The whole star-spangled banner yet waves Okay, now turn over to Philippians chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4. This is a very full portion of Scripture. And the full message, I hope, full of Christ, full of truth, full of profitable things, edifying things. Let's read my text for tonight. Philippians 4, verse 8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things. Let's read the next verse also. Those things which you have both learned and received and heard. and seen in me, Paul said, do, and the God of peace shall be with you. Finally, brethren. Now, as I stated Sunday morning, the Word of God, in reading the Word of God, is something we must First, consider in reading any portion of God's words that God is spirit. God is spirit. They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit. They that know God, those that understand something of God, understand or know these spiritual things. The Scripture says we compare spiritual things with spiritual things. It says, The natural man receiveth not the things of God, neither can he know them, their foolishness unto him. But the Scripture says God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. God is Spirit. This book is a spiritual book. This book is a spiritual book. upon first reading the Word of God, the first and primary application of any portion of Scripture, the primary application or meaning of any verse of Scripture is a spiritual one. OK? A spiritual one. And that primary spiritual meaning is to reveal God, who He is. That's why this book is written. It's not to show us how to live. Christ said that to the Pharisees and some people. He said, You search the Scriptures, or you do read the Scriptures. And they read their Bibles like so many people do today. But He said, You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have life. That is, reading the Scriptures and trying to live by the law and so forth. You think that you're going to be saved that way. get to God that way. He said no. They are they, the scriptures, all the scriptures. Christ said they are they, which what? Testify of me. Testify of me, or tell of me. The scriptures were written by God to reveal God, but no man knoweth the Father save the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal." We wouldn't know the Scriptures had not Christ the Word been made flesh and revealed the Father to us. All right? So the Scriptures are spiritual to reveal God, to point us to Christ, to reveal our own hearts, and they're also practical. God did write scriptures to, the scripture says, Paul said to Timothy, he said, all scriptures are given by inspiration of God and are profitable for doctrine, for proof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be truly furnished unto all good work. Right? So the scriptures are written for practical knowledge in daily life. They surely are. They surely are, but the primary meaning is a spiritual one, and that being to reveal God through Christ, to reveal salvation in Christ. Christ said, I am come not to show you how to live, but to give life. Because a dead man can't make himself live. Only Christ can do that, like he did to Lazarus. All right, so the scriptures and the scriptures are the power of God, the quickening power of God, and only if God is pleased to open the heart will a man live and have spiritual understanding. Christ is the subject of Scripture, like this text we just read. You say, where is Christ there? The whole verse speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole verse is nothing but a characterization of the Lord Jesus Christ. Telling us of his character. Christ is subject. You know what the object of salvation is, though? You know why God saves a people? To make us like Christ. Christ is the subject. Christ's likeness is the object. Right? Christ is the subject. Christ likeness is the object of this text. He says, we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Or as Barnard said, salvation. What salvation is is God Almighty reproducing the character of Jesus Christ in a human being. That's what that means by that new creature in Christ created in us. All right? Okay, now let's look at verse 9 again, or verse 8, I'm sorry. Verse 8. Finally, brethren, finally. These are Paul's parting words to the church of Philippi. Finally, brethren, parting words. This was common to Paul. He said this many times. Finally, brethren, rejoice in the Lord. Finally, brethren, this and that and the other. Finally. Peter said the same thing. Finally. Finally, or that is in conclusion. One last thing, he says, one last thing before I close. An important reminder. This is a summary of all that's said, a parting note to keep in mind. Finally, brethren, and he says, whatsoever things are this, that, and the other, think on these things. Think on these things. Are you with me? Are you there? OK. Come on. We're going to think on these things now. All right, I can't think for you. Think on these things. Now, listen to me. He says, what's everything a true, honest, just