Praise the Lord Church, today's topic is all about controlling our thoughts.
All of us have thoughts that we know we shouldn't have, and sometimes we have thoughts that
are pretty distracting.
Our first scripture is 2nd Corinthians 10, 3 verse 5 in the ERV version.
It says, We live in this world, but we don't fight our battles in the same way the world
does.
The weapons we use are not human ones.
Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy's strong places.
We destroy people's arguments and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against
the knowledge of God.
We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.
One of the main reasons we can't get rid of entangling thoughts is because we don't believe
that in Christ we have the power to rebuke every demonic thought.
When we don't believe we have that authority in Jesus, that is when it doesn't work.
Because when we are harboring any sin or any unbelief in our heart, it actually separates
us from hearing from God.
So instead of our prayers having as much power as they would, they don't.
Now, some thoughts will seem innocent.
When we are listening to the word and we maybe have a funny thought and we start getting
distracted and it seems innocent, but when we start pondering on them, the enemy will
take that and plant a seed.
So be on guard.
Our next scripture is Psalm 119 verse 15 in the CSB version.
It says, I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways.
David often meditated on God, pondered and dwelled on God's word.
Now there's a very, very, very big difference between Eastern meditation and Christian meditation.
Eastern meditation is when you're clearing your mind, which is actually a bad thing because
it makes your mind susceptible to what the enemy wants you to think.
But when we are meditating on God, we are dwelling on his word.
And a lot of times instead of meditating on God, what we dwell on is other things.
We might be stressed because we have this big event coming up and we want everything
to be perfect.
Or we might be having random thoughts.
Or we might be dwelling on thoughts because we just don't like someone.
But when we are constantly thinking about the word, it's more difficult for the devil
to do his dirty work.
The devil will always try to distract us.
Even when a funny thought or a seemingly innocent thought pops up, that might be the devil trying
to interrupt the thought of Jesus.
He doesn't want you to be focused on God because he doesn't want you to hear what
God has to say to you.
Our last scripture is Philippians 4 verse 8 in the ESB version.
And it says, finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable.
If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
When we have thoughts, and we probably know deep down somewhere, it's probably not a good
thought.
Always go back to the scripture and think, is this true?
Is it honorable?
Does it bring glory to God?
If it doesn't, then it's a thought that we shouldn't be having because our mind is not
a trash can.
And God gave us these bodies and their temples and we need to take care of them because it's
not a trash can.
But a lot of times what we're thinking can resemble how we act in our everyday life.
Now in order to lose wrong thoughts, one, we have to be on guard and two, we have to surrender
it to God because when we are half heartedly surrendered, it doesn't do much because we
are still holding on.
We're still holding on to the old.
We're still saying to ourselves whether we realize it or not.
I just need a little bit of it because a lot of times what happens is we take pleasure
in sin because sin is destructive, but sometimes for us it's pleasurable.
Remember, your mind is not a trash can.
Our points for today are one, in Christ we have the power to overcome.
We just have to believe it.
Two, the more we think on Jesus and his word is the more our appetite changes.
For more of Jesus and less of sin.
For more of Jesus and less of silly.
And for more of Jesus and less of anything else that we know isn't good for us.
And that God knows isn't good for us.
And three, change your thoughts, change your life.
Our last point, four, be on guard.
Put on the full armor of God so that the devil can't throw his attacks at you so easily.
The more that we practice obedience, the more we grow.
And the more we grow, the stronger our faith becomes.
So if you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then this message will help
you.
But if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then I invite you to give
your heart to the Lord today.
To receive him into your hearts, go to Romans 10, 9 through 10.
It says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
If you said this prayer with sincerity, you are saved and now have eternal life with Jesus.
You are saved from all your sins, past, present and future sins you may commit.
This truth is not a free past to sin any time.
Instead, Jesus gives you power over all wrong choices and empowers you to spread the gospel
to others.
Your Savior, Ever, and your name is written in the book of life.