Life Lessons The Curse of Balaam

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Superbowl Sunday – Superbowl LX – Seahawks verses Patriots  

According to the National Chicken Council (NationalChickenCounsel.org) Americans are projected to eat 1.48 billion chicken wings today. I wonder if those are like the whole wing or like the wing cut into two pieces. Can you believe commercially oriented marketers have convinced Americans to accept that half a wing is a wing? At any rate, it takes a lot of chickens to make up 1.48 billion wings of any sort.  

1.48 billion wings divided by the near 350 million people who live in the USA today equals like 4.22 chicken wings for every man, woman, child, and baby. This means I will need to let you out early today so you and the family can get started early. Some of us are going to have to eat more than our share. 

On a retail note: The National Retail Federation (nrf.com) has forecasted, and even made a neat little chart, that 213.1 million adults plan to watch the Superbowl today. They will spend a total of 20.2 Billion Dollars on food, clothing, new TV’s, decorations, and other furniture. That equals $94.77 per viewer.  

America is a great place to live, if you can afford it … everyone wants to live in America – unless you’re a chicken I suppose. 

Are you ready for the Word? 

Before we get to our text today, I’d like to invite Jeff Phillips, one of the Elders of our Church, to read Psalms 8, which is our Psalm for this week. 

We have been reviewing the story of The Prophet Balaam which began in Numbers 22 when the King of Moab hired him to curse the Israelites. Evidently The King of Moab and all the Elders of Midian believed the Prophet Balaam had the power to bless and the power to curse. They were willing to pay a very large sum of money if Balaam would proclaim a curse on Moses and the Children of God. (The Prophet Balaam represents you; the king of Moab represents the devil; and the Children of Israel represents all the people on earth the Lord is trying to save.)

Numbers 22:6  “Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” 

Not only did the Moabites and the Midianites believe what Balaam said had power, but God and His Angel also believed it. 

Numbers 23 NKJV 

11  Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed them bountifully!” 

12  So he answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?” 

The whole account was made a matter of Biblical record so we would realize how powerful our words are and how important it is to God that we bless people and not curse them. In fact, every Born-Again Believer has the Holy Spirit living in their heart and their words are much more powerful and impacting than any of the Old Testament prophets could imagine.  

Jesus said there was never a greater prophet than John the Baptist but the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28) 

For this reason, the New Testament continues to admonish us as Believers to watch what we say and to make sure we do not idly or willfully curse people. God is trying to save them! Furthermore the scriptures give us several keys to controlling what we think, what we say, and what we do. 

Romans 12

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.

Thoughts produce words – better said – Words come from thoughts. We may not be able to fully harness our words unless we can first control our thoughts. Jesus said it this way: 

Luke 6:45  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

James 3: 2  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

We should all strive to be perfect and to exercise a reasonable amount of self-control. Self-control is a greater asset than one might realize. Self-control, it turns out, might just be a byproduct of filling our mind with the right stuff! 

At any rate, people end up saying what they think – maybe not to everyone but certainly to themselves and eventually to someone else. 

Problem is, when we think in terms of curses, we tend to curse. 

Romans 12:14  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  

Curses are real! God would not have given us instructions to not curse people unless He believed our cursing actually had power to harm them.  

God gave strict instructions to Balaam to not curse the Israelites. In fact, an angel of the Lord stood ready to kill the prophet because he did not want any curse words coming from the prophet spoken against those God wanted to save. Evidently curse words hurt … even when we speak them about ourselves! 

Proverbs 4

20  A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Numbers 14:28  "Say to them, ’As I live,’ says the LORD, ’just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:”

It’s not only what we say about ourselves, but also what others may be saying about us. Verbally denounce and condemn the curses others have spoken over your life, family, finances, and future. 

Isaiah 54:17  No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.

Remember – It will please God if you will quit cursing others!  

How can you do this?  

• · Fill your mind with the good Word of God! (Proverbs 4:23) 
  
• · Think on the best you can imagine God can do. (Philippians 4:8) 
  
• · Speak that which is good. (Ephesians 4:29)  
  
• · Renew your mind and it will renew your life! (Romans 12:1-2) 

Rock Solid Convictions Intro: What are Convictions

Convictions. They’re something we never really talk about. But it is something we all have in some way or another. And while we do have them, how often do we actually think about that our convictions are? The question is, what are the convictions that we are holding on to?  

What convictions do you have that you will not change? 