think on these things. Well, you and I say this quite often, like Paul said in Romans 7, but the things I would do, I do not. The things I would not do, that's what I do, or paraphrase it, The things that I would think on, that's not what I think. The things that I would not think, that's what I think. Don't you say that? Huh? Everybody in here ought to say that. If you know the evil and the sinfulness of your own heart, you say that. The things that I would think on, that's not what I think on, most of the time. And Paul said that in Galatians. He said, The flesh lusteth against the Spirit. so that you cannot do the things that you would or you desire to do. The flesh lusteth against the spirit, but, but he does say through Christ, in Christ, by Christ, by his power who has all power and all authority in heaven and earth over all flesh. And then we said John, all authority is given over all flesh. I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me, even thinking these things." Now, he's not telling us, he wouldn't be telling us to do something that was impossible to do. What'd he say? What'd he do? That'd be cruel, wouldn't it? Thank God I can. I'm not able to. That'd be cruel, wouldn't it? We'd be demanding the impossible of that. But, I can do all things through Christ, by his grace. And only by his grace I can think on these things. I can. I can. All right? Let's look at them then. You know, like I said, he wouldn't tell us to think on these things if it was impossible. I need grace to think on these things, though. I need his grace. Well, he said he'd give us more grace. And I have a feeling I have not, because I have not. That's what James said. So Christ is the subject, and we're going to look at him in reference to each of these things, and then we're going to look at how it applies to us, OK? And listen to this. Think about this, people. The more you think on the Lord Jesus Christ, the more you will grow to admire him, and the more you admire somebody and love somebody and respect somebody, the more you will want to emulate somebody. So that's the way to instill these things in a person, right? Husband, love your wife how? As Christ loved the church. If a man would consider how Christ loved the church, it would make him want to love his wife that way. Okay? So as you see these things in reference to Christ, the more you admire Him for these things, the more you want to be like this. Understand? The law can't create this. All right, number one. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true. Turn over to 1 John, chapter 5. Think on things that are true. What's the Scripture say? Let God be true, and every man a liar. Whatsoever things are true, listen to these verses as you turn. In Revelation, He says, These things sayeth he that is holy, he that is true. Another verse, Just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints. I've never seen that before, John. King of saints. I like that. Here's another verse. He says, True and righteous are thy judgments, O Lord. Another verse. I saw a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True." This is a description of the Lord Jesus Christ. Think on him who is true. Look at verse 20. 1 John 5, verse 20. We know that the Son of God is come and has given us an understanding that we may know him that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ. that we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God. Jesus Christ is God. That's what that's saying there. That's true. It's true. And the eternal life. Keep yourself from idols. Worship the true and living God. God is true. Jesus Christ is true. His Holy Spirit is true. They are true to their character. Christ is true in this sense. He is true to his character. He's holy. He's just. He's righteous. He's mercy. He's love. He's grace. He's true to that character. In everything he is and does, he's true to his character, right? In thought, in word, in deed, he's true to his holiness. He's true to his righteousness. And here's a play on words here. He is too good not to be true. He is too good not to be true. He's true to his character. He's true to his word. Jesus Christ is true to his word. You know how often he said this before he started to say something? Barely, barely. What that means is truly, truly. He said this is true. This is true. I say it. Verily, verily, I say unto you. Who say unto you? He that's true. Who is the truth. He that is true to his word forever, O Lord, thy word is settled. He cannot lie. Scripture says he's spoken it. He'll do it. That's a true, true person. A person who says I'm going to do this, and he does it every time. That man's true. That man's true. That's Christ. Well, Christ said, Whosoever believeth, whosoever believeth shall not perish. John, he can't lie. Whosoever believeth on the Son shall not perish, but have everlasting. Not Mike. shall have everlasting life." He said, "...all that the Father giveth me shall come unto me, and him that cometh unto me I will in some cases cast out." No. If they're real bad, I'll cast them out. If they're sin after, I say, in no wise, cast out. As he's true to his word, John, think on that. Think on that a while. That's worth thinking about him. He's true to his word. He said, I cannot lie. