Sermon Notes for November 8, 2009

Sermon Series On The Book Of Philippians “The Necessity Of Thinking Like A Christian” Philippians 4:8

Introduction A. THE PLACE OF THE MIND. 1. Psychologists tells us that each person has about 10,000 thoughts a day. 2. Our brains are able to store more information than in the 17 million volumes in the Library of Congress. (Not bad for an organ that weighs about 3 pounds.) 3. The mind’s activity has been compared to 1000 switchboards, each big enough to serve New York City, all running at full speed, as they receive and send questions and orders. To put it another way, there is more electronic equipment in one human brain than in all the radio and television stations of the entire world put together! 4. There is no computer that has even been invented that can rival the ability of the human brain. B. THE PLACE OF THE MIND IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN. 1. If God has created our brains to handle so much information, WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US ABOUT OUR MINDS? 2. The mind determines: a. who we are b. what we do c. what is important to our lives 3. Notice these verses which speak of our minds: a. Proverbs 23:7 – (ASV) “For as he thinketh within himself, so is he.” 1. In other words, the way that a person THINKS DETERMINES WHOM THAT PERSON TRULY IS. 2. The Word of God is saying that what we put into our brains can determine the person that we become! b. Mark 12:30 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” 1. Please notice that Jesus “added” the word “mind” to the Jewish Shema. (In Deuteronomy 6:4-7) “heart, soul and strength”) 2. Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Philosopher/Theologian “Here is a change worth a gasp. What if a four-year-old prayed outright: ‘Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my brain to keep’? You would notice.” But that is what our Lord wants and demands. He wants to keep our minds.

4. We will see today how Christians should think. a. after all, Christians SHOULD have a different mind, a different perspective, b. because we, as believers, have been given God’s Holy Spirit and God’s Holy Word. How can we “think” any other way? c. so let us look at how we, as believers, are to think. I. The CALL To Biblical Thinking A. The CONTENT Of The Christian’s Thinking. 1. Christians are to think about “whatever is true” a. Christians are to commit to WHATEVER IS TRUE 1. As opposed to whatever is NOT TRUE! 2. Now, we have to ask ourselves, WHAT IS TRUE? a. what do you base your life on? 1. The Newspaper? 2. Time Magazine? 3. Whatever you’re Mom and Dad taught you? 4. What you have learned in life? b. AS CHRISTIANS WE MUST DECIDE WHAT WE

BELIEVE IS TRUE! b. to a Christian, these “things” are ultimately the basis for our truth. 1. The truth of the Word of God a. that we believe what we believe about God and His Son, Jesus, from the Word of God b. that it is not just a “story book”, but that it is God’s absolute truth, written by Him 2. The truth of God a. that there is a God b. that He created this world and this universe c. that He made the rules and is able to judge if we have followed those rules 3. The truth of Jesus Christ. a. that, because man did not obey God’s rules, God sent his son, Jesus, to pay for man’s disobedience to these rules b. and that, according to God’s rules, whoever trusts in Jesus’ death for him will be saved.

4. The truth of life a. that we are to live our lives BASED on this Word

from God b. that we are not to base our lives on: 1. What our culture has taught us. 2. or a philosophy class that we took in college 3. or even what our “well-meaning” parents taught us 3

c. Larry Crabb: Old tape and New tape 1. our old tape - everything that I have learned in life (whether it is true or not) 2. a new tape – truth based on the Word of God alone 3. Illustrations: What is ultimately true? a. a young boy, whose father played in the NFL, did not make the football team. Is the boy a failure? b. a person is successful if they have made a lot of money c. when you, as a Christian, have sinned miserably; can God use you again? d. we are to be like the Bereans Acts 17:11 – “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” 2. Christians are to think about “whatever is noble.” a. that which is honorable; integrity b. THE CHRISTIAN IS TO THINK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NOBLE 1. How can a Christian read the Bible and not think of the “noble” things of Scripture? a. a sovereign God who created the world BY His Word b. a gracious God who loved His people DESPITE their sins c. a God who sent His Son to this earth to save sinners, so THAT THEY WOULD NOT GO TO HELL! 2. THIS BOOK IS A NOBLE BOOK, TEACHING US ABOUT NOBLE PEOPLE AND NOBLE TRUTH! 3. how can a Christian, who has this noble book, spend his time talking about . . . a. What Paris Hilton is doing? b. obsessing over the color of your drapes in the living room. . . c. and what the Tennessee football team did at practice today? 4. all of us seem to spend too much time thinking and talking about things that are “ignoble” a. about things that are insignificant 1. there is nothing wrong with talking about the things in our life 4

