As Man Thinketh in His Heart

[00:00:00] This audio sermon is provided by AnabaptistSermons.com and may be freely copied and distributed. You may not sell or edit this sermon. Our prayer is that you would be blessed by this ministry. We greet you this morning in Jesus' name. Especially verse 21 and 22 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 where it says, Prove all things, hold fast that which is good, abstain from all appearance of evil. And then we looked at Philippians chapter 4 verse 8 where Paul advised us, he enjoined us, he beseeched us, [00:00:37] I'm not sure what the right word is, to think positive, to think good things. You remember the verse in Philippians chapter 4 verse 8 where he says, 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, if there be any praise, think on these things. I thought of the verse, I think it's in Proverbs, where it says something about as a man thinketh in his heart, and I thought just to leave the title right there, I think it says, so is he. [00:01:21] And those are sobering words. And as I look at other translations, I'm not sure it says quite what I thought it says in the King James, I'm not sure. But I think the truth of those words is still there for us today. And I would like for us to think about our thought life. And I am going to look at some scriptures and then I'm going to try to make some applications that you can understand, that even children can understand concerning thought life. Proverbs 25.5 says, [00:02:09] The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. And I'm going to, as I said, if you may want to just jot these down, I'm going to be reading these fairly rapidly and then try to make some comments and some applications. Romans chapter 12, verse 3, Paul writes, For I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, [00:02:40] but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. And when it talks about soberly here, I think he is saying make right judgment here. We're to think of ourselves as God thinks of us. In Joshua chapter 1 verse 8, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. [00:03:17] The word here is not think, but it is meditate. And when we think on things, I think that's what we call meditating. When we take truths and we try to digest them, then I think the Bible refers to this as meditate. Why are our thoughts so important might be a question that I should have asked at the beginning. And we could say a number of things, but is it not true that our thoughts are an indicator of where our lives are going? [00:03:54] Aren't they a little bit like the steering wheel in the car? The things that we think is the direction we're going. And so it is very important that we look at these things the way God does. Psalm chapter 4, verse 4 says, Stand in awe and sin not. Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Again, talking about meditation here. Be still before God [00:04:26] Think about these things I think is what he is saying when he says Commune with your own heart Psalm chapter 19 of the 19th Psalm I should say Verse 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer And then if you want to turn to 1st Timothy I'd like to read several verses in chapter 4 of 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy 4, verse 12, says this, [00:04:59] Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given by prophecy by the laying on of hands of the presbytery meditate upon these things give thyself wholly to them [00:05:31] and thy profiting may appear that thy profiting may appear to all if I read it correctly meditate on these things and the things that we meditate on is as I said and the direction that we are going. As I was thinking of making this example real to us, I don't know if the Lord gave me this thought. I think he did. I'm just going to put something up here for an object lesson for us [00:06:03] and see what we can learn from this. We're just going to set these down on the table here. I think I wanted a table so that we could all see it. Now, we have two containers with water here. and let me see, what do you need to know about the containers? One thing that I would like to tell you is that one of the containers filled with water here is what we call potable water, good to drink. [00:06:34] Right, in Spanish it's exactly the same word, just a different pronunciation and in El Salvador we thought a lot about potable water because it was in short supply in some places. But one of these is potable water, the other is not. And the difference in containers doesn't really indicate anything about which is or which is not. Let me see, what else do we need to think about? I dug one of these containers out of the mothballs, so to speak, [00:07:07] and then my wife said, oh, I washed that container. Maybe I shouldn't have. I said, no, that's just fine. both of the containers were equally clean to begin with is the question that I'm answering here and I have the small tumblers here just so if you're thirsty you can come up and take a drink and be sure you choose the right one though because one could have ill effects one could make you sick now if we had a scientific laboratory here and maybe we wouldn't need that, Brother Chester would know better than I [00:07:40] but if we had a laboratory that we could do certain experiments we could check both of these containers of water and we could see that one indeed is fit to drink the other one you wouldn't want to drink I don't think what else should we say in this maybe I should just say in this test we might test for bacteria we might test for protozoa protozoa I think is plural is that right [00:08:12] protozoan is singular I believe if I'm not mistaken and I don't know if you remember those terms from your science classes in school or not. I had to use my dictionary and find out a little bit about these things. We know about bacteria. There is good bacteria. There is bad bacteria. All of us have bacteria in our bodies. I understand we couldn't live without them. Protozoa, I understand, there is a protozoa that is harmful to man [00:08:44] It acts as a parasite and it is harmful to man and domestic animals Now, since we don't have the test here I guess you're going to have to depend on my honesty if you want to take a drink And I'll not deceive you The picture on my right is water I got out of the faucet here. So I am assuming that's potable water. This water here has a slightly different hue. [00:09:17] It doesn't really, if you look at it carefully, oh, there's a little bit of residue in there, but not a great deal. But the source of this water is important. This water came from our pond. So, and I know this time of year, probably the bacteria level, the, I don't know how much provisional depends on an increase in temperature, but during the summer, I would venture to say this water would have looked differently than it does today, because