Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
I’m not sure how many of you have noticed this, but we live in a world that is constantly striving to obscure those things that are positive and good, and draw our attention primarily toward the negative things of this life. For instance, the news cycle thrives on pushing fear and uncertainty—this has been especially true for the last 5 to 10 years. Social media routinely spreads, amplifies and exaggerates perceived injustices, complaints and criticisms. Even in our personal lives, many of us find ourselves dwelling way too much on what’s missing, what’s broken, and what’s painful.
But did you know the Bible tells us that we should see our lives from the opposite perspective—not meaning that we should live in denial of the difficult things of life, but that we shouldn't make it a habit to dwell on them. Again, Paul says, “Think about such things that are: excellent, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, those things that are praiseworthy. And why does he suggest we dwell upon these things? Because what we allow our minds to focus on can actually shape who we become. Let me say that again because most people seem to forget this very important truth; what we consistently allow our minds to focus on can actually shape the person we become.
I think we can all agree that before the fall, Adam and Eve had it made. They were perfect people in perfect health living in a perfect environment. There was no corruption, no pain, no sorrow and certainly no death.. Until one day the deceiver distracted Eve from the absolute perfection that was her life.
He subtly convinced her to forget about the truth of God's word, overlook His infinite love, to dismiss the innumerable blessings He had given her, and he did this by shifting her focus to the one thing God specifically withheld from them. And because she entertained these thoughts, focused on what the tempter presented as something negative, she was quickly transformed from a perfect creature living in a perfect world to a broken and dying sinner living in a broken and dying world..
In Proverbs 4:23, God through His servant Solomon says “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life...”
Solomon isn’t suggesting that we wear a bullet proof vest all the time in order to protect our literal hearts that pump blood throughout our bodies, he’s talking about guarding our minds—he's talking about diligently keeping our minds clear of thoughts that could endanger us physically, emotionally and spiritually. And merely keeping those harmful thoughts at bay is not enough, we also need to be filling our minds with uplifting, encouraging and edifying thoughts—thoughts that will build us up rather than tear us down. Because, like I said earlier, what we dwell on—what we continually think about can quickly and dramatically change who we are and what we do…
I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s. And it was during that time that David Berkowitz was frequently in the news. If that name sounds familiar, it should; he was notoriously known as the "Son of Sam" A serial killer who was responsible for a series of shootings in New York City during the 1970s that left six people dead and many others injured.
Before he became a serial killer, David was just a boy—born to a troubled home and adopted by a Jewish family in the Bronx. But unfortunately, his adoptive mother died when he was young, and that loss deeply affected him.
From early on, Berkowitz was consumed by feelings of rejection, abandonment, and resentment……
Instead of seeking help and healing, or choosing to focus on the positive relationships and opportunities in his life, he became increasingly obsessed with his negative thoughts. He dwelled on how unfair life had been to him, how misunderstood he was, and how others seemed to have the happiness he was denied. These dark thoughts festered and grew like a cancer in his mind, feeding despondency and delusions, and eventually opening the door to violent thoughts, followed by violent actions...
He later claimed that he heard voices telling him to kill—in fact, he said these voices came from his neighbor’s demon possessed dog. Whether delusional or not, one thing is clear: Berkowitz had let his thoughts become dominated by darkness and negativity. And that mindset transformed him from a disadvantaged, hurting young man into a dangerous predator.
Now you may be thinking, Dwight, are you telling me that if I allow my mind to dwell on the negative or painful things in my life, that I may actually become a serial killer? I'm not saying that, although it is possible…What I am saying is that the state of our minds—not our circumstances will determine our ultimate destiny. And that our minds are either strengthened or weakened by what we allow to occupy them…
After his arrest and imprisonment, David Berkowitz experienced a profound transformation. He eventually gave his life to Christ and became a born-again Christian. In numerous interviews and letters, he has expressed deep remorse for his crimes and often warns others about the danger of focusing on bitterness, anger, and self-pity.
Listen to what he said in an interview from prison. He said, “I got off track because I was full of hate and anger... My life was centered on me—my hurts, my loneliness, my failures.”
Now, we may not be as far off track as David Berkowitz, but many of us do go through life with a very skewed view of things……
What I mean is that God has blessed each one of us in so many incredible ways—and yet we tend to give much more weight, time and thought to the things in life that seem to be missing, painful or discouraging. But we should be focusing on Jesus Christ and what He has done for us—instead of murmuring and complaining , we should be praising Him for all the ways He is working in our lives.
Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes of Jesus, the Author and perfector of our faith...”
[ Summarize the story of Peter's experience of walking on the water. Point out that he started sinking after he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the waves ... ]
The wrong point of focus can get us in big trouble..
Are you afraid of heights? People who suffer from this phobia are always advised “not to look down” when they find themselves in a position where they have to be high up. Some people are especially afraid because they say that when they get near the edge of a cliff or some high vantage point and look down, it feels as though they are being drawn toward it by some strong invisible force.
When we focus on fears, problems or evil in the world, we too are “drawn toward those things…”
Neuropsychologist Rick Hanson developed a psychological technique he calls “installation.” This technique involves what he describes as “savoring” positive experiences—pausing 5–10 seconds to intensify those good moments in life so that they are embedded into our memory. He says it’s very helpful because our brains instinctively register negative experiences more easily (negativity bias), this intentional savoring helps rewire the brain toward positivity, building resilience and peace.” (New York Post 12/17/24)
“Count your blessings!” How about consistently thanking God for our blessings. This doesn’t merely need to be something we do occasionally, it should be a way of life.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Again, what we choose to occupy our minds with, does shape who we become...
Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
We started our message today with Philippians 4:8,9. Now I want us to read the four verses Paul wrote immediately before he told us to think about things that are excellent and praiseworthy..
I want to remind you when Paul penned these words, he was in prison in Rome—not knowing his fate. Ever since his conversion to Christianity he had been persecuted and even tortured by men who were once his colleagues. He had chosen Christ over all the advantages and privileges he once had and he suffered greatly as a direct result of that decision. And yet, let’s read what Paul says:
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul goes on to say in verse 12 and 13 ”I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
One of the charter members of the Philippian church that received this letter was likely the Philippian jailer and his household. A few years earlier he had charge of Paul and Silas when they were beaten and imprisoned.. [summarize Paul and Silas’ experience recorded in Acts 16 focusing on how their attitude was of praise and even joy—even in the midst of such a dire set of circumstances. They didn’t allow their minds to be filled with negative thoughts—by faith they kept their eyes on Jesus and trusted His promises! At midnight, as they prayed and sang hymns to God, an earthquake opened all the prison cell door and loosed the chains of all the prisoners. Do you suppose that mighty act of God would have happened had they been full of self pity and bitterness rather than praise?? And even if God had not sent that earthquake in response to their praise, their joy and thanksgiving were genuine expressions of what was in their hearts. And that is a far better existence than the alternative mindset.
Illustration: We have two dogs, Bo and Izzy. Both have their own personalities and challenges that go along with them. Bo has a very expressive face and can be quite moody. He has developed a serious fear of thunderstorms, gunshots, power tools, and other loud noises. You can actually see the fear and dread in his eyes and body language. And sometimes, for no apparent reason, he just seems very sad.
One evening while I was cooking supper, he was in such a mood. I had just put his food down, but after half-heartedly sniffing it, he walked past and took his usual spot in the kitchen doorway, watching me prepare our meal. I decided to try something. I picked up his bowl of dry kibble and set it on the bar. His expression didn’t change. Then I grabbed the salt and pepper grinders and pretended to season his food. Instantly, his eyes brightened, and his ears perked up. I opened the spice cabinet and pretended to add other ingredients. Bo stood up, tail wagging and whining in anticipation of this gourmet meal! Finally, I set the same bowl of plain kibble—unchanged except for my little performance—back on the floor. He ate with his tail wagging the whole time, as if it were the best meal he’d ever had.
It was delicious to him—but why? Because he saw his master preparing his meal personally and with great care. He trusted it was going to be good. And so it was.
Sometimes our circumstances—or even life in general—can be difficult and hard to swallow, much like Bo’s plain kibble. But if, through the eyes of faith, we see and trust that God is personally working—even in our most trying experiences—it can change our entire outlook. Life itself may actually taste sweeter than we could have ever imagined.
Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
And Jeremiah 29:11 assures us: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
[Close with a few words about how this positive and faithful outlook can not only improve our quality of life but also be a witness to others who are being oppressed by their own circumstances and lead them to Christ who is the Author and Perfector of our faith.]
