Where do we go in order to develop character in our lives? You may have noticed that our world is simply obsessed with the outward appearance. Everywhere you turn you see advertisements for products that will make you look younger, make your skin shine, cream that will take out all your wrinkles, etc. God is not so much concerned with our outward appearance than our inward character. It is God’s desire to develop that inward character in our lives. When you and I take time to develop godly charter in our lives, it can and is our highest personal achievement.
When we look at following the Lord, we expect to see change in our lives. This change should be for the positive. If there’s no change in our lives, why would we follow the Lord? It would not pay.
The next three weeks we are going to be talking about how God wants to produce His characteristics in our lives.
Today, we are dealing with our thought life. There is power in our thoughts. I think it is safe to say that we all have a strong desire to be successful. If we don’t, we should. We should desire to maximize our potential and reflect the image of our Creator.
The bible often speaks of the power of the mind and the power of our thoughts. This morning we are going to talk about how we need to change our thinking, that we need to think more spiritual and how our thinking leads to the way that we live out our lives.
I. Change your thinking
A. Perspective
a. By changing the way that you think, it will change your perspective on things.
b. The bible says in Romans 12:1-2(NKJV) 12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
c. The preacher Warren Wiersbe is quoted to say “ Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.”
d. Jesus was constantly challenging people to change their thinking. Regardless of how many times you have read or read the bible, if your mind does not change then you simply will impose your own biases to the words that you are reading.
i. So the take away is, read the bible as if it was truly the Word of God and allow those Words to change you from the inside out.
B. Power of fear
a. Fear can keeps us back from changing our thoughts. Fear has a tremendous amount of power. It can keep a grip on someone’s life. I know this personally as I once was gripped by the power of fear.
b. Testimony of being fearful of everything.
c. One day I came across a verse found in 2 Timothy 1:7(NKJV)7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
d. I began to speak the verse over my life and the fear dissipated. Notice, the fear did not dissipate on it’s own. I had to speak over my life.
e. Once we have conquered fear, we wonder “Why was I trapped for all this time?” “Why was I so fearful?”. I found a story about a young boy to illustrate this point.
i. One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can't dear. I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence followed. At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, "The big sissy!"
C. Cast down negative thoughts
a. So what happens if I get a negative thought?
b. First of off, just know that everyone gets negative thoughts. (Including myself) You are not weird or ungodly because you got a negative thought.
c. The bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:5(NKJV) 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
d. Take action when you get a negative thought.
e. Do not just sit back and expect that thought to disappear.
i. Action is required. We need to first capture that thought.
1. Don’t let that thought linger in your mind.
ii. Secondly, cast down that negative thought.
1. Say it out loud, and say it boldly. I cast that thought down in the Name of Jesus.
II. Higher thinking
A. Think on these things
a. Now that we understand what not to think on, we need to know what to think on. If you do not replace the bad thoughts, they will continue to haunt you.
b. Replace those thoughts with godly thoughts.
c. The bible says in Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) 8 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—meditate on these things.
d. People who understand this verse and apply this verse are awesome people to be around. They choose to love, they choose what is noble and pure. They choose to see the positive in every situation.
e. Let me say this, whatever you choose to see, will determine your future reality. You have the power to change your perspective!
B. Victim or Victor
a. We can either choose to be the victim of our circumstance or we can take the higher road and choose to be the victor in our lives.
b. The bible says in Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
c. Chuck Swindoll shares a quote “Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it”
C. Think with a purpose
a. There are times when people think that they do not have a choice about their thoughts
b. We all have a choice concerning our thoughts. Especially thoughts about ourselves.
c. It is so important that we think positive about ourselves. If we do not believe in ourselves, we can all agree that is not a good thing. We need to have the right perception about ourselves. Our perception should not be based on what others have said, rather, what God has said about us!
d. Here are some things that God says about you:
i. You are a child of God
ii. You are a friend of Jesus
iii. You are a saint
iv. You are a new creature
v. You are righteous in Christ
D. Not touchy
a. Now that we understand and know who we are, we are able to be more forgiving towards others.
b. There are way too many Christians that are so touchy. They are offended by every little thing and it is almost like they are looking to be offended so they can raise a big stink.
c. We are called not be so touchy and to extend grace to others. Amen!!!
E. Iron Lady
a. There was a movie entitled “The Iron Lady”. This movie was a biographical portrayal of Great Britain’s prime minister Margaret Thatcher. In the movie there is a powerful statement that is made.
b. Thatcher is quoted saying the following
i. Watch your thoughts, they become words;
ii. Watch your words, they become actions
iii. Watch your actions, they become habits
iv. Watch your habits, they become character
v. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
c. This instruction is profound. It really describes the significance of our thought life and ties that in with our future.
III. Way of living
A. Mindset
a. Truly our thought life affects the way that we live out our lives.
b. The bible says in Romans 8:5(NKJV) 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
c. The Holy Spirits voice is an active voice, it speaks to us in the present.
d. In order to walk in the Spirit, our minds must be set on that.
B. Living in Victory
a. When our thoughts are on the Lord, our faith will be alive and active, and we will experience a freedom in our lives.
b. We will be free from worry, we will be free sin, we will be motivated to pray and seek the Lord.
c. This freedom will give us a heart of gratitude. A heart that is thankful for even the most challenging situations that we have to face.
d. We can face these situation because God’s peace is inside our hearts and lives.
Closing:
As we close this morning, we recognize that the mind is a battlefield. In fact, the mind is one of the hardest areas of our lives to get under control and to keep it under control. Satan will attack you with lies and deceptions. That is why it is critical to guard ourselves against His lies. To think positively does not just happen, it has to be done intentionally. I close with this verse found in Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Let us start thinking the way God thinks. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy. Truly, when we bring up our thoughts we will experience God’s peace and joy in our lives. We all have a choice about what we set our mind on, this choice will drive our behavior and drive our lives. When we choose to be transformed our minds, we will be renewed through the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit in our lives!
