You Are What You Think
Pastor Chang Kim
Philippians 4:8-9
8 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. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Introduction: Have you heard “you are what you eat?”
Romans 8:6 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Verse 1: Stand firm
Verse 2: Agree in the Lord
Verse 3: Help Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony
Verse 4: Rejoice
Verse 5: Be gentle
Verse 6: Don’t worry
Verse 7: Pray
And now we will see two more commands in verse 8 and verse 9.
Verse 8: Think about these things
Verse 9: Practice these things
Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Mark 7:20-23 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
1. Dwell on the G v8
8 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.
a. True: This is everything that God is. There is no error, faultless, everything that is right.
b. Honorable: This word comes a word meaning, “worship.” It speaks of everything that is right in our humanity. Describes people who are respected and esteemed.
c. Right: This is a legal term, describing what is right under the law. It describes righteous word and deed and it does away with partiality, prejudice and favoritism. It speaks of fairness and justice.
d. Pure: This word is related to the word often translated “holy.” It speaks of one that has not been contaminated, one free from defilement, one that is clean.
e. Lovely: It describes those things that aim toward love, describes what is pleasant and enjoyable.
f. Commendable: It tells us of those things that are good to hear. A good report and pleasant things.
g. Excellence: Anything of moral goodness. Speaks of nobility and virtue, describes what is best in a person, chivalry, self-sacrifice and heroism.
h. Worthy of Praise: Describes those things for which we want to stand and applaud. Great human accomplishments, any attributes of God.
Paul lamented those who “set their minds on earthly things” in Philippians 3:19 where in 3:18 He called them “enemies of the cross of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ
John Piper wrote a great article about 10 years ago about our thoughts when we are in vulnerable places. For him, it was a hospital bed. It’s called “Ten Lessons From a Hospital Bed.”
Here are some few lessons:
1. Don’t let yourself be numbed spiritually by the ceaseless barrage of sounds, noises, television and chatter that surrounds you in the hospital.
2. Don’t default to the television. Give yourself to reading or listening to or thinking about things that ennoble your soul.
3. Let the pain and misery of your body, and of the people around you, remind you of the exceeding moral horror and spiritual ugliness of sin.
4. Pray, pray, pray
Romans 12:2, Colossians 3:2, Ephesians 4:23, 2 Timothy 2:7.
2. Practice what is R v9
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
There are two lines of application here in this verse.
1. It’s to the parents who influence your children
2. It’s to all of us who are called to live this way
Do we want to train our children in the ways of the Lord? Then we are to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Conclusion: This promise comes to all who think godly thoughts and act in godly ways. The God of peace will be with us. God, the creator, our Maker, our Lord, our Savior will be with us. That is the promise for those who dwell on the good and practice what is right.
May the Lord give us strength to do these things.
Discussion Questions
How much time do you spend on social media/internet? Do you think it is healthy?
Why is it difficult to think about good things? What can help us to think that way?
How can we put into practice what we have learned?
What does God promise if we dwell on the good and practice what is right?