Sermon: Sounds Good to Me (or Lustration - Part 2)
by Chris Cumming

Before I begin the sermon, a technical note:

You will see in the commentary the use of the word "men."  The meaning here is all women and men or where directed to those in the faith, all male and female firstfruits in the salvation process.

Back in July of this year [2017], I gave a sermon about thinking.  The title of that sermon is, "Absorption."    

I want to read a verse from that sermon:

Proverbs 4:20-27
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Verse 20 says we should attend to His words.  What words?  Are we just talking about the Word of God or something more comprehensive?

Verse 21 says that we should keep these words in our heart, meaning that we should think about them.  What kinds of things should we be thinking about?

Verse 22 says that certain words are life and health to the flesh.  How does this happen?

Verse 23 commands us to keep the heart and mind with all diligence.  Is God telling us to be selective about what we listen to, read and watch?

Verse 24 clearly implies that we put away negative words and thoughts.  How do we do this?

Verse 25 surely states that we should be very selective about what input we get?  What is this selective procedure?

Verse 26 relates to us thinking again.  It has us pondering what input we allow.  Does God tell us what good input is?

Verse 27 gives us our discipline and tells us to avoid evil and all things negative.  How do we do this?

In this sermon, I will answer all these questions as I encourage all of us to think good things.

Think good things.  Turn to the key verse for this sermon.

Philippians 4:8
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, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Let’s immerse ourselves into this verse.

Finally, brethren

Finally, brethren - The object of the apostle is to recommend holiness and righteousness to them in every point of view; and to show that the Gospel of Christ requires all its professors to have the mind that was in Christ, and to walk as he himself also walked. That they were not to attend to one branch of righteousness or virtue only, but to everything by which they might bring honor to God, good to their fellow creatures, and credit to themselves. ~Adam Clarke

True [not false, conforming to reality] [Strong’s G227 true, truth]

Whatsoever things are true - All that is agreeable to unchangeable and eternal truth. Whether that which is to be learned from the nature and state of created things, or that which comes immediately from God by revelation. ~Adam Clarke

Whatsoever things are true - In this exhortation the apostle assumes that there were certain things admitted to be true, and pure, and good, in the world, which had not been directly revealed, or which were commonly regarded as such by the people of the world, and his object is to show them that such things ought to be exhibited by the Christian. Everything that was honest and just toward God and toward people was to be practiced by them, and they were in all things to be examples of the highest kind of morality. They were not to exhibit partial virtues; not to perform one set of duties to the neglect or exclusion of others; not to be faithful in their duties to God, and to neglect their duty to people, not to be punctual in their religious rites, and neglectful of the comment laws of morality; but they were to do everything that could be regarded as the fair subject of commendation, and that was implied in the highest moral character. The word true refers here to everything that was the reverse of falsehood. They were to be true to their engagements; true to their promises; true in their statements; and true in their friendships. They were to maintain the truth about God; about eternity; about the judgment; and about every man’s character. Truth is a representation of things as they are; and they were constantly to live under the correct impression of objects. A man who is false to his engagements, or false in his statements and promises, is one who will always disgrace religion. ~Barnes Notes

Honest [honorable in principles, intentions and actions. Sincere; frank.  Showing uprightness and fairness] [Strong’s G4586: venerable; honorable]

Whatsoever things are honest - Whatever is grave [serious, important], decent, and venerable [commanding respect]. Whatever becomes you as men, as citizens, and as Christians. ~Adam Clarke

In the New Testament this word is rendered grave:

1 Timothy 3:8 [see Lesson]
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

1 Timothy 3:11 [see Lesson]  
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Titus 2:2 [see Lesson]

That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

...honesty

1 Timothy 2:2 [see Lesson] 
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

...gravity

1 Timothy 3:4 [see Lesson] 
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

Now to the next element of holy conduct...

