Philippians For Times Like These #20 – Upwardly Minded Philippians 4:8-9

Religious Awareness Of The Power Of The Mind “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. -- Mahatma Gandhi

Buddha “The mind is everything. What you think you become.”

Swami Vivekananda (Hindu) “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.

The Holy Spirit Through Paul… “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Dwell On These Taking special note Concentration upon Estimating the value of Make an intense mental effort in comprehending these things

Whatever Is True John 3:33 – “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.” 1 John 2:27 – “As for you, the anointing…abides in you…but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie….”

Whatever Is Honorable 1 Timothy 3:8, 11 – Deacons likewise must be men of dignity….Women must likewise be dignified…. That which leads to a respectable, dignified, honorable life.

Whatever Is right 1 John 2:1 -- My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous…. Those things that are righteous, like Jesus.

Whatever is Pure 2 Cor. 11:2 –For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. James 3:17 -- But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

Whatever Is Lovely Only time used in the New Testament Compound of PROS – on or upon PHILEO – love, affection Whatever has the quality of wholesome brotherly love.

Whatever Is Of Good Repute Only time used in New Testament From EUPHEMOS – good speak from which we get the word EUPHEMISM opposite of BLASPHEME – evil speak

Any Excellence 1 Peter 2:9 --But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…

2 Peter 1:3 “…seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

Anything Worthy Of Praise Ephesians 1:12 – “…to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.”

Practice These… Things you’ve learned Matthew 11:29 – “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Practice These… Not like these men 2 Timothy 3:6-7 – “For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Practice These… Things you’ve received 1 Corinthians 15:1 – “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand….”

Practice These… Things you’ve heard Matthew 7:24 Wise man hears and acts. Foolish man hears and doesn’t act. The ROCK is the word of Christ put into action.

Practice These… Things you’ve seen Matthew 13:14-15 – “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear….”

In Times Like These… We must have minds that dwell on wholesome, godly, righteous things. We must have lives that reflect the gospel of peace which has set us free and saved us from the snares of Satan.