WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
Throughout all the pages of the Bible the heart is viewed as the center of life and is always associated with our thoughts.
That is the reason that Solomon declared “ as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7).
We know that the mind is the center of thought, yet the importance of what we think and the reasons behind the thoughts become the central issues of our lives.
We have all heard it said that “we are what we think” and how true it is; if our thinking creates a defeatist attitude, then we cannot succeed.
If we think that we will always be ill, then we quickly become the doctors, and the pharmacist best friends as our pocketbooks are opened to their every whim.
When we think that our bank accounts will always be reflected in a negative balance, then we will only find ways to make it so.
If we think that our loved ones will never come to the cross, then we do them no favors when we stop witnessing and encouraging them to consider the Son of God.
We must allow all of our thought to mirror what scripture says that our lives and relationships can become.
There is a centrality of thoughts that we should consider.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
The basic rendering of this is simply “keep your heart as closely guarded as possible.”
What you are today and whatever you will be tomorrow is the consequence of your thought life.
We truly have the power to become as we think and say. All of the issues of life begin and end with our thinking.
There are consequences to our thoughts.
Following the words of Proverbs 4:23; Solomon points out that our thinking affects our lips, our eyes, and our feet.
What we dwell upon in our thoughts is what we will discuss with our acquaintances and those who are close to us.
“Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far away from thee.(Proverbs 4:24)
It never takes long for us to discover the matters of another persons life, if we will only allow them a few moments to talk without interruption, we quickly learn of the readings that the person engages in, the hobbies that time and energy are spent upon, and the lifestyle that is embraced by the speaker.
The issues are uttered through the mouth, but are born and housed in the heart.
This is why the Lord said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matthew 12:24)
Our thought life also affects the observational life.
“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.” (Proverbs 4:24)
Your entire slant on life is affected by the way you think.
Whenever a person has organized their thinking to line up with Gods ideas, then they are not bothered by the peripheral issues.
The Apostle Paul said it this way. “but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13)
Another area of life influenced by our thinking is the operational life.
“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” (Proverbs 4:26)
Once our thought life is under control and measured there is no question as to the path that we should walk.
The Psalmist wrote, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” (Psalms 37:23)
We must control our thoughts.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence.” (Proverbs 4:23)
In the New Testament the secret to such diligent guarding is divulged in this manner, by the Apostle Paul, “bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ.” ( 2 Corinthians 10:5)
No one experiences the fullness of their intended purpose until they have brought their heart, mind and thought life under the discipline of the Son of God.
Seek understanding and knowledge, wisdom will follow, and become evident in the things we say, the places we go, and the ones we associate with.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
CAN YOU DEFINE TRUE DISCIPLESHIP pt2
CAN YOU DEFINE TRUE DISCIPLESHIP
pt 2
Erroneously, many think that every Christian is a disciple of Christ.
It is true that every true disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is a disciple.
Why?
Lets continue our study and let the facts reveal themselves.
A true disciple is one who continues on in Gods word.
Jesus said “If ye continue in (the study and application of) my word then you are my disciples indeed.” (John 8:31)
True disciples keep pushing on in the study of the word.
They are deeply serious, ever committed, student-followers of the Son of God, ever desiring and seeking more of Him-more study, more obedience, more conformity to His image.
Christians who are on again off again students that allow every worry, whim, and care of the world to swerve them off of the course of pursuit of His knowledge, willingly forfeit the acumen of discipleship.
A disciple is one who lives and accepts only the truth.
Jesus said “and ye shall know the truth” (John 8:32)
Disciples love truth in all forms.
They love the truth of Gods word, the sole standard of spiritual truth. They cherish honesty, or truthfulness of heart and speech. And they love the truth of reality, preferring to face actual conditions rather than pretending to trust in illusion, or unfounded, unscriptural teachings, and philosophies.
Disciples choose not to follow the trail of error.
Disciples are extraordinarily free Christians.
Jesus concluded (John 8:32) by stating “and the truth shall make you free….”
The further and deeper a Christian disciple goes in the loving and the living truth, the more he is liberated by it. Increasingly truth frees the disciple from the bonds of ignorance, error, bad attitudes, fear, anger, besetting sins, deception, hypocrites, and the tyranny of self-will always demanding its way.
Christians who will not allow truth to break bondages, and false ways of thinking can never reach the highest form of study, that of being a disciple.
A disciple understands the concept of cross bearing and presents himself to the task.
For the sake of righteousness, kingdom, call, gift, ministry, and perseverance in God’s Word, the disciple will accept at least one “cross” rejection, loss, humiliation, or grief, every day.
Any one who is unwilling to suffer in this life, is unworthy to follow the path of discipleship at the feet of Jesus.
“Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple”. (Luke 14:27).
We have looked at the qualifying factors to become a disciple, and can define what it will cost to follow close to the One that we desire to emulate.
Who have you chosen to follow?________and we all choose to follow someone.
Choose to become a disciple of Jesus and go into the whole world with the authority that is given to one who continues on in the regimen of truth.
pt 2
Erroneously, many think that every Christian is a disciple of Christ.
It is true that every true disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is a disciple.
Why?
Lets continue our study and let the facts reveal themselves.
A true disciple is one who continues on in Gods word.
Jesus said “If ye continue in (the study and application of) my word then you are my disciples indeed.” (John 8:31)
True disciples keep pushing on in the study of the word.
