Sermon
"Thinking" Biblically (Part 2)
Publisher transcript
Transcript
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The human mind has been described as being like a giant television that can never be turned off.
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The idea our mind is always on.
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We're always thinking about something, consciously or subconsciously.
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You think about your life.
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Throughout the day, there are times when you are just zeroed in on something.
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You're thinking seriously, just devoting your mind to the task at hand.
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There are other times, though, that our mind just sort of drifts and we daydream.
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Even when we go to bed at night, our mind does not turn off.
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Sometimes our mind is so active, it's just sort of racing.
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We can't lay aside what we've been doing or we can't stop thinking about what's got to be done.
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But when we do go to sleep, our mind continues to work.
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It creates dreams.
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And, you know, that's where the mind just sort of blows your mind to think.
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Some of the crazy things that are going on up here that comes out in our dreams.
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Well, if you think about your mind, it is always, or think about your mind in terms of television, it is always on.
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The screen never goes blank.
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Now, suppose you had a television that could never be turned off.
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What would you do when something came on that you just hated?
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It was not good.
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It was not something you wanted to think about.
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You can't turn it off, so what would you do?
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You'd change the channel, wouldn't you?
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That would be the logical thing.
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Well, as Christians, we are responsible for what we allow to play on the screen of our minds.
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In fact, we are called to make sure that our mind stays on channels that are good.
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As we're going to see some things this morning, things that are pure, things that are positive.
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Our mind needs to be focused on the kinds of things that would please God.
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I want you to turn back, if you would, to Philippians chapter 4, verse 8.
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And we're going to continue what we started last week, looking at how Paul instructs us, take control of our thoughts.
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He tells us to think intentionally about certain kinds of things.
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Think about right things, such as, let's look at it.
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Philippians 4, verse 8.
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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,
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if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
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Paul is telling us, in effect, to think like a Christian or think biblically.
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He says that because he knows we are responsible for what we think.
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You ever just dwelled on that for a little bit?
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We are responsible before God for that which we dwell on.
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Now, we're not responsible for everything that comes into our mind.
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All kinds of things can cross our minds.
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What we're responsible for is what we do with it, whether we dwell on it and especially act on it.
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Paul knows very well that what's in our mind, we might even say what's in our heart,
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is eventually going to come out in our words and in our actions.
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Paul learned that from Jesus.
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I want us to look at a little bit of what we looked at last week from the teaching of Jesus
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about the importance of what we think.
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What's in our mind?
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What's in our heart?
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Let's look at just two of the verses from the Sermon on the Mount.
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Jesus said, you have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery.
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But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent
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has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
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The lustful intent takes place in our mind, in our thoughts, in our desires.
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Jesus is talking about the importance of what's on the inside.
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It's even more obvious in this verse from Matthew 15.
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But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
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For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
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Now think about that.
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Those actions, they originate from within.
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Jesus does not make any kind of distinction between our thoughts and desires.
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He's just talking about what's within us.
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The way that we think is the source of our words and our actions.
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You know, the way we think matters to the Lord.
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It matters a great deal to Him because He knows what we think will eventually come out.
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And so if what we think matters to the Lord as Christians, shouldn't it matter to us?
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Shouldn't we care about our thought life?
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You know, if we're serious about being Christians, living like children of God,
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then we've got to be serious about wanting to honor God in the way that we think.
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And think like one of His children.
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Let's look now at this verse.
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Think about how we need to take control of our thought life.
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And intentionally seek to think like a Christian.
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Or think biblically.
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Let's begin as we did last week.
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What does it mean to think biblically?
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And the first thing I want us to see is it does not mean that we deny reality.
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The idea of thinking like a Christian.
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Or thinking biblically.
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It doesn't mean you don't pretend that there's a lot of junk in this world.
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A lot of evil in this world.
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D.A. Carson explains it well.
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Look again as we did last week.
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He says,
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This is not some escapist demand to avoid the harsh realities of our fallen world.
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The sad fact is that many people dwell on dirt without grasping that it is dirt.
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The wise Christian will see plenty of dirt in the world, but will recognize it as dirt.
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Precisely because everything that is clean has captured his or her mind.
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Carson's pointing out the fact.
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That we as Christians should recognize the dirt of this world.
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That would be the opposite of what Paul is saying in terms of what we think.
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That which is untrue, dishonorable, unjust.
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That's the dirt of this world.