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth shall not perish, shall not perish. He's true to his word. That's worth thinking about him. We could stop right there. I could quit right now. Couldn't I? Quit right now and you would have profited by coming here. Think on these things. Think on him who is true. And brethren. Practically speaking. We ought to think on things whatsoever things are true. Whatsoever things are true or true a true report as opposed to gossip as opposed to rumor. True words my pastor. Gave this threefold criteria for hearing a rumor or something about someone else. It's very good. Excellent. If we would gauge everything we hear by this threefold criteria, it'd do away with gossip. It'd do away with rumors and slander. He said, whatever you hear about someone or whatever, is it true? Number one, is it true beyond a shadow of a doubt? Is it true? Let's get to the bottom of this thing. Let's see if this is true. Right? 99% of the time saying it's not going to be. Is it true? Is it true because of some vendetta someone has or something? Is it true? Is it kind? That's number two. Is it kind? Is it kind? Is it the kind thing to repeat, to say, to think? Is it kind? Number three, is it necessary? Is it necessary to just go on any further? Not if you love them. You love covering. and reveal with comfort. All right, is it true? So he says, think on these things. Love rejoices in the truth. The truth. Gil said, think on whatsoever things are true in opposition to falsehood, lying, hypocrisy. The true gospel as opposed to the false one today. The true Lord and Savior, the true Jesus, the true Christ, the true Word of God as opposed All this nonsense is going on today in the name of God and Christ. Think on these things. What God says is true. Let God be true and every man a liar. If he doesn't speak according to God's word. Right? Secondly, whatsoever things are honest. Now again, we're thinking about the Lord Jesus Christ first. He must have the preeminence, right? In all things, he shall have the preeminence. In our preaching, he must have the preeminence. I don't want to go away from here with just a little lesson in morality or how to think without honoring the Son in all things, right? Whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are honest, does your center reference have the word venerable? Honest, venerable, venerated, or honorable, worthy of honor. Listen, I just looked up Webster's Dictionary for the word honest. Listen to this. And think about the Lord Jesus Christ in relation to these things. It's just like Barnard said, all you need is a Bible and a dictionary. That's all you need. I looked up this one word, honest. Listen to it. And think about Christ. Honest, characterized by integrity, fairness, straightforwardness in conduct, thought, speech. One who is upright, just, equitable, trustworthy, truthful, sincere, free from fraud, guile, and deception. One of the brethren, I read that to him, he said, that's not me. I said, no, that really only applies to one man who ever lived. Integrity, fairness, straightforwardness in conduct, thought and speech, upright, just, equitable, trustworthy, truthful, free from fraud, guile or deception. That's the Lord Jesus Christ. Think on it. Think about that. Think about Him. He never thought a dishonest thought. He never did a dishonest deed. Not once. Not one. Not one act or thought of deception or guile in him. Absolutely honest. True and honest. Don't you want to be that way? Oh, I do. Like I say, Christ is the subject. Christ's likeness is the object. I want to be like him. I want to be honest. So he said, well, think on this thing. Think on Think in an honest, straightforward, fair, and upright, just, and guileless fashion. Think that way. He says in one place in 2 Corinthians 13, I pray to God that you do no evil, but do that which is honest. Be honest. Be honest. That's good practical advice isn't it? Be honest. Don't be a cheat, John. Don't be a liar. Don't be a thief. Be honest. Honesty truly is the best policy in all things. Deception, fraud, guile, lying, hypocrisy will always find you out. Always. Honesty is the best policy. Our Lord himself is the one who said it. Honest. Think on these things. Thirdly, look at it. What sort of things are Are you with me? Whatsoever things are just. Just. The word just means righteous or right. Whatsoever things are right. Whatsoever things are just or holy, holy, righteous. Christ is the just one. That's what he's called in the scriptures. That you may see and know the just one, he says. It's given unto you that you may know the just one who's a just God and a Savior. Just God, righteous, holy, equitable. The word equitable means equal, equitable, equity. Where the word iniquity comes from, we are full of iniquity, inequitable. That