(The Church. S. Because we maintain the sinfulness of bad thoughts, it does not follow that we must push this doctrine to the extent of asserting that the thought of sin is as bad as the deed. But, in order thus to lead our thoughts, He draws us not merely "with cords of love" but also by "the bands of a man" by influences in harmony with the laws of our nature. Our Church (2) Beware of an over-scrupulous conscience weak, narrow, morbid, unenlightened. Pulsford, D. D.)The government of the thoughts necessary to holinessT. } And you yourselves, what are you but living embodiments, alike in your lower and your higher natures, and in the law of their union, of this all-pervading principle of mystery? Oct 29, 2006. Consider what it has already accomplished, what is still being done by it, and what prophecies of work continue ceaselessly to proceed from man's busy brain.3. (2) The fact is, faith discerns in dogma the regulation of its thought, just as the mathematician finds in the axioms which are the base of his science, the fixed principles which guide his onward progress, not the tyrannical obstacle which enthrals and checks him. Here, as elsewhere in human nature, we are met with unmistakable traces of the Fall. This is a blessedness reserved for the faithful above. He only can be used-up who has not learned to use himself.4. And sometimes this hired intellect passionately asserts its monopoly of freedom. Philosophical analyses of man's mind usually divide it into thought, feeling, volition; but, as a matter of fact, these are all mixed up and act together. But there is Christ. Don't go to war without the Breastplate of Righteousness. And therefore the intellect which exalts itself against revelation is often in reality not free intellect, but intellect working at the secret bidding of an irritated passion. Thus far, the aim of my reasoning has been to prove that no object is likely to suggest bad thoughts, except through the concurrence of a weakened or depraved mind. "How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" B. Mighty as the change from our natural condition is to that implied by the word of the text, one thing, and but one thing can effect it, can reduce our souls to obedience, can reconcile us to God, and bring "every thought into captivity" the Cross, the Cross of Christ, seen, approached, embraced. Meditate on the holiness of God, the heinousness of sin, and the fearfulness of that curse which its commission provokes. __gtagDataLayer( type, name, parameters ); When you lift anything and then let it fall, there is gravitation, you say. Our leading, therefore, must not be arbitrary, but in accordance with law and order truth and justice. Paul only sought to enforce that which "commended itself to the conscience in the sight of God." Many a soul has played the role of Esau, and sold its eternal birthright for a mess of toothsome pottage.4. Thank God this is gloriously true. Her highest conquests but suggest problems she cannot solve, afford glimpses of a world on which she may not presume to enter. Brierley, B. A right, royal, central way, which conducts to the centre of all blessedness! The writer not long since heard one who had been a Christian many years describe the nature of the blessing he had recently received in the following words: "I had heard of Christ being King. read more, Scripture: He is the centre and source of every attraction. Admit Him to our hearts, and He will lead our thoughts captive, not by force, but by the love He inspires. I speak of the really godly; Christ is enthroned in their affections. He knows we are amenable to reason, that we carry an echo truth can awaken, that we respond to goodness and yield to mercy. A. Who that knows anything of his own heart, knows not the difficulty of restraining, controlling, governing, fixing, directing his thoughts and feelings? Still this does not hinder us from being able to govern our thoughts, for it by no means follows that we are obliged to put ourselves in the way of such things. Every time a godless act is repeated is like casting a new spadeful upon the breastworks and fortifications by which we are shutting ourselves off from God, till, finally, the stronghold of Satan rises about us frowning and impregnable as the very ramparts of hell. A. But when we take to a subject, with what eagerness we pursue it! Yet intellect never vaunts its freedom so much as when it is in conflict with revelation. 4.We must not forget that among earnest opponents are souls which glow with a love of truth. It does not occur to him, that in making that statement he is guilty of an intellectual narrowness or of bad taste. }; The spirit in the child has an ear which knows the Father's voice, and an eye which discerns His light, and is the child's capacity for being taught of God. It is a difficult one, certainly. All work is the working out and working up of thought. A. We know something of what His thoughts were. And you yourselves, what are you but living embodiments, alike in your lower and your higher natures, and in the law of their union, of this all-pervading principle of mystery? Where does it come from? Our thoughts are God's rule, God's standard for judging of our character, and fixing of our destiny; our words are but the expression of our thoughts, and our actions but embodied thoughts. Surely, as we mount in the scale of being, we must expect an increase both in the number and magnitude of these hidden truths.3. (2) In matters political. It is hard for pride to own itself an abject criminal at the bar of God, and to beg for mercy.5. Our earthly tents wear out in 60-80 years. This is par excellence his stronghold in the heart.6. Man is what his thoughts are. As we noted last week, let us never forget that there are 2 types of endings of life: there is the end of life for an individual person and there is the end of this world as we know it, for all life. Neither overestimate nor underestimate. Obedience stopping inquiry? Verily, their "peace" shall be "as a river," and "their righteousness as the waves of the sea." We should long for our Heavenly Home. "EVERY THOUGHT" IS A PHRASE WHICH COVERS PRETTY NEARLY THE WHOLE INNER LIFE OF MAN. She can prove to man that he possesses a soul and a conscience, and that his will is really free. The purpose of New Testament religion is the subjection of every thought to the obedience of Christ. Beware of wanton doubt-dabbling. 