Just [guided by truth, reason, justice and fairness. done according to principle] [Strong’s G1342: equitable in character or act; holy (absolutely or relatively)]

Whatsoever things are just - Whatsoever is agreeable to justice and righteousness. All that ye owe to God, to your neighbor, and to yourselves. ~Adam Clarke

Whatsoever things are just - The things which are right between man and man. A Christian should be just in all his dealings. His religion does not exempt him from the strict laws which bind people to the exercise of this virtue, and there is no way by which a professor of religion can do more injury perhaps than by injustice and dishonesty in his dealings. It is to be remembered that the people of the world, in estimating a person’s character, affix much more importance to the virtues of justice and honesty than they do to regularity in observing the ordinances of religion; and therefore, if a Christian would make an impression on his fellow-men favorable to religion, it is indispensable that he manifest uncorrupted integrity in his dealings. ~Barnes Notes

Pure [free from anything inferior or contaminating; free of blemish] [Strong’s G53: clean, modest, perfect]  [See sermon: "Affinity" and its graphic on pure religion]
Whatsoever things are pure - Whatsoever is chaste [moral, undefiled, pure in style] [Strong’s G53: clean, modest, perfect]. In reference to the state of the mind, and to the acts of the body. ~Adam Clarke

Chaste - in thought, in feeling, and in the conversation between the sexes ~Barnes Notes

Remember our study of 1Timothy 5:2

1 Timothy 5:2 [see Lesson] 
The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

Lovely [has beauty that appeals to the heart and mind] [Strong’s G4375: acceptable, you are friendly towards it]

Whatsoever things are lovely - Whatsoever is amiable on its own account and on account of its usefulness to others, whether in your conduct or conversation. ~Adam Clarke

Whatsoever things are lovely - The word used here means properly what is dear to anyone; then what is pleasing. Here it means what is amiable - such a temper of mind that one can love it; or such as to be agreeable to others. ~Barnes Notes

Good Report [dignity, good name, honor, reputation, respect] [Strong’s G2163: well-spoken of, that is, reputable]

Whatsoever things are of good report - Whatsoever things the public agree to acknowledge as useful and profitable to men; such as charitable institutions of every kind, in which genuine Christians should ever take the lead. ~Adam Clarke

Whatsoever things are of good report - That is, whatsoever is truly reputable in the world at large. There are actions which all people agree in commending, and which in all ages and countries are regarded as virtues. courtesy, urbanity, kindness, respect for parents, purity between brothers and sisters, are among those virtues, and the Christian should be a pattern and an example in them all. His usefulness depends much more on the cultivation of these virtues than is commonly supposed. ~Barnes Notes

Virtue [moral excellence, goodness, righteousness.  Conformity of one's life and conduct to principles.] [Strong’s G703: manliness (valor), that is, excellence (intrinsic or attributed)]

If there be any virtue - If they be calculated to promote the general good of mankind, and are thus praiseworthy. ~Adam Clarke

If there be any virtue - If there is anything truly virtuous. Paul did not suppose that he had given a full catalogue of the virtues which he would have cultivated. He, therefore, adds, that if there was anything else that had the nature of true virtue in it, they should be careful to cultivate that also. The Christian should be a pattern and an example of every virtue. ~Barnes Notes

Here is a list of virtues I found on the Internet.  You can easily see most all of them are found in the Bible.

Praise [the act of expressing approval or admiration.  The state of being approved] [Strong’s G1868: laudation (law-dey-shuh n) (The act or instance of tribute); concretely (actual; real) a commendable (worthy of praise) thing].

And if there be any praise - Anything worthy of praise, or that ought to be praised. ~Barnes Notes

You have seen each of these eight words/phrases individually.  What I would like you to consider, is applying all eight at the same time.  Make your chosen media and input jump all eight hurdles.  Apply this test to television series, movies, books, other reading material and especially web sites.  Apply these standards to your thoughts, your daydreams and your meditations. Indeed, Philippians 4:8 says to, "think on these things."

