God – Page 24 – Praying Pint

28.t. “Think about these things”

Philippians 4:8 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. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

1 Thessalonians 4:12    so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Titus 3:14   And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

1 Peter 2:12   Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Titus 2:14    who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7    Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

What in life is true, sincere, and genuine? How do we know what is true? What is honorable, respectable, moral? What is just, fair, equitable, ethical, and impartial? What is pure, uncontaminated, wholesome, innocent, and above reproach? What is lovely, pleasing, and heavenly? These are seemingly easy questions but just try to answer them. How we answer them will depend on the conditioning of our hearts and minds. What feeds our hearts and minds will be how we define truth, honor, justice, purity, and what is lovely. We can easily see flagrant cases of the opposite. However, the lines blur when we try to define truth, honor, justice, purity, and love. Culturally acceptance does not make for a good basis to define them. Culturally, a homosexual life is acceptable and called an alternative lifestyle. Abortion is acceptable and called a right. Pride is acceptable and is called a self-made man. Greed is acceptable and called being a good businessman. Pornography is acceptable and called adult entertainment. In the eyes of God, they are all void of godliness, holiness, and righteousness.

Much of the Christian life comes down to the mind. Romans 12:2 speaks of the essential place of being transformed by the renewing of your mind and 2 Corinthians 10:5 speaks of the importance of casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. What we choose to meditate on matters. (Guzik)

What is it that mingles around in your mind throughout the day? Is it thinking about things of God? Is there any time during the day you are mauling over His Word, what it means or how to apply it? Are we seeking wisdom and understanding between (holiness, godliness, and righteousness) and things of this world? Do we even try? When I was in my early 20’s my old Pastor (in his mid 50’s) (I don’t think this is old anymore) said it seems like the church is only 10 to 15 years behind in accepting what the world says is ok. In my 60’s now I find this to be so true. I fear to say it, but I know it to be true, God’s Word is being neglected in our daily lives, many Pastors proclaim shallow truth and do not address culturally accepted norms, and our thinking has become void of that which is pure, true, just, honorable, and lovely. It would seem most Christians shamefully find it easier to fill their minds with CNN, FOX, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, ……………………… than to fill it with God’s Word even one-tenth of the time. Test me on this and you will find it is not far off. What would it take to clarify what is true, just, honorable, pure, and lovely? Try this, intentionally choose to be void of any time listening to or reading CNN, FOX, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, … for one week. Read God’s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your mind and thoughts in what is true, just, honorable, pure, and lovely. Try it. I know without any hesitation that you will see things differently. The hymn by Helen Lemmel has this line, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”

“Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.” Yes, we are responsible for the thoughts we cultivate in our minds. (James Allen)

28.s. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you”

Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 29:11   May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Isaiah 26:3   You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you

Psalms 85:8   Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.

Isaiah 48:18    Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;

Luke 1:79   to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

John 14:27   Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Romans 5:1   Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:6     For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

2 Thessalonians 3:16    Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Peace of mind. How people are able to rise above fear, worry, anxiousness, confusion, hatred, and anger? Everywhere we turn we are bombarded with fear, worry, anger, confusion by mainstream media news outlets and various social media outlets. They tell us what we should be fearful of. They tell us who to hate. They tell us we should be angry. They tell us we should be anxious. They tell us we should worry and what to worry about. These are all from the voice of those in darkness, without hope, and under the influence of Satan’s lies and deceitful deceptions. This is what this world has to offer. It truly is a shame when Christians are influenced by these worldly thoughts. Paul is saying our lives will have trials and troubles and when we are blindsided our practiced response should be in humble prayer to God. Why? Because we trust, rely on, and have faith in God, the Creator, All-Powerful, All-knowing, and All-capable, Holy, Loving, Merciful and full of Grace… God. There is a peace that passes all understanding. It can be found nowhere else but in God. And yet, Christians buy into the fear, worry, anxiousness, confusion, anger, and hate seemingly without one thought of God. Have we drifted so far from Him that we have lost the ability to have peace in our lives? It is shameful to hear some of the thoughts and witness some of the actions Christians are doing. Is God ever limited? Is anything beyond the control of God? Do we even believe in the power of God? This world will offer many things to convince us where we can find peace. It will tell us to listen and to follow them down paths with the promise of peace. When we allow ourselves to be influenced more by the world than by trust, reliance, and faith in God we are walking in darkness on a slippery slope of false hope that will lead to great grief, worry, fear, anxiousness, and certainly no peace. We replace what God is able to do in our lives with false hope in what the world has to offer. Does this make any sense? Will we ever find peace for our hearts, minds, and souls apart from God? Will God give peace to those who trust in and make peace with what the world has to offer. Oh that our eyes were more on the heavenly, holy, and eternal rather than on lies and deceptions the world proclaims. God is not limited in anything. He is more than able to carry us through this life and into eternity with peace of mind no matter what occurs in this life. It is by intentional faith, trust, reliance, and obedience in Jesus Christ there is the hope of salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life. This is the beginning and completion of where we find and experience true peace.

