acts 21aa biblical thinking brings joy
TRANSCRIPT
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The Apostle Paul and his
company are almost back to
Jerusalem, and have
stopped in Caesarea,
Where they stayed in the
home of Philip, one of the
seven set aside in the early
church as deacons.
October 17, 2012
Review
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Philip had traveled as an evangelist, but settled in
Caesarea, married, and raised a family.
Four of his daughters never married and were prophets.
We talked last time about how God had blessed
Philip and his family because he was settled in the
Ways of God.
Review
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Proverbs 4 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out
of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a
froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids
look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy
feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to
the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from
evil.Heart = feelings, will, and intellect
NIV says "wellspring of life".
Review
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In other words, the kind of life we have flows out
of the condition of our heart, which is revealed by
Our mouths, our eyes, our behavior.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue.Proverbs 18:21
Let us look straight ahead on the Path of God for
our lives, guarding our mouths and walking
carefully in the steps God has ordered.
Review
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So, the heart includes the mind (thoughts and
intellect), the feelings, and the will of a man.
I want to dig into the Biblical way of thinking.
Philippians 4 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things
are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these
things. Don't let your mind dwell on anything else.
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Think on (or let you mind dwell on) things that are
true -- as in not hiding from the truth.
First, we need to admit to ourselves and
confess to God our failures.
Then we need to meditate on what God says
about us in His Word, The Bible.
Romans 4 5 But to him that worketh not, but
believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his
faith is counted for righteousness.
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Think on things that are honest (honorable).
Things worthy of respect.
Don't let your mind dwell on the trashy things of
this world; meditate on the good things of God.
As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Proverbs 23:7
Matthew 12 34 … out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaketh.
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Think on things that are just (fair and right).
Human tendency is to obsess on things unfair.
"The umpires cheated the Braves out of that game."
"The coach didn't let my son play; he let his own
son play and kept my boy on the bench."
"My wife doesn't work as hard as I do."
Life in this world is unfair, but God is just.
Think on God and His Way.
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Think on things that are pure (clean, innocent).
We must not fill our minds with filthy
thoughts and images.
Think on how much you love your family.
List their good traits.
Count your blessings; name them one by one.
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Think on things that are lovely (friendly towards).
If we keep our minds filled with pleasant thoughts,
our heart will be glad.
Thoughts of fear, worry, anger, malice, or hatred
make our hearts sad; steal our joy and peace.
Thoughts of excellence, success, can do thoughts
will help us to be those things.
Don't obsess on the problem;
find and work the solution.
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Think on things that are of good report.
A good report is a confession of trust in God.
When Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan:
Ten of them brought back an evil report.
There are giants in the land, and we
are like grasshoppers in their sight.
Numbers 13 30 And Caleb stilled the people before
Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess
it; for we are well able to overcome it.
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Think on things that are virtuous (striving for
excellence)
Philippians 4 13 I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me.
I can be what God wants me to be.
I can do what God wants me to do.
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Think on things that are praiseworthy.
If we can sincerely give God thanks for a thing, or
a situation, or a person, or how a person did us,
It is worthy of our thoughts.
Give God the praise!
All else should be cast from our minds.
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