Sermon Notes 11-23-08

Happy Thanksgiving: “Soul Food”
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” Philippians 4:7-8

What do you feed your soul with?Bulletin Bloopers
"Ladies, Saturday's rummage sale is a chance to get rid of old things you don't want any more. Bring your husbands!"
"A new loudspeaker system has been donated by one of our members in honor of his wife."
"Remember to pray for those who are sick of our congregation."
"Don't let worry kill you. Let the church help."
"For those who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery."
"The end of the world has been postponed until next semester due to lack of classroom space."
The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."

Points to Ponder:
1st You Get What You Give!

What is our society feeding on? Philippians 4:7-8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”
“Sow a thought, reap an actionSow an action, reap a habit.Sow a habit, reap a character.Sow a character, reap a destiny!”

Jesus said: Satan, your enemy, “…is come to steal, kill and destroy, but I am come that you my have life and life more abundantly.” John 10:10
Paul says: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true,”“Finally”Do you know what a pastor means when he says “in conclusion?” Nothing!Paul says: “Finally” or “In conclusion, what so ever things are true”

Paul is saying: “THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS! PONDER THEM! FIX YOUR MIND ON THE GOOD STUFF!”

This is about ‘taking every thought captive’. 2 Corinthians 10:5
You are responsible for what you allow your mind to think about!

Memorize Scripture: Phil. 4:18 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Rehearse—Re-Play the good stuff!Old Song says: "The Sunny Side of the Street," written by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh:Grab your coat and get your hat, Leave your worries on the doorstep,Life can be so sweet, On the sunny side of the street!
I used to walk in the shade with my blues on parade, But now I'm not afraid...this rover's crossed over!

2nd You Become What You Embrace!

Who said: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?”
Was she the most beautiful of them all or was she ugly?
What made her ugly? Attitude!


Train yourself to recognize ugly thoughts—Vindictive, Proud, Jealous, Greed, Lies and Stinkin’ thoughts. Paul says: “Here are some things to think about:”
“...whatever is just or noble”---(This means worthy of respect and right or that which has the dignity of holiness upon it! Not gutter trash talk!


“...whatever is just”---dikaios---the Greeks defined the man who is dikaios, the righteous man, as the man who gives to gods and men that which is their due! In other words, we may put it this way---dikaios is the word of duty faced and duty done!


“...whatever is pure”---hagnos---meaning morally pure, that which is undefiled!


“...whatever is lovely”---prosphiles---that which calls forth love! “The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23


“...whatever things are of good report”---literally means---”fair Speaking” or the things which are fit for God to hear!


“...whatever possesses virtue and praise”---arete---”that of excellence”---Paul uses this word only here in his writings, although it is a classic Greek word! Arete describes anything of “excellence”: an arete or excellent horse; an arete or excellent Soldier! “Whatever is excellent---think on that!”


“...(finally) if there is any praise---think about such things.” Whenever Jahosaphates singers went out singing the praises of God---the battle was won


Slam the door… put up ‘No Trespassing” signs…refuse to cultivate, feed and rehearse trash talk in your head.

3rd Chickens will come home To Roost!

REJECT REJECTION Many of those who have risen from failure to real achievement have rejected the rejection of this world.
In 1905, the University of Bern turned down a Ph.D. Dissertation as being irrelevant and fanciful. The young physics student who wrote the dissertation was Albert Einstein, who rejected the rejection.
In 1894, the rhetoric teacher at Harrow in England wrote on the 16-year-old's report card, "a conspicuous lack of success." The 16-year-old was Winston Churchill, who rejected the rejection.

Don’t waste an opportunity to affirm somebody!God Accepts you—just the way you are—NOW YOU ACCEPT OTHERS! Luke 19: “1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him,“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’” 8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9Jesus said to him,“Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
Jesus is our best example of Thanksgiving behavior

He saw the woman at the Well and said “Your sins are forgiven…go and sin no more!”
He saw me—the last of Six children and said “I have a plan for you!”

“Soul Food For Thanksgiving!” Take This Home For Thanksgiving:
My mind needs a gate-keeper. All sorts of ugly, seductive, repugnant, selfish and negative thoughts are ready to jump in and commandeer my heart.
Searching for and identifying the beauty that is all around me, but often camouflaged.
Everybody needs affirmation. This is a good time to start acknowledging virtues in others…with sincerity, of course.
Lord, I will look for the best in people and situation even challenges and pain. I’ll work at “taking every thought captive”.
“Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe!Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow!”
Go and Touch the World