Philippians 4:8-9

INTRO: Ever find yourself uptight and struggling to clear your mind? Do you find the noise of the city and daily life deadens your senses? You can have a peaceful mind!

1. Unity through LOVE is the goal (brings blessing, presence of God and power.)

2. One theme of book is JOY

3. Today our passage takes a look at PEACE.

READ: Phil 4:8-9 "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. The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do: and the God of peace will be with you.

WASH OFF your preacher repellent!

I. SPONGE ILLUSTRATION

a. Clean sponge in clean water – can be used for washing etc

b. Clean sponge in dirty water – wouldn’t want to use for anything!

c. Our lives are like a sponge – baby begins to absorb before birth (cf Matt II) – Clean surroundings (input) = clean output. When you squeeze sponge – what cameos out is what is inside. Under the pressure of life we will be squeezed. What will come out?

II. YOUR MIND IS THE FIRST BATTLEFIELD "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 (French – feed your thoughts on)

a. Effects of what we see, hear, learn, receive, especially through:

i. TV, videos, movies E.g. PET CEMETERY (I decided never to watch an 18 again!) Violence in children, wrong role models, etc

ii. Music – wrong idea of love & romanticism

iii. Internet – easy access to junk

iv. Friends and regular leisure activities. My new bar ministry to single girls! Fly with the crows …

v. Education (secular humanism, evolution, etc). Our children learn to imitate the world. That’s why I love Christian education. Gives the child the best opportunity to maintain a godly world view

vi. Mindworks & imagination feed your thoughts on (fr)

vii. All these things can contaminate our mind and make us end up thinking like the world and accepting worldly values. What do we do?

b. Romans 12:1-2 We need to be transformed by RENEWING of our mind

Where can we find things that meet the conditions of verse 8 and that will renew our mind? Bible, books, small groups, Christian leisure activities & music, etc

c. Jesus told disciples - Washed by the water of the Word (John 15:3)

d. 2 Cor 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not ^awar after the flesh: 4 (For the ^aweapons of our ^bwarfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every ^athought to the ^bobedience of Christ;

e. Easier to crush the egg than the snake. Can’t stop birds flying over, but they don’t have to nest!

f. Raise your hand if you think this is only for old people, only for early church, only my opinion, too radical, OR SIMPLY this is not applicable to you.

III. YOUR ACTIONS ARE THE SECOND BATTLEFIELD The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, these do: and the God of peace will be with you.

a. Devil may give up on your beliefs as long as he can convince you not to act on them. “Believe what you like, but just don’t be too radical. What would the others think?”

b. Where you are headed is where you will end up. Just a little at a time. PARACHUTE STORY

c. Importance of having good role models (Where? Christian biographies, mature believers, those with a good life testimony, etc)

d. Importance of BEING good role models (why wait for someone else to be it?)

IV. CONCLUSION

a. MAKE A SPECIFIC DECISION TODAY to put off anything that is not “true, just, noble, pure, lovely, good report, of virtue and worthy of praise.” Use this verse as a checklist for your daily thought patterns, and habits. Then THINK & MEDITATE on the right things. FILL YOU MIND WITH GOD, HIS WORD, AND POSITIVE INPUT.

b. DO the right thing as a model for others, and imitate those who do so Phil 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark those who so walk so as you have us for an pattern (example)

c. You will have a peaceful mind not cluttered by junk, wrong ideals, wrong goals, worldly reasoning etc. You will still have to fight temptation, but make sure you are heading in the right direction and set your mind on things above.

Repent if necessary and pray with me.