SF096 - YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK (Proverbs 4 20-27)

Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 7,006 views
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

                                                                                                                                                                                  SF096

Calvary PS

                                                                                                 YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK

 

Proverbs 4:20-27

INTRODUCTION:

 

It has been said that you are what you eat.  Doctors tell us that our diet will determine a great deal of our health and happiness.  Certain food effect us not only physically but psychologically as well.

However, even more than that what we think, what we concentrate upon will effect who we are and what we do more than any one thing.

The word "heart" is used more than 800 times in the Old Testament.  More than 200 times it deals with the thought life.  The word "mind" is the NT equivalent.

Therefore, Solomon instructed us to "guard" our hearts "above all else" because of...

1A.       THE DANGER OF A CARELESS HEART (23)

(Proverbs 23:7)  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...."

 

1B.       Your Heart is the Source of your Attitudes

Your attitudes are the sum total of your thoughts.

God takes your thoughts/attitudes seriously

(Genesis 6:5‑7)  "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. {6} The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. {7} So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth‑‑men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air‑‑for I am grieved that I have made them.""

God destroyed mankind because of their thought life!

(Matthew 24:37)  "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man."

2B.       Your Attitudes Produce Your Actions

Positive or Negative

Sow a thought - Reap an act;

Sow an act - Reap a habit;

Sow a habit - Reap a character;

Sow a character - Reap a destiny!

(Romans 12:2)  "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is‑‑his good, pleasing and perfect will."

What the mind attends to, it considers;

What the mind does not attend to, it dismisses.

What the mind attends to continually, it believes.

What the mind believes, it eventually does.

2A.       THE DISASTER OF A CORRUPTED HEART (23)

1B.       Pornography is Psychological Poison

Four Steps - Dr. Victor Kline (Univ. Utah)

Addiction

Escalation

Desensitization

Practice

2B.       Pornography is a Social Sickness

1/4 girls molested

1/10 boys molested

“Not everyone who reads pornography is a sexual deviant, but all sexual deviants read porno.”

3B.       Pornography is a Domestic Disaster

Because it divorces sex from love.

4B.       Pornography is Spiritual Suicide

(Matthew 5:28)  "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

(James 1:15)  "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full‑grown, gives birth to death."

3A.       THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLEAN HEART (20-22)

1B.       Appropriate God's Word  (v.20)

(Proverbs 16:16)  "How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!"

2B.       Absorb God’s Word  (v.21)

(Psalms 119:11)  "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

(Philippians 4:8)  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable‑‑if anything is excellent or praiseworthy‑‑think about such things."

3B.       Apply God's Word  (v.22)

God's Word must dominate your thinking in order for it to dominate you life.

(James 1:22)  "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

4A.       THE DESCRIPTION OF A COMMITTED HEART (4:24-5:2)

1B.       A Cautious Mouth  (v.24)

"What's down in the well will come up in the bucket."

(Matthew 12:34)  "... For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

2B.       A Controlled Eye  (v.25)            

What you see will govern what you think and what you think will govern what you see.

 

(Job 31:1) "I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl"

3B.       A Careful Foot  (vv.26-27)

Doing God's will comes from thinking God's thoughts.

 

(Psalms 119:101)  "I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word."

 

(Psalms 119:133)  "Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me."

4B.       A Consecrated Ear (5:1-2)

CONCLUSION

 

You are what you think and you think on what you receive.   

The question is are you willing to reduce your intake of junk in order to improve your output for God?

 

Have you been Careless with Your Heart?

Has your heart become Corrupted?

Cleanse your Heart...

Hear God’s Word

Hold God’s Word

Heed God’s Word!

Our Goal... A Committed Heart!

Cautious mouth

Controlled eyes

Careful feet

Consecrated ears!

Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more