I know what the surface of the pond looks like during the summer. [00:09:55] Since we've gotten it dredged out, dug out, it's cleaner than it was before. But this water here is definitely water we wouldn't want to drink. And you would especially say that if you would have seen me dipping out of the pond with a little pop can and dumping it in there. And our dog was there, and he's always helpful, and he lapped some of it as it went in there. So we would know, I mean, you know that this is not what you want. This would be safe. I could recommend, and these tumblers I just got from the holder back here, so this would be safe to drink. [00:10:32] Now, what are we saying then about our thoughts this morning? Maybe I should just open it, and maybe I should just let you, or maybe I should let you have your opportunity a little bit later. as I think of the containers of water up here and as I think of the container on the left now that container on the left could be made safe to drink there are several ways that we could do that [00:11:03] and I think you would be aware of that and by the way I don't know whether this container on the left would have any nitrites or nitrates in it or not I don't think surface water gets into that pond, not to my knowledge but it could still have those elements in there simply because of the field that is adjacent to the pond that makes making it pure a different story and one of the things that I would like to think about [00:11:36] could we, would it be okay with you if in order to purify this Could we put half of, fill a cup half full with this and fill up the rest, use this for the rest? Would that adequately purify it to your, would you be satisfied with that? I see some people are honest enough to shake their heads. What about if we just put a little bit of this in the cup and fill it up with the one on the right? Would that purify it? [00:12:07] You're shaking your heads, it wouldn't work. And there are some truths that I would like to think about. Our thought life is important, but there is not one of us that can receive salvation by thinking good thoughts. It is impossible to do. And by the same token that we cannot mix that water, however little bit we put in from the left side and then fill it up with the right, [00:12:38] I wouldn't feel safe. I wouldn't feel good about drinking that water. And I think we're together on that. Now, I said there are several ways that this water could be made safe to drink, even if it had nitrates or nitrites. I understand there is one way, and I stand to be corrected if I am not right. But if we take that water and put it in an apparatus that would evaporate that water, and then take that water that has evaporated and take it apart [00:13:11] I understand that the nitrates and the nitrites could not, they would not evaporate that's the way that God purifies water by the way the rainfall that comes has been purified by that process and that's one thing that we could do there is one other way that God uses to clear out those harmful elements and that is, I just simply would call it filtration. Now there are other people that, Brother Chester might have a better word for that, [00:13:41] but the water as it falls down from heaven, as it hits the earth, some of it is used by plants, some of it evaporates, a small percentage goes on down through and the earth, as God designed it, serves as a good filter for that water. and, you know, as we think of some of the emphasis of today and I'm not here to say this is good or bad but some of the emphasis today is to conserve wetlands [00:14:15] and wetlands, swamps and all that kind of thing and we think, and that is to replenish our drinking supply and we think about that and we say, you know, the first thing that comes to mind is drink that kind of stuff but that's what we drink friends but God has made it so that that water can be purified and I'd like for us to think about that as the as the salvation experience it's the well the salvation through Jesus Christ is the only way to be right with God [00:14:50] and there I mentioned two ways that possibly this this water could be made safe to drink And if it doesn't have nitrates or nitrites, you could boil it for five minutes and probably be all right. That would be another way. Another way might be to put some chemicals into it. I was not thinking of the illustration of the water. I was looking in the encyclopedia for something else and I got into, I was close to water [00:15:21] and I happened to see how they do water purification. and it reminded me periodically I get into an area not too far from Fort Wayne. I drive by a reservoir, that's a man-made reservoir and there I see what would be Fort Wayne's water supply in case of an emergency. I suspect they use wells normally but they do several things. I said filtration is one thing that they do and that's one of the things that they do to purify water. [00:15:52] Then they do another thing. They add chemicals to make it clean. And they do a number, they have about eight steps that they go through. But I would like to emphasize again, there is only one way that we can be right with God. I would just, if you have any, I don't think there's anybody that has any questions on that, but Acts chapter 4, verse 12. The apostles were saying, I think they were before, they were giving an answer before court there, and they said something like this, [00:16:24] Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name given under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved, except Jesus. Jesus Christ is the only one. Jesus himself said in John chapter 14 verse 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. One of the things as I think of the picture of water, as I think of the other container here, what kind of water is it that we're going to be able to pour out of it? [00:17:04] Isn't it just simply what I have put in? And that is one of the serious things about, as I compare the two of these with our thought life, what are the thoughts that I think? I know that we have a fallen nature to deal with. But isn't it true that many of the thoughts that we think are that which we feed on? What you feed grows. Isn't that true about our thought life? I know that there are people that under the influence of medicine [00:17:38] or maybe it's an infirm body say things that they would not have said in their right mind I was sitting with my father before he passed away I think he passed away in 1972 I didn't think of, I don't have this in my notes but I don't know if it was his illness he died of emphysema and he did not have an easy death He suffered a lot and he was taking some pretty strong medication. But there is one thing that I treasure about that memory. [00:18:13] He hallucinated that one evening when I was there. And he became a world traveler in his hallucinations. But he didn't say anything that he had, he