2. but there is something VERY WRONG to talk “more” about the “ignoble” things of life than the “noble things” of God b. Paul calls for us to spend more time in God’s “noble” Word so that we will become overwhelmed with the nobility of God 3. Christians are to think about “whatever is right.” a. the word is righteous; right; just b. ultimately, what this means is that Christians should be consumed about what is “right” 1. BECAUSE we have the Word of God, we know what is “right” a. we know what is “right” about salvation 1. that there is a heaven and a hell and that there will be a judgment day 2. and that a person cannot work their way to heaven b. we know what is “right” about marriage 1. that God has called a man and a woman to be married, not two people of the same sex 2. that God has called both spouses to faithfulness c. we know what is “right” about the life of a child 1. that it is not only “wrong” to abort a child 2. it is murder 2. BECAUSE Christians know the truth, we know what is “just” a. Christians know what is right and what is wrong b. you can’t help but want those who committed the atrocities to the Jews in World War II, to be punished. c. that is why you look at the recent court case involving the death of the two college students @ UT and want justice to be done 4. Christians are to think about “whatever is pure.” a. holy, moral, free from carnality b. this word pure refers to all that God thinks as pure 1. holy thinking 2. pure minds c. it most certainly refers to not thinking about things that are not pure 1. since the days of the Roman Empire, we may live in one of the most “impure” times in all of history – we can’t seem to get away from the impure a. television 1. In 1952, on the TV show, “I Love Lucy,” Lucy became pregnant, but the network would not allow the word pregnant to be used 2. In 1961, on the “Dick Van Dyke Show”, the married couple, Rob and Laura Petrie, slept in twin beds, separated by a night stand 3. In 1965, in the TV show, “I Dream of Jeanie,” Barbara Eden’s belly button could not be seen on 5

camera 4. today, during the prime time between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m., viewers will see a sexual act or reference every 4 minutes 5. 94% of all sexual encounters on soap operas are between people who are not married to one another b. movies 1. G, PG, PG-13, R, X, NC-17 2. I am always amazed at how some Christians do not even think about the rating of a movie before

they go to see it c. Internet 1. There are some 4.2 million pornographic websites; a 12% of all sites on the web. 2. 90% of all 9-16 year olds have viewed pornography online. 3. 53% of all Promise Keeper men have viewed pornography in the last week. 4. Do you have blocking devices on your computer? 2. Paul calls us to have “pure” minds d. now, WHY must we be concerned about what we watch, whether it is on TV, movies or the Internet? 1. first of all, God makes very, very clear that lust is a sin – not just the act of unmarried sexual relationships, but lust itself 2. and second, impurity will “kill your spiritual soul” a. Hebrews 12:14 – “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” b. Romans 8:5 – “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” 3. there is some real truth in the acronym GIGO a. “Garbage in, garbage out” b. WE ARE AFFECTED BY WHAT WE PUT INTO OUR MINDS! c. there is nothing that will “kill your spiritual energy and vitality” more than living in impurity d. John MacArthur shared this story: Kids will say to me sometimes at camp, “John, I am confused. I want to live for the Lord, but I can’t seem to do it. I have all these evil thoughts in my mind. I can’t get rid of these things. I’d like to get out of the gutter once in a while. I just don’t know what to do about it.” I say, “Well, tell 6

