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The Apostle Paul and his

company are almost back to

Jerusalem, and have

stopped in Caesarea,

Where they stayed in the

home of Philip, one of the

seven set aside in the early

church as deacons.

October 17, 2012

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Philip had traveled as an evangelist, but settled in

Caesarea, married, and raised a family.

Four of his daughters never married and were prophets.

We talked last time about how God had blessed

Philip and his family because he was settled in the

Ways of God.

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Proverbs 4 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out

of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a

froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids

look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy

feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to

the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from

evil.Heart = feelings, will, and intellect

NIV says "wellspring of life".

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In other words, the kind of life we have flows out

of the condition of our heart, which is revealed by

Our mouths, our eyes, our behavior.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue.Proverbs 18:21

Let us look straight ahead on the Path of God for

our lives, guarding our mouths and walking

carefully in the steps God has ordered.

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So, the heart includes the mind (thoughts and

intellect), the feelings, and the will of a man.

I want to dig into the Biblical way of thinking.

Philippians 4 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things

are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever

things are just, whatsoever things are

pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever

things are of good report; if there be any

virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these

things. Don't let your mind dwell on anything else.

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Think on (or let you mind dwell on) things that are

true -- as in not hiding from the truth.

First, we need to admit to ourselves and

confess to God our failures.

Then we need to meditate on what God says

about us in His Word, The Bible.

Romans 4 5 But to him that worketh not, but

believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his

faith is counted for righteousness.

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Think on things that are honest (honorable).

Things worthy of respect.

Don't let your mind dwell on the trashy things of

this world; meditate on the good things of God.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

Proverbs 23:7

Matthew 12 34 … out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

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Think on things that are just (fair and right).

Human tendency is to obsess on things unfair.

"The umpires cheated the Braves out of that game."

"The coach didn't let my son play; he let his own

son play and kept my boy on the bench."

"My wife doesn't work as hard as I do."

Life in this world is unfair, but God is just.

Think on God and His Way.

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Think on things that are pure (clean, innocent).

We must not fill our minds with filthy

thoughts and images.

Think on how much you love your family.

List their good traits.

Count your blessings; name them one by one.

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Think on things that are lovely (friendly towards).

If we keep our minds filled with pleasant thoughts,

our heart will be glad.

Thoughts of fear, worry, anger, malice, or hatred

make our hearts sad; steal our joy and peace.

Thoughts of excellence, success, can do thoughts

will help us to be those things.

Don't obsess on the problem;

find and work the solution.

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Think on things that are of good report.

A good report is a confession of trust in God.

When Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan:

Ten of them brought back an evil report.

There are giants in the land, and we

are like grasshoppers in their sight.

Numbers 13 30 And Caleb stilled the people before

Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess

it; for we are well able to overcome it.

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Think on things that are virtuous (striving for

excellence)

Philippians 4 13 I can do all things through Christ

which strengtheneth me.

I can be what God wants me to be.

I can do what God wants me to do.

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Think on things that are praiseworthy.

If we can sincerely give God thanks for a thing, or

a situation, or a person, or how a person did us,

It is worthy of our thoughts.

Give God the praise!

All else should be cast from our minds.

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