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Word of Life
Korea SYME Discipleship Topics
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Week 7: SCRIPTURE MEMORY
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T.H.I.N.K. on These Things
In his book the Applause of Heaven, Max Lucado tells about seeing an oil refinery for the first time. He sat in a pickup truck and looked at the West Texas plain. The countryside was flat and kept going and going and going. Maybe that is why Texas seems so big. The main things you could see were oil drills and windmills. There was a jungle of pipes and tanks, tubes and generators - heaters, pumps and hoses. All of this maze was an oil refinery. The purpose of all of these parts is to refine. It takes gasoline, oil, chemicals, whatever comes in, and purifies it so that it's ready to go out.
Your mind is like that refinery. It takes whatever comes in and purifies it so that it's ready to go out. It refines. Whatever junk the mind allows in will eventually finds its way out into our behavior and attitudes.
Philippians 4:8 has several filters that can protect our minds and protect us. What are they? Let's look at our text. This verse says,
Philippians 4:8 |
"Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." |
T - TRUE
First he says, "Finally, brethren, whatever is true." Now if you want to know what's true, where do you go? To God's Word. John 17:17 says,"Thy Word is truth." So first of all focus on the Word of God and then on anything else that is true.
To think on things that are true you must think on things that are real. We're not to dwell on the "If onlys" of the past ("If only I had done that differently; if only I hadn't done that; if only that hadn't happened". We're not to dwell on the "What ifs" of the future.("What if I never get married; what if I get cancer; what if I fail"). Nothing will ever happen to you that is a mistake (Psalm 139:4,16). Nothing will ever happen to you that can't be handled by God's power (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Nothing will ever happen to you that will not be used of God for some purpose (Romans 8:28-29). Nothing will ever happen to you apart from God's presence (Matthew 28:20). Think on what is true. Think on what is real.
H - HONORABLE
Secondly, he says,"Whatever is honorable," that means worthy of respect. Whatever is noble, whatever is dignified, whatever is reverent, whatever is lofty, not trashy, mundane, common, flippant, cheap and attractive to the light-minded. The word really comes from a term meaning to worship. Whatever is worthy of awe, whatever is held in high regard, whatever is greatly respected, whatever is worthy of adoration, that's what I think about.
Then, he says, "whatever is right." And the word is righteous here, righteous. Whatever is in perfect harmony with the eternal unchanging divine standard of a holy God revealed in Scripture. I am going to think on what is true. I am going to think on what is worthy of worship. I am going to think on what is absolutely consistent with the holiness of God.
I - INNOCENT
The third word I want you to remember is innocent; he says, "Whatever is pure." Whatever is morally pure and morally clean, I will think on that, not the other junk.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." What was it like in the days of Noah? Genesis 6:5 says, "Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Today when you walk through a department store, watch TV shows, commercials, movies, magazines and many other things it's difficult not to think bad thoughts. How can we keep pure in an immoral world? Psalm 119:9 says, "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word." (1) Focus on what is pure and innocent. (2) Don't focus, don't even take a second look at what is not pure.
N - NECESSARY
Then he says,"Whatever is lovely," that means winsome, pleasing, attractive, amiable. It's one of those words that we only find here in the New Testament, an unusual word. It means whatever is sweet or gracious or generous or patient.
And then he says, "Whatever is of good reputation" or report. That's what I am to think about. If I look at the world am I going to find the truth? Am I going to find what is honorable, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is of good report? When I turn on the television or go to the theater, is that what I'm going to see? When I read a book or a magazine, is that what I'm going to see? When I have a conversation with friends, is that what I'm going to experience? The point is, you've got to protect your mind because that is what determines what you want and what you desire. Good questions to ask are, "Is this lovely? Is this good? Is this necessary?"
K - KIND
And then he says, "If there's any excellence and anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Sometimes people take a survey where they have a choice. The choices are poor, fair, average, good and excellent. This verse is saying to stay away from things that are poor or even just fair. It is saying do not choose the average. Do not even choose good things. Only choose what is excellent. Focus on the excellent things.
Your mind is the greatest treasure you have as a human. And as a believer your mind works together with the Spirit of God. You must protect that mind. The way you protect it is how you T.H.I.N.K. You will become what you think about. Proverbs 23:7 says,
So think on things true, honorable, innocent, necessary and kind. Paul said,
Colossians 3:2 |
"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."
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by Steve Nicholes
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LINKS TO . . .
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