Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, March 21, 2004, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
THE BATTLEFIELD OF FOOLISH THOUGHTS
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Text: 2 Corinthians 10:5
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Introduction: Are you prepared to engage in a battle today with the world, the flesh, and the devil on the battlefield of FOOLISH THOUGHTS?
PREPARE FOR WAR IN 2004!
Christians are under attack, and many of them do not even know it! Forces are at work, endeavoring to undermine the things of God in the lives of people.
One of the great areas of spiritual warfare is that of FOOLISH THOUGHTS.
Our thought life is vital! We ARE what we THINK:
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
You are not what you THINK you are, but what you THINK, you ARE!
I’m not talking about self-esteem and self-image. You’re not wicked because you think you are wicked; you are wicked because you think wicked thoughts. You’re not godly because you think you are godly; you are godly because you think godly thoughts.
Foolish thinking leads to foolish talking and to foolish living.
When God destroyed the earth in Noah’s day, the earth was wicked, and their wickedness was associated with their THOUGHTS:
Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Some examples of foolish thoughts are:
1. Proud thoughts – like Lucifer, like King Saul
2. Promiscuous thoughts – like King David
3. Presumptuous thoughts – like Israel when God left them and they attacked the Amorites
4. Power-hungry thoughts – like Simon the Sorcerer
If you’re thinking foolishly, you are getting close to making some foolish mistakes that could cost you dearly.
I want to give you some scriptural guidelines for winning the victory on:
THE BATTLEFIELD OF FOOLISH THOUGHTS
It’s a battle! The world, the flesh, and the devil will try to influence you to think foolishly!
If the battle is to be won and you are to think wisely,
I. YOU MUST CHOOSE YOUR THOUGHTS
Philippians 4:8 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.
A. Plan the course of your thoughts
1. Don’t have an idle mind
B. Prevent the control of your thoughts by bad influences
1. The television
2. The computer
3. Bad companions, etc.
II. YOU MUST CONTROL YOUR EYES AND EARS
Lamentations 3:51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
A. The fall in the garden was the result of a look – Genesis 3:6
B. The fornication of David was the result of a look – 2 Samuel 11:2
C. The folly of Achan was the result of a look – Joshua 7:21
Don’t look at the woman
Don’t look at the wine
Don’t look at the wicked things of the world
Don’t listen to wrong counsel
Don’t listen to wicked lies
Don’t listen to the worldly crowd
III. YOU MUST COMMIT YOUR WORKS UNTO THE LORD
Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Let your works for God:
A. Be a matter of the heart
B. Be a matter of habit
1. Thoughts produce words, words produce works, works produce habits and established thoughts
IV. YOU MUST CALL FOR HELP FROM HEAVEN
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
A. Call for cleansing of bad thoughts
B. Call for creation of good thoughts
V. YOU MUST CONSUME THE WORD OF GOD
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
A. Read it
B. Remember it – Psalms 119:11
C. Recite it – Matthew 15:18
VI. YOU MUST CONSIDER GOD’S AWARENESS
1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
A. Our mind is where service begins
B. Our mind is seen by God – do we really believe this?
VII. YOU MUST CONFESS YOUR SIN
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
A. It is sin to think wrong – Proverbs 24:9a
B. It is serious
1. Before God, as disobedience
2. Because what it leads to
GET THE VICTORY IN THE THOUGHT LIFE, AND YOU HAVE THE VICTORY *IN* YOUR LIFE!
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Michael D. O’Neal (Proverbs 11:30), Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church |