Think on Things that are Noble

1. Read:

2. About the Text:

1) Who controls what you think?

2) There are many and strong influences on what we think.

3) The Bible teaches that we (individuals) control what we think.

4) We can direct our thoughts to specific notions/ideas.

5) “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

3. How we think affects our attitudes, decisions, and actions.

1) We want to have good thoughts so that our lives will be good lives.

2) We do not have to dwell on bad thoughts.

3) We can redirect our thoughts to good things.

4) This will bring joy to our lives.

4. The Greek word translated “noble” here is the word “?????.”

1) It has a variety of meanings depending on the context.

2) Noble, generous, honest, respectable, reverent, grave, serious, stately, divine.

3) Let’s focus on three ideas found in this word.

5. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Forgiveness

1) “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit” (Psalm 51:12).

2) “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

3) “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:12-13).

2. Giving

1) “The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself” (Proverbs 11:25).

2) “He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor” (Proverbs 22:9).

3) “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

3. Accepting

1) “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him’” (Acts 10:24-25).

2) God is generous in accepting others, and we want to be that way also.

3) “And they glorified God in me” (Galatians 1:24).

1. Toward Ourselves – Self-Respect

1) “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

2) We do not want to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think (Rom.12:3).

3) Neither do we want to denigrate ourselves as something less than persons made in the image of God.

4) “That the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience” (Titus 2:2).

2. Behavior

1) “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12).

2) “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

3) “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11).

3. Language

1) “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).

2) “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:4).

3) “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).

1. Having holy thoughts.

1) “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

2) “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

3) “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

2. Thoughts about God

1) “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

2) “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).

3) “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

3. Prayerful

1) “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

2) “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).

4. Fear of God

1) “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

2) “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:7).

1. To think on things that are noble is to think on things that are . . .

1) Generous

2) Respectable

3) Reverent

2. Invitation