Control Your Thoughts, Control Your Peace! (Keep Your Peace pt.3)
Sunday Morning
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream
08/15/21
{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
We have been talking about peace.
We have been talking about peace and what it means.
We talked about peace meaning to be “complete or being fully whole.”
When you are at peace…everything WITH YOU is the way it should be.
Over the past few weeks:
We talked about how God is the answer to the peace we need.
We talked about examples of trusting God.
For instance:
Story of Jesus Walking On Water
{Matthew 14:22}
We’ve talked about Jesus walking on the water DURING a storm.
We talked about Peter, who was focused on Jesus, walked on the water toward him.
That although the storm was continuing to happen…his eyes and focus were on Jesus.
When his eyes began to focus on the problem…he was afraid.
When he focused on the original problem.
He was worried…
But only when his focus was on the storm and not Jesus.
Worry set in.
He saw the problem AS he was already walking on water.
The problem hadn’t gone away.
But at the time, he was at peace.
God Can Give Us Peace In Spite Of Our Problems
Last week we gave a new affirmation:
Biblical Affirmation:
"Today I Will Stop Worrying And Trust God More.”
We have plenty of things to be worried about in life.
Scripture told us that it would be that way.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
In life we have trouble.
We will have bad days.
“Nothing is certain except Death and Taxes.” - Ben Franklin (credited)
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - Jesus
How Many Of You Want To See Better Days?
If we could we’d want every day better than the day before it.
That could be peaceful for all of us!
Eventually things will be amazing!
The bible talks about seeing better days.
What does the bible say about us seeing better days?
Psalm 34:12-14
“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
It lists a few things here.
{Psalm 34:12}
If You Want To See Good Days:
Don’t Speak Of Evil
Don’t Tell Lies
Turn From Evil
Seek Peace
Pursue Peace
Each of these could be a separate topic.
Since we’re talking about Peace…
If You Desire To See Good Days, Seek And Pursue Peace!
Seek and Pursue Peace…
What does “seeking and pursuing peace” mean?
Here’s a scripture we looked at before with a different focus.
Gaining revelation from different reads.
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
We talked before about “trusting in God.”
Today we’re talking about keeping our minds “stayed on him.”
What does “mind stayed on You” mean?
Does this mean that we have to ALWAYS have our mind on God?
Who can do that?
We’ve seen people try.
We all know someone who does this.
They don’t walk anywhere…but are “carried by the spirit.”
You can’t ask them how they’re doing without hearing of the goodness of the Lord.
You’re speaking to someone in passing:
“How’s it going?”
“Oh I’m blessed and highly favored in the mighty arms of his precious glory and awesome works.”
People will call you and leave you a 3 minute message talking about God…
then ask you to call them back.
Do these people have God on their mind always?
No one does…
So what does having your mind “stayed on him” mean?
What Is The Right Thinking?
Romans 8:6
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
“Setting The Mind On The Flesh Is Death"
What is the flesh?
The flesh is anything that has to do with “us.”
Our desire for what’s best for “me.”
Thinking of “myself.”
What do “I” want for my life.
Those things lead to death.
Not necessarily that THAT will kill you…
But doesn’t guarantee you peace when trouble comes.
It DOES NOT give you God to rely on when trouble comes.
It DOES NOT set up treasures in heaven as the bible says to do.
“Setting The Mind On The Spirit Is Life"
If thinking of ourselves is “flesh thinking.”
Thinking on things of God must be “Spirit thinking.”
Before we get into it…
Remember what we think about is important.
Your Thoughts Can Either Give You Peace Or They Can Take It
Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…
This is saying your thoughts control who you are.
“You Are What You Eat?”
The Bible says:
“You Become What You Think”
Great athletes will tell you when playing others to “believe you can do something.”
Think of yourself better than those trying to stop you.
Also…to look for the one who has fear in his eyes.
He is already defeated by his thoughts.
Ever heard, “We are our own worst enemy?”
That’s because changing our OWN mindset can be one of the hardest things to do.
Our Thoughts Can Control Our Peace
So what spiritual things should we be thinking about when trouble comes?
Think On This:
Biblical Affirmation:
“My God Is With Me Today!”
{Joshua 1:9, Psalm 46:7, Matthew 28:20}
This alone can give us peace.
We serve a God who can calm the trouble in our lives.
Mark 4:35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
A furious squall came up…
The boat started to take on water.
The disciples were fishermen.
They knew what it was like to be on the water.
They had been in storms before.
Yet they were afraid for their lives.
“This is the big one!” (Redd Foxx)
They go to Jesus…who is asleep.
Even when we think this is going to take us out.
God, who is with us isn’t concerned at all.
Our God Is Greater Than Our Problems!
He has to be woken up.
The storm is tossing the boat…
Jesus is asleep.
Because he was with them…
When they call him up.
He speaks to the storm.
Then when the storm stops…
He asks the disciples:
What’s wrong with you?
Why are you afraid?
Why are you worried?
They thought they were gonna die…
And they still get shamed by Jesus.
However Bad It Is, Remember God Can Handle It!
So because our thoughts can either give or take peace…
What Are You Thinking On?
Here’s another:
Think On This:
Biblical Affirmation:
“My God Is Greater Than Those Against Me!”
{2 Kings 6:16, 1 John 4:4, Romans 8:31}
I talked about this one about a year ago.
2 Kings 6:8-17
8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.” 9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
Israel was at war with Aram.
Israel was at WAR with Aram.
God’s people were at war.
“In this world you will have trouble…”
But the man of God knew everything Aram would do.
He told his king…and every time they were ready.
11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” 12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” 13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.”
Aram’s king thought there was a spy in his camp.
Even his officers knew God was involved some how.
Well Aram’s king knows he can’t win without removing Elisha.
“Go get him.”
14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.
The entire city is surrounded.
They are coming for Elisha…
…and his servant.
“Oh my lord…”
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Elisha was not concerned.
He had his mind and thoughts on something.
Something was keeping him calm even in the face of an army against him.
He prays the servants eyes are opened…
And the servant sees an even bigger army…surrounding the man of God.
Romans 8:31
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
If God is for us…WHO can stand against us?
1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
The one who is IN you is greater than all of those coming after you.
What Are You Thinking On?
In conclusion:
Jesus told us we would have trouble.
The AMP said it best/(worst):
John 16:33 (AMP)
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
In Life We Will Have:
Tribulation
Trials
Distress
Frustration
He didn’t put a time stamp on it.
There will be rough days.
There will be rough weeks.
There might be rough months or even rough years.
But one thing he said all along.
“He has conquered the world.”
John 16:33 (AMP)
…For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
He told us so we can have peace in him.
God is our peace.
He removed its ability to harm us.
So if it can’t harm us…
We need to stop worrying about it.
Let’s Change Our Thinking! Stop Worrying About It!
Psalm 4:8
“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
It’s not as bad as it looks…
Because God is with us.
If you want peace during the hard times.
Know you have a God who’s already conquered it.
Change Your Thoughts To Control Your Peace