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And we see it.
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We see it all around us.
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And we're not to pretend that it does not exist.
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But God calls us to recognize it for what it is.
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Call it what it is.
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Avoid it.
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And stay morally and ethically clean from it.
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Let's think about what thinking biblically does mean.
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Paul is talking about we need to discipline ourselves.
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And intentionally think about certain kinds of things.
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Let's look at it.
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Think about whatever is true.
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We looked at this last week.
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So I just want to hit the highlights from last week and move on.
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Broadly speaking, whatever is true is whatever is real.
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Whatever is accurate.
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Whatever is proven to be true in any area of life.
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Kent Hughes makes a good point that we're talking about anything in this world.
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Anything, anywhere that is true that is right.
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Look at what he says.
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Everything that is true is from God.
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Because all truth is God's truth.
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This applies to every avenue of life.
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From faith, to science, to relationships, to public life, to business.
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When Paul talks about think about whatever is true.
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He's not talking about just thinking about spiritual things.
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He's talking about look around in this world.
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Embrace that which is true.
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Which is good.
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Which is accurate.
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What's true is true.
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And we need to think along those lines.
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Instead of thinking things that might be.
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Or thinking things that are not true.
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Even if the world says that it is.
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More specifically, what is true refers to whatever is truthful or dependable.
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Now that implies that we should not think about things.
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Dwell on things.
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Focus on things.
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Focus on things.
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That are not true.
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Things that maybe are deceptive.
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You know there's much in this world right now.
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That is a deliberate denial of what is true.
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You can read a lot of the mainstream media.
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Listen to their reports and see.
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There's a deliberate denial of what we know to be true and right and good.
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But one of the best examples that I want to address for these next minutes.
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Is the acceptance of transgenderism.
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And the reason I want to bring this up under the category of true and untrue.
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The world today has just closed their eyes to the real truth.
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When it comes to the issue of transgenderism.
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A transgender person is someone who claims to identify as the opposite gender of their biological sex.
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For example.
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A man who claims to be transgender was born a biological man.
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His birth certificate lists him as male.
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But he says he thinks of himself as a female.
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As a woman.
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He says he feels like a woman maybe trapped in a man's body.
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Therefore he wants to live and act like a woman.
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If he's out in public he dresses like a woman.
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Uses a woman's restroom.
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If he's an athlete.
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He wants to compete as a woman.
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Against other women.
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That is a denial of the truth.
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About himself.
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It applies to a woman as well.
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A man or a woman who thinks this way is denying reality.
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A man who thinks this way is pretending to be a woman.
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A woman who thinks this way is pretending to be a man.
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As Christians we cannot accept such denials of truth.
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God made human beings male and female.
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Genesis 1.
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26 and 27.
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27.
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26 through 28.
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We've looked at that in recent times.
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We've looked at it many times.
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God created human beings in his image.
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God created human beings male and female.
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A person born as male.
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A person born as male is to live as a male forever.
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He is not a female.
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He will never be a female.
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The same holds true for a female.
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If a person is born female she will always be that way.
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For a person to deny his or her biological sex is a denial of reality.
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It is a rejection of the truth.
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Christians can and must never accept transgenderism because it is rejection of the truth.
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We need to learn to think about whatever is true.
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Every place in life.
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And we need to determine what is true where we can based on the clear teaching of God's word.
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But before we go to the next one let me just emphasize.
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The reason why it's so important for us to think about whatever is true.
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Because it will determine that which we think.
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Will determine whether we live our lives based on truth.
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Reality.
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Or a lie.
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Number two.
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Think about whatever is honorable.
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Whatever is honorable describes things that are noble.
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In fact noble is the translation a lot of times used here.
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Things that should be highly regarded.
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Worthy of respect.
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The idea is if we'll think in ways like this.
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It will help us to rise above the world's dirt and scandal.
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Let's stop here and just think a minute.
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What are you putting into your mind every day?
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What are you filling your minds with?
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What's the source?
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Is it things that are honorable?
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What do you watch?
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What do you listen to?
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What do you read?
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You know what you do so you think of this.
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Does what you fill your mind with promote honorable thoughts about other people?
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About yourself?
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About life in general?
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About God.
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About God.
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And your relationship with Him.
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Or.
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Does the things you put in your mind drag you down?
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Take you to some dark place?
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Maybe even pull you down to the gutter of life.
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Remember.
