Seven Steps to Spiritual Stability

Godly Thinking
by
John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved

(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE)
Philippians 4:8      Tape GC 50-41

Introduction

Review

I. Cultivate Harmony Through Love (vv. 2-3)

II. Maintain a Spirit of Joy (v. 4)

III. Learn to Accept Less Than You Are Due (v. 5a)

IV. Rest on a Confident Faith in the Lord (vv. 5b-6a)

V. React to Problems with Thankful Prayer (vv. 6b-7)

Lesson

VI. Focus on Godly Virtues (v. 8)

A.How We Think

1.Before salvation

2.At salvation

3.After salvation

a)Our minds have been transformed

b)Our minds need regular cleansing

B.What We Should Think About

1.Truthful things

2.Noble things

3.Righteous things

4.Pure things

5.Gracious things

6.Praiseworthy things

Conclusion

God is calling us to be spiritually stable, firm, and strong. But how can we be triumphant instead of defeated? How can we be joyous and not depressed? By adhering to the principles in Philippians 4:1-9.

I. CULTIVATE HARMONY THROUGH LOVE (vv. 2-3)

II. MAINTAIN A SPIRIT OF JOY (v. 4)

III. LEARN TO ACCEPT LESS THAN YOU ARE DUE (v. 5a)

IV. REST ON A CONFIDENT FAITH IN THE LORD (vv. 5b-6a)

V. REACT TO PROBLEMS WITH THANKFUL PRAYER (vv. 6b-7)

We should be thankful knowing God uses every situation to accomplish His purposes. Romans 8:28 says He "causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." We should also be thankful for conforming us to be like His Son and His care for us. And we have His promise of future deliverance into His eternal presence. So we have many reasons for being thankful.

The prophet Jonah reacted with thankful prayer when he was swallowed by the great fish (Jonah 2:1). Now if you suddenly found yourself in a fish's belly, how would you react? Maybe you'd cry out, "What are You doing, God? Where are You? Why is this happening?" But Jonah reacted differently: "I called out of my distress to the Lord, and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; Thou didst hear my voice. For Thou hadst cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current engulfed me. All Thy breakers and billows passed over me" (vv. 2-3). He told of his sinking into the sea.

Then Jonah said, "I have been expelled from Thy sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Thy holy temple. Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, weeds were wrapped around my head. I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever" (vv. 4-6). Perhaps he thought God might not know where he was.

Nevertheless in the midst of such great trauma Jonah prayed with thanksgiving: "Thou hast brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to Thee, into Thy holy temple. Those who regard vain idols forsake their faithfulness, but I will sacrifice to Thee with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord" (vv. 6-9). Although he had his weaknesses, Jonah reflected great spiritual stability in his prayer. He was confident of God's ability to deliver him if He so chose. In the same way the peace of God will help us be stable if we react to circumstances with thankful prayer.

VI. FOCUS ON GODLY VIRTUES (v. 8)

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."

This verse is the climax of how to be spiritually stable. That's because spiritual stability is the result of how we think. Focusing on godly virtues produces love, joy, humility, faith, and gratitude (vv. 2-7). The Greek term translated "let your mind dwell on" (logizomai) speaks of mental reflection that affects one's conduct.

We are the products of our thinking. Proverbs 23:7 says, "As [a person] thinks within himself, so he is." Unfortunately, many modern psychologists believe an individual can find stability by recalling his past sins, hurts, and abuses. That kind of thinking has also infiltrated Christianity. However, Philippians 4:8 says we're to focus only on what is right and honorable, not on the sins of darkness (Eph. 5:12).

Pursue Right Thinking

It's frightening to realize our culture has more interest in emotion and pragmatism than in thinking. That's evident when people more often ask, "How will it make me feel?" instead of "Is it true?" That wrong focus is also evident in today's theology, where the predominant questions are "Will it divide?" and "Will it offend?" rather than "Is it right?" The people of Berea were "noble-minded" because "they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11). They were interested in finding truth, not good feelings or pleasant circumstances.

