannot really hear your thoughts Jesus can.

If Jesus can hear your thoughts he knows what you think about other boys and girls at school, and your teachers, and your mum and dads. Do you think that Jesus is happy with your thoughts?

We have to replace our bad thoughts with good ones, to think good thoughts about other people.

Let us pray: Father God we want all our thoughts to be good and pleasing to you. Help us replace bad thoughts with good ones as you lead us by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Notices 3min

Prayer 6.5min

Lord God, we thank you that just as Jesus chose His disciples we too have been chosen, we have heard your call and responded and are here to serve you today. We lift to you the worldwide church and thank you that we can be united through Christ. We thank you that we are free to worship you and are safe to do so, that we are able to come together both physically within these buildings and also online.

We bring before you all of those who are not safe, who are persecuted for their faith, for whom speaking the name of Jesus puts them at risk of torture or death.

Lord help your church to be all that you want it to be, help us to disagree well, to work together knowing that we are all your servants, the worldwide church is called to be set apart and to serve you, help us to keep you at the front and centre of all that we say and do. Lord, help your church to shine brightly, to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with you, our God.

God of creation, we thank you for the lovely weather we have enjoyed over this last week. It has brought so much joy and happiness to be able to feel the warm sun on our faces and enjoy gatherings.

Lord as much as we have enjoyed the weather and where although the weather has an impact on us, our lives are very seldomly at risk because of changes in weather. We bring before you those places where heat is devastating crops, where livestock are unable to survive, where the things we take for granted such as clean water and sanitation are so far from reach that disease and sickness is of great threat. Help us Lord to know how and if we can make a difference, help us to make decisions that go deeper and are more just than purely financial – knowing that you have made us the stewards of this wonderful planet that we call earth.

Lord as the pandemic still causes so much disruption around the world, we thank you for the vaccines and the progress that has been made. We lift before you the government’s plans here in the UK for the next part of the roadmap. So many are anxious to know what the decision will be – but Lord we know that these decisions are never easy so please give them wisdom. Lord, we ask that you will be with the decision makers, that they will be influenced by you, that whatever plans are made will be made with the safety and good of the people at heart.

Lord we bring before you countries where the vaccine is such a long way off, knowing that this pandemic is global and until all are able to access good healthcare and vaccines, we will never truly be out of it, lord we lift before you the world leaders and decision makers and ask that you will lead the way in ensuring that all of your people can find a way through these challenging times.

That is the world but trouble never seems far off from us as individuals here in this fellowship. Help us, Lord, in the different circumstances we find ourselves in. Whether it is health of the body, health of the mind, health of the emotions, or health of the spirit, Lord, please, bring healing, bring hope, bring comfort, bring peace.

Whether it is strained relationships let there be reconciliation and peace, whether it is finances, you, Lord, are the One who can provide all that we need according to your riches in glory. Or some other kind of trouble, you know us so well, help us to rely on You for all our resources. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Song: Jubilate! 2.25min

Today I want to talk to you about Walking the Spirit-filled life. Last week we saw that we need to have faith and go. So, we have trusted God, and we are on the way. And there are obstacles on the way and first we’ve got to know we are our own worse enemy.

So, today and onwards we are going to get the tools needed to overcome ourselves and walk the Spirit-filled life.

Let me start with reading from the bible.

Galatians 5:16 CSB

16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Then I am going to read one verse from its sister book:

Romans 8:5 CSB

5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit.

And

Colossians 3:1–2 (ESV)

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Philippians 4:8 GW

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.

Whilst I have read from 4 books of the bible I have read only 5 verses but they are all connected. Can you see what the connection is?

So, I want to ask the question: Where are our minds at?

Each day and every moment we are awake we get to decide where our minds concentrate. We can concentrate upon ourselves and our desires or we can concentrate upon God and His desires. And we are told to set our minds not on things of this world but on heavenly things.

To set our minds on things above means that we have less time for worldly things and over time we will have less and less passion for these things as long as we set, very deliberately, our minds elsewhere. If our mind is on the muck then into the pit it will go, if our mind is set on godly things our mind becomes wholesome. Let me say that again in a clearer way: If we focus our attention upon those things that can tempt us we will become more and more dirty and corrupt.

We all have TVs and some also have internet. What we focus on in these areas; what we allow into our homes with these things; reveals where our minds are at. For a start would you be happy for your Mum or Dad to be watching over your shoulder at what you are looking at?

Just think: The majority of us would not allow bad language into our homes. We would think it very rude if we invited someone who did that. Yet into our homes we have done that with our entertainment systems. We are allowing the world’s view into our lives and the world’s view does not match God’s.

Our thoughts are very important. One thought can become many and can lead to action that you would not think yourself capable of doing at the very beginning. David himself started with a single thought for a particular woman named Bathsheba which led him to actually murder her husband. And this man, God said, had a heart after God. This means that everyone, everyone includes you and me, are capable of dreadful things just because of what we put into the mind. This is a very big warning to us!

Sin is the manifestation of what has already taken place in the mind.