is, we come far short. There's God's standard of perfection and holiness. Scripture says we are inequitable, iniquitous. We come far short of that glory. If we're weighed, the Scripture says, in the balances, we'll be found wanting. The Scripture says we're like the dust on the balance. Here's God's holiness, God's holy law, God's righteousness. Right? Holiness, righteousness, justice. Here's justice. And He puts us on a scale to see if we weigh up, measure up. He says, like dust. Like dust. Doesn't weigh anything. Doesn't move the scales any. If you put us on there. If you put Christ on the scale, this man, this just man, equal to God the Father. Equal in the holiness to God the Father. And he said this before, God, men, and devils. Anybody can convince me of sin? No. Holy. Just. Righteous. Right. Right. I do everything right. Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? And he did. He walked this planet as a man and everything he did, right. Everything he said was right with God's word. Right. Holy. Equitable. And by him doing what was right, he can be just. God can be just. And what? justifier of them which simply believe in Christ. Believe in Christ, on Christ. Just and justifier. Why? Why did Christ come to live as a man? Didn't have to. He didn't have to. He didn't do it for himself, per se. He's equal with God. He didn't have to come. Why'd he come? for some people, for men, for his people, for his elect, for his children. He came to live a holy life for his children that we might weigh up. You see, it shall be perfect to be accepted. That's what Leviticus 22, 21 says. God says it shall be perfect to be accepted. God's holy. He will by no means clear the guilty. We can't be guilty. We've got to be holy. He said, Be ye holy. I'm holy. How? In Christ. I'm in him when we we step on. We step on the balances. I'm in Christ and we weigh up we come don't not sure the glory of God we come equal to the glory of God in Christ. Not me I didn't do anything. Christ did. That's about like that little mouse that got on the back of that elephant. Little mouse got on the back of the elephant and they went across the bridge. And they got across the other side, and that little mouse said, Boy, didn't we shake that bridge. We sure shook that bridge, didn't we? The elephant did all the shaking. Well, Christ did all that was required. I did nothing. I do nothing. But the life I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, or because out of gratitude, or because this new creature he created in me. It's not me. Not me. God which worketh in us by his spirit. And he's just and justifier to all them that believe in Christ. He justifies that. And Christ took my sin. They had to be punished. So Christ, the reason Christ died, to put away my sin. God must punish sin. And he did that. He punished every one of God's people's sin. And they had no sin. They have no sin. So what he is the just one and the justifier. The justifier. And he says for us to think on these things or whatever is just. Think on these things. Be just in our dealings with others. Be just in our thoughts. Endeavoring to think right thoughts. That's good isn't it? You ought to think right thoughts. Just thoughts. Equitable thoughts. And this is the next word pure whatsoever things are pure. What sort of things are pure the word pure here mean again quoting Webster's the word pure means clean. Innocent. Modest. Perfect. Chased. Pure whatsoever things are clean perfect chased who's that. That's Christ, isn't it? Who is the lamb without spot or without blemish, the man who is without sin in thought, word, and deed, the holy, the clean, and the just, and the pure one. He is pure. He's without spot or without blemish or mixture, without mixture. Purity is without mixture, isn't it? The gospel is pure. It's pure Christ. It's pure grace. It's pure grace. It's pure Christ. It's him through and through. And he tells us to think on these things. Think on Christ, who is the pure one, to think pure thoughts. Oh, Lord, think pure thoughts. And if you're like me, That plagues you more than anything else, probably. To think pure thoughts to be done with suggestive, lewd, evil, wicked, filthy thoughts. Don't you want to be done with those things? I do. I do. To think chaste thoughts, words, and deeds in opposition to foolishness and obscene and filthy thoughts. We read that in Psalm 139, verse 23, when he said, Try me, O God, and know my thoughts." And when he said, see if there be any wicked way in me, he's not saying, I don't think there are any there, but just see if there are. No, he's not saying that at all. What he's saying is, I see a lot of things, but there are a lot of things I don't see. And he said, ferret those out. Get those out. Presumptuous. Deliver me from presumptuous sins. Not only sins of commission, but sins of omission. Deliver me not only from what I do, but what I don't do. What I say, but what I don't say. Thoughts. Thoughts. Think on things that are pure. Lord, without Him we can do nothing. Especially