me something, what do you read.” “Well, I don’t know…” They always get these silly looks on their face. “Well, what do you do in your spare time?” “Well, I go to the movie.” What do you look at?” “Well, I don’t wannna say….” “Well, what do you expect?” If you put garbage in, you’re gonna pump garbage out. Put the Word of God in and you’re going to find that you begin to live the Word. Saturate yourself with the Word of God. 5. Christians are to think about “whatever is lovely.” a. beautiful, attractive, winsome b. Christians are to look at, enjoy, be blessed with all that is beautiful c. Let me make an editorial comment, here: 1. in the case of what “lovely” is, I believe that this could mean EVERYTHING that is “lovely” in this life, whether spiritual or physical. 2. I am not the only one who thinks like this – Kent Hughes – “Lovely includes not only what is morally lovely but what is esthetically lovely, all that is beautiful in creation and in human lives – from a sunset to a symphony to caring for the poor and powerless – all things beautiful a. Norman Rockwell painting b. a child playing with his toys c. a beautiful sunset d. our trips to Hawaii – Waimea Canyon slide 3. but notice, these things are lovely because God made them lovely by His creation, as well did God enable someone to express His “loveliness” by granting them enormous talents a. we praise God when we praise those things that are lovely b. because we serve a “lovely God” 6. Christians are to think about “whatever is admirable.” a. these are things that are “worth talking about” b. much of what Paul is saying here is dealing with whether you are a “positive” or a “negative” person 1. Are you a “half-glass full” person or a “half glass empty” person? 2. Paul is talking about being a person with a “critical attitude” a. let me ask you a question, WHY ARE SOME CHRISTIANS SO CRITICAL? 1. I can understand why the non-believer is so critical 2. however, I cannot understand why the believer can be critical! a. something is very, very wrong with someone who is truly born again but, who is negative all the time b. that is not “spiritually healthy” b. please, let me speak to those who are negative people 7

1. ask your family and friends if you are a negative

person – you probably do not think that you are 2. but, if you are . . . GET SOME HELP! a. you are difficult to be around b. and you are misrepresenting the grace of God! B. The COMPLETENESS Of The Christian’s Thinking. 1. “if anything is excellent” a. Paul is attempting to make a general statement here after he listed all of the positive mental traits, as if he is attempting to raise us to “one more level.”. 1. raise your mind to one of excellence: a. do not be a person who dwells in the immoral of the ungodly b. a Christian’s mind should be one of holiness, morality and virtue c. focus your mind on the “things of God” 2. raise your life to one of excellence a. if we are to think thoughts that are moral and excellent, we are to live lives of excellence b. a person who spends time in God’s Word should “be raised” to another level than those who do not read God’s Word. b. a person who does not strive to be excellent in all that he thinks and does is not aware of the excellence of our God. 1. look at God’s creation, the “excellence” of His creation a. the perfection of the solar system, the sun, the stars and the moon b. the excellence of creation: 1. the trees 2. the mountains 3. the fish 4. the birds 5. man himself 2. GOD IS A GOD OF EXCELLENCE! a. and as He has blessed us with His excellence b. we should bless others with the best that we have c. for that is what God “deserves” d. examples: 1. Jane’s dad, as a contractor 2. Tim Tebow, as a football player 3. others will be drawn to Jesus Christ because of how “well” you live your life 4. Bruce Larson tells a story: When I was a small boy, I attended church every Sunday at a big Gothic Presbyterian bastion in Chicago. The preaching was powerful and the music was great. But for me, the most awesome moment in the morning service was the offertory, when twelve solemn, frock-coated ushers marched in lock- 8

step down the main aisle to receive the brass plates for collecting the offering. These men, so serious about their business of serving the Lord in this magnificent house of worship, were the business and professional leaders of Chicago. One of the twelve ushers was a man named Frank Loesch. He was not a very imposing looking man, but in Chicago he was a living legend, for he was the man who had stood up to Al Capone. In the prohibition years, Capone’s rule was absolute. The local and state police and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation were afraid to oppose him. But single-handedly, Frank Loesch, as a Christian layman, and without any government support, organized the Chicago Crime Commission, a group of citizens who were determined to take Mr. Capone to court and put him away. During the months that the Crime Commission met, Frank Loesch’s life was in constant danger. There were threats on the lives of his family and friends. But he never wavered. Ultimately he won the case against Capone and was the instrument for removing this blight from the city of Chicago. Frank Loesch had risked his life to live out his faith. Each Sunday at this point of the service, my father, a Chicago businessman himself, never failed to poke me and silently point to Frank Loesch with pride. Sometimes I’d catch a tear in my father’s eye. For my dad and for all of us this was and is what authentic living is all about. 2. “If anything is praise worthy” a. look for and live for those things that are worthy of praise. 1.Our Sovereign God called us unto Himself 2.He sent Jesus to save us from our sin 3.He gave us the blessed Holy Spirit 4.He gave us the clear teaching of the Word of God 5.He gave us the body of Christ 6.He will take us to heaven where we will live forever! b.who is worthy of praise? 1. God is worthy of praise 2. those who serve you are worthy of praise 3. your children who obey you are worthy of praise 4. missionaries who faithfully serve overseas are worthy of praise 5. a beautiful sunset is worthy of praise. 9