28.p. “Practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.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. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Matthew 6:25-33 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

It is not easy to stay away from falling into the trap of anxiousness. It sneaks up on us and floods our hearts and minds with all sorts of fear, worry, and paralysis. It is common to all of us but some seem to rise above it and are able to have peace and hope through it. Where do this peace and hope come from? It comes from and through Jesus Christ. In God’s Word, we find the reason for hope, trust, and refuge, but it is so much more than reading about it. It must be believed, trusted, and relied upon. It must be what feeds our hearts, minds, and souls. Some may think they can live a worldly life and chase after worldly things and keep Jesus Christ and the Word of God in their back pocket for when things in life go bad. This person will never enter a time of trial or trouble with any foundation and when their life is sideswiped they fall pray to a host of heart defeating depressing days. It is far better to be intentionally walking in trust, reliance, and hope in Jesus Christ when trials and troubles come.

28.l “Powers of discernment trained by constant practice”

Philippians 3:15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Romans 15:1     We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Hebrews 5:14   But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

1 Corinthians 14:20  Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Galatians 5:10   I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.

Psalms 25:8-9    Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.  He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Proverbs 2:3-6   yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

James 1:5   If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Mature, strong, trained, confident, humble, and with constant practice able to distinguish good from evil are all words used to convey the importance of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in the life of a Christian. Have you ever heard a child say, “I can do it myself”, or “I want to do it myself”, for a task that is beyond their ability to do? They are not physically mature enough to execute what they want to do. They are more than willing to try but not mature enough to know their limitations. The opposite is true as well when you hear a child say, “I can’t do it”, “I won’t even try to do it”, for tasks that are well within their ability to do them. They are physically able but mentally they are not mature enough.

Being strong means that a person has the physical and mental ability combined with maturity so that they are able to stand up to obstacles and opposition. An immature person will think they have the strength (they do not have) for a task they are facing. They will go headlong into a mental or physical battle for which they are not strong enough to overcome. Others use their strength for very immature things. Having physical and mental strength but lacking mature wisdom, knowledge, and understanding is what you see in the world. These are those who shun God, reject Jesus Christ, and live in self-reliance and self-confidence. There is no surrender, humility, or acknowledgment of God. As Christians, we are tempted to think we are stronger and more mature than we are. When this happens we start relying on ourselves rather than the strength of the Holy Spirit. When we rely on ourselves we become self-reliant and self-confident which is neither humble nor surrendered.

We need constant practice at doing what is right, good, and true. This is what yields maturity. How do we put into practice that which we have chosen to neglect? How do we become strong in things of God when all we practice day in and day out are things of this world? We can be very mature in things of this world and even be seen as having wisdom, worldly speaking, but in the things of God we are immature, weak, and void of Godly wisdom and strength. It is sad to see those who are years into being a born-again Christian acting, speaking, and thinking like infants.

It is in humble surrendered reliance in God with heart deep desire and seeking His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that we will find the path that waters our souls and matures our thoughts, speech, and actions.