They are deeply serious, ever committed, student-followers of the Son of God, ever desiring and seeking more of Him-more study, more obedience, more conformity to His image.
Christians who are on again off again students that allow every worry, whim, and care of the world to swerve them off of the course of pursuit of His knowledge, willingly forfeit the acumen of discipleship.
A disciple is one who lives and accepts only the truth.
Jesus said “and ye shall know the truth” (John 8:32)
Disciples love truth in all forms.
They love the truth of Gods word, the sole standard of spiritual truth. They cherish honesty, or truthfulness of heart and speech. And they love the truth of reality, preferring to face actual conditions rather than pretending to trust in illusion, or unfounded, unscriptural teachings, and philosophies.
Disciples choose not to follow the trail of error.
Disciples are extraordinarily free Christians.
Jesus concluded (John 8:32) by stating “and the truth shall make you free….”
The further and deeper a Christian disciple goes in the loving and the living truth, the more he is liberated by it. Increasingly truth frees the disciple from the bonds of ignorance, error, bad attitudes, fear, anger, besetting sins, deception, hypocrites, and the tyranny of self-will always demanding its way.
Christians who will not allow truth to break bondages, and false ways of thinking can never reach the highest form of study, that of being a disciple.
A disciple understands the concept of cross bearing and presents himself to the task.
For the sake of righteousness, kingdom, call, gift, ministry, and perseverance in God’s Word, the disciple will accept at least one “cross” rejection, loss, humiliation, or grief, every day.
Any one who is unwilling to suffer in this life, is unworthy to follow the path of discipleship at the feet of Jesus.
“Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple”. (Luke 14:27).
We have looked at the qualifying factors to become a disciple, and can define what it will cost to follow close to the One that we desire to emulate.
Who have you chosen to follow?________and we all choose to follow someone.
Choose to become a disciple of Jesus and go into the whole world with the authority that is given to one who continues on in the regimen of truth.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
CAN YOU DEFINE TRUE DISCIPLESHIP
pt one
Jesus, who just happens to be the foremost authority on Christianity, gave us the true definition of a Christian- a believer in Him saved from hell and bound for heaven-as one who is spiritually reborn.
In a discussion with Nicodemus, the Master said, “Except ye be born again, ye cannot see..(or) enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:3,5.
He stressed His point by adding “Marvel not that I say unto thee, Ye must be born again.” vs. 7.
Later on in the ministry of Jesus he described the same process of new birth as a “conversion” experience: “Except ye be converted…ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
In the new birth, or conversion, a spiritual regeneration with eternal effect occurs.
After this eternal change takes place, the newly birthed Christian has a choice to make.
Will the new creation commit to discipleship, or remain content to merely be a saved soul?
In order to better understand the choice, let us look at the definition of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
A disciple is a self-disciplined one.
Just as the English words, “disciple” and “discipline” are derived from very similar Latin words, (discipulus, alumno) so every disciple then must be a person of discipline.
He must enter into a regimen of life whereby all his powers, spiritual, physical, and mental are focused on a newly ordered, biblical way of living.
Why?
He wants to fully please and serve his Master.
The lazy, self-indulgent Christian will never be a disciple.
A disciple is a student of Christ.
The word used almost exclusively in the Greek writings that indicate disciple is mathetes, which means, “a learner, pupil, or student.”
Christians who refuse to study the Bible cannot be disciples.
In the first century, “disciples” were young men totally committed to learning the teachings of a particular Jewish rabbi (or Greek teacher or philosopher) and at the same time embracing his lifestyle and living in the same manner.
Why?
The student aspired to one day be like him, live like him, and teach like him.
Christians who learn Jesus teachings but refuse to live them cannot be disciples.
Who have you chosen to follow?,,,,,,,,and we all must choose.
pt one
Jesus, who just happens to be the foremost authority on Christianity, gave us the true definition of a Christian- a believer in Him saved from hell and bound for heaven-as one who is spiritually reborn.
In a discussion with Nicodemus, the Master said, “Except ye be born again, ye cannot see..(or) enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:3,5.
He stressed His point by adding “Marvel not that I say unto thee, Ye must be born again.” vs. 7.
Later on in the ministry of Jesus he described the same process of new birth as a “conversion” experience: “Except ye be converted…ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
In the new birth, or conversion, a spiritual regeneration with eternal effect occurs.
After this eternal change takes place, the newly birthed Christian has a choice to make.
Will the new creation commit to discipleship, or remain content to merely be a saved soul?
In order to better understand the choice, let us look at the definition of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
A disciple is a self-disciplined one.
Just as the English words, “disciple” and “discipline” are derived from very similar Latin words, (discipulus, alumno) so every disciple then must be a person of discipline.
He must enter into a regimen of life whereby all his powers, spiritual, physical, and mental are focused on a newly ordered, biblical way of living.
Why?
He wants to fully please and serve his Master.
The lazy, self-indulgent Christian will never be a disciple.
A disciple is a student of Christ.
The word used almost exclusively in the Greek writings that indicate disciple is mathetes, which means, “a learner, pupil, or student.”
Christians who refuse to study the Bible cannot be disciples.
In the first century, “disciples” were young men totally committed to learning the teachings of a particular Jewish rabbi (or Greek teacher or philosopher) and at the same time embracing his lifestyle and living in the same manner.
Why?
The student aspired to one day be like him, live like him, and teach like him.
Christians who learn Jesus teachings but refuse to live them cannot be disciples.
Who have you chosen to follow?,,,,,,,,and we all must choose.
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