In Touch Ministries

Dr. Charles Stanley: When you and I become a child of God, we become identified with Jesus. We can never be who we were. We don't want to be who we were. Now, we have a new position and a new possession. He says, "I'm abiding in you and you're abiding in me." He said, "I'm going to send the Holy Spirit, and He'll be in you and with you and upon you forever." That is, the Holy Spirit comes into our life to enable you and me to live out the Christian life.

Guest (Male): For Christians, godly thoughts are key to godly actions. But it can be challenging to keep our thoughts pure when we're immersed in a world that opposes God. Today, on In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley, we'll look at Colossians chapter three, where we find help for setting our minds on things above. Here's part one of "Controlling Your Thoughts."

Dr. Charles Stanley: Do you ever have problems struggling with your thoughts? Maybe thoughts that you shouldn't have and maybe thoughts about people, whatever it might be. Sometimes you just allow your mind to sort of drift over into unforgiveness, pride, lust, anger, all kinds of attitudes and all kinds of thoughts in your mind that you know are not very good. When these thoughts come into your mind, how do you respond to that? Do you get some sense of satisfaction about thinking something that's not right? Do you feel guilty about it? Do you feel like I just can't help myself, or do you say the devil made me do it?

Think about this. You and I live in a society and in a time, in a culture, that our minds are continuously bombarded by things that we see on the television or the movies, things we read in the newspapers, other things that we read, words that you hear, sights that you see. Our mind is always receiving all of these things. Sometimes that's good, sometimes it's not so good. The question is, how can you and I live a godly life and think right when we live in a world that's throwing all of these things that are not right at our mind?

What they want us to do is to think the way they think. Why do you think they spend billions of dollars on advertising? They want to convince you to think the way they're thinking, and that is you ought to buy their product, or you ought to go where they want you to go and buy what you want to buy. Their idea is to program your thinking to think that you can't do without it or your kids can't do without it. How do we live in this kind of a culture and think right? It's not going to change. Until Jesus comes, it's going to be the same. We're not going to reach some day out there where everything is right and everybody is godly. It's not going to be that way.

How do we learn to live in a godly fashion in a world that is so anti-Christ? I want you to listen very carefully. What you think today is affecting your life more than you realize. Who you are today is the result of what you've been thinking all these years of your life. What you think today is going to determine where you're going to be tomorrow and what you're going to be tomorrow. It's our thoughts that cause us to become what we are. It's our thoughts that influence our relationships, our choice of occupation, our marriage partner.

It's our thoughts that cause us to move in a certain direction, to make certain decisions that affect our finances and every aspect of our life, that affect our relationship to Jesus Christ. Our thoughts are powerful mediums. When you think about the fact of how awesome this mind is of yours, sometimes I don't think mine's very awesome. I can understand that; we all have different degrees. When I open the back of a computer, for example, and look down and see what seems to me to be total confusion because here's a little drop of what looks like lead here and a little wire here going where, and then I look at this inanimate object.

Then I can look on a screen and see this picture. Then I can hit a few keys and talk to somebody a long ways away, or just about any place in the world, and the weather and everything imaginable. Then I open it back up and think, no way. But in somebody's mind, they conceived the idea of creating something like this. God gave them the ability to think. They had to think first of all about the possibility and think about the ways it could be done. So, what do we have? We have many wonderful gadgets and awesome pieces of equipment and technology that make it possible for us to get the Gospel around the world and to make our life easy. It all begins in the mind.

Now, how do we control our thoughts? Satan is going to bombard us in every way he possibly can to get us off track, derail us, and get us to drift into something that we have no business being in. I want you to turn to Colossians chapter three and I want us to read just these first three verses of this chapter. This begins our whole message entitled, "How to Control Your Thoughts."

Beginning in verse one: "Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Notice he says two things: keep seeking. Present active imperative. Keep on doing it habitually. Keep seeking Christ and then keep habitually setting your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

All of our thoughts are either heavenly or earthly. All earthly thoughts are not bad. Heavenly thoughts are who Jesus is, who God is, what He is about, His wisdom, His guidance, His power, His interest, His love and devotion to us as well as ours to Him. With that in mind, I want us to look at several aspects of this. Somebody says, "How can I control my thinking? Sometimes I can't." God gives us some very clear warnings about that.

Turn to Romans chapter eight, beginning in this fifth verse, because here is one of a number of warnings in the Scripture about the mind. They would not be here if they were not very important. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God is going to govern your mind. God isn't going to make that decision. He makes it possible for us to make godly decisions, but He's not going to make them for us.

Romans chapter eight, beginning in verse five: "For those who are according to the flesh," that is living after their naturalness. Flesh means the naturalness, how you lived before you were saved. "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh," that is worldly things, things that are not godly. "But those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." Godly people think in terms of the things of the Spirit; the ungodly do not.

Then he says, "For the mind set on the flesh," our naturalness, "is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh," our naturalness, those sinful tendencies we have, "is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so." A lost person cannot live a godly life. An ungodly person does not think in terms of godliness, but earthly things, things that are sensual, materialistic, secular kind of things.

