“STINKING THINKING!”
GCC 1/9/11pm Assoc. Pastor Randy Trotter
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...”
Proverbs 23:7
“My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoice, indeed, I myself; Yes, My inmost being will rejoice when YOUR LIPS SPEAK RIGHT THINGS!”
Proverbs 23:15-16
INTRODUCTION:
Bro. Donny uses this phrase quite often around here! It’s a good phrase that if we’ll apply it to our hearts I believe it will change our lives and our situations many times over.
He says we need to
“STOP OUR STINKING THINKING!”
He’s absolutely right about that! I just read in Proverbs 23:7...
“FOR AS HE THINKS IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE...”
Some translations say “FOR AS A (MAN) THINKS IN HIS HEART...” Did you know that “WHAT YOU THINK” says “EVERYTHING” about you! And did you know that what you think will ultimately “REVEAL ITSELF” one way or another! IF IT’S IN YOUR MIND IT WILL BE ON YOUR TONGUE SOONER OR LATER!
Here’s a little something from a Senior Pastor’s experience! What you think in your home will be revealed to your Pastor, if anything through “YOUR CHILDREN!” I’ve often said, “IF I WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR HOME ALL I HAVE TO DO IS LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN!”
I tried out for a church one time and during dinner one of the Board Member’s son said to his father loudly in front of my, “DADDY, ARE YOU GOING TO RUN THIS PREACHER OFF LIKE YOU SAID YOU DID TO THE LAST ONE!”
I want to share with you what the Lord spoke to my heart about “STINKING THINKING!”and what it will do to you as a Child of God and as a person.
STINKING THINKING
I. PRODUCES STINKING ATTITUDES!
“ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!” Do you know how true that is?!!??
Prov. 14:16
“A wise man fears and departs from evil but the FOOL rages and is self-confident.”
How many of you know that “Confidence” is a good thing, even “Self-Confidence!” But “Arrogance” is a bad thing! Confidence GOOD - Arrogance BAD!
ARROGANCE IS A STINKING ATTITUDE! People without wisdom generally have bad attitudes!
“ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!” I’ve told young people that their “ATTITUDE” is louder than their words! People can see your “ATTITUDE” long before they hear your words!
I know a young man who thinks the whole world is out to get him! He’s got to “WORST SORRIEST ATTITUDE” of any person I know! His “ATTITUDE STINKS!”
Can I tell you something about a person with a “STINKING ATTITUDE!”
“EVERYBODY ELSE CAN SEE IT AND SMELL IT BUT THEY CAN’T, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO USED TO THE SMELL IT DOESN’T EVEN BOTHER THEM ANYMORE!”
A “STINKING ATTITUDE” AFFECTS OUR VISION OF OURSELVES!
Ecclesiastes 2:14 says
“The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness...”
“STINKING ATTITUDES” WILL EVENTUALLY TURN THEIR OWNERS OVER TO THEIR OWN DEVICES!
Proverbs 1:31 says
“Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.”
What this is saying is simply put, a person who “CAN’T OR (WORSE) REFUSES TO SEE” the folly of their own ways, the only thing you can do for them to allow them to have their own way BY THEMSELVES!
You won’t change them because they can’t smell their “STINKING THINKING OR ATTITUDE!” ALL YOU CAN DO FOR THEM IS TO PRAY FOR THEM AND TO LOVE THEM AND SOMETIMES FROM AFAR!
STINKING THINKING
II. PRODUCES STINKING LANGUAGE!
Now, let me qualify “STINKING LANGUAGE!” I’m not talking about filthy words or cursing words. Albeit they’re bad that’s not my direction this evening! I’m talking about the “STINKING LANGUAGE” of the Child of God!
That “STINKING LANGUAGE” THAT “DECEIVES & DEFEATS” EVEN OURSELVES WHEN IT COMES OUT OF OUR MOUTHS! I’m guilty of it but I’m becoming more aware of it all the time and am correcting myself!
One of Bro. Donny’s favorite passages, I know because he quotes it a lot, and it has become one of my favorite passages, I know because I’m quoting it a lot, is
Proverbs 18:21
“DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE, AND THOSE WHO LIVE IT WILL EAT ITS FRUIT.”
