Read for this Week's Study : Rom. 12:1, 2; 1 Cor 2:16; 2 Cor 10:3-5; Eph. 6:10-18; Co!. 3:1, 2.     Bible Search     Lesson Index   

Memory Text: "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" Colossians 3:1, 2, NKJV.    

Key Thought: The Lord Jesus Christ desires to renew our minds and be Lord of our thoughts. It is God's intention that every thought be brought into captivity to the will of Christ.

Read the following texts. Exodus 20:17, Matthew 5:8, 1 Corinthians 2:16, 1 Chronicles 28:9. What's the one thing they all have in common?

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The Bible, of course, has so much to say about our deeds and our words, all of which is understandable, because our deeds and words can have powerful effects on ourselves and others.

Yet, the Bible also makes it clear that the Lord cares about our thoughts. But why? As long as we don't act on our thoughts, what does it matter? Why should God care what we think? Whoever heard of anyone hurting another person with a thought? Thoughts are private, personal things that, in the end, if we don't express them or act upon them, don't hurt anyone.

Right?

Why do you think it matters what we think, as long as we don't act on our thoughts? Or is it possible to not, eventually, act on our thoughts? Or even if we don't act on our thoughts, why does it matter what we think? See Gen. 6:5, Prov. 4:23, Matt. 5:27-30.

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Because our thoughts are the foundation of all our words and actions, it matters what we think. Every evil deed ever committed, every evil word, every sin, began first as a thought. How many millions of people first harbored thoughts—nothing more than "harmless" thoughts—that eventually sprouted into words or deeds that have caused incredible damage? Who can know what thoughts will remain only as thoughts, nothing more, and which will bear bitter fruit? We can never know for sure, which is why it's best to control our thoughts before they turn into something painful and damaging to ourselves and others.

Meditate on Paul's testimony in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Read it in different versions (if possible) and then answer the following questions:

1. What kind of battle does Paul say we are in?

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2. What does it mean to be in a spiritual battle? How does it differ from a physical battle?

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3. What is one of the "carnal" (the Greek word means "fleshly") weapons that Christians don't use? See John 18:36. What are the weapons that we need to use? See Eph. 6:10-18.

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4. What are some of the "high things" that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God?

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The word for "strongholds" in 2 Corinthians 10:4 means "castles" or "fortresses." Paul doubtless is thinking of the inner fortresses of our hearts, the "castles" of our minds, the habits of sin and self that determine our character. The battle is one of truth against error, the knowledge of God against ignorance and superstition; it is a struggle of true worship against all forms of idolatry. In the end, it's a great controversy between Christ and Satan for control of the race. All this occurs in the mind, in the heart; and only through the power of God working in our lives can we uproot the enemy.

Keeping in mind the context of what you've read today, why is control of our thoughts so crucial in the battle we are facing? Why, in many ways, is keeping control of our thoughts the whole battle?

Even after we have received Jesus as Savior and Lord, it is still possible to become distracted by a multitude of earthly attractions. We easily can become preoccupied with things of secondary importance and forget we are called to set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth. After all, we physically live on the earth; we are constantly surrounded by things of the earth. And, indeed, many things of the earth are not, in and of themselves, bad (see Gen. 1:31). The key is to learn to know the difference.

What reason does Paul give for setting our minds on things above? Col. 3:1, 2.

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Let's look a little closer at what Paul is telling us here. Because we have been "raised with [Christ]" (2:12, NKJV see also Rom. 6:4), that we have died to self (3:3) and now have a new life in Him, our thoughts should be on heavenly things, things "above" as compared to "things on earth"—the kind of things we thought about before we met Jesus. But now, because Jesus Christ died for us (see Rom. 5:6), has paid the penalty for our sins (see Isa. 53:6), has covered us with His perfect righteousness (see Rom. 4:4-8), and now is interceding in our behalf in heaven (see Heb. 9:24), we must now dwell upon Him and the great redemption He has wrought out for us (see 1 Cor 1:30).

