Taking Control Of Our Thoughts

by Domenico Fede
(Sydney Australia)

Philippians 4:8
8 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.

Colossians 3:2
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

2 Corinthians 10:5
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Context :
• Here we have the apostle writing in both passage
• One is what the Christian should think about
• The other if don’t think this way we must grab every thought captive
• In this book Paul writes to say thank you to Philippians
• For the gift of money that they sent through Epaphroditus
• And to encourage them in the faith
• Because Paul was in prison at the time in Roman
• Because of the gospel
• In prison it was not a very good life
• Where Paul was kept was a dark prison
• Under ground with little light
• If you had not support you
• It would be terrible

Introduction:
What I would like to talk about this morning is
1. To who is Paul talking to ?
2. Why did Paul Write this letter ? v2,3
3. What is Paul saying in this passage to the Christians
4. What does Paul want us to think about ?
i. Whatever is true (Things that are true)
ii. Whatsoever things are honest,
iii. Whatsoever things are just,
iv. Whatsoever things are pure,
v. Whatsoever things are lovely,
vi. Whatsoever things are of good report;
vii. If there be any virtue, (any thing is excellent)
viii. And if there be any praise,
5. Why does Paul write these words ?
6. How can we control train our minds ?

1. To who is Paul talking to?

a. To the Christians
b. Not to the world
c. To anyone who as excepted Jesus has Lord and savior
d. The Christian Must think on 8 things plus haven

Philippians 4:
8 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.

2. Why did Paul Write this letter ? v2,3

2 I plead with Euo-dia and I plead with Syn-ty-che to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

a. It appears there was two ladies
b. They had a broken Relationship together
c. And Paul was trying to fix it
d. And put it right so that the church could be united again
e. In the church sometimes
f. There are many problems working together
g. But We must learn to fix them very quickly
h. And Get on with the Lords work
i. We must not stay in a broken relationship for lonf
j. But fix it so that the devil does not take Advantage of things

3. What is Paul saying in this passage to the Christians

a. Don’t set your mind on the evil things
b. But set your mind on these 8 things plus heaven
c. The Word “Think” What does the Greek say
logizomai // log-id'-zom-ahee //
i. decide – I’m going think this way
ii. to determine
iii. meditate on -
iv. calculate
v. to reckon inward (Think inside your self)
vi. reflect
vii. study these things
viii. entertain the idea of
ix. chew over
x. imagine
xi. I’m only going think this way
xii. I Will not change my mind
xiii. My Going set my mind to thease 8 things plus heaven

4. What does Paul want us to think about ?

i. Whatever is true (Things that are true)
a. The Bible is true
b. God is true
c. Jesus is true
d. The Holy Sprit is true
e. Angels are true
f. Gods promises are true
g. Forgiveness is true
h. Heaven is true
i. Eternal Life is true
j. The world will end is true
k. God never Changes is true
l. God will never leave us is true
m. Jesus will return is true
n. In this world you will have many tribulations is true
o. Gods love is true
p. Gods mercy is true
q. Gods peace is true
r. We must true
s. We must encourage others to be true
t. We must speak the truth
u. We must not be in a lie
v. We must not tell lies
w. We must not think of telling a lie
x. To be in the truth even though it hurts us
y. Do you know many Christians tell lies ?
ii. Whatsoever things are honest,
a. God is honest
b. Jesus is Honest
c. The Holy Spirit is honest
d. We must think in an honest ways
e. We must deal in honest ways
f. We must be honest in everything we do
g. We must deal with honest things and honest people
h. We must not compromise
i. We must know what is dishonest
j. Keep away from anything that is not honest
k. And we must encourage others to do the same

iii. Whatsoever things are just,
a. We must deal in justice
b. There is so much injustice in this world
c. Praise God that God is Just
d. We must promote Justice
e. If we see anything unjust we must bring it to Justice
f. If we see anything unjust we must put it right
g. Like Fred Nile A great politician
h. He sets the government straight
i. If God is Just
j. We must be just in Action
k. We must be Just In thought
l. We must be just in everything we do
m. Like our Lord Jesus was in everything

iv. Whatsoever things are pure,
a. What is pure ?
b. Being clean
c. Not dirty with Sin
d. Being Holy
e. Separated from the world
f. Are you clean in the mind
g. Are you clean in your thinking
h. Are you clean like the bible says
i. Are you clean in your actions
j. Are you clean in your words
k. Are you clean from your sins
l. Are you clean from committing sins ?
m. If not ask forgiveness
n. And abandon the Sin
o. And become clean

v. Whatsoever things are lovely,
a. Think How much God is lovely
b. How Jesus is lovely
c. How much the Holy Spirit is Lovely
d. What are we doing we saying things of God is lovely
e. We praising God
f. Like David he wrote in the Psalms
g. He Wrote How lovely is the your dwelling place
vi. Whatsoever things are of good report;
a. Do you have good report with people
b. How is your name is it dirty when they mention your surname ?
c. Deal with people with Good reputation
d.
vii. If there be any virtue, (any thing is excellent)
a. Think on what is excellent
b. very good
c. high quality
d. highest standard
e. wonderful
f. perfect
g. first-class
h. worthy
i. exceptional
viii. And if there be any praise,
a. Anything give God the Glory
 
5. Why does Paul write these words ?

a. Like I said before about 2 sister having a quarrel
b. But its more that that

6. Paul knew that humans did not think of 8 things plus heaven

a. A lot of people think of Evil thoughts straight away
b. Sometime Bad things can be good for us
c. But we always think that bad is bad
d. I love that verse in the bible that says

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

7. Paul Wrote these words because He wants to train our minds

a. In heavenly things
b. Its not natural for man think of Good things because of Sin
c. What every we go through
d. We must trust God and live in Gods standards
e. Paul wrote these things so that we don’t think of evil all the time

8. There are good things that happen too

9. Look at Paul’s Example

a. He was in a prison cell
b. Dark
c. Smelly
d. Noisy
e. Evil
f. Bad
g. Diseased
h. But Paul still wrote these words to people
i. And wrote many books of the New Testament
j. To think of Heavenly things
k. Don’t you find it amazing
l. Paul was in bad
m. And Wrote thinking of good things

10. Man has problem with his thinking

a. The Devil Attack always in our thinking
b. And depresses us
c. When evil thoughts come
d. What must we do think of Good things
 
11. How can we control train our minds ?

2 Corinthians 10:5
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

1. Make a choice and say no to the thought
2. Watch every thought that enters into our mind
3. We can do it because Paul says
4. Take every thought captive
5. And Submit it in prayer to God
6. Resist the Devil and he will flee

Conclusion:
What can we learn from this passage?

1. What happens to us
2. We need to control the mind
3. And think on heavenly things
4. Because it serve to encourage in the Christian walk