In his book Right Thinking Bill Hull says, "What scares me is the anti-intellectual, anti-critical-thinking philosophy that has spilled over into the church. This philosophy tends to romanticize the faith, making the local church into an experience center.... Their concept of 'church' is that they are spiritual consumers and that the church's job is to meet their felt needs" ([Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1985], p. 66). Many people are going to church not to think or reason about the truth, but to get a certain feeling.

But living by emotions rather than right thinking will produce instability. In his book Your Mind Matters John Stott says, "Sin has more dangerous effects on our faculty of feeling than on our faculty of thinking, because our opinions are more easily checked and regulated by revealed truth than our experiences" ([Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1973], p. 16). So it's important for the Christian not to fall victim to his feelings.

Traditional psychiatry sees man at the pinnacle of an evolutionary process, yet having the same characteristics as less advanced elements in the evolutionary chain. That's why many believe the results of Pavlov's famous stimulus-response experiment with dogs are true for humans as well. However, psychiatrist William Glasser, the father of reality therapy, comes up with a different conclusion in his book Stations of the Mind ([New York: Harper and Row, 1981]).

In his study of how the brain works he discovered that man isn't controlled by a predictable stimulus-response factor, but by internal wants and desires. According to Glasser what man wants is predetermined by what influences him--that is, his thinking. His study shows man's response to outside stimuli is not mechanical, but thoughtful because the mind is the command center determining conduct. Glasser concluded that the critical issue is how man thinks since that is what influences his actions.

From the biblical perspective the importance of how we think is very clear. In Isaiah 1:18 the Lord says, "Come now, and let us reason together." In Matthew 16:1-4 Christ tells the religious leaders not to look for a sign, but to think about the facts already revealed in Scripture (cf. Luke 12:54-57; 16:29-31). And here in Philippians 4:8 Paul issues a call for godly thinking.

A.How We Think

1.Before salvation

a)Romans 1:28--"As they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind." Our minds were corrupt.

b)2 Corinthians 4:4--"The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving." Our minds were blind.

c)Ephesians 4:17--"Walk no longer just as the [lost] also walk, in the futility of their mind." Our minds were engaged in futile thoughts.

d)Ephesians 4:18--The ungodly are "darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them." Our minds were ignorant.

e)1 Corinthians 2:14--"A [lost] man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." Our minds were foolish.

Since the mind of the lost is corrupt it doesn't choose what is good, since it is blind it doesn't know what is good, since it is futile it doesn't perform what is good, and since it is ignorant it doesn't even know it's doing any of that. The thinking of fallen man is foolish indeed.

2.At salvation

a)1 Peter 3:15--"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (NIV). The believer should be able to explain his faith to the lost because the Lord uses the gospel to illuminate the mind of the unbeliever.

b)Matthew 13:19--"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart." The lost must understand God's Word to receive salvation. That's why Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing--understanding--about Christ. Salvation begins in the mind as an individual understands the truth about his sin and Christ's atoning work on his or her behalf.

c)Luke 10:27--"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind." Salvation involves an intelligent response and a reasonable trust in the revealed truth about God.

d)Matthew 6:26--Jesus said, "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"

In his book The Sermon on the Mount D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says, "Faith, according to our Lord's teaching in [Matthew 6:25-34], is primarily thinking.... We must spend more time in studying our Lord's lessons in observation and deduction. The Bible is full of logic, and we must never think of faith as something purely mystical. We do not just sit down in an armchair and expect marvellous things to happen to us. That is not Christian faith. Christian faith is essentially thinking. Look at the birds, think about them, and draw your deductions. Look at the grass, look at the lilies of the field, consider them....