• • You will not compromise… 
  
• • You will not deny… 
  
• • You will not surrender… 

Convictions are given by God to protect you and to help you love a godly life. So if someone asked you what your convictions were, what would you tell them? Have you thought about what your convictions are? These are all important questions.

 

Why?  

Because convictions define who you are. 

• • They influence how you think. 
  
• • They define choices you make. 
  
• • They set the direction you are going in life. 
  
• • They influence how you spend your money.  
  
• • They impact how you treat others. 
  
• • They shape your character over time. 
  

You convictions are a major part of your life and they make up who you are. 

What are your convictions? What will you not compromise under any circumstance? What convictions are influencing your thoughts, choices, direction, spending, how you treat others, character? 

We have to make sure that we are on the same page when we discuss the term conviction. 

Definitions of Conviction 

• 1. To be formally determined as guilty  
  
• 2. A firmly held belief 
  
• 3. Convictions impressed by the Holy Spirit 
  

Convictions are the beliefs that we hold firmly to. These the things we believe that no one or nothing can change our mind on. 

As believers in Jesus Christ, our convictions must be shaped by God’s Word. If a conviction is not rooted in Scripture then it is just a strong opinion. We must be careful that we are not just holding firmly to strong opinions. 

CONVICTIONS	PREFERENCES
Do not change	Do change
Rooted in God’s Word	Shaped by culture, upbringing, and personality
Faith based	Opinion based
Non-negotiable	Situational
You believe no matter the situation you face	You believe now but can be convinced there is something better.

So what are convictions? How would you define a conviction? 

Conviction — Something you are so thoroughly convinced is absolutely true that you are willing to take a stand for it regardless of the consequences 

Convictions are revealed in the face of adversity and consequences. 

Characteristics of a person with Convictions 

Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 

• - Three Jews who were absorbed into the Babylonian kingdom 
  
• - They were commanded to bow down to the golden image, and if they didn’t then they would be thrown into a fiery furnace 
  
• - This went against their convictions as the people of God 
  
• - So when everyone bowed down to the golden image, these three men were resolute in their decision not to bow down to the idol 
  
• - This led to them being brought before King Nebuchadnezzar and were threatened

Daniel 3:12,16-18 

12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” 

“16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”” 

In the midst of adversity and serious consequences, these three men stood firm in their convictions. I believe that we can learn something from these men. I want to talk about the characteristics of someone who lives by convictions. 

• 1. Convictions are settled before a Crisis
  v12 — “They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image”
  
• • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t get together when the music started playing to figure out what they were going to do. 
  
• • They had already decided what they were going to do before anyone was commanded to bow. They were resolute. 
  
• • As Christians, we don’t decide our convictions when we are under pressure. We must decide ahead of time. 
  
• • The golden image didn’t decide their convictions, it revealed them. 
  
• • Similarly, the pressure moments you face in life will not decide your convictions…they reveal them. 
  
  
• 2. Convictions are rooted in a fear of God
  v16 — “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.”
  
• • These three men knew that they ultimately did not answer to the king. They knew that they had to answer God. 
  
• • They were unshakeable in their response because they feared God. 
  
• • They feared God more than they feared man or feared consequences. 

• • As believers, our convictions come from a fear of God, not from a fear of consequences 
  Matthew 10:28 — “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
  
  
• 3. Convictions refuse to bow, even when others do
  v18 — “nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
  
• • Everyone had bowed down; an entire nation had complied. 
  
• • However, these three men refused to bow even when everyone else did 
  
• • As Christians, we live for obedience to God, not acceptance of others 
  
• • When people around you are cursing, drinking, gossiping, don’t worry about offending them; worry about offending God.  
  
• • Choose obedience over acceptance 
  
  
• 4. Convictions are lived out publicly
  
• • They simply stood when everyone else bowed— everyone saw it 
  
• • When you stand for Jesus, people will notice 
  
• • Conviction isn’t about being seen, but real convictions will be seen. 
  
• • Don’t be afraid to speak up when someone says something negative about Jesus. Don’t be afraid to stand up against what is wrong when everyone else says that its okay. Don’t be ashamed to talk about Jesus at your workplace or with your friends. 
  
  
• 5. Convictions trust in God
  v17 — “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  
  18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods”
  
• • Their obedience was not tethered to how things might’ve turned out. They were going to trust God regardless of what happened. 
  
• • They chose to obey God, and then left the results to Him. 
  
• • As christians, we obey God without guarantees of what might happen. 
  