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is sitting at the right hand of the throne of God. We must always remember to focus our attention on our great High Priest, who has passed through the heavens and ever lives to make intercession for us.

"Fix your thoughts upon the Saviour. Go apart from the bustle of the world and sit under Christ's shadow. Then, amid the din of daily toil and conflict, your strength will be renewed."—Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places, p. 62.

Read Romans 12:1, 2. Focusing on the theme of this week, write down what you believe Paul is telling us.

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One of the precious gifts we have all received from our Creator is the gift of an imagination. Unfortunately, our imaginations have been corrupted by sinful thoughts and desires. We need our imaginations to be sanctified. Given the importance the Bible places on our thoughts, we should be encouraged to know there is power from above that will help us get control of our thoughts and our imaginations.

How does this renewal of our minds occur? Compare Rom. 12:1, 2 with Titus 3:5.

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These two passages of Scripture contain the only references to the Greek noun translated as "renewing" or "renewal." The radical transformation of our minds promised in Romans 12:2 can be accomplished only by the power of the Holy Spirit working in those Christians who have surrendered themselves to Him. God will work in us, even at the level of our imagination, but only to the degree we allow Him to. This surrender can, at times, demand an excruciating struggle on our part. As everyone has surely experienced, it's very easy for our minds to wander and focus on forbidden themes, earthly, carnal things that are from below and not from above. No wonder that in Colossians 3:2 (see yesterday's study) the literal translation of "set your affection" means "continually think of" heavenly things. Perhaps that's partially why Paul says, too, that we should "pray always" (2 Thess. 1:11), because nothing can lift our thoughts as can prayer.

Recently, a nation was horrified. A drunken, bedraggled homeless man in a big city was sleeping in an alley. A group of about three young men, seeing the unfortunate fellow, found a cannister of gasoline. As the man was sleeping, they doused him with the fuel and set him on fire. He died a horrible death.

When arrested and asked why they did such a terrible thing, one of the boys answered that they had seen something similar happen in a movie and simply copied what they saw.

Think about this episode. However extreme, what's the crucial principle we see expressed here?

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As we've seen this week, God cares about our thoughts; and He has also promised us strength to change our thoughts. But whatever the power promises from above, God isn't going to just change our thoughts supernaturally. We just don't utter a prayer, "Lord, change my thoughts," and instantly we are pure in heart and mind. However nice that would be, it doesn't work that way. We have a definite role in cooperating with the Lord. To a great extent, the things we put in our minds will affect what things we think. The more you read about Jesus, the more you focus on holy things, then the more your thoughts will be about Jesus and holy things; the more you read about earthly, unholy things, the more your thoughts will be about unholy and earthly things. It is that simple.

How does Philippians 4:8 capture the essence of this week's lesson? Write out each of these words (true, honest, just, pure, etc.), and under each heading list some things that fit in these categories (it would be interesting to compare your answers with others in class). How well are you following Paul's admonition regarding your thoughts?

"The apostle sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan's devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts."—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 518.

"The training of the heart, the control of the thoughts, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, will give control of the words. This is true wisdom, and will ensure quietness of mind, contentment and peace. There will be joy in the contemplation of the riches of the grace of God."—Ellen G. White, Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, p. 656.

"Those who would have that wisdom which is from God must become fools in the sinful knowledge of this age, in order to be wise. They should shut their eyes, that they may see and learn no evil. They should close their ears, lest they hear that which is evil and obtain that knowledge which would stain their purity of thoughts and acts. And they should guard their tongues, lest they utter corrupt communications and guile be found in their mouths."—Ellen G. White, The Adventist Home, p. 404.

1. Think about your own home. What things are there that tend to make it difficult for you to have purity of thoughts?
2. What crucial role does prayer and Bible study have in helping us have control of our thoughts?
3. What can you do as a church to help other members, particularly the young, protect themselves from the kind of negative influences that can make it very difficult to control their thoughts?
4. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. In what ways does this help provide a formula for victory in this crucial battle for our minds?