The Christian and Self-Renewal How NOT to Think

1
The Christian and Self-RenewalHow NOT to Think

• And do not be conformed to this world, but be
  transformed by the renewing of your mind
• Romans 122

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Introduction

• Examining the importance of the MIND.
• We do, as a rule, what we want to do.
• MAKE UP YOUR MIND find a way to accomplish the
  task.
• Living in mediocrityno fire (zeal) deep down
  inside.
• Some things we should NOT think about

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Dangers of Improper Thinking

• Too many of us carry around excessive baggage
  that hinders proper thinking.
• Were dealing with past failures, hurts, and
  problems that wont go away.
• No desire to change or improve.
• Allowing these to rule our minds keeps us from
  moving forward.

4
Dangers of Improper Thinking

• We can choose for it to be that way.
• And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled,
  which says 'Hearing you will hear and shall not
  understand, and seeing you will see and not
  perceive for the hearts of this people have
  grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and
  their eyes they have closed, lest they should see
  with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest
  they should understand with their hearts and
  turn, so that I should heal them. Matthew
  1314,15

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Dangers of Improper Thinking

• We must bring our minds into proper focus.
• Casting down arguments and every high thing that
  exalts itself against the knowledge of God,
  bringing every thought into captivity to the
  obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 105
• Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be
  sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace
  that is to be brought to you at the revelation of
  Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 113

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Dangers of Improper Thinking

• Thinking properly helps us gain control.
• 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.
  Philippians 48

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The Problem of Pessimism

• The opposite of optimism.
• Defined as, The opinion or doctrine that
  everything in nature is ordered for or trends
  toward the worst, or that the world is wholly
  evil a disposition to take the least hopeful
  view of things. (Webster)
• Expecting the worst in any situation.
• Closing ones eyes to the possibility of a good
  outcome.

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The Problem of Pessimism

• Political opponents parse every speech looking
  for things to criticizereasons why an idea wont
  work.
• Some even insert obstacles to dash the
  possibility of growth.
• When a thing goes wrong, theyre sure to point
  out they were right.
• Even ignoring any good that might have been
  accomplished.

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The Problem of Pessimism

• When we apply this thinking to spiritual matters,
  we often hear
• It wont work.
• Nobody really cares.
• I just cant do that.
• They wont listen.
• Pessimists looks for a splinter in the eye.
• They listen to sermons looking for what is
  wronginstead of what is right.

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The Problem of Pessimism

• In Gods word, pessimism is never viewed in a
  positive light.
• Often, it is accompanied by lack of faith.
• And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of
  Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the
  Egyptians marched after them. So they were very
  afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to
  the LORD. Then they said to Moses, Because there
  were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away
  to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt
  with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not
  the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, Let
  us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it
  would have been better for us to serve the
  Egyptians than that we should die in the
  wilderness. Exodus 1410-12

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The Problem of Pessimism

• In Gods word, pessimism is never viewed in a
  positive light.
• Often, it is accompanied by lack of faith.
• Then the whole congregation of the children of
  Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the
  wilderness. And the children of Israel said to
  them, Oh, that we had died by the hand of the
  LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the
  pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full!
  For you have brought us out into this wilderness
  to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
  Exodus 162,3

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The Problem of Pessimism

• In Gods word, pessimism is never viewed in a
  positive light.
• Often, it is accompanied by lack of faith.
• So all the congregation lifted up their voices
  and cried, and the people wept that night. And
  all the children of Israel complained against
  Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said
  to them, If only we had died in the land of
  Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!
  Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall
  by the sword, that our wives and children should
  become victims? Would it not be better for us to
  return to Egypt? So they said to one another, Let
  us select a leader and return to Egypt.
  Numbers 141-4

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The Problem of Pessimism

• In Gods word, pessimism is never viewed in a
  positive light.
• Often, it is accompanied by lack of faith.
• If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then
  we will be your servants. But if I prevail
  against him and kill him, then you shall be our
  servants and serve us. And the Philistine said,
  I defy the armies of Israel this day give me a
  man, that we may fight together. When Saul and
  all Israel heard these words of the Philistine,
  they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 1 Samuel
  179-11

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The Problem of Pessimism

• New TestamentParable of the Talents.
• Then he who had received the one talent came and
  said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping
  where you have not sown, and gathering where you
  have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and
  went and hid your talent in the ground. Look,
  there you have what is yours. But his lord
  answered and said to him,'You wicked and lazy
  servant, you knew that I reap where I have not
  sown, and gather where I have not scattered
  seed. Matthew 2524-26

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The Problem of Pessimism

• Jesus enemies were pessimists.
• But to what shall I liken this generation? It is
  like children sitting in the marketplaces and
  calling to their companions, and saying 'We
  played the flute for you, and you did not dance
  we mourned to you, and you did not lament. For
  John came neither eating nor drinking, and they
  say, 'He has a demon. The Son of Man came eating
  and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and
  a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and
  sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her
  children. Matthew 1116-19

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The Problem of Pessimism

• At times, Jesus disciples were pessimistic.
• Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an
  epileptic and suffers severely for he often
  falls into the fire and often into the water. So
  I brought him to Your disciples, but they could
  not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O
  faithless and perverse generation, how long shall
  I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?
  Bring him here to Me. Matthew 1715-17