• • We must trust God for the outcome rather than ourselves. 
  
  

• 6. Convictions produce courage when challenged
  v18 — “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” 
  
• • Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had the courage to stand up and obey God in the face of serious consequences. 
  
• • That courage came when they chose to make a stand in faith. 
  
• • We too receive courage and boldness when we choose to obey God. 
  
• • That courage comes after we have made the decision. 

In this series we will be going over 5 Rock-Solid Convictions that you as a Christian should hold firmly to: 

Rock-Solid Conviction Topics 

• 1. God — God Alone Is Supreme 
  
  
• 2. The Bible — God’s Word Is the Authority 
  
  
• 3. Money — God’s Blueprint: Stewardship 
  
  
• 4. Prayer — Our Dependence on God 
  
  
• 5. Eternity — Living With the End in Mind

Life Lessons The Donkey Knows

 

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Isaiah 1:3  “The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.” 

After a person gives their life to Jesus Christ and becomes a child of God, one of the most important things they can do is to remember what He did for them. All throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, we are admonished to not forget what God has done for us.  

Remembering and reminding ourselves and others about what God has done gives Him the credit for our blessings. Another word for credit is glory. We give God glory when we remember His blessings. 

The one thing Jesus asks of us concerning communion is that we receive the bread and the cup in remembrance of Him and the way He gave His life for us. He said: “This do in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24)

Just after the Balaam incident and the plague that came upon the Israelites because of their sin, God had Moses write the Book of Deuteronomy to give instructions to His children concerning what God expected of them. 

Seven times in the book of Deuteronomy God told the Children of Israel that when they arrived and were settled in the Promise Land and were comfortable in their new houses, safe from their enemies, and prosperous in their fields, to not forget what He had done for them and where their blessings came from. 

Deuteronomy 8 NKJV 

11  “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 

12  “lest — when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 

13  “and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;

14  “when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 

15  “who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; 

16  “who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end —  

17  “then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ 

18  “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” 

God has a reason for blessing us … and God will not forget His covenant. 

Deuteronomy 4:31  For the LORD your God is a merciful God, He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. 

God made a covenant with Abraham concerning Isaac, Jacob, and their children. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, and the Children of Israel are the descendants of Abraham. God’s covenant was with Abraham and sealed by the blood of a bull, goat, ram, turtledove, and pigeon (Genesis 12:1-4; 15:8-18). The Children of Israel were the beneficiaries of that covenant. And, God promised that He would not forget that covenant. 

Psalm 89:34 My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing which has gone out of my lips. 

The Abrahamic covenant promised: 

• 1. God would multiply his descendants. 
  
• 2. He would bless their bread and water. 
  
• 3. He would bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey. 
  
• 4. He would be their God and be a friend to their friends and an enemy to their enemies. 

Today, God’s covenant is with Jesus. It is a covenant built on better promises and sealed by the blood of Jesus. The Covenant of Christ promises:

• 1. All who call upon the name of Jesus will be saved. 
  
• 2. Sin, sickness, poverty, and fear will have no dominion over the Born-Again Christian. 
  
• 3. Every Believer will be an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus. 
  
• 4. God will hear and answer their prayers. 
  
• 5. The Holy Spirit will be their personal teacher and guide. 
  
• 6. The saved will never taste death. 
  
• 7. They will reign as Kings and Priests with Jesus throughout eternity. 
  

If you believe God sent His Son to personally pay the price for your sin and if you have subsequently invited Jesus into your heart, you are saved and have entered into the covenant God promised us through His Son. This covenant is sure and secure and is based on the blood of Jesus.  

If you have not yet asked Jesus into your heart, you can do that right now. It is free and simple yet the most important and powerful thing you will ever do. Call on the name of the Lord with me right now. Turn your life over to Jesus. He loves you and has a plan for your life.  

Once you are saved … remember what God has done for you and give Him the glory. He is the One who has saved you, healed you, and prospered you. He hears your prayers and will teach and guide you in every decision. Honor Him.  

Like the prophet Isaiah said: 

Isaiah 1:3  “The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; …” 

Acknowledge your God … you didn’t do it by yourself. 

Deuteronomy 8:18  “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” 

There is a reason why you have been and will be blessed!

Life Lessons The Progression of Sin

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This morning we are continuing our Life Lessons from the Bible, picking up where we left off in the life of an Old Testament prophet named Balaam. In Part 1 we established a few things about this prophet from the account in the book of Numbers chapter 22. Namely:

·        Balaam loved money.

