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Controlling Our Thoughts
CGG Weekly by Gary MontgomeryJesus teaches that a person will turn in the direction his thoughts lead him. Being susceptible to false and evil thoughts, our minds jump from one sinful thought to another in milliseconds, and we are often oblivious to it. Every day, we experience various situations that cause our thoughts to race along perilous paths. Our reactions in these situations reflect what is truly on our minds. Jesus says that if we desire to live as Christ does, we need to seize control of our thoughts. The apostle Paul advises us to control what we let into our minds. He states in II Corinthians 10:5: . . . casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Visualizing our minds surrounded by a massive, high-walled fortress may help. As its gatekeeper, we must inspect every thought before allowing it to pass into the mind. Each idea or thought must stop at the gate, giving us the opportunity to ask, Is this a proper thought? Is it beneficial and positive? Is this a thought we can capture and use under 'the obedience of Christ'? If so, we can allow it to pass into the inner court of the fortress and thence into our minds. But if not, we can terminate it right there, before it can do any damage. By casting down perverse, evil, immoral, and destructive thoughts, allowing only appropriate ones into our minds, we are acting, which is a choice. In making this choice, we show our obedience and commitment to God and to developing Christ's mind in us. That is how character is produced. We also strengthen the habit of following Christ's example. Scripture urges us to study deeply into God's Word, meditate on it all day long, and pray always so that it will produce godly discernment and wisdom in us. As Paul writes in Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. In this way, we can succeed in controlling our thoughts.
Focusing on God's Thoughts
Sermonette by Craig SablichWe have the responsibility to hear God's still, small voice and to act upon His thoughts, thereby shunning the deceitful input constantly coming from Satan.
Is God in All Our Thoughts?
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe battle we fight as Christians is primarily in our minds. Our objective is to destroy the fortifications we have built against God's way of life. We must cast down every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. This includes false reasonings and any thoughts that do not align with God's will. Our task is to bring every thought into captivity, enslaving our minds to the mind of Christ. This means taking total control of our thoughts so that they conform to what we understand of God's mind. By doing so, we aim to reflect godliness, righteousness, and holiness in our lives.
As a Man Thinks
CGG Weekly by Clyde FinkleaOur thoughts are our purposes and intentions. When we think unrighteous thoughts, our purposes and intentions are not the same as God's because He never thinks unrighteous thoughts. Ways implies direction. When we think unrighteous thoughts, they will lead us in the wrong direction, to live a way that is in opposition to God's. The way to get rid of unrighteous thoughts is to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ. This takes meditating or thinking in a focused manner on God's Word and applying it to our life all day long. If we do this, we will have little time or desire for unrighteous thoughts. We have a choice in what we think about, either the good or the evil. So, choose to think righteous thoughts because we are what we think.
Evil Desires
Sermonette by Clyde FinkleaAll the medieval 'seven deadly sins' could be categorized as a facet of lust. God designed us to have proper desires, just as His desires are always proper.

Avoiding the Ruts of Our Carnal Mind
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Bill OnisickIf we could see the traffic of our perpetually wandering minds, we would be embarrassed as to how often it strays from God's thoughts and His laws.

Excellence in Character (Part Two)
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsScripture defines virtue as a strength or power that disciplined people use to produce beautiful traits of goodness.
A Time For Thanksgiving (2009)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Paul heard continuous bad news, but he learned to control himself, controlling his anxiety by thinking positively and wholesomely.
Think on These Things (2018)
Sermonette by James BeaubelleOur annual, self-inflicted review of self can be humbling and even painful. We have a measure of control over our carnality which those in the world lack.
True Self-Control
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSelf-control is the ability to focus our attention so that our decisions will not be directed by wrong thoughts. If we change our thoughts, we change our behavior.
How to Prevent Sin
Herbert W. Armstrong BookletThe way to prevent sin is to let God's Spirit fill the mind. 'Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth' (Colossians 3:2).
The W's and H's of Meditation (Conclusion)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. MaasBecause we will ultimately turn into what we assimilate, we must take back the hijacked tool of meditation to drive out carnal thoughts.
Warfare!
Sermon by John O. ReidWe must don the whole armor of God, using His spiritual weapons to bring every thought into obedience to Christ, destroying the enemy's footholds.
In Honor of Jesus Christ
CGG Weekly by John W. RitenbaughIt is our responsibility to glorify God. As obedient children, we bring Him honor; as disobedient children, we bring shame on Him and blaspheme His name.

