Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted you to think about something.
Many people in this day and age like to go to the gym to do aerobics, or lift weights in order to train their physical body. They can maintain a focused mindset in regards to food intake and diet. Instead of reaching for a cookie, they train their mind to reach for an apple instead. This is very similar to the Christian Life because instead of reaching out for something sinful we reach out for something good instead. Christianity is about spiritually training and refocusing your mind so that you can do the will of God, rather than submit to the will of man.
Those who live in the flesh think about sinful things. I’ve always felt that whatever you constantly think about, is what your heart and mind will become completely focused on. Whatever it is that your mind is focused on, will result in outward behaviors or activities in a person’s life. For example, if someone is constantly thinking about money and trying to become rich, more than likely they will end up becoming rich. If you place your mind on spiritual things, more than likely it will result in spiritual riches. If you truly desire the wisdom that comes from God, more than likely you will be filled with His wisdom. So you see, it all comes down to what you desire in your mind. If someone is filled with a strong desire to become a great violinist, chances are that is what they will become. Whatever desire is placed into your mind, is more than likely what you will have come out of it
Whatever someone strongly wants, is a desire, whether it is good or evil. But the result of an outward activity can be completely changed simply by redirecting and refocusing your mind. Before sin has an opportunity to complete its course outwardly, it can be defeated simply by redirection, and placing your mind on good things, the best being the source of all goodness, Christ Jesus and His Holy Word.
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, 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 be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
The mind is very powerful. It can lead somebody into powerful sins, but at the same time when it is redirected towards Christ, can lead somebody into powerful good works. What do you think about a lot during your day? We have always liked music in our home, but use it in a way to glorify God.
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
It’s incredibly difficult to think or dwell on two things at the exact same moment of time. When we place our mind on God or doing good activities, obviously your thoughts are diverted and you are not thinking about bad things. It all comes down to a matter of training the mind.
My wife and I used to go to a certain dollar store to buy inexpensive food. It was filled with all kinds of different items such as candy, chocolate, chips and snacks. We used to regularly visit with the owners who were experiencing difficulties. Because of their job, they were surrounded by these snacks each and every day, and had a very hard time keeping weight off because the items were so readily accessible. As a Christian, in order to avoid certain temptations or desires, the best thing we can do is to separate, refocus, and surround ourselves with good things. The more one focuses on good things, the less they will focus on what’s bad. The more your mind meditates on spiritual things, the less time the mind has available to focus on what’s wrong. All of us are sinners who have to deal with our carnal nature, but sin can be overcome. Sin can be defeated.
…….before sin has an opportunity to complete its course outwardly, it can be defeated simply by redirection, and placing your mind on good things, the best being the source of all goodness, Christ Jesus and His Holy Word.
If there is one desire that we want to be addicted to in this world, it is to be addicted to the things of Jesus. The desire for good should completely consume us. We should crave righteousness. We should hunger for His Word. We should yearn for the Truth.
The more you meditate on spiritual things, the less your mind will be thinking about bad things. It simply comes down to redirecting your mind onto something else. I will give you a very simple example. In order to keep a donkey focused on the path in front of them, they would put an apple on a stick, to divert their attention to the apple. The Christian Life is a matter of redirecting your mind to the will of God. It’s about thinking of something wonderful that you can do for somebody else today. It’s about thinking of how you can bring happiness to another person today. It’s thinking about how you can please God today.
When I first became a Christian, someone gave me a King James Bible on a street corner. I only knew them for 10 seconds, but in those 10 seconds they did more for me than they could ever imagine. This is why Andrew and I have handed out Bibles for many years as my wife drove the car down the street. My focus upon the things of this world were changed that day, and placed upon scripture.
At the time I was working at a high school with certain children who many teachers couldn’t handle anymore. As I studied the scriptures that year, I realized that I was just the same as them. All they needed was to be redirected from sin to good. I needed to refocus them on something constructive rather than destructive.
One of the boys I worked with liked to hurt people, but I found out that he liked taking things apart. I got him into an automotive class where he spent many months ripping down scrap engines, and taking apart components. He was so busy doing that, his mind was no longer focused on destructive behavior anymore. Ripping apart motors was a constructive activity for him because they were worth money for scrap.
Every man has his weaknesses. I’m not sure what yours may be, but all of us have to deal with the carnal nature as long as we live upon the face of this Earth. But through the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s assistance, we can surely defeat all of its sinful desires. We can become a conqueror of the carnal nature through faith in Christ.
Like a dog that needs to be re-trained from bad behavior, we need to retrain our minds to do what’s good, and to do them with great vigor, becoming something that is beneficial to both our merciful God, and society around us.
It’s just a matter of training and ……
……..Going to the Gym
Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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