this. Huh? Do you need grace for this? I do. We're not sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves. With man, this is impossible to think pure thoughts, but he tells us to do it, doesn't he? He tells us to do it, John. Again, he's not telling us to do something. It would be unjust of him to do so, wouldn't it? Think on pure thought. I can't. do it. I can't. He giveth more grace. He giveth more grace. Lord, so we cry out. That's what prayer is all about, people. Calling on Him, through Him alone you can do these things. Lord, help. Lord, remove from me these evil thoughts. Your mind filled full of trash? Cry out, Lord, help now who are pure. Purify my thoughts right now. Take them away. Remove these evil thoughts and replace them with pure thoughts of you. Pure thoughts. All right, the next word. Whatsoever things are lovely. Whatsoever things are lovely. Or the word lovely is lovable. Lovable or something that's worth loving. Something that's worth loving. Whatever is lovable. Or something lovable because of its beauty. I'm talking about Christ. Something lovable or someone lovable because of beauty. Or someone who's lovable because of their When David was first anointed as king over Israel and over Judah, it said that whatsoever the king did pleased the people. In other words, David made a decree one day that they were to fast and something else, and the people said, that's good, we'll do it. Because whatsoever the king did, it pleased the people. They loved him. They thought he was lovable. He was a lovable king, a lovely man, lovable. And that's the Lord Jesus Christ. The scripture said Christ is, he is what? Altogether lovely. As I've said before, you take all the characteristics of all the finest people you've ever known, traits of kindness and goodness and sweetness and gentleness. You take the man, the men or man that you've ever known who's the finest example of being a gentleman, a man's man, kind, tender, gracious, compassionate, thoughtful, caring, sensitive, all of these things. Multiply them one million times and you might come close. to thinking about the Lord Jesus Christ. Take the sweetest smile of all the people and multiply it. That's Him. That's Him. The voice of grace poured from His lips. No man speaks like this man, as Scripture says. We're talking about Christ singing. He sang. Oh my, what He must have sung like. Wouldn't you like to have heard Him sing? You see, good singing doesn't necessarily have to be tonal quality and all that, but it's from the heart. From the heart. Good preaching the same way. Huh? It can be good in structure and a man having an eloquent voice and putting all these things together, but if it's not from the heart, it's a dead, cut and dried dissertation on something. Christ is altogether lovely, lovely, worthy of love, worthy to be adored for his character and his works. Worthy of love. He's lovely. What is your beloved more than other? Oh, he's altogether. Wrap them all up and they won't come up to my beloved. He's altogether lovely. No faults. No fault. Ladies, you're, you can, there's a few thoughts about that fella. Just a few. About that fella you married. Just a few. I'm being facetious now. There's very few admirable traits, actually. But, what about our husband Christ? All together. Lovely. Lovely. Christ is, and he tells us to think on these things. Tells us to think on these things. Let us be like Christ. Let us think loving thoughts toward other people. Christ said, God said this, I know my thoughts toward you. Thoughts of peace. Thoughts of peace. That's what it said there in Psalm 139. I forgot about that. He said, How many are thy thoughts, thy wonderful thoughts toward us, O Lord? Oh, if I should try to number them, how precious are thy thoughts unto me." So he says, be like me. Think good thoughts, lovely thoughts, loving thoughts toward others. Put away thoughts of wrath, anger, malice, bitterness. Put them away. Be done with that. Be perfect like your Father in heaven. Has anybody got a right to be bitter toward us, or angry toward us, or rascal toward us? Anybody got more of a right than God? Huh? Should God be angry with us? Should God be mad at us? Should God be bitter toward us? Every hour of every day. But He said, I know my thoughts toward you. Aren't you glad? And it's represented, his thoughts are higher above us than the heavens are above the earth. So he says, you think these thoughts toward others. Put away thoughts of wrath, anger, malice, bitterness, and so forth. Next word. You need to hurry. The next word, whatsoever things are of good report. Whatsoever things are of good report. A good testimony. What's that talking about? You know of any good testimony? Anybody got any good news? That's what they say. Jesus Christ is the gospel. He is the good news. He is the good report. Christ is the good news come from God himself, the testimony of God. Peace on earth, goodwill, the good news. Here's a good report coming. What is it, the weather? No, goodwill toward men. Peace on earth. God is not angry with some people now. God is not angry with some people. Peace. How? And just as born this day in the city of Bethlehem a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Now, that's good news. That's good news. Like I said, I think it's 25, he said, this is our God. He has come to save us. We've waited on him. This is our God and he's come to save us. That's good news. That's good news. You see, the law came by Moses. The law came by Moses and I can't keep it. Not perfectly. But here's the good news. Now that's the bad news. God says do this and that and don't do this and that and we've broken it all. Well here's the good news. Here's the good report. