Every Thought in Obedience to Christ
Our home Bible study recently was on 2 Corinthians 10:5 ". . . bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
Thinking is involved in all of life. Man’s Reason is not autonomous from God, but it is one of the greatest gifts God has given us and demonstrates the fact that we were created in God’s image.
1. The ORDER of events in life is always the same: first the idea in someone’s mind. You want to cook dinner or write a letter or build a house or organize a school or start in church in a neighboring town. Or marry your sweetheart. It all begins with an idea in someone’s mind.
2. Then the plan to carry out the idea: choice is involved here (the human will) and so is thinking and reasoning.
3. The third step is the outward action: your idea finds expression in the external world outside of yourself.
The INTERNAL world of thought and will and emotion leads into the EXTERNAL world outside of your body–thought, decision, planning, action. Actions is last!
4. As a man THINKS in his heart so IS he.
5. Out of the mind and heart proceed all sorts of things–a good man brings forth good treasure; a wicked man produces evil. This is what Jesus clearly taught. And you have seen the same thing in your experience.
Either God’s Word will shape your thinking and understanding of life or you will ignore it, distort it, or disobey it. When you see truth in scripture, change your thinking to conform to the Word of God–don’t ignore it or pretend like it’s not there.
Several kinds of thinking:
1. "Musing"–nowhere in particular ("sometimes I sits and thinks; and sometimes I just sits"! is an old Arkansas expression.)
2. Meditation–thinking deeply–consider: "Meditate on His Word day and night." Psalm 1
3. Reasoning
4. Persuasion
5. Talking–conversing--usually requires some thought
6. Temptation–it comes into the thought life first, affects your attitude and plans, and then into your actions external to yourself in the world.
Covetousness - lust - hatred - jealousy - meanness - desire to hurt others - selfish ambitions - lust for power - revenge–seeking to "get even"
Mt. 5:28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
"As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." Prov. 23:7
7. Anxious thoughts: "in the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts, thy comforts delighted my soul." Psalm 94:19
8. Accusing thoughts
a. external: you accuse others of wrong actions, attitudes, or wrong motives
b. internal: your conscience either accuses or excuses you
Romans 2:15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
9. Worship Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ["spiritual service of worship" NAS]
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
10. Memory word study: in remembrance: this is part of our thought life
11. Affections–love for God and desire for Him as the deer thirsts for streams of water so our soul thirsts for God for the living God. When shall I come and appear before Him? "Heart" includes thinking, the will, the affections–the whole person
Col. 3–set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth
12. World view a form of thinking.
"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." 2 Tim. 2:7
"Consider" means to focus your complete attention, fix your thoughts on.
"Consider the lilies of the field," Jesus said. Matthew 6:28-29
"Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ] If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Luke 12:24-27 ESV
Thinking is involved in all of life. Man’s Reason is not autonomous from God, but it is one of the greatest gifts God has given us and demonstrates the fact that we were created in God’s image.
1. The ORDER of events in life is always the same: first the idea in someone’s mind. You want to cook dinner or write a letter or build a house or organize a school or start in church in a neighboring town. Or marry your sweetheart. It all begins with an idea in someone’s mind.
2. Then the plan to carry out the idea: choice is involved here (the human will) and so is thinking and reasoning.
3. The third step is the outward action: your idea finds expression in the external world outside of yourself.
The INTERNAL world of thought and will and emotion leads into the EXTERNAL world outside of your body–thought, decision, planning, action. Actions is last!
4. As a man THINKS in his heart so IS he.
5. Out of the mind and heart proceed all sorts of things–a good man brings forth good treasure; a wicked man produces evil. This is what Jesus clearly taught. And you have seen the same thing in your experience.
Either God’s Word will shape your thinking and understanding of life or you will ignore it, distort it, or disobey it. When you see truth in scripture, change your thinking to conform to the Word of God–don’t ignore it or pretend like it’s not there.
Several kinds of thinking:
1. "Musing"–nowhere in particular ("sometimes I sits and thinks; and sometimes I just sits"! is an old Arkansas expression.)
2. Meditation–thinking deeply–consider: "Meditate on His Word day and night." Psalm 1
3. Reasoning
4. Persuasion
5. Talking–conversing--usually requires some thought
6. Temptation–it comes into the thought life first, affects your attitude and plans, and then into your actions external to yourself in the world.
Covetousness - lust - hatred - jealousy - meanness - desire to hurt others - selfish ambitions - lust for power - revenge–seeking to "get even"
Mt. 5:28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
"As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." Prov. 23:7
7. Anxious thoughts: "in the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts, thy comforts delighted my soul." Psalm 94:19
8. Accusing thoughts
a. external: you accuse others of wrong actions, attitudes, or wrong motives
b. internal: your conscience either accuses or excuses you
Romans 2:15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
9. Worship Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ["spiritual service of worship" NAS]
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
10. Memory word study: in remembrance: this is part of our thought life
11. Affections–love for God and desire for Him as the deer thirsts for streams of water so our soul thirsts for God for the living God. When shall I come and appear before Him? "Heart" includes thinking, the will, the affections–the whole person
Col. 3–set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth
12. World view a form of thinking.
"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." 2 Tim. 2:7
"Consider" means to focus your complete attention, fix your thoughts on.
"Consider the lilies of the field," Jesus said. Matthew 6:28-29
"Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ] If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Luke 12:24-27 ESV
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