28.k. “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead”

Philippians 3:13 But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

“Just as a little child is a perfect human being, but still is far from perfect in all his development as man, so the true child of God is also perfect in all parts, although not yet perfect in all the stages of his development in faith.” (Muller)

When Spain led the world (in the 15th century), her coins reflected her national arrogance and were inscribed Ne Plus Ultra which meant “Nothing Further” – meaning that Spain was the ultimate in all the world. After the discovery of the New World, she realized that she was not the end of the world, so Spain changed the inscription on her coinage to Plus Ultra meaning “More Beyond.” In the same pattern, some Christian lives say, “Nothing Further” and others say “More Beyond.” Herein is the dilemma in the Christian’s life – “Nothing further” or “More beyond”. Some will live as though there is no need for further growth. They have obtained a level of satisfaction and comfort in their lives and see no need to actively pursue growth/maturity. It is very shallow thinking that comes to the conclusion that “I am saved and going to heaven end of story”. Too often this is where Christians land. They take off with a thunderous thrust only to land softly and never take flight again. It is in flight where we draw closer to Jesus Christ, and where we start to gain more understanding and knowledge of the mighty grace, mercy and love He showered on us. In-flight is where we allow the Holy Spirit to control the speed and direction. It is where we are a willing passenger as it were, trusting in the pilot. While there might be the temptation to take control of the flight, it is by faith, trust, reliance, and obedience that we relinquish any thought of taking control. If I look back let it be to remember the saving grace that brought me to redemption and salvation and all of the mighty works God has performed.

28.j. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”

Philippians 3:7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith

Proverbs 13:8   The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat.

Matthew 16:26  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Luke 14:33  So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Romans 8:18   For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

We are continuously tempted to put our trust in ourselves, money, health, possessions, savings, etc… It is as if we are trusting in these things to give us peace of mind, hope for the future, and worry-free lives. There are always going to be temptations to want to rely on, trust in, and cling to what we have, what we want, what we acquire, and other things of this world more than Jesus Christ. It is in Him we find a peace that passes all understanding. Peace the world has to offer is temporal, foundationally weak, and robs us of true peace. Chasing after these false promises of peace keeps the busyness of life very active in our lives. Every day a new current of false promises blows in promising just one more rung on the ladder to climb. To what end? Are we any closer to Christ? Do our possessions and bank accounts bring us to a deeper relationship with Christ? Are we happier? Are we deeply satisfied? Are we content? At the end of the day are have we found purpose, satisfaction, contentment, and meaning for our lives? Prosperity and ease of life offer peace but over and over again it leads people away from Christ and they neglect God’s Word and become complacent in their desire to know more and more of God’s grace, mercy, and love. Their spiritual growth does not exist. It is a very slippery slope away from God when we give in to the temptations of this world to put our trust in ourselves, money, health, possessions, savings, etc…

28.i. “Shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life”

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life

Numbers 14:27   “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me.

Psalms 106:25    They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD.

James 5:9  Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

Jude 1:16    These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires;

Hebrews 12:14    Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

James 3:18   But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Do all things without complaining and disputing: without criticizing, speaking out against, find fault with, opposing, and objecting to. Without argument, quarreling, conflict, deny, question, doubt, protest against. I have to think Do all things without complaining and disputing, refers to both personal conflicts between us and others, as well as us with God. It seems no matter how far we go back in time, complaining and disputing between us and other Christians and us with God is a constant. It can be displayed in both passive and aggressive means, direct confrontation or covert acts, and willfully leading dissension or allowing to be ourselves to be influenced into ungodly thoughts, words, and actions. What amazes me is the skill at which some are able to do this. They seem to be either speaking out of love but in truth, it is nothing of the kind or they come out throwing hand grenades or a combination of both.

We are to be different, shining lights, rejoicing in Christ. We should be able to discern both direct and covert, passive and aggressive willful ungodly attitudes, words, thoughts, and actions. The problem is the world around us is so full of this that it seems to be the way of life. Far too many Christians are neglectful and complacent in their walk with God. They are more influenced by the world than they are by the Holy Spirit. This is how and why such things are brought into the church and between brothers and sisters of Christ. Paul is basically saying you ought to know better than to think, act, and speak this way. There needs to be an intentional choice made deep in each heart, soul, and mind, that desires and seeks to be ever-present under the influence of the Holy Spirit for the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ.