·        Just because God tolerates something does not mean He appreciates it.

·        If you cannot say no to yourself and to others, you will fail in life.

The story of Balaam intrigues me. For those just joining the story, allow me to give the quick overview of Balaam’s situation.

Balaam was a prophet of Jehovah living in what is now Syria during the Exodus of the Children of Israel with Moses. The Israelites were so numerous that they filled the land with their tents as they moved through Midian on the eastern side of the Dead Sea and on up the Jordan River Valley across from Jericho.

The King of Midian, named Balak, was afraid of the Israelites but knew he could not defeat them in a direct attack. He had heard about their God and how He protected them against their enemies. So King Balak hatched a plan. He decided to hire a prophet of the God of Israel and pay that prophet to pronounce a curse on the Israelites.

King Balak offered the prophet Balaam a lot of money to curse Israel. Balaam inquired of God and God told Balaam to not go. When Balak the king heard this, he immediately offered Balaam a lot more money, power, and position. Balaam loved money so he went back to try and convince God to let him do it.

Finally God told Balaam, go ahead … but do not say anything I don’t tell you to say. So Balaam saddled his trusted donkey and went.

He wasn’t far down the road before an Angel of the Lord stood in the way with his sword drawn to kill Balaam. Balaam didn’t see the angel, but his donkey did. Just before the angel struck, the donkey veered off the trail and into a field, saving Balaam’s life. Balaam got mad at the donkey and beat her until she got back up on the road.

This happened two more times until God opened the mouth of the donkey to speak to Balaam and then God opened Balaam’s eyes to see the angel.

This whole account begs the question: If God was against Balaam going to Midian, why did He tell him to go head?

Ezekiel 14 tells us that if a person sets up an idol in his own heart and then inquires of God concerning a matter while worshipping that idol, God will allow the idol to answer them. Even a prophet will be deceived by the idol they set up to worship. The voice of the Lord will sound like the voice of their idol. God will confirm their delusion. The Psalmists said:

Psalm 81:12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels.

Idolatry is sin. Balaam worshipped money. Money was his god. Money told Balaam what to think, feel, and do. Money, in and of itself, is nothing, until you idolize it. Money is not evil … it’s the love of money … and …

It doesn’t have to be money to be an idol. Anything, even another person, can become an idol.

Sin begins so small. But > Sin will:

·        Take you farther than you wanted to go.

·        Keep you longer than you expected to stay.

·        Cost you more than you were willing to pay.    

Sin begins as a mistake in judgment or an impulse driven act or a single bad decision. This is no doubt what happened to Balaam. Sin began small, like a seed, just an error, and it grew. This is:

The Progression of Sin

1.  The Error of Balaam

Jude 1:11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

·        An Error is a mistake, a sin, but often a single bad decision.

·        Repent of bad decisions before they become a habit or a way.

2.  The Way of Balaam

2 Peter 2:15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

·        An error left unchecked, unchallenged and unchanged becomes a way of life.

·        That’s just the way I am … so sad but so true.

3.  The Doctrine of Balaam

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

·        The word doctrine means teaching.

·        Balaam knew he could not curse the Israelites but he could teach king Balak how to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel so that they would, in essence, curse themselves.

·        He told Balak to move Midianite prostitutes in tents close to the camp of Israel and entice them to consort, intermingle, and intermarry. Then further tempt them to set up idols to worship and thereby anger God.

·        It worked …

Numbers 31:16 These caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord … and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

Joshua 13:22 – The Children of Israel, under the leadership of Joshua, killed Balaam with the sword once they entered the Promise Land.

Conclusion: How Do I Defeat The Curse of Balaam In My Life?

1.  Confess and forsake your sin.

Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

2.  Flee sin … Run Away!

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee sexual immorality …

3.  Make no provision for sin …

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Breaking the Cycle of Toxic Thinking

 Any body here talk to themselves? I definitely talk to myself, maybe a little too much. But talking to yourself is normal, and it is a good thing. With that said, here is my question to you:

What do you say to yourself, when you talk to yourself? I’m not referring to on-going narration you say to yourself as you get ready to leave the house or when you forget how you got to a destination. I am also not referring to the constant reminders you give yourself or work toward completing your tasks.

What I’m referring to is the on-going self-talk that you repeatedly say to yourself over and over again in your mind. What do you say when you talk to yourself? If you are like most people, there are times when you get stuck in a negative loop. You find yourself thinking about things that are not helpful and at times can be harmful. 

