Fixing My Mind, Thinking With A Purpose: 

Whatever You Think You Become (Part 7)

Delivered by Trennie L. Williams

Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church

Sunday, October 29, 2017


Philippians 4:8

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
“…whatever is pure….”
Pure, from the Greek words hagnos (ἁγνός) and hagios (ἅγιος), is defined as clean, innocent, modest, perfect, sacred, morally blameless, ceremonially consecrated, holy. 
When I think of purity, water comes to mind. When you take a bath, you don’t want to wash in dirty water. You want to the cleanest, most crisp water you can find, whether it is in a stream in the wilderness or a shower in the bathroom. Also, when you cook, you do not take used dishwashing water to prepare your favorite dish. You get fresh water as a key ingredient to make a delicious meal.
The same applies to our spiritual wellbeing Our personal relationship with God is not based on how much filth we continue to consume in our lives. We prefer and seek a more innocent, modest, sacred and holy life as we become more like him in our daily activities. Your goal is to think and act on things that strengthens your inner self, while at the same time, bettering the impact you have on other people.
There is a way to becoming the best child of God you can be. In order to make our lives pure, you must go through a purification process that channels you in the Lord’s direction.
1. Set the example of speech, conduct, love, faith and purity in your environment.
a. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:12-16)
2. Instead of rebuking, modestly reach out to encourage others.

a. Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. (1Timothy 5:1-2)
3. Reject and renounce all ungodliness, worldliness, eager and enthusiastic to live as discreet, upright, devout people of God.

a. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world, Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds. [Deuteronomy 14:2; Psalms 130:8; Ezekiel 37:23] Tell [them all] these things. Urge (advise, encourage, warn) and rebuke with full authority. Let no one despise or disregard or think little of you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect]. (Titus 2:12-15)
4. Exhibit external religious worship by helping and caring for orphans and widows, uncontaminated from the world.

a. External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world. (James 1:27)
5. Live with wisdom of nobility and humility. 

a. Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth. This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal). For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity). And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. (James 3:13-18)
6. Acknowledge the incredible love our Heavenly Father has given us.

a. SEE WHAT [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him. (1 John 3:1)

i. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)