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Remember.
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The way we think.
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Determines how we live.
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Determines how we're going to talk.
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What we're going to do.
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Paul is telling us.
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You control what you think.
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You control what you dwell on.
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Think about whatever is true.
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Wherever you find it in life.
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Think about whatever is honorable.
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Wherever you find it in life.
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Number three.
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Think about whatever is just.
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Or.
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Right.
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Many translations say whatever is right.
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I think that's the majority translation.
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The idea is we need to learn to think in terms of.
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What is right.
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What is just.
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Or even.
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What is fair.
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Before God.
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And before other people.
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You know a lot of people in this world today.
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Think more about what's pragmatic than what's right.
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In other words.
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A lot of people today think more about.
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What works.
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As opposed to what's right.
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Or.
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What works best for me.
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In any given situation.
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With no real concern about.
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What's the right thing to do.
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Now if you're more concerned about just what works.
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Or what works best for you.
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You're more prone to lie.
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When you need to.
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To cheat someone.
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To cheat someone.
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If you're more concerned about.
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What works.
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What works best for me.
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Regardless of whether it's good.
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Or right.
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You're a deceptive kind of person.
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You can't be trusted.
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If you're not concerned about what is right.
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What is just.
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You will mistreat people.
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You will use people.
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You will abuse people.
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For your advantage.
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Let's sort of shift our thought for a moment.
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Justice is a hot topic issue right now in this country.
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I want to be clear in this.
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Everyone.
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All of us.
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Should be bothered.
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Upset.
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Angry even.
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By a lack of justice.
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Wherever it is found.
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We should not just sit back quietly.
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Meekly.
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And accept.
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That which is not right.
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That which is unjust.
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If there's anything in the world.
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We can do about it.
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The death of George Floyd.
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Was nothing but an act of injustice.
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It was not right.
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And every law enforcement official.
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Across the country.
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That I have read.
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Who's commented on that.
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They all are unanimous.
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In saying it was not right.
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In any way.
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But.
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The response of many people.
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To that act of injustice.
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The response of many people.
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Of rioting.
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Of looting.
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Of murdering innocent people.
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Is equally not right.
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It's unjust.
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As Christians.
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We need to learn.
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And learn to think.
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In terms of.
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What is right.
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Period.
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What is the just.
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Response.
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To any.
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Unjust situation.
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We need to learn.
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We need to learn.
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To think in terms of.
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What is right.
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And just.
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In our personal relationships.
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Not just thinking about.
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You know.
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What's happening in the country today.
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But.
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What's happening in your life.
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Sometimes we get mistreated.
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Sometimes we are dealt with.
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In an unfair kind of way.
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How do we respond.
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We need to learn.
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To think in terms of.
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What's right.
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In every relationship.
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In every situation.
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And respond.
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Appropriately.
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Respond.
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In a way.
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That is.
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Going to solve.
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A problem.
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Rather than.
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Create new ones.
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Most of us.
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In this room.
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We would be.
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Well served.
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To learn.
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To control.
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Our emotions.
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In stressful.
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Situations.
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In situations.
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Where we feel.
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Where we feel.
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Like we're not being.
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Treated the right way.
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We need to learn.
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To control.
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Our emotions.
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And discipline.
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Ourselves.
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To do.
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What is right.
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Even when people.
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Have mistreated us.
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And not treated us.
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The right way.
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As Christians.
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In this community.
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We need to be.
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Setting the example.
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We're seekers.
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Of justice.
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We are.
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Administers.
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Of justice.
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And when we're not.
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Treated justly.
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We do respond.
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But we need to learn.
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To respond.
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Not emotionally.
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But appropriately.
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We need to do.
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The right thing.
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Regardless of how.
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We have been treated.
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Number four.
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Think about.
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Whatever is pure.
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This is a reference.
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To moral purity.
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In every aspect.
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Of life.
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A lot of times.
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You think about.
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Something that is pure.
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In the context.
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That we're looking at.
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People automatically.
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Just think about.
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Sexual purity.
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Well that is certainly.
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True here.
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But.
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What Paul is saying.
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Is not limited to that.
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You know.
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People.
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Throughout history.
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Have been exposed.
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To a lot of.
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Moral impurity.
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Moral impurity.
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Wherever they lived.
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It's not something new.
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Paul was writing.
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His letter here.
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To Christians.
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Who lived in the.
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Town of Philippi.