Think on these things
Think on these things - Let them be the object of your careful attention and study, so as to practice them. Think what they are; think on the obligation to observe them; think on the influence which they would have on the world around you. ~Barnes Notes

Notice what the Biblical Illustrator says about thinking

Thought
In the service of God there is employment for every faculty and function; they each have a mission for the Master. The power to think is the prerogative distinctly peculiar to man.

I. Thought is a duty. Thoughtlessness, and consequently ignorance, is what the Lord so pathetically lamented in His people Israel. “Israel doth not know; My people doth not consider.” Thoughtlessness has wrought the ruin of our race. Isaac “meditated at eventide.” Joshua was commanded to “meditate day and night in the statutes of the Lord.” David was a diligent and talented thinker. “When I consider Thy heavens,” etc.

II. Subjects for thought. “Whatsoever things are true,” etc. We are to think, but not at random. Definite thought alone is profitable. There are subjects worthy of winning the thoughts of thinkers the most profound. ~Biblical Illustrator

Christian thought
Not the common word for think, but the reckoning, counting up, dwelling repeatedly on these things. It is not the bee’s touching upon the flowers that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon them and drawing out the sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most on Divine truth that will prove the choicest, wisest, strongest Christian. ~Biblical Illustrator

The difficulty and importance of continuous thought

How many persons are made and kept frivolous by an inability to prescribe the subjects on which their mind shall run! They would give, or fancy they would give, all that they possess for the power to say decisively but for one short hour, “This and but this shall be the subject of my thoughts.” But they find that when they open their Bible the mind has flown away to some meditation of things present and transitory; when they kneel down to pray, even attention is absent, they cannot remember God’s presence, much less can they wish the thing they profess to pray for. Such persons are good judges of Paul’s precept, however little they may believe in the possibility of obeying it. For indeed it is a very dreadful thing, when we reflect upon it—a strong proof, were there no other, of our fallen and ruined state—that a man should thus sit at a helm of which he has lost the rudder, should thus be responsible for the conduct of a mind over which practically he has no control. And if that responsibility cannot be desired; if “out of the heart the mouth speaketh,” if by the heart the path of life is chosen and the course of life shaped; in short, if, in every sense of the words, “out of the heart are the issues of life,” and according to the life must be the eternal judgment of each one of us; how terrible must it be to be unable from a moral impotency to obey the charge “keep that heart with all diligence”; to be compelled to let thought drift whither it will, and yet to know that thought guides action, and action may destroy the soul. ~Biblical Illustrator

Let me break this last commentary into terms we might more easily grasp:

1] What are the subjects that make the Christian mind run?  Why are there so many in the world who think on wrong subjects and allow in so much negative stimulus?
2] Have you ever opened the Bible to read and get easily distracted?
3] Have you ever gotten down to pray and ended up thinking about something else or even falling asleep?
4] It is important to realize that when we kneel to pray, we are in the presence of God, as if we were in the very throne room.
5] The commentary asks the question: "How many know Philippians 4:8, acknowledge it, but fail to see the importance of obeying it?  Philippians 4:8 is not a suggestion or encouragement; it is a command.  Think on these things and discard all things that do not meet these essential standards.
6] Failing to think on these things is likened to a person sitting at the helm of a boat that has no rudder.
7] Mankind will be ultimately judged on the control or lack of control over his/her mind and thinking.
8] Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."  Our life is the eternal judgment of each one of us.  God is judging us on the subtotal of our lives and character and both are formed by our minds.
9] I ended my sermon on diligent thinking with this quote.  It fits the last part of the commentary.

"Watch your thoughts. They become words. Watch your words. They become deeds. Watch your deeds. They become habits. Watch your habits. They become character. Character is everything."

So what are your rules when it comes to guarding your mind?

If the input item fails three or more of the eight standards, you might decide to discard it.  Others may make reduce that rule to two or even one.  You make the call.  Maybe some further scriptures will help you with your decision on this matter.

