The Breastplate of Righteousness

When I came back to live in Bermuda, I was introduced to a needed companion for a biker during the winter—a Brown Paper Bag.

Why do you need to guard your heart?

But what goes out of the mouth comes from the heart.

And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight.

Matthew 15:18

“Every moment of every day you are changing your brain with your thoughts in a positive or negative direction. Every time you think and choose, you cause structural change in your brain. Your thoughts impact your spirit, soul and body.

By controlling the direction of your mind, you control the direction of your life.”

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart more than anything that is guarded;

for out of it are the issues of life.

Be careful what you think [L Above all that you guard, protect your heart], because your thoughts run your life [L life flows from it].

What are the issues of life that flow from the heart?

· Love

· Faith

· Joy

· Peace

· Determination—David said, “I would have fainted, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

· The will to fight, to face the challenges and overcome

Don’t lose heart!

In competitions the true champions are distinguished by their heart.

What is Righteousness?

Righteousness is the holy work of the Holy Spirit making the Truth of God’s Word and Will for each of us a reality in our lives.

(My definition)

· Right-Relationship

· Right-Standing before God.

o Right-Thinking.

§ Right-Thinking is Centered in God-Reality.

Let your mind marinade in God-Reality for a change—God’s goodness, truth, beauty, awesome majesty.

Think about God’s Initiative and Gods Provision and you will grow in gratitude and appreciation.

o “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5.

Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.

You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

§ Notice that Right-Thinking is cast in the context of relationship, hence the emphasis upon humility.

o Right-Speaking.

§ The Right Talk. How is your self-talk these days? David’s self-talk The Prodigal son’s self-talk became a game changer

o Right-Actions. The Arbinger Institute has a book, “Leadership and Self-Deception.” So often our actions are not in the best interests of others and what’s worse we often betray ourselves. This notion of Self-Betrayal is quite amazing.

§ The dilemma of living a Christian life is expressed by Paul in Roman 7:15-25

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

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!

“Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances.” Ps. 119:164

Step 5: Active Reach

Now put action behind it! This stage is where you begin to change your toxic thought into a positive thought. To reach out and say, “I choose to believe what God says about me!” This is where you reach beyond where you are.

Example: It’s not just the decision to forgive, it’s the actual forgiving. It’s not just the decision to stop dwelling on the past, but the actual removal of that thought and change to focus on the future.

Time to line it up! I will not say this...I will say this.

Line up the thought:(TOXIC part) ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

With the Confession: (actually speaking it out of your mouth) _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________