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace and truth. The gospel. The good news is Christ said I've done it for you. I've done it for you. That's a good report. That's a good report. And it's a good report. It's not too good to be true. This is not too good to be true. It's true. It's a good report. It's one you've heard, as Isaiah said, who have believed our report, this good report. Well, to whom the arm of the Lord is revealed. That's it. To whom Christ is revealed. And let, on our part, let us think on good news. Boy, I've seen some people in here that need this, including me. I'm guilty. Quit thinking about the bad news, the negative. What's that cause you to do? All that causes us to do is to think about the negative and to bear on the world is to do what? Don't tell anybody. What's it cause you to do? Think about the bad and the negative all the time. What do you do? Murmur, complain, mumble and groan. You never ever smile on your face. You have to fake it. Is this, do you need this? think on the good report. What's there is a good report. You got any, is there a good report? Any good report in your life? Can I get a little smile somewhere? Is there any good report? You got any blessings? Any good news? Numerous blessings to think on. We're like children at times. We stump our toe one time and the world's coming to an end. And we think we have bad report. You think you got a bad report from wherever, from what? I mean, there's some people going through some bad reports of no hope in some things, some cases. And until you reach that point, you think on good reports and quit moaning and groaning. Good report. Think on those things. Think on those things. God may send us something bad to think about then. The seventh thing. What sort of things? A good report if there be any virtue. If there be any virtue. The word virtue. Again, from Webster's. I like that. No, this was from Strong's Concordance. The word virtue means Manliness and excellence. Isn't that good, John? Manliness. Virtue. Whatsoever things are of manliness. Think on these things. I want to think about a real man. Who am I going to think about? A real man. A man's man. Pilate. Even that old Pagan rulers said when Jesus cried, he didn't believe on him, he didn't believe he was a messiah, he didn't believe he was the son of God, he didn't believe anything about him. And when Christ walked out there, even Pilate said, Behold the man. Now he did, I tell you what Pilate did witness, he witnessed his, he witnessed him go through all that he went through without a peak. Talking about somebody who could have murmured and complained with just cause. He said, they've hated me without a cause. They've done all this to me without a cause. I'm guiltless in all that they've done unto me. He uttered not a word. And Pilate saw, and he'd seen many big, brave, strong men go through all this. Hadn't he, Stan? He'd seen them all come and go. The strongest of the strong. And when Christ went through it all and came walking before him, he said, There's a man. That's a man. The man. The man. You men of Israel, hear these words. A man. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God. Never said that before about any other man. Not Adam, God turned thumbs down on him. Not Abraham, denied his wife. Not Isaac did the same. Not Jacob? Miserable. Not David? Sinner. Not Peter? Denied the Lord. A man approved. God said it out from heaven. Well pleased with him. A man. What a man. Excellence. Manliness and excellence. The excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord. Excellent. Excellent. Most excellent, isn't it? Most excellent. And then he tells us to do the same. He tells us to think manly thoughts or womanly. Quit yourselves like men. As one ruler told his men, quit yourselves like men. Act like a man. Act like a woman. Grow up. That's what he said. Act like a man. Act like a woman. Mature in thought. Excellence, not trivial thing. Listen to this. Turn over this quickly. Give me a couple more minutes, OK? I've only been 40 minutes. Just a couple more minutes. Philippians 1. Turn over here. Philippians 1, and this is saying the same thing. Philippians 1, look at verse 10. It says that you may approve things that are excellent. Excellent. Approve things or try things that differ, my margin says. Do you say that? Try things that differ. Approve