Scientists call it the “POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING!” If you can say it you can believe it! They’re absolutely right in what they say but absolutely wrong where they say they get it.
IT’S A GOD PRINCIPAL! NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT!
What comes out of your mouth is what you believe!
Matthew 12:34-35 Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees but it applies to all!
“Brood of vipers! How can you being evil. Speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings for evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Colossians 4:6 tells us
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer one another.”
STINKING THINKING
III. PRODUCES STINKING ACTIONS!
Would it surprise you to hear that some of the meanest people I’ve even met were sitting in church pews! It was because of their “STINKING THINKING” that they were like that and it reflected on the church as well! That’s why so many people think the church is full of hypocrites!
It’s been said, that the Army of God is the only army that kills it’s wounded! I don’t believe that! Although it’s been done to someone along the way by somebody who may be in the Army but it’s not indicative of the TRUE ARMY OF GOD! We’re an Army with COMPASSION, LOVE, UNDERSTANDING & CARING!
But there are some, who because of, “STINKING THINKING” manifesting in “STINKING ACTIONS” have done things unseemly to one another!
Romans 12:17 says,
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for the good things in the sight of the Lord.”
I Thessalonians 5:15
“See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.”
I Peter 3:8-9
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary BLESSING, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.”
STINKING THINKING
IV. PRODUCES STINKING VISION & HEARING!
Have you ever heard someone say, “You’re not seeing the whole picture!” or maybe “You’re only seeing what you want to see!” The same of “HEARING!” “You’re not hearing the whole truth!” or “You only hear what you want to hear!” It’s true! Some people never see the whole picture or they see only what they want to see! This is a by-product of “STINKING THINKING” that has produced “STINKING VISION & HEARING!”
Matthew 13:13 Jesus says...
“Therefore I speak to them in parables (stories), because seeing they do
not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”
Matthew 13:14-15
“And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, Hearing you will hear and shall not understand. And seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing. And their eyes have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn so that I should heal them.”
The “ESSENTIAL NEED” for proper “VISION & HEARING” is the “RIGHT THINKING!” If you have “STINKING THINKING” then your understanding will always be clouded with that paradigm of thinking and mind-set!
Jesus said it, “THEY SEE BUT THEY DON’T PERCEIVE, THEY HEAR BUT DON’T UNDERSTAND, THEY’RE HARD OF HEARING!
Closing:
Remember & remind yourself always of Proverbs 18:21 at all times!
“LIFE & DEATH ARE IN THE (POWER) OF THE TONGUE...”
Do you know how to avoid or overcome or overpower “STINKING THINKING?” It’s doable! To some degree it’s easy but I know it’s not totally easy because I have to fight to do it but the more I do it the easier it becomes for my spirit! I can’t do it alone! I need his help and I have it!
It’s exciting! It’s changing my whole life, my whole way of thinking, MY ATTITUDE, MY LANGUAGE, MY ACTIONS & MY VISION!
Philippians 4:13 tells us...
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are TRUE, whatever things are NOBLE, whatever things are JUST, whatever things are PURE, whatever things are LOVELY, whatever things are of GOOD REPORT, if there is any VIRTUE and if there is anything PRAISEWORTHY, THINK ON THESE THINGS!
“STINKING THINKING!”
GCC 1/9/11pm Assoc. Pastor Randy Trotter
Text: Proverbs 23:7 & Proverbs 23:15-16
I. PRODUCES STINKING ATTITUDES!
Prov. 14:16, Ecclesiastes 2:14, Proverbs 1:31
II. PRODUCES STINKING LANGUAGE!
Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 12:34-35, Collossians 4:6
III. PRODUCES STINKING ACTIONS!
Romans 12:17, I Thessalonians 5:15, I Peter 3:8-9
IV. PRODUCES STINKING VISION & HEARING!
Matthew 13:13, Matthew 13:14-15,
Closing:
Proverbs 18:21, Philippians 4:13