2. It is implied in the language of the apostle, that INTELLECTUAL OPPOSITION TO REVELATION, except on great occasions, and under the leadership of distinguished captains, DOES NOT USUALLY SEEK US IN THE OPEN FIELD. But revelation challenges the activity of will and conscience; and the passions sound an alarm at the first signs of the coming of the Son of Man. Thought gives value to everything. On the other hand, thought is full of feeling. He prefers gold-plated defences to iron, and if he can succeed in sheathing a soul with sovereigns, he will pretty surely hold it against all assaults. The circulation of the Scriptures.2. In time the old tent rotted away and the Lastinger family moved into a better house. The Word is "incorruptible," and "liveth and abideth for ever." As has been said, "There can be no doubt with any reflecting mind but that the propensities of our nature must be subject to regulation; but the question is, where the check ought to be placed upon the thought, or only upon the action?" Nay, more; if the evil thought is suggested from without, and immediately disowned and rejected from within, it will depart and leave no stain. All work is the working out and working up of thought. He only can be used-up who has not learned to use himself.4. Highly guarded at times of war no one could enter or go out without prior permission (The wall of Jericho Joshua 6:1). Suppose, for example, that I am thinking of a sinful indulgence; I am free to think of that side of it which invites, or of that side of it which repels; I can think of it as an indulgence merely, or as a sinful indulgence; and the train of thought to which the whole will give rise will vary accordingly. Whatever may be revealed, it must be submitted to the verifying faculty. THE POWER OF THOUGHT. 1. How blessed it is to know that this way is His, whose "counsel standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations," who can cleanse the thoughts of our heart by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and who has undertaken to do so as "the Captain of our salvation." Here, as elsewhere in human nature, we are met with unmistakable traces of the Fall. We solve an equation as dispassionately as if we were ourselves pure reason. (2) False philosophy the spirit of all wrong systems, which generally develops itself in scepticism. )And bringing into captivity every thoughtThe moral discipline of the intellectE. III. Souls may be lazy as well as bodies.3. The powers of His life, His light, His love are, therefore, "the weapons of a warfare" which are "mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds," etc. As the chief instrument of his influence. Is not this what the Scriptures mean when they say, "Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God"?(J. THE MEANS FOR MAKING THIS ATTAINMENT. Devout meditation on your own soul's worth, its powers, capabilities, and eternal duration; the present degradation of living without God in the world, and the unutterable misery of being separated from His presence in eternity. What is the great hindrance to the subjection of mind to Christ? I need not say that Satan has no more powerful stronghold than the love of money. Sensuousness took Adam away from his allegiance, deluged the old population, broke up the Jewish nation, first degraded and then destroyed virtue in Greece, and overthrew Rome. You cannot point to a country where some of the ideas of Jesus are not. It is only so that a man comes to understand what faith is and what it can do for him. Walker, D. D.)The captivity of thoughtW. HOW MAY WE LEAD OUR THOUGHTS INTO CAPTIVITY? )Unreserved surrender to ChristG. Have you given your thoughts to Christ? But not like the world that has no hope of seeing their dead in the presence of God. display: inline !important; As the chief instrument of his influence. }; And so now He is."(E. For we need to know more that we may more perfectly obey.III. The powers of His life, His light, His love are, therefore, "the weapons of a warfare" which are "mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds," etc. if ( 'event' === arguments[1] ) { Then it is that He reigns with unhindered sway as King within. She can prove to man that he possesses a soul and a conscience, and that his will is really free. The first action of Christ on the mind is to make us think.2. 1. These thoughts repeat themselves so frequently that they soon become established. The feeling of gladness or hope produces thoughts of one sort, the feeling of gloom those of an opposite. 'page_path' : arguments[2], Christian/Church Of Christ, This is a funeral message for a church member who passed away, A Heavenly Longing Will the world be shut up to narrow ideas? As a general rule, it is only after frequently revolving crime in their minds that men find the resolution, or rather the hardihood, to commit it. Our Church - Pastor Tony Raker Why, it is a call to inquiry. Whatever may be revealed, it must be submitted to the verifying faculty. Be constant in the means of grace. It is that poor fallen woman who crouches at the feet of Christ. )Links2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV2 Corinthians 10:5 Bible Apps2 Corinthians 10:5 Parallel2 Corinthians 10:5 Biblia Paralela2 Corinthians 10:5 Chinese Bible2 Corinthians 10:5 French Bible2 Corinthians 10:5 German Bible2 Corinthians 10:5 CommentariesBible Hub. Yes; it is God at work. He is here as much as anywhere in the universe here in all His wisdom, power, and love.2. Then look up to the Cross and meditate on the love of Christ as exhibited in the atoning death.2. FOR WE SHALL ALL STAND BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT Is not this what the Scriptures mean when they say, "Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God"?