Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
Our mind and its imaginations get us into alot of trouble. This is the place where much sin abides. It is the place of which we need to gain control. It is a war zone of many lies and must be brought under the dominion and power of The Lord Jesus Christ.
Instead of true, honorable, just, pure and lovely thougths - we have just the opposite.
Here's what the Bible teaches that we need to do about our thought life -
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6 ESV)
It is so important to God that we use our power of imagination rightly.
What Does The Bible Say About Imaginations?
1. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5 ESV)
The result? God destroyed the world with a flood. Man's corrupted imagination caused the face of the entire earth to be changed.
2. GEN 8:21 ... Then the Lord said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart {is} evil from his youth;... (NKJ)
3. The next tragedy to strike the human race was the confusion of the spoken language. Men were building the Tower of Babel, and God spoke...
"...now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. (7) "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language...." (Genesis 11:6-7 NKJ)
4. PRO 6:16 These six {things} the Lord hates, yes, seven {are} an abomination to Him: ... an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations.
5. JER 23:17 They continually say to those who despise Me, `The Lord has said, "You shall have peace"'; and to everyone who walks according to the imagination of his own heart, `No evil shall come upon you.'" (NKJ)
God's answer - JER 23:24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?" says the Lord; "do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord. (NKJ)
ROM 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in {their} knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (NKJ)
God Wants To Abide Within Our Thoughts...
The following are a few of the scriptures which make it clear that Christians are responsible for thoughts that come to their minds for any length of time:
1. PSA 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; (NKJ)
2. MAT 9:4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? (NKJ)
3. ROM 8:6 For to be carnally minded {is} death, but to be spiritually minded {is} life and peace. (NKJ)
4. PHIl 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (NKJ)
5. TITUS 1:15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. (NKJ)
6. EZEK11:5 ...for I know the things that come into your mind. (NKJ)
GOD HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY OVER OUR THOUGHT LIFE... WE MUST EXERCISE IT.
ROM 14:12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (NKJ)
Our Problem...
ROM 8:7 Because the carnal mind {is} enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (NKJ)
2 THESS 2:2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. (NKJ)
Three Challenges Peter Gives Concerning Our Minds - 1 Peter 1:13
1 PET 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest {your} hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (NKJ)
NASB - Therefore gird up your minds for action...
To this point Peter has been talking about the greatness and the glory which the Christians can look forward to: but we cannot live just in the dreams of the future. We must be ever ready for this present battle.
1. He tells them to “gird up the loins of their minds"
Or as the NASB puts it "to gird up their minds for action."
This is a vivid phrase. In the east, men wore long flowing robes which hindered fast progress or strenuous action. Around their waist they wore a broad belt or girdle; and when strenuous action was necessary, they shortened the long robe by pulling it up within the belt in order to give them freedom of movement.
Peter is telling his people that they must be ready for the most strenuous mental endeavors. They must never be content with a flabby and unexamined mind. They must set to think things out and think them through.
It may be that we will have to discard some things. It may be that we will make mistakes. But as we strive to have the "mind of Christ," (Philippians 2:5), our hearts and minds will be "guarded" through the power of Jesus Himself (Philippians 4:7)
"gird up: gr. "be prepared" (prepare yourself)
"loins of your MIND" - gr. faculty of your understanding, feelings and desires.
This same Greek word is used in:
MAT 22:37 Jesus said to him, " `You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your MIND.' (NKJ)
EPH 1:18 the eyes of you UNDERSTANDING being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (NKJ)
PHI 2:5 Let this MIND be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (NKJ)
II. He tells them to be sober.
The Greek has two meanings like the English.
1- refrain from drunkenness
2- be steady in your minds
As we must not be intoxicated with intoxicating liquor, we must not have intoxicating thoughts. We must keep a balance in our thought life.
"sober" - gr. used 6x's in the NT - "calm, collected in spirit.
Barnes - sober - "A man who follows sound reason, not under the control of passions. The idea is that he should have his desires and passions well regulated. he should be prudent."
III. He tells them to completely fix their hope on the grace to be brought to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
It is a great characteristic of the Christian that He lives in hope; and because He lives in hope he can endure struggle and hardship... if he is certain that it is leading somewhere.
Notice These Scriptures In Closing...
ROM 12:2 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. (NKJ)
EPH 4:23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (NKJ)
1 COR 2:16 For "Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. (NKJ)
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