things that are excellent. In other words, think higher thoughts than base humanity is thinking. to bring into captivity of every thought to Christ. Think higher thoughts in this base world is thinking. Higher thoughts in the 6 o'clock news. People hang on the news. Half of it's not true. Right? Higher thoughts in the Roanoke Times. Was it written by a bunch of liberal... I'm going to get into that. Higher thoughts in the National Enquirer than the star man. Higher thoughts in all this trash. Surely a man's brain, his thought process, is meant to get a little higher than that. Huh? What sort of things are virtues? They're better things to think on, aren't they? As the verse scripture says, set your mind, Colossians 3, 2, set your mind or your affections, same thing, on things above. Not on things on our base thing. Shadows. That's shadow. Soap bubble. Soap bubble. Became a man, put away childish soap bubbles. Want the real thing, that. Real thing. What sort of things are pure and a virtue. Listen to me. Brother Scott Richard had an article a few years back. It was excellent. I wish I could recall it all, but this was the essence of it. Listen. Along these lines, try things that differ, or higher, or more excellent, or things of virtue. Listen. Higher things. He said there's many books that are just not worth reading. that the mind could be devoted to something just a little higher than that. There are many programs just not worth watching. As a matter of fact, I'd like somebody to name me one today. Man, man. Many conversations not worth having. Right? He made a conversation not worth having. There's a lot of places not worth visiting. A lot of places not worth visiting. A lot of friends not worth having. A lot of things not worth having. A lot of things not worth doing. Just on and on he went with that. And things which only promote the opposite of this. Impure thoughts. Right? Certain things only promote impurity of thought. Am I telling the truth? I don't, I'm not telling you things that, I'm not preaching at you. I need this too. And perhaps, you know, things, we nurture things. We nurture these things. Don't we? We promote these things in ourselves. And that's why he's telling us what he's telling us. How to promote these thoughts within ourselves. There's another scripture, Deborah says, keep thy heart with all diligence. What? Keep my heart? How can I think on these things? I think, my thoughts run right. Here's one way, or several ways. Put away that crap that promotes crap. Right? Is that not right? There's some things not worth doing, some places not worth going, some things not worth reading, some things not worth watching. Toss it. What sort of things are virtue? And he said there in verse 9, and the God of peace shall be with you. Verse 9, he said, God of peace shall be with you. Those things which you both learn and receive and heard and seen in Paul. Whoa! Paul said, that's what I do. John, he wouldn't be in presumptions there. He wouldn't be haughty or proud. Was he, Stan? The Lord wouldn't have let him write that, would he? Maybe he did say, I can do all things through Christ. So the first order of business, think on Christ. And you know, the more you think about him, and more you want to be like him. Right? That will promote that. Every one of us are feeling guilty about impurity of thoughts and this and that and the other. Guilty. If I asked for a show of guilty hands, it'd be unanimous. Motion carried. All guilty. Think on Christ. Quick. Quick. Look unto me and be ye saved. Well, how am I going to think pure of thought? Look unto me. Call on me, ask me. I'm a very present help in times of trouble, indeed. And that's every hour. That's the reason he says, pray without ceasing, doesn't he? Because I, it just, phew. This, where his head just fills full of, hmm, iniquities. Ever before me, isn't it? Well, he's ever before the Father. Isn't he? He's ever, he ever lived to make intercession before the Father. to grant the petitions that we have. Okay, stand with me. If we could go on. Be on God's guard tomorrow morning. Or tonight. Right. Tonight. Pray with me right now that the Lord will honor these things. Lord, we thank you for your word. Lord, let us be Let us not deceive ourselves. As you said, if any man be a hearer of the word only and not a doer, he deceiveth himself. Lord, let us be not only hearers. We've heard what you have said. We believe. We know everything you've said is true and just and right and good. And we see our need of Christ. We see our need of Christlikeness. We ask that you would make us doers, and you must do the work. Ah, perfect thy work in us. Establish the work of our hands, you said, through the psalmist. Establish thou the work of our hands by your mighty power, we pray. Hide these words in our heart, Lord. Enable us as we leave here, as we wake up in the morning, to think on these things. things above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of the majesty on high. And it's been in his name that we've met together. Amen.