THE INFLUENCE AND POWER OF THOUGHT

PHILIPPIANS 4:8

A. "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 BY ANY PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS"
  1. This timely suggestion by the apostle indicates:
    1. That Paul knew the power of human thought
    2. That "as he thinketh in his heart so is he" - Prov. 23:7
  2. To give safe guidance to our thoughts, Paul gives the wonderful admonition of our text:
    1. Sterling honesty
    2. Impartial justice
    3. Purity of heart
    4. The lovely things of life
    5. A good report
    6. Any virtue that bespeaks moral dignity must ever be the center of our thoughts B. THE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF THOUGHT
  3. The influence and power of thought
    1. "As are thy habitual thoughts, so will be the character of thy mind, for the soul is dyed the color of its thoughts" - Markus Aurelius
    2. Sin had its origin in the thoughts of the heart - Is. 14:13
    3. Departure from sin began with the thinking of a prodigal - Luke 15:17-19
    4. Experience shows that a man rises or falls to the level of the things that he thinks about - Examples: Cain had evil thoughts about his brother and it was not long until he translated these thoughts into murder - Gen. 4:6-8. David allowed lewdness to invade his thoughts and translated them into adultery and murder - 2 Sam. 11:2-17
  4. It is imperative that we should have the mastery of our thoughts:
    1. And there is no harder task in all the world than bringing our thoughts into subjection to our will
    2. It is very difficult to control our actions, yet there is a social pressure on our actions. It is supremely difficult to control our speech, yet there are many factors that put a check on it. C. LET US CONSIDER VERY PRAYERFULLY HOW TIMELY THE ADMONITION OF PAUL IS - AS STATED IN OUR OPENING TEXT
  5. Think, for example, how much of our common happiness depends on thoughts:
    1. Writes Shakespeare, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"
    2. Our common happiness does not hang on what we view, but on our point of view
    3. Our opening text, I believe, provides the channel to thorough happiness
  6. Again, how much of our unconscious influence lies in our thought:
    1. Peter thought of going fishing and he said so, and his colleagues responded, "We also go with thee" - John 21:3
    2. The thoughts of Ahab were translated into robbery and murder - I Kings 21:1-16
    3. Then there is the power of thought in our temptations; temptation never becomes dangerous until and unless it is allowed to control our thoughts
  7. A few safeguards of our thoughts:
    1. Ever be mindful that God knows our every thought - Ps. 94:11
    2. Forsake every evil thought - Is. 55:7
    3. Bring into captivity or subjection every thought to the obedience of Christ - 2 Cor. 10:5
    4. Make sure every morning that our thoughts center in that which is true, which is pure, which is just, which is honest, which is lovely
  8. In closing this message I wish to call your direct attention to the blessing of the thoughts that are stayed upon God:
    1. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee" - Is. 26:3
    2. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" - Phil 2:5
    3. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you" - Col. 3:16
    4. "Cleanse your hands, ye sinner; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" - James 4:8. Daily and consistent family worship will do a lot to keep our thought pure and in harmony with the will of God


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