28.h. “Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires”

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Isaiah 66:2   All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Hebrews 4:1  Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

Hebrews 12:28-29   Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,  for our God is a consuming fire

Romans 13:11-14    Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

We know that Paul did not mean “work so as to earn your own salvation.” Such a statement would contradict the whole of Paul’s gospel. What Paul did mean is to call the Philippians to put forth real effort into their Christian lives. This is not to work their salvation in the sense of accomplishing it, but to work out their salvation – to see it evident in every area of their lives, to activate this salvation God freely gave them. (Guzik)

“Some professors appear to have imbibed the notion that the grace of God is a kind of opium with which men may drug themselves into slumber, and their passion for strong doses of sleepy doctrine grows with that which it feeds on. ‘God works in us,’ say they, ‘therefore there is nothing for us to do.’ Bad reasoning, false conclusion. God works, says the text; therefore we must work out because God works in.” (Spurgeon)

Paul said our salvation is not by works lest any man should boast. James said faith without works is useless. Working out our salvation means there is a demonstration of our faith by the works we do, what we say, what we think. We do this out of reverence and awe and for the singular purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ. Read again what Spurgeon penned above. It is sad we find little to no need for continued growth in our faith, knowledge, understanding, in Jesus Christ. We sit idly by day after day with no growth and no desire to grow. Examine your thoughts, words, and actions over the last 24 hours and try to determine how much of your time was “working”, with mindful attention and purpose, to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. Until we dim the bright lights of what this world has to offer and intentionally choose to keep our focus on honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ, our works, or the lack thereof, will do nothing of eternal value.

28.g. “Have this mind among yourselves”

Philippians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

If there is any, consolation in Christ, comfort of love, the fellowship of the Spirit, affection, and mercy how should we act. In Christ, we find encouragement, reassurance, help, hope, and relief. The comfort of love. Think about when you have had a less than a loving day at work. Everyone seems to be against everyone, you included. At lunch, you witnessed rude and inconsiderate people. On your way home to witness angry and rude drivers. You can not only see but you also feel the division, anger, and lack of love. You pull into the drive, get out of your car wondering what is going on. Has the world and everyone in it lost their minds? Is this what life is to be like? Then you walk through the door to your home and one of your children comes running up to you, jumps into your arms, and says, “I love you”. You turn to your spouse and they say, “Hi honey, I am so glad you’re home, I love you, How was your day?” At that moment everything is right in your life. There is a comfort of being loved. Fellowship of the Spirit is something that should yield fruit as we yield to the guiding, power, and precious leading of the Holy Spirit. The affection and mercy of God are something we should never lose sight of. It should always be in the front of our minds. We were lost and without hope, doomed to eternal hell, and then God showered us with grace, mercy, and love through Jesus Christ.

Paul is laying out why our lives ought to be different. Why they ought to be victorious. Why they ought to be in unity with other believers. How we should be thinking and the effect of that thought process should form how we act, what we say, what we think. Be mindful of how much you allow the world to rob you of living for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.

28.f. “What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness”

Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,

Colossians 1:10    so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

2 Peter 3:11  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12   For you know how, like a father with his children,  we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Walking in a manner worthy of God totally depends on how we know, understand, and see God. If we see Him as absent and far away, or if our understanding of Him is nothing more than a concept, we fail in our knowledge of Him. If we see Him as far away (not present) we will allow sinful thoughts, spoken words, and actions into our daily lives. If all we understand of Him is conceptually (theoretically) then we have no mature knowledge, faith, hope, trust, or reliance. When we see, understand, and grow in our knowledge of God omniscient – all-knowing, God omnipresent – present everywhere, God omnipotent – all-powerful, we will start to understand why Jesus, Paul, David, Peter, James, Job, Abraham, Moses, Elijah. Elisha, etc…… keep reminding over and over again who God is and why it is important to walk in a manner worthy of Him. How this life-walk manifests its self in our lives is a direct reflection of our maturity, understanding, and knowledge of Him. It is sad to say many Christian’s walks paints a very shallow understanding and knowledge of Him. The words they speak and the actions of their lives reflect much closer to a person who does not give God a passing thought than a child of God. Meditate on His Word, read it, study it, write down your thoughts with a desire and seeking that God will and does open up the eyes to our hearts and minds of Him.