c. Paul is calling Christians to rise above: 1. the negative; the poor; the broken 2. and see the work of God all around you 3. CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TO BE PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN, BUT PEOPLE WHO PRAISE! 4. Why do we praise – a. because we serve a God who is worthy of praise b. and He has given us a world to live in that reflects His glory. c. May the world be attracted to us because we live a praise-filled life.

II. The COMMITMENT To Biblical Thinking. A. Thinking Biblically Is NOT TO BE ASSUMED. 1. WE MUST NOT THINK THAT, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE CHRISTIANS, THAT WE WILL THINK BIBLICALLY. a. that, at conversion, all of the truths of the faith; all of the truths of the Word of God, will be “poured into our minds” b. what happenS at our conversion is simply this: 1. because Jesus is in our lives, we now “want” to learn more about God’s Word – notice, “want” to learn more 2. it does not mean that we know it, yet 2. When you “assume” that, just because you are a Christian, you will “think Christianly,” you will be sadly disappointed. a. left to your own devices, you will “think like you have always thought” b. you will continue to think like the world c. there must be more in your life than your salvation to think Biblically B. Thinking Biblically MUST BE ATTAINED. Vs. 8 – “Finally, brothers, 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.” 1. The word defined a. logizomai – from where we get the logarithm b. to evaluate, consider, calculate c. it means TO THINK: 1. It is as if Paul is saying that the believer is to THINK A GREAT DEAL about what he has said in this text. a. to think about truth b. to think nobly c. to think about what is right d. to think about what is pure e. to think about what is lovely f. to think about what is admirable 2. it will take a great deal of time to understand all that Paul wanted them to think about. a. just like it takes time to understand a complex math problem b. or to understand accounting 10

2. The word applied a. yes, Paul is calling the Christian to “think Biblically” b. but . . . the believer will never think Biblically until he or she spends time in God’s Word to “cause” them to think Biblically 1. yes, God has given us the “desire” to read God’s Word 2. BUT . . . WE MUST READ IT IF WE EVER ARE GOING TO THINK BIBLICALLY! a. II Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” b. Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” c. Ephesians 4:22-24 – “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Conclusion: 1. Proverbs 23:7 – (ASV) “As a man thinketh within himself, so is he.” a. we can become the spiritual people we were meant to be by being careful about what we put into our minds b. so, let me ask you, WHAT ARE YOU PUTTING INTO YOUR MIND? 1. It is actually quite simple; what goes in, WILL COME OUT 2.We are actually a lot like a computer a.software b.we determine WHAT GOES IN “our computer” c.GIGO

2. Here is Paul’s solution to Biblical thinking as seen in 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. 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.” 11

3. Chuck Swindoll tells a story – “Standing ankle deep in snow, I copied the following inscription from the main wall near the old iron gate that leads to the campus of Harvard University: After God had carried us safe to New England and had built our houses, provided necessaries for our livelihood, reared convenient places for God’s worship and settled the civil government, one of the next things we longed for and looked after was to advance learning and perpetuate it to posterity, dreading to leave an illiterate ministry to the churches when our present ministers lie in the dust. No, you didn’t make a mistake in your reading. The oldest institution of higher learning in our nation, founded just sixteen years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, was established for the stated purpose of perpetuating an educated, well-trained body of godly men who would proclaim God’s Word with intelligence, conviction, and authority. a. what happened to this once great institution that had been created to prepare man for the gospel ministry? b. this institution that has become one of the most liberal and anti-biblical institutions on this earth c. how did it come to this…they stopped reading the Bible.