Making The Right Decisions By Pastor Fee Soliven 1 Timothy 1:18-20 Sunday Morning May 7, 2017

1 Timothy 1:18-20 18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

“Let Your Conscience be Your Guide,”

 The Mind is the Control Tower of Life

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you”

Colossians 3:1-9 1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  

4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,    

7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  

 The pathway to controlling our thoughts begins with an understanding of our Relationship to Jesus Christ.  

“Raised up with Christ”

Philippians 2:3-5 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…  

There are challenges to Controlling our Thoughts  

Our Environment is Still the Same  

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

2. Satan Blinds the Minds of Unbelievers  

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NLBT) 3 If the Good News we preach is hidden to anyone, it is hidden from the one who is on the road to eternal death. 4 Satan, who is the god of this evil world, has made him blind, unable to see the glorious light of the Gospel that is shining upon him or to understand the amazing message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is God.  

2. Satan Deceives Believers

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (NLBT) 3 But I am frightened, fearing that in some way you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to our Lord, just as Eve was deceived by Satan in the Garden of Eden. 4 You seem so gullible: you believe whatever anyone tells you even if he is preaching about another Jesus than the one we preach, or a different spirit than the Holy Spirit you received, or shows you a different way to be saved. You swallow it all.  

3. Willful Disobedience results in a Reprobate Mind

Romans 1:28-32 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

  30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  

We sow an action and reap a habit  We sow a thought and reap an action We sow an action and reap a habit We sow a habit and reap a character We sow a character and reap a destiny

Accept the thought and express it in some manner   Wrestle with it for a while Deny it Control it

Love is from God; lust is from the world Love can wait; lust has to have it now Love is selfless; lust is selfish Love is giving; lust is taking Love is purity; lust is sin Love develops; lust destroys Love is peaceful; lust is full of anxiety

1. Keep Seeking the Things Above Colossians 3:1 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God…”  

2. Set your mind on things above Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth…”

“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…”  3. Remember that you have Died to your Old Life Colossians 3:3 “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…”

4. Consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sin    Colossians 3:5 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…”

Richly Dwell Within You 5. Let the Word of Christ Richly Dwell Within You Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”

Psalm 119:9-11 9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!  

Think of a life event and how you responded. How did your thoughts influence your response? If you didn’t react in a godly manner, can you discern what thoughts led you down that path?

come to mind to influence your behavior or words? 3. Did God’s Word come to mind to influence your behavior or words?