Go! And Think Like Jesus: Renewing Your Mind - Philippians 4:8 Series

Go! And Think Like Jesus: Renewing Your Mind with Philippians 4:8

Introduction: The Battle for the Mind

There is a war raging in the world today — not just on battlefields, but within hearts and minds. Every day, millions wake up assaulted by voices — news headlines, social media, entertainment — all shaping how people think, feel, and act. Yet God calls His people to think differently.

Paul writes in Philippians 4:8 (NLT): “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

This verse is not a casual suggestion; it’s a command — a call to focus our minds on the reality of Christ and the beauty of holiness. What we think determines what we believe, and what we believe determines how we live.

1. The Context: Paul’s Call to Joy and Peace in Christ

Paul wrote Philippians from a prison cell in Rome, not from a place of comfort or freedom. Despite his chains, the letter radiates joy — because Paul’s focus wasn’t on his circumstances, but on Christ.

In the preceding verses, Paul speaks of anxiety and peace:

Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT): “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.”

Peace and right thinking are linked. Paul shows us that peace is not the absence of problems — it’s the presence of Jesus in the midst of them.

The Greek word for “fix your thoughts” is logizesthe — it means to reckon, to meditate, to continually dwell upon. It’s not fleeting; it’s intentional. Paul is urging us to choose what fills our minds — not to let the world do it for us.

2. Think About What Is True

The first instruction Paul gives is to think about what is true.

In a world drowning in lies, half-truths, and deceit, truth is precious. The Greek word alethes means that which is unconcealed, that which corresponds to reality.

Jesus said in John 14:6 (NLT): “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

To think about what is true is to fix our minds on Jesus Christ Himself.

Imagine a compass. No matter how much you turn it, the needle always points north. For the believer, Christ is our true north. When our thoughts drift, we must realign to Him.

John 8:31–32 (NLT): “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

When we meditate on God’s truth, freedom follows — freedom from fear, anxiety, shame, and confusion.

John Piper once said, “The battle for holiness begins in the mind. What you feed your mind determines the shape of your soul.”

Piper reminds us that sanctification is not accidental; it’s the product of intentional thought shaped by the Word of God.

3. Think About What Is Honourable and Right

Paul continues — “Fix your thoughts on what is honourable and right.”

The Greek word for honourable is semnos, meaning noble, dignified, worthy of respect. For right (dikaios), it means that which conforms to God’s standard.

In a culture where sin is celebrated and righteousness mocked, the believer is called to think differently.

Romans 12:2 (NLT): “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

Transformation begins with a renewed mind. The Holy Spirit reshapes our values so that what pleases God pleases us too.

Think of a filter in a water jug. It removes impurities, ensuring what you drink is pure. The Word of God is the believer’s mental filter. Every thought must pass through the filter of Scripture — “Does this honour Christ? Is this right before God?”

Charles Stanley wrote, “Our emotions will always follow our thoughts. If you want peace, guard what you think.”

Stanley captures the link between mental purity and spiritual peace. When we fix our minds on Christ’s righteousness, the turmoil within settles under His authority.

4. Think About What Is Pure, Lovely, and Admirable

Purity in thought leads to purity in action. The Greek word for pure is hagnos — meaning free from moral pollution.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:8 (NLT): “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

To think purely is to see clearly — to perceive God’s beauty without the fog of sin.

Lovely (prosphiles) and admirable (euphemos) describe what draws our hearts upward — things that reflect the grace, kindness, and compassion of Christ.