A Clear and Present Peace
November 23, 2008
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Text: Philippians 4:8-9
Fire starting - Thinking? Foremost battleground I mind
God - Prov 23:7 - So our thinking will be revealed by our actions - thus our current reality! Peace in times of great stress? We can have a clear and present peace!
HOW?
1) Define your thinking
V8 - "think about such things"
Means - deliberate and prolonged contemplation as if one is weighing a mathematical problem.
Have a calculating mind instead of a conjuring mind
A Conjuring mind - the what ifs - if only - usually in a negative vein - Think the worst first?
A calculating mind - The whatevers - as far as, as great as, this is where you are in your life
True - God's Word! Freedom in Christ - set free – Noble - honest, integrity, Story of Sa'ad
Right - just, doing the right thing – Ask - is this God's way? Pure - What is the blameless way?
Lovely - that which calls forth love – the opposite is awful, disagreeable - Admirable - the good things in others - Illustration about Praying Hyde - Excellent - Land that produces a crop is excellent, a tool that does what it is designed to do is excellent - Praiseworthy - Merits applause!
How much does it cost to fill up your gas tank? Have to think! Define your thinking!
The cost is peace!
2) Define your doing
V9 - "put it into practice" - again the "whatever"
Who will we emulate? "Copy the actions of . . . " Who are our models? Paul called them to apply what they have learned, received, heard and seen in his life - As a student, taken to heart, lips match life! Learned, received - Bill Gavisk - Heard and seen - Clint Copeland, Hosea Bilyeu
Spiritual fathers and mothers
Conclusion
Leadership – 1st task "is to define the current reality" - this causes us to think!
My calculating? My doing?