didn't have anything to be ashamed of in what he said. And for that I am grateful. and I recognize just recently I heard of a young lady that most of us would know under tremendous duress she saw some things that weren't there [00:18:44] and I don't find fault with her but the thing that I am saying is what we draw out what we pour out of this picture is basically what we have put in Now it is true that we could have some sediment drop in, some things could have happened that I didn't know about. And this is true about our old nature as well. There are some things that Satan puts into the minds of people that we may not have put in. [00:19:17] But it is important that we put in good things if we want to get out good things. I was talking with a man who said that when his company goes on a trip, he is in charge of making the dish that they eat. And he made this observation. He said, one of the important things, Glenn, is if you want good food, is you have to put in good ingredients. [00:19:48] Is that not true? We know that. If we want good food, we have to put in top class ingredients. Now, the water that I used today, I don't know if you could see if there's a little more difference in the color than I thought there would be when I was just seeing the one at home. Not a great deal of difference. Now, I could have gotten some water that would not have left any doubt in anybody's mind as to whether or not you would drink it or not. [00:20:21] And I'll tell you why I did not bring that along this morning. I would not have used one of my wife's pictures to bring that water here. We have a building where we wash vehicles. And you know what vehicles are like in the wintertime. We have a trap underneath there that gathers water and other things. If I would have brought some of that along, there would have been no doubt about whether or not we would drink it. In fact, my dog would not have helped himself to that. and this may be humorous, I don't say it for humor [00:20:58] but I'm not sure which would be more deadly whether this would be more deadly, the pond water, I don't think so but it could be depending what's in there but my point is this, there are some things that are immediately recognizable as wrong as things that we don't want I said I would have hesitated to bring this in a meeting house where we worship God simply because it doesn't seem right to do so. [00:21:31] Maybe I shouldn't have even brought this, what I did. Then the thought struck me that I hope we don't do this in a spiritual sense either. That we harbor the kind of thoughts that would be like the gunk that we would get from a trap. I hope that we don't do that. In our Sunday school lesson this morning, we talked about some things that we people have a problem with. [00:22:02] And it probably begins in thoughts, but it goes on beyond that. And I would have to turn back to know exactly what it says here. But we're to live at peace one with another, it says in Ephesians chapter 4. Which verse is that? Forbearing one another in love, I think, is the one that I am thinking of. Are we good at forbearing with one another in love? [00:22:35] Is it directly related to our thoughts? Well, I think it is related to our thoughts. And the thing that's troubling to me is that we as God's people who know how to stand on truth, sometimes we have a problem getting along the way I wish that we could. Perhaps there are several things that we could say about that thing. We need to take a strong stance against evil. [00:23:08] This is true. We need to do that. But do I see the evil in my own life as readily as I do in my brother's life? If what I saw in my brother or sister were here, how would it look to me? And I think those are things that we need to try to look at very carefully. And I trust that I am saying this in a way that you can hear me [00:23:38] But it is troubling to me when we just simply need to go our separate ways because we can't get along How about practicing some of the forbearance that Paul talks about in Acts chapter 4 verse 2 Forbearing one another in love I think of what Jesus said in John chapter 13 is it? Verse 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one for another [00:24:09] How is that love manifested? By our thoughts? Yes, by our thoughts and more than that by our actions and when we act in such a way that people have to guess about our love then our love isn't what it should be As I thought of our thoughts I thought of what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5, and there is a way in which what I'm going to say doesn't seem fair, but I am not saying it is unfair, but hear me out. [00:24:42] Acts chapter 5, I'm sorry, Matthew chapter 5 in the Sermon on the Mount, verse 28, well verse 27 and 28. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time thou shalt not commit adultery but then verse 28 is what I want but I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart in his yes, in his heart [00:25:12] I thought maybe he says in his own heart in his heart Jesus is saying that thoughts can be sin. Now, is it enough when we have good intentions to think about doing a good thing? Is that going to be credited to us for righteousness? Doesn't seem quite fair, does it? Well, I am not here to say that it's unfair. But when we think good thoughts, that's not enough. If you look back at James, you need to do more than think good thoughts. [00:25:44] You need to carry it out. It's not just hearing, but it's in doing. that we are justified, that we are, now I shouldn't say justified, we are justified by the blood of Christ. But good works are important, not just thoughts. But I believe what Jesus was saying, Jesus has lifted up a very high standard for us as his people. I think the reason that he does that the reason he did that [00:26:15] is just simply to keep us from evil if we don't think wrong thoughts there is much less likelihood of following with wrong actions and I'm not saying that people that think thoughts always end up doing that but I remember what an old minister he's now an old minister In Costa Rica now, Sanford Yoder said, when I was a little boy sitting about where these people in the front bench are sitting, [00:26:48] he said that, this, he said what one generation talks about and laughs at is where the next generation is going to be. And that's moving beyond thoughts into words. But Sanford was saying that the direction that we're headed is important. When we talk and laugh about something, the next generation will be living in that. And I haven't, I'm not old enough, I'm not sure that that is correct. But the warning is well taken. [00:27:23] Let's have our conversation about things, let's point them in the direction that we want to go. It is of utmost importance. May God give us a hatred for the evil and a love for the good the determination to stay away from evil and to follow that which is good.