Stinking Thinking

“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.”