Guarding Your Mind
Romans 12:1-2 Philippians 4:8
* Our thoughts determine our actions, moods, self image and the words we think.
* We can’t think negative thoughts, and think to live a poss. life!
* Messed up thinking results in messed up lives!
* You can’t think thoughts of defeat and failure and expect to live in victory!
* Before your life can change, your thoughts must change your thinking. If your always thinking negative you will always reap negative things!
Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.
* Many Christians allow themselves to indulge in impure thoughts, truly there is a battle going on inside our minds.
~Lets just think about what we are thinking about. Just take a minute.
~In his determination to defeat God’s purpose, Satan bombards Christian minds with impure thoughts.
~We must be alert and replace those thoughts as soon as they come in, with pure thoughts.
~He knows the power of our thoughts, and he is always working to try to upset our way of thinking. ~He knows if he can control our minds he can control our whole life. WHY ?
~He knows that our life will follow our way of thinking. That’s why we think of negative things, like defeat, worry, lies, etc; he wins.
* Realize that we don’t have to think or dwell on everything that comes in our mind ...
Phil 4:8-9
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. {honest: or,venerable}Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
* 1st we must recognize where it is coming from.
~Here is how we do that: is it your thought? Is it from God? Or is it from the devil? ...
~Here is how you can tell: if it is a negative thought, if it is a discouraging thought, or brings worry fear, or doubt, if it makes you feel week, or is of unbelief, it is no doubt from the devil. And we need to take care of it know
II Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; {imaginations: or, reasonings}
~Don’t dwell on it…get rid of it now!
* Millions of Christians wrestle with negative thinking, we need NOT be overcome by that, we ARE over comers already!
* If he tells you you’ll never become anything, do to your background, your parents, your lifestyle, culture, or what ever, let me tell you that God is not limited by where family you came from, your education, your social standing, or your race color or creed.
~Our God is Able!
What limits God is our lack of Faith, it’s our wrong thinking again.
* The devil says you don’t have what it takes...
The Lord says you do.
* The devil says you’re not able to...
The Word says you can do all things through Christ my Son who strengthens you.
* The devil says you’ll never get out of debt...
God says your going to lend not borrow.
* The devil says you’ll never get well...
God says by the stripes on my Son you are healed.
* The devil says you’ll never amount to anything...
God says you are more than a conquer.
Philippians 4:7 says...
And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall KEEP your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
*We need to count on Gods thoughts. He will fill you with faith hope and victory.
~What God gives us will keep us and keep us keeping on.
Dueteronmony30:10
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
*Chose to dwell on the good of the Lord not the bad of the devil... chose to dwell on the positive and right and not the wrong, think on what you have and not what you don’t have.
~You have to choose to stay in the mindset of Faith and victory not doubt and defeat.
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
*The main weapon of the devil is lies and despair.
~You control the door way of your mind, you cant’ control them from coming in, but you can control what happens to them once they are there.
* Even if things are not going your way, just think that God is on your side.
Isaiah 26:3- wow!
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. {perfect...: Heb. peace, peace} {mind: or, thought, or, imagination}
* You can’t become discouraged without 1st thinking discouraging thoughts....
" " " negative " " " negative "
* If you are always thinking negative you are stopping the Lord from working in your life..
~God can’t work in a mind that is filled with doubt and unbelief
II Chronicles 20:17
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
* The first way we begin to lose the battle is in our minds.
Colossians 3:2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. {affection: or, mind}
* Set you minds on victory, success, and progress.
* To the one who is to busy, if you put God first He will make time for you, if you come to church even when you do not really want to, God will allow you to get more done with your time.
* To the one who is tired, I am just too tired and need my rest; if you put God first you’ll have more energy, then if you stayed home and rested.
* God rewards them that seek him
Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. {Commit: Heb. Roll}
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. {expected...: Heb. end and expectation}
Matthew 9:4,
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
Matthew 12:25
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand
Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Commit = refer all thy actions and concerns to God.
Bro. Stepp
4/09/08
