Text: Romans 12:2
Theme: Renewing the mind
Thesis: Do we become what we think about?
Title: Are you guilty of Stinkin’ Thinkin’?
Someone once asked Dr. Albert Schweitzer, “What’s wrong with men today?” After a brief pause he said, ”The trouble with men today is that they simply don’t think.”
“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” Henry Ford
“Few people think more than 2 or 3 times a year. I have made an international reputation by thinking once or twice a week.” George Bernard Shaw
Ever ask someone why they just did something? Especially with consequences?
“I wasn’t thinking.”
“I didn’t think about that.”
“I don’t know.”
We live and go about most of our life without really thinking.
We do this to the point that we tend to do - what is expected of us
what others do
what is commonplace
what is ordinary
what is convenient
and we do this even to the point of conformity.
Paul had something to say about that!
Romans 12:2 READ
PRAY
Transformed, not conformed!
What is “the pattern of this world”? Go to Colossians 2:8 we get a hint
“hollow and deceptive philosophy” You say NOT ME!
“depends on human tradition” This is the source!!
Illus. Cutting the ends of the ham off.
I have recently made a study of how people think and the ramifications of their thoughts. And I am convinced that most of us suffer from STINNKIN’ THINKIN’.
What are some examples?
Minding your own business
They don’t want to be bothered
Nobody cares
You’re just lucky
Nothing I can do about it
Just the way I am
Can’t fight city hall
Que sera sera
Simply stated, the basic principle of this world is: “Leave me alone!”
“Leave me alone “ is comfortable. Because you would have to leave others alone and you adopt the philosophy of “leave well enough alone!”
That’s isolationism and that is not biblical!
So you can see how your stinkin’ thinkin’ leads to a pattern of this world.
Paul speaks of the mind as the place where the battle is fought. Rom 7:23
Even God, when he decides to let sin run it’s course, turns men over to their own minds. Rom 1:28
Is the mind important? YES Should we think? We better!
I am convinced that we become what we think about. Your Christian walk and your relationship to God are directly linked by what you think.
Someone said, “A man is what he thinks all day long.”
Effects of stinkin’ thinkin’:
It breeds negativity. Never commanded to be negative in God’s Word.
Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. All things work for the good of those who love Him.
Keeps you where you’re at. We are to grow in Christ-likeness.
Keeps you from liking yourself. God knit you in your mother’s womb.
Keeps you from experiencing God. “My sheep know my voice.”
Keeps you from witnessing. God doesn’t give the spirit of fear, …
Keeps you from being involved. We are all members of one body.
Keeps you from change (maintaining the status quo). Be transformed…
Stifles a Living God. He chooses to work through people! The church!
God is revealed and known to us by what He does.
What He does proves Who He is.
The world needs to see Who He is by what He does and He chooses to do that through us.
THEREFORE, we must not be OF the world, but we must certainly be involved with it. Not carried away by its philosophy of stinkin’ thinkin’, but as Ambassadors of Godly Thinkers who influence those around us with our culture – our Heavenly culture!
WHY? The rest of Rom 12:2 “So that we can attest and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We were never put on this earth to leave people alone.
Just the opposite.
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples…
Stinkin’ thinkin’ affects us in all areas of our lives:
Social – “fall into sin” change your friends (R. Anderson)
Physical – sickly drinking pure water or flouride, chlorine, & ammonia
Professional – underachiever Leaders are readers!
Mental – negativity Think on these things ….
What’s holding you back? Could it be stinkin’ thinkin’?
Let’s irradicate stinkin’ thinkin’ from our thoughts and be in tune to the All Wise God, as Paul calls Him.
HOW? Go back to Colossians 2:6&7
Illus. Sequoias “rooted”
Are you rooted in the faith? Are you in the Word? Are you getting to know Him better?
Illus. Mounties and counterfeit bills
You’ll recognize stinkin’ thinkin’ when you allow God to transform your mind.
He’s a tranformer, not a conformer. How about you?