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And as those Christians.
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Just lived their lives.
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All around them.
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They saw.
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All kinds.
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Of examples.
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Of moral.
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Impurity.
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So what we see today.
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Is not unique.
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But what is unique today.
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Is how much.
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We are exposed.
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How widespread.
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The exposure.
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Is.
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To all kinds.
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Of impurity.
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We're exposed today.
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Every time you turn on the TV.
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Most movies.
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A lot of places.
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On the internet.
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A lot of forms of media.
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That we.
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Are involved in.
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Exposes us.
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To moral.
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Impurity.
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What that means is.
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We.
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You and me.
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We've got to put forth.
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A lot of effort.
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To guard our minds.
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And our hearts.
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From being exposed.
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To a lot of the.
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Moral impurity.
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In this world.
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That can really.
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Capture our mind.
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Dominate our thoughts.
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And sooner or later.
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It's going to come out.
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In what we say.
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In what we do.
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We need to take this.
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As a warning.
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You and me.
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I want to say this.
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To men especially.
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Young guys.
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If we don't avoid.
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Filling our mind.
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With that which is pure.
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If we don't guard.
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Against impurity.
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Sooner or later.
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It's going to come out.
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In some way.
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And sometimes.
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That can destroy.
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Your reputation.
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That can destroy.
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Your marriage.
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That can cost you.
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Your job.
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It does that.
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Somewhere.
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In this country.
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Every day.
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Now.
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Every.
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Parent.
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In this room.
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Every grandparent.
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Every teacher.
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Everyone.
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Who has influence.
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Over.
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Children.
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Or young people.
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We need to do.
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Whatever we can.
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To guard.
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The minds.
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And the hearts.
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Of our children.
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Grandchildren.
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And others.
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We have influence over.
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We need to do.
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Everything that we can.
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To monitor.
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What they take.
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Into their mind.
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Through TV.
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Movies.
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Through the internet.
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Through social media.
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Through their phone.
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And I want to emphasize this.
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Parents.
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Grandparents.
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If the child.
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If the child lives with you.
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And you're responsible.
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You are responsible.
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For what that child.
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Takes in.
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Through the phone.
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Or tablet.
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Or computer.
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You buy for them.
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You are supposed to be the adult.
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That's in charge.
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That's in control.
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That monitors.
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That monitors.
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That allows.
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Or does not allow.
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Them to take in.
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Whatever.
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God is going to hold you.
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Responsible.
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There's a lot of homes today.
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In this day.
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Where children rule.
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And that's wrong.
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That's sinfully wrong.
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That's a weak man or woman.
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A pitiful excuse.
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For a father or mother.
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To allow their children.
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To just dictate.
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What I will do.
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What I won't do.
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And to have unlimited.
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Unfiltered access.
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To the internet.
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Take your responsibility seriously.
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Parents.
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Grandparents.
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Influencers of children.
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Children in here.
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Teenagers.
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Grown men and women.
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We need to guard.
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What we put into our minds.
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What we dwell on.
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Because it will.
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Eventually come out.
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Sooner or later.
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I want to say this.
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One more thing.
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I forgot it.
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The parents.
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The goal in life.
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When your children are young.
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Or teenagers living at home.
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Your goal is not to be.
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Their best friend or buddy.
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Sometimes to be the parent.
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You ought to be.
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To lovingly.
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Discipline them.
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Say no to them.
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Correct them.
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Punish them.
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Sometimes they're going to look at you.
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And they're going to hate you.
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I want to encourage you.
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Don't be harsh.
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But be firm.
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Don't be afraid.
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To take away.
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What needs to be taken away.
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If you bought it.
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You're paying the bill on it.
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You got it.
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I've got two sons.
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I took away a lot of things.
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Over the time.
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And I'm sure they hated my guts.
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At times.
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But they're grown men now.
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They come to church here.
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They eat lunch with me every Sunday.
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We play golf together.
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We have a good relationship.
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It didn't ruin anything.
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For me to be.
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Tough.
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When I needed to be tough.
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I was sometimes harsh.
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When I shouldn't have been harsh.
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But I was never.
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Never.
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Afraid.
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To say and do what I thought was right.
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Before God.
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About these kind of things.
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And what was in their best interest.
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Speak the truth.
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Live the truth.
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Do it in love.
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But do it.
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You are responsible as a parent.
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Number four.
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Think about whatever is pure.
