05/09/2018: “Thoughts and Values” | Gill Wolfaardt
Philippians 4:8 & 9 PT
“ So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honourable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God . praising Him always. Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things.”
Thoughts
We have talked extensively about thoughts but there’s another important aspect that influences our lives. Our values.
When your actions and decisions align with your values you display integrity, you become an influence for others and you experience peace of mind. If your actions go against your values you feel bad about yourself, you make mistakes and you may find yourself behaving unethically. Out of control behaviour is caused by loving or valuing the wrong things. things that don’t satisfy. When we face that and confess to God our wrong values He changes us and creates a new heart in us. IE admit our sinful state .
Values are caught more than taught. Our values are not a matter of preference but of conviction.
Why is it that there are so many unprincipled people in the world today?
What are the core values for our society?
Christian Biblical Values
We are going to be looking today at Christian Biblical Values
Ted Koppel ( TV commentator ) “ There is harmony and inner peace to be found in following a moral compass that points in the same direction regardless of fashion or trends.”
Matthew 7:3 “ Why would you focus on the flaw in someone else’s life and yet fail to notice the glaring flaws of your own?”
Our values are actually encapsulated in all that God is. Gal 5:22 ; 1 Cor 13:4-8 His image
Values; One’s judgement of what is important in life. What is important in your life?
8 Core values to nurture as Christ followers
Grace;
Gods Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is radical, totally undeserved, it pays no attention to a suffered wrong, it keeps no record of sins, it always believe the best.
We are recipients of God’s unspeakable grace but we need to be dispensers of God’s grace too. Then we understand the deadly nature of our sin we get an inkling of what grace is. Titus 3:4-7
Hope:
Is not a guarantee that bad things won’t happen nor is it simply positive thinking or looking on the bright side of life. Hope is the conviction that God has gone into the future ahead of us and will always be present with us .
Hebrews 13;5 ; Romans 15:13
Faith:
is an attitude of trust in someone you can rely on which mirrors the commitment God has for His people. Faith deepens relationships and enables us to more meaningfully explore the meaning of our own lives and the beauty of the lives of others.
Our faith is in the truth of the gospel, the life, the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus and His ongoing life at the Father’s right hand. Faith is believing God’s word to the extent that we act upon it.
John 14:1
Love:
Without love nothing makes any sense. Love is the answer to the most fundamental questions of human existence. God IS love and we can only know love because He loved us first. This love paid for our sins on the cross. This love gave us access to light and to life and to peace with God. Love always seeks the good of the other.It is the opposite of all selfish and self centred attitudes. True love casts out fear.
Justice:
ensures the weak, the poor and the socially disadvantaged are cared for whether they deserve it or not. It is honouring and respecting humankind as being in the image of God.
Justice is not allowing everyone to do what they see as right long as they don’t hurt anyone else. Then injustice comes to be interpreted as an attempt to stop someone else from doing what they desire.
God is just. He has justified us and made us just and the just shall live by faith.
Joy:
is a quality of being rather than an emotion.. It comes from the certainty of eternal life and being recipients of God’s grace and favour.
John 15:11:
“ I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing”
Joylessness is not emblematic of Christianity.
Service:
We are called to serve one another in love and that is in stark contrast to the normal human desire for position and power. Service is laying aside my interests for the interests of others Meaning is found in service not in self centredness. Jesu did not come to be served but to serve.
Peace:
Matthew 5:9 PT “How blessed are you when you make peace for then you will be recognised as a are child of God.” As far as you are able live at peace with everyone.
THE GOLDEN RULE: “ IN EVERYTHING YOU DO , BE CAREFUL TO TREAT OTHERS IN THE SAME WAY AS YOU’D WANT THEM TO TREAT YOU, FOR THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF LL THE TEACHING OF ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”
Proverbs 2:1-15
“Teach me Your way Oh Lord that I may live and walk in Your truth. direct and UNITE my heart to fear and honour Your Name “ Psalm 86:11