RECAP Examining some of the things that could not move Paul from his goal Make application to our lives since our goal as Christians is the same. For The Past Three Sundays We Have Been:

THE VALUE OF POSITIVE THINKING PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9

THE FOCUS OF TODAY’S DISCUSSION To EXAMINE How Paul Was Able To Develop Such A Strong Resistance To All Those Unpleasant Situations Without Being Moved

“THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE AFFECTS HOW YOU TREAT THEM”

PROVERBS 23:7 IMPLIES THAT Good Thoughts And Actions Can Never Produce Bad Results; So Also Bad Thoughts And Actions Can Never Produce Good Results

“Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, So may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts” (James Allen)

By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master- gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny” (James Allen)

ELEMENTS OF THE NEGATIVE THINKING ALLEN Opine “So May A Man Tend The Garden Of His Mind, Weeding Out All The Wrong, Useless, And Impure Thoughts…”  GOSSIP  SLANDER  HATRED  VENGEANCE  BITTER JEALOUSY  SELFISH AMBITION

JAMES ALLEN CONTINUES So May A Man Tend The Garden Of His Mind, Weeding Out All The Wrong, Useless, And Impure Thoughts, AND Cultivating Toward Perfection The Flowers And Fruits Of Right, Useful, And Pure Thoughts

1. WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE We should always set our thoughts on saying and doing things that are Sincere – Eph. 4:25; 1 John 3:8 ELEMENTS OF POSITIVE THINKING There Are Those Who Would Spend Time Focusing Their Minds On Baseless Allegations, Slandering Others, Gossip About People Lest Us Focus Our Mind On Being Truthful Not Merely In Words Only, But In Thoughts And Actions (1 TIM. 1:5; 2:5)

ELEMENTS OF POSITIVE THINKING CONT’D 2. WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONOURABLE (TITUS 2:1-10) Exercise your mind and focus on things that can do to make you become esteemed and revered by those around you

CHARACTERISTICS OF HONOURABLE OLDER MEN & WOMEN ACCORDING TO TITUS 2:2-5 ADULT MEN (V. 2) 1. Temperate 2. Dignified 3. Sensible 4. Sound In Faith 5. Love 6. Perseverance ADULT WOMEN (VS. 3-5) 1. NOT MALICIOUS 2. NOT GOSSIPS 3. NOT ENSLAVE TO MUCH WINE 4. TEACHERS OF GOOD THINGS 5. SENSIBLE 6. PURE 7. WORKERS AT HOME 8. KIND 9. SUBMISSIVE TO HUSBANDS

WHAT IS HONOURABLE FOR THE YOUTH SUBORDINATES ACCORDING TITUS 2:6-10 YOUTH (VS, 6-8) 1) SENSIBLE 2) EXAMPLES IN DEEDS 3) PURITY IN DOCTRINE 4) DIGNIFIED 5) SOUND IN SPEECH SUBORDINATES (VS. 9-10) 1) SUBJECT TO SUPERIORS 2) WELL PLEASING 3) NOT ARGUMENTATIVE 4) NOT PILFERING 5) SHOW GOOD FAITH

2. WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONOURABLE Not On Things That Will Make Us Dishonorable Such As Defaming Your Neighbor (Ps. 50:20-21; 101:5; Pr.10:18; 11:9) ELEMENTS OF POSITIVE THINKING CONT’D

3. WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE JUST Think about how your Actions will be upright in all respects, concerning your relationship with others (Jer. 9:23-24; Col. 4:1; Tit. 1: 8; Job 31:13,31) ELEMENTS OF POSITIVE THINKING CONT’D

THE VALUE OF POSITIVE THINKING PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9 PART 2

RECAP: Positive Thinking Involves Thinking About Things That Are TRUE Positive Thinking Involves Thinking About Things That Are JUST Positive Thinking Involves Thinking About Things That Are HONOURABLE

ELEMENTS OF POSITIVE THINKING CONT’D 4. THINK ON WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE PURE Think About How You Can Live Innocent, Modest, Clean Life In Behavior As A Whole (1 TIM. 4:12; 5:2; 1 JOHN 3:2-3; TITUS 1:15,16)

4. THINK ON WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE PURE CONT’D The Word "Pure" Also Applies To "Pure" Motives And Actions. ELEMENTS OF POSITIVE THINKING CONT’D Some People Spend Their Lives Dwelling Upon All The Bad Things They Would Love To See Happen To Those Who Wronged Them

ELEMENTS OF POSITIVE THINKING CONT’D 5. THINK ON WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY Think About What GOOD THING You Can Do That Will Earn You The Esteem And Good Will Of Your Neighbors ( LUKE 7:4-5 Thus The Christian's Mind Is To Be Set On Doing Things That Will Elicit From Others Not Bitterness And Hostility, But Admiration And Affection” A Mind Set On Vengeance And Punishment Call Forth Bitterness And Fear In Others Minds Set On Criticism And Rebuke Call Forth Resentment In Others

ELEMENTS OF POSITIVE THINKING CONT’D 6. THINK ON WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT - PHIL. 1:27 Think On What To Do To Make People Speak Well Of Us Among Others, And So Bringing A Good Name Think And Do Things, That By Our Conduct And Behaviour We Should Edify Our Neighbours, And Give Them Good Example By Our Actions

“THINK ON” PHIL. 4:9  Have A Continual Regard To, “Do” These Things Whenever The Occasion Arises  Let Your Minds Be Exercised On These  To Constantly Place Our Minds On These Things  To ‘Make These Things The Subjects Of Your Thoughtful Consideration’

EFFECT OF THOGUHT ON OUR HEALTH AND THE BODY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

“Thought In The Mind Hath Made Us, What We Are…if A Man’s Mind Hath Evil Thoughts, Pain Comes On Him As Comes The Wheel The Ox Behind...If One Endure In Purity Of Thought, Joy Follows Him As His Own Shadow” ( James Allen )

The body is the servant of the mind. it obeys the operations of the mind…at the bidding of unlawful thoughts the body sinks rapidly into disease and decay; at the command of glad and beautiful thoughts it becomes clothed with youthfulness and beauty ( James Allen )

Disease And Health, Like Circumstances, Are Rooted In Thought. Sickly Thoughts Will Express Themselves Through A Sickly Body ( James Allen )

SUMMARY ON TEXT: PHIL. 4:8-9 THE VALUE: “And The God Of Peace Shall Be With Us Must Be The Subjects Of Our Thought’s Consideration Namely Truth, Honourable, Just, Pure, Of Good Report, Lovely Anything Morally Excellent “Whatsoever Things Are”: Whatever Would Fit Into The Following Categories