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That's where I was.
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I got so tied up here.
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I lost my place in my notes.
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Number five here.
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Think about whatever is lovely.
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That's just odd.
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We don't think in terms of that word.
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Do we?
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Well.
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It is an unusual way to describe.
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How we're to think.
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Max Anders points this out.
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In his commentary.
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He says.
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Lovely is a rare word.
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Referring to things that attract.
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Please.
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And win other people's admiration.
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And affection.
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Such thoughts.
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Bring people together.
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In peace.
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Rather than separating them.
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In fighting.
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And feuding.
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The idea is.
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We need to think in terms of.
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What will promote healthy relationships?
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What will help me?
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What do I need to put into my mind?
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What do I need to dwell on?
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Think about.
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What kind of mindset.
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Do I need to develop.
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That will help me to.
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To the best of my ability.
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Promote.
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Healthy relationships.
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With other people in my life.
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And not dwell on negative things.
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Things that cause conflict.
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Unnecessary conflict.
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Things that cause division.
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Where we don't have to have.
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Division.
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Think about whatever is lovely.
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Whatever will bring people together.
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Whether it's the loving thing.
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That will help us to love God more.
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Love people more.
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And where we have influence.
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Help people to love one another more.
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Number six.
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Think about whatever is commendable.
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Or admirable.
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This describes virtues.
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That normal people.
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Value.
-
And speak highly of.
-
I'm going to just give you some examples.
-
It could be anything.
-
Not necessarily something.
-
Spiritual.
-
But just.
-
Things that are.
-
Commendable.
-
Common courtesy.
-
In treating.
-
The way you treat people.
-
Respect for parents.
-
And older people.
-
Listening.
-
Respectfully.
-
To someone.
-
Who disagrees.
-
With you.
-
And not.
-
Jumping down their throat.
-
Shouting them down.
-
But learning to.
-
Give and take.
-
Listen.
-
You don't have to agree.
-
What we used to call.
-
Learning to agree to disagree.
-
Today's culture.
-
Totally rejects.
-
This whole concept.
-
It's not a virtue today.
-
To listen.
-
To someone.
-
Who you don't agree with.
-
It's not a virtue today.
-
To show common courtesy.
-
To other people.
-
To show respect.
-
For parents.
-
And older people.
-
But we're Christians.
-
As children of God.
-
We need to think.
-
In terms of these.
-
Common grace.
-
Virtues.
-
That people throughout history.
-
Have admired.
-
Have considered to be commendable.
-
Which has been sort of a backbone.
-
Of civilization.
-
Among all kinds of people.
-
Not just Christians.
-
We need to learn.
-
To think in terms of that.
-
Which is commendable.
-
That which is something.
-
We can highly value.
-
Across the board.
-
Now.
-
Paul concludes this list.
-
With summary statement.
-
Think about what is excellent.
-
Or praise worthy.
-
Look at it.
-
If there is any excellence.
-
If there is anything worthy of praise.
-
Think about these things.
-
Paul is not trying to give us.
-
A complete list.
-
He never does.
-
Any of the virtues.
-
That you see.
-
That Paul lists.
-
In some of his letters.
-
The fruit of the spirit.
-
He is never trying to give us.
-
An exhaustive list.
-
This is all there is.
-
To the fruit of the spirit.
-
This is all there is.
-
To this or that.
-
Paul is saying here.
-
Sort of a wrapping up.
-
Think about the best.
-
Kind of things.
-
Think about what is worthy.
-
Of praise.
-
By God.
-
And people.
-
But note the last part.
-
Of this phrase.
-
Think about these things.
-
Paul is not saying.
-
Give it.
-
You know.
-
Give it a little casual thought.
-
He is not saying.
-
You know.
-
When you sort of.
-
Drifting off to sleep.
-
Think about these things.
-
Alec Motyer.
-
Points out.
-
The importance.
-
Of what he is talking about.
-
The verb.
-
Think about.
-
He cites the Greek word.
-
Means to ponder.
-
To give proper weight.
-
And value to.
-
To allow the result.
-
Appraisal.
-
To influence.
-
The way.
-
Life is to be lived.
-
In other words.
-
We need to learn.
-
To think deeply.
-
About the kinds of things.
-
Paul describes.
-
In this verse.
-
Because.
-
If we think like this.
-
It will help us.
-
To live like this.
-
But if we don't.