Psalm 18:20-23
20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

Psalm 101:3
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Psalm 119:37
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Psalm 119:104 
Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Proverbs 8:13 
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Proverbs 16:21-23
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

Psalm 119:29-37
29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Let's take a closer look at that last verse, 37.  "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way."  Notice this commentary:

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity - Vain things; wicked things; things which would be likely to lead me astray from what is real and true. Compare Isaiah 33:15; Job 31:1. Margin, here, as in Hebrew, “make to pass.” Make my eyes to pass rapidly from such objects, that I may not look at them, may not contemplate them, may not dwell upon them. There is danger in looking on sin steadily; in surveying its features; in returning to contemplate it. An ugly object loses much of its deformity when we look often upon it; and this is a benevolent law, lest we should be miserable when we are under a necessity of looking on it. Sin follows this general law, and is to be avoided altogether, even in its contemplation, if we would be safe. A man should be thankful in this world that he has eyelids; and as he can close his eyes, so he should often do it. ~Barnes Notes

Quoted verses:
Job 31:1
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Isaiah 33:15
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil.

Notice the commentary on the last two phrases of this verse:

That stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood - This is the fifth characteristic. It means, evidently, he who does not listen to a proposal to shed blood, or to any scheme of violence, and robbery, and murder.

And shutteth his eyes from seeing evil - He does not desire to see it; he is not found in the places where it is committed. A righteous man should not only have no part in evil, but he will keep himself if possible from being a witness of it. A man who sees all the evil that is going forward; that is present in every brawl and contention, is usually a man who has a fondness for such scenes, and who may be expected to take part in them. It is a remarkable fact that very few of the Society of Friends are ever seen in courts of justice as witnesses. The reason is, that they have no fondness for seeing the strifes and contentions of people, and are not found in those places where evil is usually committed. This is the sixth characteristic of the righteous man; and the sum of the whole is, that he keeps himself from all forms of iniquity. ~Barnes Notes

"All forms of iniquity"?  What are these forms of iniquity?  Could they be movies?  Could they be TV series?  Could they be certain novels and other reading material?  Could they be certain websites?  You be the judge.

Here is my challenge to you.

Do you believe it possible for a firstfruit to go 7 days without hearing of blood or seeing examples of evil?  I would like you to give it a try.  Could you try it for three days?  How about just one day?  I urge you to give it a try and see if anything happens for you mentally, emotionally, physically or spiritually.

Some actions you could take:
--Immerse yourself in the Word of God.
--Immerse yourself in one of our Bible studies, such as, “How To Instructions in Righteousness” or one of your own.

--Meditate on righteousness, holiness or Fruits of the Spirit. 
-----meditation:  “Ruminate Part 1” & “Part 2” and “Secret Weapon.”
-----righteousness: Quotes - Part 5   Picture Day   Quotes - Part 7   Execration
-----holiness: Good Things   Piety   Rampageous   Quotes - Part 5
-----fruits of the Spirit: Her Perfect Work     Her Perfect Work - Part 2   Longanimity   Proliferate

--Watch an uplifting movie. [Note: you will have to glean from the list in the link]
--Pray.

--Play videos from our posted Video list.   Especially those videos under the headings of Inspiration, Healing Songs, Edifying Others, Motivation, and Sounds Good Music.

--Play music from our new Sounds Good music database.

--Avoid the news or better yet, take your news from these:
-----Good News Network which only posts good news stories https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ 
-----Good News Stories USA https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/news/usa/ 
-----Good News Canada:  http://www.canada.com/news/good-news/index.html 
-----Good News from Huffington Post: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/topic/good-news

--Avoid all TV that makes you witness murder, crime, and evil.
--Avoid all things negative situations. 
--Avoid all negative websites or those which show evil and sin.
--Indeed, do more this week to bring light to people in this world of darkness.

So, have a good week and Think Good Things!!

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