Introduction: 1. Throughout Psalm 139 David showed how well God knew him. a. God knew David when he was in his mother's womb. b. There was no place David could go where he was not in God's presence. 2. David concluded in vs.23-24 by making several requests of God. 3. As David made these requests, he wanted his life to be right with God. 4. In order to be in good standing with God, David understood that the wicked ways inside him had to be corrected. 5. To help him identify his wicked ways so he could correct them, David wanted God to examine his heart and to judge his thoughts. 6. David apparently knew that there was a connection between his thoughts and his actions. 7. One of the keys to acting properly is "thinking properly." 8. In our lesson we are studying passages that will lead us to adopt the following motto: "let us think properly." 9. We are showing: a. why we must think properly b. how we think properly.
Discussion:
I. 2 REASONS WHY WE MUST THINK PROPERLY
A. First, we must think properly because God knows our thoughts. 1. When David made his request in vs.23, he had learned that he could not hide anything from God, including his thoughts. 2. The Bible clearly teaches that God knows our thoughts (Psalm 139:1-2). 3. Since God knows our thoughts, it is essential for us to think properly. B. Second, we must think properly because our actions, our words, and our attitudes are determined by our thoughts (Proverbs 23:7; Matthew 12:35). 1. Illustration: Elijah was affected by his thinking (1 Kings 19:4, 9-10). 2. The person who says, "I think I can" and the person who says, "I think I can't" have something in common -- they are both right. 3. Since our conduct and attitudes are determined by our thoughts, it is essential for us to think properly. C. Now that we understand why we must think properly, let us consider . . .
II. HOW WE THINK PROPERLY (Negative and positive instructions)
A. Negative instructions: 1. We must avoid thinking too highly of ourselves (Romans 12:3). a. The Bible explains why in 1 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 6:3. b. Nebuchadnezzar was affected by this kind of thinking (Daniel 4:30, 33). 2. We must not think that our ways are better than God's ways, as illustrated by Naaman (2 Kings 5:10-12). 3. We must avoid dwelling on the past (Philippians 3:13). B. Positive instructions: 1. 2 Corinthians 10:5 teaches us to bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2. We must think on the right kinds of things (Philippians 4:8).
Conclusion:
1. The Bible teaches us why we must think properly, and the Bible teaches us how to think properly. 2. This evening we will examine some specific areas in which we must think properly. 3. Do you need to change the way you think? 4. See Psalm 139:23-24