Unsheathe Your Sword! (Part One)
'Ready Answer' by Pat HigginsGod gifted Christians with a weapon to use in daily spiritual warfare: 'the sword of the Spirit' (Ephesians 6:17). We must wield it with faith and courage.
The Tenth Commandment
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughEveryone is out to acquire as much as possible for himself. The tenth commandment, however, governs this proclivity of human nature, striking at man's heart.
The Overcoming Skill
Sermonette by Bill OnisickWith God's Spirit, we can develop the overcoming skill, using self-control to make firm commitments to our small, yet progressively significant choices.
The Commandments (Part Nineteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus taught that all outward sin stems from inner inordinate desire. What we desire or lust after automatically becomes our idol.

Conquering Temptation: Learn from Jesus Christ
'Ready Answer' by Pat HigginsA Christian must face temptation in this world. Our Savior wants us to overcome or conquer it, and He shows us how by His example when Satan tempted Him.
Disinterestedness: Our Spiritual Iron Dome
Sermon by David F. MaasSolomon used self-reflexiveness to detach himself and remain disinterested to objectively describe the consequences of an array of life's experiences.

Avoiding the Ruts of Puny Faith
Sermon by Bill OnisickWhen we have severe trials, we can experience a divided mind, exercising a puny faith. Does God find us willing to surrender to Him in all circumstances?
Modesty (Part One): Moderation and Propriety
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe must avoid the world's extremes and sensual excesses in matters of dress and fashion, adopting instead humility, chastity, decency, morality, and self control.
Meditation: Preventing Spiritual Identity Theft
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. MaasIf we don't cultivate the ability to meditate on a regular basis, we run the very real risk of losing our spiritual identity and letting someone take our crown.
Words of Life, Words of Death
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. MaasBy exposing the negative self-talk, we can turn the self-imposed words of death into words of life.
God's Rest (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughCoveting—lust—is a fountainhead of many other sins. Desiring things is not wrong, but desiring someone else's things promotes overtly sinful behavior.
The Tenth Commandment (1998)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughOne commentator said all public crime would cease if this one law was kept. Another said every sin against one's neighbor springs from breaking this commandment.

Surprise Attack
Sermon by Bill OnisickAny thought not aligned to God's Spirit is satanic, including bragging, putting others down, being puffed up with arrogance, or putting anything before God.
Fire Igniter or Fire Extinguisher
Sermonette by Bill OnisickRelationships in the church have been charred by loose lips and careless tongues described in James 3:2, setting on fire the course of nature by hell.
Purging the Rumor Bug from the Body of Christ
'Ready Answer' by David F. MaasThe church grapevine is good at spreading news, but it can be evil when it spreads gossip and rumor. Gossip actually harms the gossip himself. Here's how.
Sin (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTrue Christianity is no cakewalk into eternal life, but a life and death struggle against our flesh, the world, and a most formidable spirit adversary.
Matthew (Part Three)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus resisted Satan with the knowledge of God, resisting appeals to vanity, using power selfishly resisting to lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life.
Attitude Is Everything
Commentary by Bill OnisickWe must wrest control of the narrative away from Satan, the Destroyer, expert in promulgating misinformation, focusing instead on the end of the story.
Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part Ten): Cultivating the Fruit of Self Control
Sermon by David F. MaasIt is impossible to cultivate self-control unless one uses God's Spirit to reprogram the desires of the heart from self-centeredness to submission to God.
What You Feel vs. What You Believe
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsFeelings and emotions may throw our faith off course. Our moods are mercurial and we must control them with daily prayer and Bible study.
Do You Have 'the Hunger'?
Article by John O. ReidWe all have hungers, from a desire for certain foods to a yearning for success. Jesus teaches that we are blessed when we hunger for righteousness.