Thermostat or Thermometer

Or “Where your mind goes there goes your attitude”

 

Last week we talked about wheelbarrow faith the difference between believing in God and having faith in him. How that impacts all of our relationships.

This week we want to look at the helmet of salvation and how allowing Christ to change our minds can impact our relationships.

Ephesians 6:10-18

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

 

It is no accident that Paul encourages us to cover our minds with salvation. All of our relationships will be impacted by the way we think

The question we need to ask today is “How do I positively effect my relationships?”

I am not saying every relationship is poor but every relationship can be better

 

We do this by becoming a thermostat

Thermometers merely change with the temperature. If it is hot then the thermometer reflects and reports that heat if cold the thermometer does the same. It merely conforms to the temperature around it.

If everyone is bent out of shape and your are a thermometer then you too will get bent out of shape, if everyone is angry, fearful, jealous you go with that flow and conform to the same.

The thermostat does just the opposite it changes the environment rather than being changed by it. If it gets too hot the thermostat is set to regulate that heat and cool it down if too cool the thermostat turns on the heat. It is not conformed by its environment instead conforms its environment to be what it wants

 

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are to be transformers, not conformers. If we are merely thermometers we can take the temperature of the relationship but not do anything about it

 

– “How do we function as thermostats and not fall into the thermometer thinking?”

 We have to change our thinking, align our thoughts with Christ, the practical part of putting on the helmet of salvation

Think like Christ. Paul raises the bar with this

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.

That is not as easy as it sounds. Think about where you are getting all of your input and how that affects your output. Think about how much of your day you feel anxious, angry (without a real just cause), fearful, distraught, hurt, rejected

None of that conforms to a “Jesus” way of thinking. God challenges us to think higher in Isaiah 55:8,9

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

 

This is not saying we can’t be the thermostat we need to be, but that we must work higher in our thinking rather than getting upset with everyone else we focus on what is noble, just, lovely and the good report rather than the bad.

Every relationship we have we need to make the choice to keep our thinking Christ-like and help others to do the same. We must start by renewing and changing our minds, our way of thinking

Last question…”How do we change our thinking?” In other words how do I put on the helmet of salvation so my mind might be aligned with Christ?

In order to do this, we must understand something about our thinking

 

  • Behavior is based on belief

 

We purchase things based on belief we believe this is the better car, laundry detergent, or best price for the quality

 

We make decisions in our minds that something is better than another things

Our behavior regarding people is the same, we react to them based on what we believe about them

If we revisit the scripture I shared earlier we can see how this word can change our view of our relationships

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.

Until we have a standard to measure our opinions by, we can allow our flesh-oriented beliefs about people to rule us or choose to look at things through Jesus standard

Yes we must look at the truth of every situation which means we don’t simply white-wash problems but we deal with them with a pure heart, a noble and just attitude

 

Giving people the benefit of the doubt and above all choosing love above hatred, prejudice, wrath.

 

Choosing to believe in what is good versus what is evil….these political things are not going away…regardless of decisions made in congress or the Whitehouse, choose to believe your life is in God’s hands and allow him to bless

I know a number of our teachers are concerned about the choice for secretary of education but your career is not in their hands but God’s he is giving you an opportunity to not go with the world’s thinking but to find his “mind regarding your future

 

  • Change always begins in the mind

 

Our mind is the culmination of our thoughts and emotions it is more than our brain however with it we choose how we will feel and act and react

 

Remember Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

With my travels and decisions I have had to make, there have been many times I have had to bring my fears, anger, anxiety

From little things to big things (flying air pocket drop) choose to believe God was going to get me there everyone else panicking I was able to help keep people calm (I was able to be that witness)

How much do you believe your life, your future, your children are in God’s hands?…then why are you worried…keep your heart right and clean and you will always been in God’s hands thinking the way he thinks and able to be the thermostat

 

 

  • Only God’s word can change our minds

 

In order to change our beliefs we must change our minds and our change of beliefs will change our behavior but until we know that things need to change we will not change

The Word sets our standard of belief

Paul in talking about what Christ did for the church in Ephesians 5:26 says this

“that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,”

 

God’s word always in our hearts and minds, challenges us daily to change, to be reflective more of the image of God.

Last week I mentioned this scripture 2 Timothy 3:16,17

all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God’s word equips us to change, it makes us complete in the sense that its reflection challenges us to be better, to overcome, to not allow the jerks to get the best of us, to be the thermostat rather than the thermometer

And as we read it, it corrects, becomes our standard for our lives and our relationships and our standard to the way that we treat others.

Putting on the helmet of salvation requires change in minds and attitudes we must become the thermostat that helps regulate all the relationships around us. We must change our beliefs about others and our world by bringing our thinking into alignment with Christ