Some of those thoughts can sound like this:

•   I always mess things up

•   I never get things right

•   This is a disaster

•   They probably think I am stupid

•   Or, I am so stupid

•   I am a failure

•   I am just so bad with money

•   Why can’t I just be like them?

•   This is never going to change

•   God must be disappointed in me

What you say to yourself matters… What you say to the people around you matters. What you say to your children matters. What you say to God matters.

But what you say to yourself may matter more than what you say to others.

Proverbs 23:7 — “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

We must be careful how we think, because how we think shapes who we become. That’s powerful! What you think about yourself and how you talk to yourself in your thoughts have the power to shape who you are becoming.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in psychology explains it like this:

•   Your thoughts impact (help to form) what you believe

•   Your beliefs impact what you feel

•   Your feelings often impact what you do

In other words, our lives move in the direction of our strongest and deepest thoughts. The question is, what are you thinking about the most? What are you saying to yourself the most? Even better, what are you allowing your “self” to say to yourself?

Your thoughts have extraordinary power.

Through Christ, you have extraordinary power over your thoughts.

You are not a victim of your thoughts. Through the power of God you can choose what you think about and what you say to yourself. However, it is a matter of CHOICE.

Romans 8:6

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

If we find ourselves struggling with negative and destructive thoughts, could it be that out mind is set on the things of this world rather than the things of God? It says that when we set our mind on the things of God that it leads to life and peace.

Here is the truth:

Toxic thinking not only impacts you, but also those around you.

Psalms 4:23 — “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Whatever is in your inner world eventually becomes a stream to the outer world. In other words, if toxic thinking is flowing inside of us, it will show up in our:

•   Tone (how we speak to people)

•   Attitude (how we react to people)

•   Patience (how we treat people)

We have to break out of this cycle. Why? Because how we speak to ourself matters! It impacts not just ourselves, but the people around us. So, when we find ourselves constantly surrounded by negativity, toxic thinking, and negative thoughts patterns, what should we do? 

Here are four things we can do remedy negative thinking:

1.     Guard what you allow in your mind
Psalms 4:23 — “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

•   Don’t let negativity run unchecked in your life

•   We don’t have to sit listen to our self speak negatively

•   Not every thought is worth thinking about

•   You can’t always control every thought that enters your mind, but you can control what stays.

2.     Replace negative thoughts with truth
2 Corinthians 10:5 — “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

•   We guard what we allow in our mind, and then we replace those thoughts that do make it through.

•   Your thoughts are not in charge, Christ is

•   You don’t have to sit and listen to your self speak negatively to ourself

•   You can interrupt those negative thought patterns and replace them with the truth

•   When a thought comes your way,
1) — Don’t ignore it
2) — Ask yourself, is this true? (does it line up with scripture)
3) — What does God’s Word say?
4) — Declare God’s truth over yourself

•   Romans 12:2 — “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

3.     Fix your mind on God

•   The mind that is set on the flesh is death, but the mind that is set on the Spirit is life and peace!

•   If we want more life giving thoughts, peaceful thoughts, encouraging thoughts, joyful thoughts, loving thoughts, then we have to set our mind on the things of God.

Colossians 3:2 — “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

•   To “set your mind” means to intentionally place it somewhere. It is a choice you are making. You must choose that you are going to think about the things of God.

•   You have to avoid setting your mind on gossip, constant bad news, what people think about you, your past failures and mistakes.

•   Your thoughts are incredibly powerful!

•   However, through Christ you have incredible power over your thoughts

•   Through the power of God, you can choose to set your mind on God

‣    Remind yourself who God is

‣    Remind yourself of His promises

‣    Remind yourself of where your hope comes from

•   Isaiah 26:3 — “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

4.     Encourage yourself in the Lord

•   When you find yourself in a moment when you are surrounded by negativity, do what David did and encourage yourself in the Lord.

Psalm 42:5 — “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him…”

•   Notice what David did:

‣    He acknowledged his discouragement

‣    He did not allow it to consume him

‣    He was speaking the truth to himself

•   Encouraging yourself means reminding yourself:

‣    God is good

‣    God is faithful

‣    God is with you

‣    God is at work

‣    The season you are in is not the end

•   1 Samuel 30:6 — “David found strength in the Lord his God."

•   Encourage yourself in the Lord!

•   Remind yourself that you can

‣    Trust in the Lord

‣    You are not alone

‣    Your hope is in the Lord