Today will begin at the bottom. Verse 7 mentions a "sound mind." The Greek word means a "right mind" or a "sane mind." If you want to be in your right mind, you will need deal with fear, power and love. I'm not suggesting that you are crazy, but that if you want to have a sound mind as far as the Bible is concerned, you need to deal with these three things.
I. Fear: Do not be afraid. A. The word carries the idea of being cowardly. B. ....of being timid. C. Of being controlled by fear. 1. Fear is not always bad. There are things that should make us afraid, the problem with many people is that they are controlled by their fears. 2. Two illustrations: (1) An acronym: False Expectations Appearing Real (2) Charlie Brown: "I've developed a new philosophy, I will only dread one day at a time.....Terrible way to live! II. Power: Use the power that God has made available to you. A. It is the power of the Holy Spirit. 1. If you are saved, you have Holy Spirit power in you to help you live unafraid and in your right mind. 2. Think of it: It is the power of God in your heart - your inner sefl. B. It is the power of the faith in Christ, who saved you. Jesus said that if you have faith the size of the tiny mustard seed, you can move mountains. C. You are in your right mind if you are living with the realization of the power that God has given you to live. III. Love: Practice God's love. A. The Greek word is Agape (ahgahpay) which is the word used in John 3:16, 1Corinthians 13, etc. B. It is God's kind of love as shown in the life of Jesus Christ: 1. Sincere 2. Sacrificial 3. Selfless C. We need to practice this love even in a hostile environment...... Based on these three points, are you in your right mind?
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For some people life means knowledge (education)....athletics.....wealth....power ....
pleasure, etc. For Paul it was Christ and magnifying Him. I. Magnifying Christ is the highest purpose of life. A. It will make us better people. 1. At home...... At work.....3. At play.....4. In church, etc. B. It will make our lights shine brigher. Matthew 5:14-16....Illustration: Some people seem to have dead batteries. C. It will make us better witnesses. What, or who, do people see when they look at our lives? II. The value of the higher purpose of glorifying and magnifying Christ. A. It keeps us from focusing on trivialities. B. It demands our best efforts. C. It encourages our prayer life. D. It encourages us to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. What is your purpose????? |
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