I am going to quote someone now and I want you to guess who said it. I don’t think anyone here will and most of the younger people do not even know anything about this famous person:

“Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” Margaret Thatcher

And I agree with her. I have said this on many occasion: Your thoughts become actions that become habits become who you are that influence your destiny. Everything we do in this life will have an affect upon our future and it all starts on where we focus our minds.

So, how do we get to the right place in our minds? In Philippians we heard that we need to put our thoughts on things which true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of any virtue and anything that is praiseworthy. Our lives will be transformed if we think upon these kinds of things, things which are pleasing to God.

The best way to keep bad thoughts at bay is to concentrate upon good thoughts. Paul does not say ‘do not think bad thoughts’.. No, he says think good thoughts.

Now I want you all to use your imaginations:

I want us to think of the plains of Africa, we are on Safari, and right there crossing the track in front of us is a herd of elephants. Can you see them in your mind? Perhaps recalling a David Attenborough programme. There they go – but be careful now – if you make too much noise they may turn and stampede you. Now I want you to stop thinking about the elephants. I don’t want you to think about elephants anymore. Stop thinking about elephants! It’s a little hard to do isn’t it for the elephants are still there.

OK – now I want you to think about the blue whale, there’s one at the Museum of Natural History – the largest of all sea going creatures – it is coming up for air – spouting its water hundreds of feet into the air, oh, there’s not just one but 3 or 4 of them, how amazing - and a little bit scary. They are amazing creatures - just look at the size of it. What are we thinking about? A blue whale right?

What happened to the elephant?

One thought replaced another unless you were very clever multi-tasking in one’s mind.

So, Paul isn’t saying don’t have bad thoughts because that just does not help – he says think about these other things instead. Think on things which are good and honourable.

Jerome, one of the very first translators of the Bible said he struggled with all sorts of thoughts that were in his mind but this changed when he started to translate the Bible from Hebrew into Latin. Why? It is clear that his thoughts were taken up by the words of Scripture instead of the other thoughts he used to have. The New English Version says in Philippians: “Fill your thoughts with these things”.

Fill them. Give no space to wrong thoughts by concentrating upon good thoughts.

If we focus our attention upon Jesus we are taking our minds off the things of this world;

by fixing our minds upon heavenly things then our minds are taken off sin;

by fixing our minds upon Christ we will continually be reminded of the sacrifice of love that he made and be continually grateful.

If we do not then we are more than likely to entertain the things of this world and sin as a result. We need to fix our minds on things above and upon Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.

There are three main areas that we are called to think upon, and not just think upon but to meditate upon.

Meditation has a bad press among Christians and rightly so if by it we mean the emptying of our minds. I have met many Christians with empty minds! I have nothing against the charismatic movement other than its excesses but part of this movement involved allowing the ‘Spirit’ to work in us by emptying the mind. Well, this is just not God’s way. We are told to think and fill our minds.

Now meditation is like what a cow does when it eats grass. Do you know how many stomachs a cow has? (4) When you see cows laying own they look like they are still munching, right? Do you know why? It’s because they are regurgitating. Sounds horrible doesn’t it. It’s already swallowed the food but then it brings it back up to have another chew. It might sound horrible but most of our milk comes from cows for our cereal, teas and coffees.

Some people here might have coffee machines and how do these work? Well the hot water keeps on going through the coffee beans to get the flavour out and then you have a decent cup of coffee.

Like a cow we are to think over and over God’s Word and like the coffee machine we are to go through the Bible verses again and again and again until it becomes part of us like the milk or coffee.

And in the Bible we are told to meditate upon three things:

1. God

We are to really think about God, who He is as David tells us he did:

Psalm 63:6 (NKJV)

I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

2. His Word

When we are struggling with temptation or bad thoughts, a good idea is just to pick up the bible and read. And we are told to really think about God’s Word. And in these verses it has the added meaning of repeating God’s Word to ourselves over and over out loud:

Joshua 1:8 NKJV

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 1:2–3 NKJV

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

In these verses we have God's promise of success and prosperity because we will be thinking right thoughts.

3. His works

We are to think about what God has done especially in creation and in sending Jesus

Job 37:14 NKJV

14 “Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.

Psalm 145:5 NKJV

5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.

Psalm 143:5 NKJV

5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.

So, what are we to think a lot about? Do you remember? What was the first one? We are to think about God. Second? We are to think about God’s Word, and third? We are to think about what God has done, His works, especially in Creation and in Jesus.

It is too easy to be lazy in our thinking when our thoughts must continually be upon good and worthy things.

If we obey and set our minds upon the things of Christ, upon good and praiseworthy things then we will have His peace. Another promise.

Remember the elephant and the blue whale? Why do we remember? We cannot think about two completely different things at the same time. If we think about negative or evil things then the positive and good thoughts are pushed out. But if we think about good things such as God, the Bible and what God has done then the negative thoughts and the evil thoughts cannot stay in our minds.

We are told to fix our minds upon Jesus and good things.

Romans 12:2 GW

2 Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

Then we are told...

1 Corinthians 2:16 (NKJV)

16 we have the mind of Christ.

If we do not then we will be like what Isaiah says:

Isaiah 55:8 NKJV

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

Personally, I would like us all to know what are God’s thoughts and ways but we all have to decide. Where are our minds going to be?

Song: We wanna see Jesus

Benediction

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious 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.