Pure – Philippians 4:8-9. The battle for the mind must be won! There needs to be real effort in staying focus on God’s thoughts (Phil 4:8)There needs

Pure – Philippians 4:8-9

The battle for the mind must be won!

• There needs to be real effort in staying focus on God’s thoughts (Phil 4:8)


• Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.


• We are a product of what we choose to think about.

• If you are struggling in your life as a Christian always start here!

• We can live a life full of purpose when we “think on these things!” (Rom 12:1-2)


• Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Start with knowing the holy God

• Consider how God introduces Himself to the world. (Isa 40:28-31)


• Isaiah 40:28-31 - Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.


• 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.


• God is everlasting. He created all things. He never tires or is weary. (All Powerful) His wisdom is infinite (All knowing)

• He wishes to help and bless those who seek His ways (Wait on the Lord)

• The knowledge of the character and promises of God is the motivating force to change and mold us. (1 John 3:2-3)


• 1 John 3:2-3 - Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.


• We must choose to see the things that are unseen.

• When we come to love the Lord our hearts will be directed to His coming.

• Look carefully at the prayer of David. (Ps 63:1-8)


• Psalm 63:1-8 - O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name


• 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. 7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. 8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.


• Consider the expressions: “thirsts,” “longs,” “looked,” and “meditate.”

• True knowledge must be pursued and digested. It must not be superficial.

• As Job meditated on his ordeal he came to better know God! (Job 42:5-6)


• Job 42:5-6 - "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes."


• When God introduces Himself to Moses He appeared as a fire. (Ex 3:1-5)


• Exodus 3:2-5 - And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn


• 4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5 Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."


• How do you approach He who is holy? There is a distinction and a fear that proceeds from being in the presence of a holy God. (Isa 6)


• 1 Samuel 2:2 - "No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.


• Isaiah 40:25 - " To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One.


• Hosea 11:9 - I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I will not come with terror.


• “In the N.T., the words holy, holiness, sanctify… all come from the same word .. which means “sacred, pure, morally blameless, innocent, modest, clean.”

• The basis of all purity comes from imitating God. (Eph 5:1-4)


• Ephesians 5:1-5 - Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;


• 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.


• We serve a holy God who abundantly forgives.

• Our ultimate purpose is to be conformed to the image of Christ and in that we will glorify God. (Rom 8:29; Phil 1:10-11)


• Romans 8:29 - For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.


• Phil 1:10 - “so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” – New American Bible

Put on the pure mind of Christ

• There are four servant songs in Isaiah that describes His mind. (Isa 42, 49, 50, 52-53)

• The power of the Servant begins with His ear (Isa 50:4-5)


• Isaiah 50:4-5 - " The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.


• It is a very risky thing to completely open your heart (ear) to another.

• The ear of Christ led Him to the cross. (Isa 50:6-7)


• Isaiah 50:6-7 - I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. 7 " For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.


• He was scourged, He was slapped and was spit upon. (Mt 26:67)

• He was not in any way ashamed but had a face of flint. (Ezk 3:8-9)


• Ezekiel 3:8-9 - "Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 "Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house."


• Consider the emphasis in the ministry of Jesus towards handling God’s will.

• Jesus would only do those things that He saw the Father do. Without instruction He would do nothing! (Jn 5:19-20, 30)


• John 5:19-20 - Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.


• John 5:30 - "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.


• Jesus wanted His followers to understand authority and to follow the Father just like He did. He wanted others to test doctrine! (Jn 7:16-17)


• John 7:16-17 - Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.


• This respect for the words of God would lead Jesus only to act when the Father gives instruction. This led Jesus to the cross. (Jn 8:28-32; 12:32-33)


• John 8:28-32 - Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.


• 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."


• John 12:32-33 - "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.


• Jesus showed how we must empty ourselves and follow Him. When we do as Jesus did then we will honor the Father. (Jn 12:25-28; Phil 2:5)


• John 12:25-28 - "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.


• 27 " Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."


• Philippians 2:5 - Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,


• This same attitude was to be expected of all us whom this precious word would be delivered! (Jn 12:48-50; Phil 4:8-9)


• John 12:48-50 - "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."


• Philippians 4:8-9 - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Meditate only upon the pure doctrine of the apostles and prophets

• We must willingly limit what we open our hearts to. (1 Tim 1:3; 4:6, 16)


• 1 Timothy 1:3 - As I urged you when I went into Macedonia -- remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,


• 1 Timothy 4:6 - If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.


• 1 Timothy 4:16 - Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.


• Paul warned the Corinthians about a false “open mindedness” that would lead them away to another Christ and another gospel. (2 Cor 11:3-4)


• 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 - But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted -- you may well put up with it!


• “..your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” - NIV

• One brother recently said: “In the church the reading of the books of men is on the increase and the reading of the Bible is on the decrease.”

• This word was delivered through the apostles and prophets.


• This carefully delivered message would not be added to by Jesus, the Holy Spirit or the Apostles as it was delivered! (Jn 16:12-13; Eph 3:3-5)


• John 16:12-13 - "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.


• Ephesians 3:3-5 - how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:


• This word would transcend culture and changing times. (Acts 17:30-31)


• Acts 17:30-31 - "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."


• This message is the foundation of God’s work in us. (Eph 2:20; Acts 2:42)


• Ephesians 2:20 - having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.


• Acts 2:42 - And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.


• If the early church had no instruction then they did nothing. (Acts 15:23-24)


• Acts 15:23-24 - They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" -- to whom we gave no such commandment


• This is how they glorified God! (Col 3:17; 1 Pt 4:11)


• Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.


• 1 Peter 4:11 - If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.


• Satan wants to turn us away from this foundation.

• Recently a brother enthusiastically shared this quote:


• "God said it, I believe it, that settles it"...Uhhh...no...God said it, someone translated it into your language divorcing it from its own culture, you read it with a preconceived belief lens, then interpreted it and became convinced in your heart you knew what meant even though it bore no resemblance to the original audience or culture it was spoken into to begin with...”


• This study proclaims that the Bible is not authoritative and could not be understood without the help of other men! Do not let men take your Bible away!

• The first step to working out problems with brethren is purity! (James 3:17)


• James 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Keep the conscience pure

• The essence of conversion is honesty towards God and self and a desire to yield to God’s way. (1 Pt 3:21 NASV)


• 1 Peter 3:21 - Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,


• We must fight to keep a good conscience. (Acts 24:16; 1 Tim 4:1-2)


• Acts 24:16 - "This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.


• 1 Timothy 4:1-2 - Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,


• We must always understand that forgiveness is a product of repentance. We must demand teaching that opens and convicts the heart. (1 Tim 4:12)


• 1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.


• How much of modern media do we let into our hearts?

• “Vice is a monster of so frightful mien. As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.” – Alexander Pope

• What will we be thinking about on the day we see the Lord?

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Pure – Philippians 4:8-9. The battle for the mind must be won! There needs to be real effort in staying focus on God’s thoughts (Phil 4:8)There needs