(J. 1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Consider HOW MUCH THE THOUGHT'S HAVE TO DO IN FORGING AND DETERMINING THE WHOLE CHARACTER. The corrupting influences of the world are only to be removed by the action of free and loving thought upon them. These are instruments of even almighty power for saving and perfecting our souls in righteousness.III. When you lift anything and then let it fall, there is gravitation, you say. It must perish. To bring "into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (1 TH 2:4) "BUT AS WE WERE ALLOWED OF GOD TO BE PUT IN TRUST WITH Sometimes we take discouraging views of the progress of Christianity, but we should remember that the thoughts of Christ are mixed with the literature, the philosophy, the legislation, the commerce of the world. S. Keeble.Men live more lives than one. In spring everywhere around you are evidences of the existence of a mysterious power which you can neither see, nor touch, nor define, nor measure, nor understand. */ There is hope of men while they think, but there is no hope for men if they have sunk into sensuousness. But she can do no more. She can prove to man that he possesses a soul and a conscience, and that his will is really free. A. Ask the astronomer whether the stars and suns that reveal themselves to his telescopes are the only ones which exist. They shall be safe from evil and from the fear of evil. Thus much is true; but it does not follow that we have no control whatever over our trains of thought. His ruling passion, his prevailing taste, his one great work, is religion. We see some truths directly, just as in the open air we gaze upon the sun. Yonder is a man, brutal and sensual, and his thoughts are only of the animal, of sensuous gratification. etc. We are not so much what our actions are (for ten thousand motives may prompt our actions), but what our thoughts are, what our intentions, purposes, feelings, wishes, aims are. It arrests the attention, awakens feeling, inflames the passions, subdues the will, and commands action. THE TENDENCY OF THE GOSPEL IN REGARD TO THESE IMAGINATIONS. Sermon Series: How to discern Gods will. It is hard for pride to own itself an abject criminal at the bar of God, and to beg for mercy.5. Appetite is a formidable stronghold. It is hard for pride to own itself an abject criminal at the bar of God, and to beg for mercy.5. A. Then look up to the Cross and meditate on the love of Christ as exhibited in the atoning death.2. Thought gives value to everything. Not a confused statement, a contradiction, an impossibility, an unintelligible process, a reverie of the heated religious imagination. The mind readily labours for what interests the heart. To master the details of any subject in which we are not truly interested is an irksome task. __gtagTrackerOptout(); It keeps us from our real home! )The conflict of faith with undue exaltation of intellectCanon Liddon.The recent history of Cilicia may have well suggested this language, it having been the scene of some very fierce struggles in the wars against Mithridates. } You love a person; but the feeling is full of thought. Keeble. We are competent at any moment freely and deliberately to select out of a train of thoughts that one to which we will attend. (2) The fact is, faith discerns in dogma the regulation of its thought, just as the mathematician finds in the axioms which are the base of his science, the fixed principles which guide his onward progress, not the tyrannical obstacle which enthrals and checks him. seeks to help us to look beyond this world to eternity and its current implications for our lives today. Argue for truth, not victory. With the whole tenor of the Scriptures; as regards (1)The character of God. Memorial Service for SFC (Retired) Lester Corley A mystery is simply a truth hidden, in whatever degree. Christian Missionary Alliance. These men have been falling for years in the slow decay of all upright purpose and thought.II. read more. Each one should take care to keep himself inwardly as well as outwardly pure, "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Web1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness. Again, Christianity is sometimes treated of as a scheme for improving the character and elevating the morals of mankind. } The Fall so disturbed the original structure of our nature as to make reason generally the slave of desire instead of its master. The pleasures of sense and the promises of sin shall lose their power even to tempt and allure, by reason of the increasing fascinations which those of holiness are felt to impart.(T. Now 2. What is to choose but to think; and without freedom of choice what freedom of actions could there be? THE NATURE OF TRUE RELIGION IS WELL EXPRESSED. Neither overestimate nor underestimate. Tell me what are a man's thoughts, and you do not tell me what he is in the judgment of the world, for the world judges by the outward appearance. By this, man seems to be distanced from every other creature by an impassable gulf; for, if other creatures have built the way which leads up to man, it is one they have not been able to follow.2. Avoid a wrong self-estimate. trackers: {}, But its object is notoriety. Surely one who in that department is obedient to the thought of God. The ultimate triumph of the gospel is that we shall love to find out what His thoughts are, to interpret them, to enjoy them, to obey them.II. The pleasures of sense and the promises of sin shall lose their power even to tempt and allure, by reason of the increasing fascinations which those of holiness are felt to impart.