-
Think like this.
-
If we think.
-
The opposite kinds of ways.
-
We'll live.
-
The opposite kinds of ways.
-
If we're serious.
-
About living.
-
A Christian life.
-
We really.
-
And truly.
-
Need to get serious.
-
About the way.
-
That we think.
-
That leads us.
-
To the final question.
-
We looked at.
-
A little bit.
-
Last week.
-
We'll move on.
-
Further today.
-
How do we develop.
-
The habit of thinking.
-
Biblically.
-
Last week.
-
I said the best way.
-
The first place.
-
But not the only place.
-
Is to think truth.
-
To learn to think truthfully.
-
Is through consistent.
-
Bible reading.
-
And Bible study.
-
I emphasized.
-
Last week.
-
Set a time.
-
When you're going to.
-
Read God's word.
-
You're going to learn.
-
To think the way.
-
God thinks.
-
What pleases him.
-
What doesn't please him.
-
You learn to think about.
-
What should I believe.
-
What shouldn't I believe.
-
How should I live my life.
-
In my home.
-
How should I treat people.
-
As we read the Bible.
-
We learn these kinds of things.
-
But we're busy today.
-
Everybody's plates full.
-
It seems.
-
Our minds are filled.
-
With all kinds of things.
-
All of them are not good.
-
Or all of them are not.
-
Wise.
-
Kent Hughes describes.
-
How this.
-
Busyness.
-
Is our greatest danger.
-
Look at this.
-
The greatest danger.
-
In our busy.
-
Increasingly.
-
Post literate world.
-
Is that we make.
-
Little or no effort.
-
To think God's thoughts.
-
After him.
-
To hide his word.
-
In our hearts.
-
So that we might not.
-
Sin against him.
-
We cannot be profoundly.
-
Influenced.
-
By that which we do.
-
Not know.
-
I want to encourage you.
-
Put forth.
-
Disciplined effort.
-
To know God's word.
-
It's essential.
-
To learn to think.
-
Biblically.
-
But I want us to.
-
We need to do more.
-
Than just read the Bible.
-
I want to look at one more thing.
-
We must learn.
-
To stop thinking.
-
Mainly.
-
About ourselves.
-
Now stay with me here.
-
Most people.
-
Are basically.
-
Selfish.
-
And self-centered.
-
And I'm not talking about.
-
Unbelievers.
-
Most of us.
-
At least.
-
A lot of times.
-
Most of us.
-
Are basically.
-
Selfish.
-
And self-centered.
-
We think most naturally.
-
About ourselves.
-
That's why Jesus said.
-
Love your neighbor.
-
As yourself.
-
We don't have to be convinced.
-
To love ourself.
-
We do.
-
Love your neighbor.
-
As yourself.
-
So.
-
We think about.
-
We like to think about.
-
I like to think about.
-
My interests.
-
My problems.
-
My family.
-
Here's one way.
-
You can verify that.
-
The next time.
-
You tell someone.
-
Something about.
-
What's going on.
-
In your life.
-
Notice how.
-
Quickly.
-
They start talking about.
-
What's going on.
-
In their life.
-
For an example.
-
If you tell someone.
-
About your vacation.
-
It won't be long.
-
Until they're telling you.
-
About their vacation.
-
If you start talking about.
-
Some of your health problems.
-
You can rest assured.
-
That people are going to tell you.
-
About theirs.
-
They're even going to show you.
-
Their scars.
-
Some people.
-
Now.
-
Some of this.
-
Is just the way.
-
Conversations go.
-
We tell people.
-
Something.
-
And they respond back.
-
We speak.
-
And we listen.
-
So some of that's just normal.
-
And natural.
-
But some of it.
-
We're just selfish.
-
And self-centered.
-
Truth is.
-
I don't care about your vacation.
-
I care about my vacation.
-
Truth is.
-
I don't care if you've got.
-
Ingrown toenail.
-
But I care if I've got one.
-
We are.
-
Selfish.
-
Self-centered people.
-
We would all benefit.
-
By consciously.
-
Making an effort.
-
To not.
-
Think about ourselves.
-
Most of the time.
-
And instead.
-
Think more about God.
-
And other people.
-
How often do you think about God?
-
About.
-
Loving him.
-
Knowing his will.
-
Doing his will.
-
How often do you think about.
-
Pleasing God.
-
Serving him.
-
With your time.
-
Your talents.
