What’s on your mind?
A sermon by Pastor Art Bradley
Do we ever think about what we think about? This is an IMPORTANT question!
Why do we think the way that we do? What was/is the circle of influence in our lives that is shaping how we think – family, friends, culture, church, education … how about entertainment?
Why do we think that the way we think is normal?
What is the standard that we use to gauge it?
Why is this so important?
The way we think will shape our behavior, and … our behavior will determine our future!
Biblical Christianity is not merely what we say we believe, but rather how that belief impacts our lives!
How should I think?
Old Testament example: bronze altar to laver
Ephesians 5:26
to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
God’s word will not only reveal our imperfections and our misconceptions, but also has the intrinsic ability to cleanse and correct them!
READ THE WORD;
IT WILL CLEANSE YOUR MIND!!!!!
Ephesians 4:22-23
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;
He wants you to change your mind.
About what? About almost everything.
Romans 8:5-7
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be.
God’s desire is to take us from what we have legally to what we have experientially… now that you have been declared to be holy, He wants you to become holy; now that you have been declared to be righteous, He wants you to become righteous!
How do we do that? By learning to think the way that He tells us to think!
In Ephesians 6 we are instructed to put on the whole armor of God. One of those pieces of armor is the helmet of our salvation. Determining what we allow our mind to dwell on is what it means to put on the helmet.
How do we do that?
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
This is an ongoing journey. It doesn’t matter where you are on your journey as much as it matters where you are headed.