"Faith, if you like, can be defined like this: It is a man insisting upon thinking when everything seems determined to bludgeon and knock him down in an intellectual sense. The trouble with the person of little faith is that, instead of controlling his own thought, his thought is being controlled by something else, and, as we put it, he goes round and round in circles. That is the essence of worry.... That is not thought; that is the absence of thought, a failure to think" (vol. 2 [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960], pp. 129-30). Faith isn't psychological self-hypnosis or wishful thinking, but a reasoned response to revealed truth.

Some people assume worry is the result of too much thinking. But in reality it's the result of too little thinking in the right direction. If you know who God is and understand His purposes, promises, and plans, it will help you not to worry.

3.After salvation

a)Our minds have been transformed

In regeneration we receive a new mind or way of thinking. Our human thought patterns are injected with divine and supernatural ones.

1)Romans 8:5-6--"Those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace." Because of the Spirit of God in our lives, we think on a spiritual level, not a fleshly one.

2)1 Corinthians 1:30--"By His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption." Since God imparts His wisdom to us, we can think the deep thoughts of the eternal God (cf. Ps. 92:5).

3)1 Corinthians 2:11-12--"The thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God." Because the Holy Spirit indwells us, we have the very thoughts of God available to us.

4)1 Corinthians 2:15-16--"He who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." The Spirit gives us understanding about God.

5)1 Corinthians 10:15--The apostle Paul said, "I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say." Paul had to deal with some major problems in the Corinthian church, such as their desecration of the Lord's Table (11:20-22). But by God's grace the Corinthian believers had received divine wisdom to evaluate and understand their situation. Their thinking was to be consistent with God's wisdom, which they received in Christ.

b)Our minds need regular cleansing

Because we live in a fallen world our renewed minds need ongoing cleansing and refreshment. God's chief agent of purifying our thinking is His Word (John 15:3; Eph. 5:26).

1)Colossians 3:10--"Put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him."

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

3)Ephesians 4:23--"Be renewed in the spirit of your mind."

4)1 Thessalonians 5:21--"Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good."

The New Testament calls us to the mental discipline of right thinking. Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." First Peter 1:13 says, "Gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

And Paul often said in his letters, "I would not ... that ye be ignorant" (Rom. 11:25; 1 Cor. 10:1; 2 Cor. 1:8; 1 Thess. 4:13, KJV) and "know ye not" (Rom. 6:3, 16; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 13:5, KJV). He was concerned about the believers' right thinking. When Christ spoke He used the term translated "think" to help His listeners have the right focus (Matt. 5:17; 18:12; 21:28; 22:42).

The Old Testament also calls us to right thinking. King Solomon said, "My son, if you will receive my sayings, and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Prov. 2:1-6).

Dwelling on the right things takes initiative and effort--just as it does when mining for silver. But if we're faithful to make the maximum effort, God will give us understanding (cf. Ps. 119:34).

B.What We Should Think About

Philippians 4:8 says to dwell on "whatever is true ... honorable ... right ... pure ... lovely ... of good report ... [excellent, and] worthy of praise."

1.Truthful things

We will find what is true in God's Word. Jesus said, "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth" (John 17:17; cf. Ps. 119:151). The truth is also in Christ: "You did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:20-21). And the truth is also in God: "With gentleness [correct] those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 2:25). Dwelling on what is true necessitates meditating on God's Word.

2.Noble things

The Greek term translated "honorable" means "worthy of respect" and refers to that which is noble, dignified, and reverent. We are to think about whatever is worthy of awe and adoration--the sacred as opposed to the profane.

3.Righteous things

The term "right" speaks of righteousness. Our focus is to be in perfect harmony with the eternal, unchanging, divine standard of the holy God revealed in Scripture. Right thinking is always consistent with God's absolute holiness.

4.Pure things

The term "pure" refers to something morally clean and undefiled. We are to dwell on what is clean, not soiled.

5.Gracious things

The Greek term translated "lovely" (prosphil[ma]es) occurs only here in the New Testament and means "pleasing" or "amiable." The implication is we are to focus on whatever is kind or gracious.