-
Your treasures.
-
How much thought do you give for.
-
Other people.
-
And what's going on in their lives.
-
Their problems.
-
Their needs.
-
How often do you think about.
-
How I could help this person.
-
How I could meet a need.
-
Or how I could share the gospel.
-
With this person who's not a Christian.
-
Do you ever think about how you could be a.
-
A Christian.
-
Influence.
-
Over certain people in your life.
-
Who have no other.
-
Christian friends.
-
We would.
-
We would.
-
We would all benefit.
-
By making the conscious.
-
Effort.
-
To think.
-
Less about.
-
Ourselves.
-
And not talk about ourselves.
-
So much.
-
Focus more on other people.
-
And listening to them.
-
Final thought.
-
It is absolutely true.
-
That what we think.
-
That what we think.
-
Determines what we say.
-
And what we do.
-
Your thoughts.
-
My thoughts.
-
They matter.
-
Because they.
-
Form.
-
They shape.
-
Our lives.
-
Therefore.
-
We all need.
-
To ask God.
-
To help us.
-
To discipline ourselves.
-
And think more about things.
-
That are true.
-
Honorable.
-
Just.
-
Pure.
-
Lovely.
-
Commendable.
-
Excellent.
-
And praiseworthy.
-
In fact.
-
Let's go to God right now.
-
And pray.
-
And ask him to help us.
-
To think more.
-
Biblically.
-
Like this.
-
Would you join me.
-
Father.
-
Help us now.
-
To just evaluate.
-
Our own.
-
Thought life.
-
What is.
-
Filling our minds.
-
What are we.
-
Thinking seriously.
-
And deeply.
-
About.
-
Lord.
-
Help us.
-
If we're allowing.
-
The wrong things.
-
To.
-
Come into our minds.
-
Help us to confess.
-
That is the sin.
-
That it is.
-
Lord.
-
If our minds.
-
Are more like.
-
Gutters.
-
Or sewers.
-
Help us to confess.
-
That.
-
To truly.
-
Seek your forgiveness.
-
To turn from it.
-
Help us.
-
Lord.
-
To know that.
-
Our minds.
-
Will never be turned off.
-
And so.
-
We've got to be intentional.
-
To not.
-
Just.
-
Avoid.
-
The impure things.
-
The impure thoughts.
-
The untruthful thoughts.
-
We've got to.
-
Saturate our minds.
-
With that.
-
Which is.
-
True.
-
And honorable.
-
And pure.
-
Help us.
-
Father.
-
To start.
-
With your word.
-
Help us.
-
To learn.
-
Dear God.
-
To think.
-
Biblically.
-
To think like a Christian.
-
To think.
-
Your thoughts.
-
About ourselves.
-
About life.
-
About you.
-
About eternal things.
-
Lord.
-
Lord.
-
Help us.
-
To make the commitment.
-
That on a day by day basis.
-
We're going to exercise.
-
The self-control.
-
And discipline.
-
To think.
-
Biblically.
-
Help every Christian.
-
Dear God.
-
To have that desire.
-
To put forth that effort.
-
Day in and day out.
-
Help us.
-
Father.
-
To do the hard work.
-
Of avoiding the wrong.
-
Kinds of things.
-
To come into our minds.
-
Father.
-
If there are people in this room.
-
Who are not Christians.
-
Help them to see.
-
That they can't just.
-
Do their best.
-
And change the way they think.
-
Help them to understand.
-
That they must first.
-
Humble themselves.
-
Before you.
-
Turn from their sin.
-
And trust Jesus.
-
As their Lord and Savior.
-
Help them to see.
-
That they need to be forgiven.
-
And cleansed.
-
And filled with your spirit.
-
Lord.
-
Remind every Christian.
-
Teach every unbeliever.
-
In this room.
-
Right now.
-
That it is only.
-
Through the power.
-
Of your spirit.
-
Who indwells every Christian.
-
That we can.
-
Discipline ourselves.
-
To think.
-
Biblically.
-
So help us.
-
To seek your help.
-
Help us.
-
Not to just do.
-
The best we can.
-
Help us.
-
Lord.
-
To seek your help.
-
Help us.
-
To trust you.
-
Help us to obey you.
-
Let's just.
-
In an attitude of prayer.
-
Listen to the Lord.
-
And respond to him.
-
As he wants you to.
-
Right now.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
And all right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.
-
All right.