(T. When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ: Why, do we not see that everything that can be found out by investigation, in the heavens above or on the earth beneath, is already true in the mind of God? Beware of an unscrupulous conscience. "Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." We can never get the best out of life till we have all our thoughts brought into obedience to the Christ of God. Surely it is of little avail to grant that a revelation has been given, and even that it is replete with mystery, if no one revealed truth may be stated in terms as absolutely certain. Walker, D. D.I suppose there are few prerogatives which men would be less inclined to part with than the absolute secrecy and independence of their thoughts. Who could really conform to a system like that"? There is (1) Mercenary intellect. We must practise mental morality. This series Let us admit, then, that, in the present condition of humanity, there are some things so adapted of themselves to excite bad thoughts that they will have this effect on the best minds. Therefore we strive to please Him. So it is with us. ONLY AS THE WORLD'S THOUGHT IS BROUGHT THOROUGHLY INTO THIS SUBJECTION CAN IT HOPE TO GET THE BEST OR SOAR TO THE HIGHEST.1. Our sense of repugnance to the crime has been blunted by familiarity. (Canon Liddon. } ); But the difficulty is to bring our souls within the influence of the Cross, within the range of its transforming energy. 9.25 - given for temperance or moderation. )The conflict of faith with undue exaltation of intellectCanon Liddon.The recent history of Cilicia may have well suggested this language, it having been the scene of some very fierce struggles in the wars against Mithridates. These thoughts repeat themselves so frequently that they soon become established. Pulling Down Strongholds Nothing but their ignorance of Christianity makes two-thirds of the world heathen to-day.2. Well, He had reigned in me, but it was only as a constitutional sovereign. It does not occur to him, that in making that statement he is guilty of an intellectual narrowness or of bad taste. Souls may be lazy as well as bodies.3. The Fall so disturbed the original structure of our nature as to make reason generally the slave of desire instead of its master. FOR OUR THOUGHTS TO HAVE THIS VALUE, WE MUST LEARN TO LEAD THEM.1. All freedom, therefore, begins and ends with freedom of thought. Hold one thing back, you hold all; yield one thing you yield all. Just as gain holds in captivity every thought of the covetous man, or ambition of the worldly man, or pleasure of the man of fashion, or lust of the sensualist; just as music, or painting, or literature of the man of taste, even though ten thousand thoughts, independent of his predominating passion, pass through his mind, and direct his walk so is it with the man of God. A. The ability to think is man's great distinction. Realizing that our residence in this rotting tent prevents us from being at home with Jesus. It will help us to understand how this can be, and at the same time strengthen our general conviction as to the necessity of controlling our thoughts, if we consider THAT EVERY SIN BEGINS IN A SIN OF THOUGHT; that is to say, in some vicious purpose or intention, and often in meditating, over and over again, when at length we are emboldened to do. But to what authority?1. The mind, the soul, will go on thinking still, even in its disembodied state, and thinking as it did here, and takes its place according to the spirit and tendency of its thoughts. Christianity must abandon the pretension to offer a defined body of truth, and is bidden to accommodate herself to the changed circumstances and imperious necessities of the time. A. We must practise mental morality. and our thoughts and feelings are ourselves the actions, the movements of our souls. And when you come to volition or will, you find thought and feeling combined in its every act. Take note of the varieties of intellect which enter into this conflict. The Word of God, by awakening the conscience, awakens a power to whose judgment it submits the claims of its authority. if ( 'send' === arguments[0] ) { Pride is a lofty height which commands many a soul, and which Satan is very sure to get possession of. Fort Drunkenness, Fort Licentiousness, and Castle Gluttony are masters of one-half the world. Now what is meant here is simply that all our thinkings be after the pattern of God's own mind. Thought is also the great material with which we work. What is so important, then, as that we should have power over our thoughts, that we should be able to choose them, to select those we wish to retain, and to dismiss those we would banish; that we should be able to hold and fix arrested thoughts, infuse them with our will, and work in and by them our good pleasure.III. S. Keeble.Men live more lives than one. (1) Works of skill are costly. A truer designation of Christianity is, that it is the divinely offered means for exalting the debased character of fallen man to a fitness for the enjoyment of God and the blessedness of His presence in eternity. When we appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, everything which is worthless and empty will be burned up and only that which can stand the test of fire will remain. In this way the whole character may be covertly undermined. Now, when the mind is won to the obedience of Christ, the atmosphere in which our thoughts float is the atmosphere of His love. /*