6.Praiseworthy things

The Greek term translated "good repute" speaks of that which is highly regarded or well thought of. Whereas "honorable" predominantly refers to something worthy of veneration by believers, this term refers to what is reputable in the world at large, such as kindness, courtesy, and respect for others.

Focusing on godly virtues will affect what you decide to see (such as television programs, books, or magazines) and say (perhaps to friends or those at work). That's because your thinking affects your desires and behavior. It's as if Paul was saying, "Since there are things out there that are excellent and worthy of praise, please focus on them."

In verse 9 Paul concludes, "The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you." He was saying, "I'm an example of one who focuses on godly virtues. If you follow my example, you'll have not only the peace of God (v. 7) but also the God of peace" (v. 9). Paul maintained spiritual stability in the midst of severe trials (vv. 11-13), and you can too by following his example.

1. Describe how Jonah responded to his severe trial (Jonah 2:1-9; see p. 2).

2. Why is Philippians 4:8 the climax of how to be spiritually stable (see p. 3)?

3. Why were the people of Berea "noble-minded" (Acts 17:11; see p. 3)?

4. How did you think before salvation? Support your answer with Scripture (see pp. 4-5).

5. What does the Lord use to illuminate the mind of an unbeliever (1 Pet. 3:15; see p. 5)?

6. Salvation begins in the mind as an individual understands the truth about his and Christ's (see p. 5).

7. What is faith according to Matthew 6 (see p. 6)?

8. In salvation you receive a new mind. Support that truth with Scripture (see pp. 6-7).

9. What does the Lord use to cleanse and refresh the believer's mind (see p. 8)?

10. What does Proverbs 2:1-6 teach (see pp. 8-9)?

11. Where can you find truth? Support your answer with Scripture (see p. 9).

12. What does "right" refer to in Philippians 4:8 (see p. 9)?

13. Why will focusing on godly virtues affect what you see and say (see p. 10)?

14. What is Paul an example of in verse 9 (see p. 10)?

1. The Puritan John Owen used an analogy to show the importance of continually--not just occasionally--focusing on spiritual things: "The thoughts of spiritual things are with many, as guests that come into an inn, and not like children that dwell in the house. They enter occasionally, and then there is a great stir about them, to provide [suitable] entertainment for them. In a while they are disposed of, and so depart, being neither looked nor inquired after any more. Things of another nature are attended to; new occasions bring in new guests, for a season. [However, children that dwell in the house] are missed if they are out of the way, and have their daily provision constantly made for them. So it is with these occasional thoughts about spiritual things. By one means or other they enter into the mind, and there are entertained for a season. On a sudden they depart, and men hear of them no more. But those that are natural and genuine, arising from a living spring of grace in the heart, disposing the mind unto them, are as the children of the house; they are expected in their places, and at their seasons. If they are missing, they are inquired after. The heart calls itself to an account, whence it is that it hath been so long without them, and calls them over [for a desired conversation] with them" (The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977], pp. 62-63). Make this your prayer: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer (Ps. 19:14).

2. In his book Spiritual Intimacy Richard Mayhue wrote, "To hear something once for most of us is not enough. To briefly ponder something profound for most of us does not allow enough time to grasp and fully understand its significance. This proves to be most true with God's mind in Scripture. The idea of meditating sometimes lends itself to misunderstanding, so let me illustrate its meaning.... For me, the most vivid picture comes from a coffee percolator. The water goes up a small tube and drains down through the coffee grounds. After enough cycles, the flavor of the coffee beans has been transferred to the water which we then call coffee. So it is that we need to cycle our thoughts through the 'grounds' of God's Word until we start to think like God" ([Wheaton, Ill.: Victor, 1990], pp. 46-47). Renew your mind by regularly meditating on God's Word. Doing so will bring into your mind what is spiritually healthy and lead you away from what is harmful.

Added to the John MacArthur "Study Guide" Collection by:

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