He says the mind set on the flesh is death, the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Then because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, they don't want God in their life. It doesn't subject itself, that is, their mind doesn't subject itself to the law of God. They don't believe it and don't want to abide by it. For it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Your lost friends may say they're this, that, and the other. The Bible says if you are unsaved, you've never trusted Jesus Christ, you are living in the flesh, in your naturalness.

Go back to Romans chapter one for a moment and I want to show you a very strong verse. All of this has to do with our mind. In the 28th verse of this first chapter of Romans, he says, and this is the longest list following this of sins given anywhere in the Scripture: "And just as they," those who have turned away from God, "did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."

Why does he say a depraved mind? Because God is simply saying to us, our actions are the result of the way we think. A depraved mind is a mind that is morally corrupt. It is morally totally corrupt. It does not think about spiritual things, doesn't want to think about spiritual things because it's all earthly to them: sensuality, materialism, and all the things that they think will bring them happiness and peace in life, which you and I know does not. The truth is if they were honest, they'd have to say, "No, I don't have peace. I am living in anxiety." All the things they boast of, when the truth comes out, that's not who they are because God says they cannot.

Turn to Second Corinthians chapter 11 for a moment. I want you to notice a passage here that is a warning to us. I read several of these because of that. It's a warning to us. In the 11th chapter, verse two, he says, "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin." He speaks of the church as the bride. He's teaching them, preaching to them, instructing them, and encouraging them to be godly to present them before Jesus Christ as a gift.

Then he says, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and the purity of devotion to Christ." We are warned over and over and over again about the use of our mind. Go back to the 10th chapter, verses four and five. Often times he speaks of our warfare and how we have to do battle with Satan. Here is what he says: "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh."

We don't battle spiritual battles with fleshly things because we cannot. "But divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." Our weapons are spiritual weapons: our faith and our trust in God, our reliance upon the Holy Spirit. When he says destruction of fortresses, that is, Satan has a toehold in a person's life, then he gets a stronghold. A stronghold is an area of life in which Satan is having his victory until he's got a stronghold in your life, a real hold on your life in some area. There's an area of weakness that he knows that he can get you at that point.

He says we are destroying speculations, these kind of reasonings, and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, which says you and I can control our thinking. How do we do that? Back to Colossians chapter three and notice what he says. He says we are to set our mind on the things of God, things of Christ, those things that are heavenly and not things that are earthly.

That does not mean that you're not to think about your job and your relationship and your family and your responsibilities. It doesn't mean that. But it means earthly things, those things that fall into two or three categories: sensuality, for example, materialism, secularism, and all the rest. Ungodliness, anti-Christ philosophies and attitudes, and anti-God actions in a person's life. The question is, how do we control our life in these situations?

First of all, let's talk about the possibility of it. I want to explain something here that Paul, in the sixth, seventh, and eighth chapters of Romans, explains. I don't have time to take all that time to explain what I want to say in this particular verse, but what I want to give you first of all is the basis of the possibility of us being able to control our thoughts. Notice what he says in this chapter. He says if you've been raised up with Christ, keep seeking things above.

What does that mean? When you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, here's what you did: you placed your trust in Jesus' death at Calvary, who bore your sin and your iniquity and your wickedness and your vileness on the cross. God punished Him for your sinfulness and made it possible for you to be forgiven because He is your substitute. When you and I become a child of God, we become identified with Jesus. We are now one of His followers. We can never be who we were. We don't want to be who we were.

Now, we have a new position and a new possession. Now, since Jesus Christ is come into our life, He and I, you and He are one. He says, "I'm abiding in you and you're abiding in me." He said to His disciples in a very critical time, "I'm going to send the Holy Spirit, and He'll be in you and with you and upon you forever." That is, the Holy Spirit comes into our life to enable you and me to live out the Christian life. That is His primary responsibility. We can't do it in our own strength. He sends Him for the rest of eternity; He's living on the inside of us.

As a result of that, we are identified with Him. For example, when you were baptized, you remember what happened? You walked in the water and you'd made a decision about your life. We take you under by immersion, which is what the Bible teaches, bring you up. That is a symbol of something. It's a picture of what happened to you. When you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, the Bible says you died to your old way of life. You were buried in Christ and risen to walk in newness of life, which is His way of saying something happened to us and it transformed us.

One of the best examples in nature is this: the caterpillar that crawls along on the earth and over a leaf and anything large as a quarter, for example, he's got to either go around it or over it. One day that caterpillar crawls up the tree under a leaf and winds that cocoon. Months go by and all of a sudden what happens? Breaking out of that cocoon is this beautiful golden, black, and blue butterfly.

What happens now? Instead of creeping and crawling, what's the butterfly doing? Just flying over everything, going to one flower after the other. Life has really changed. But what had to happen? Caterpillar had to die first. Now, will he ever be a caterpillar again? No. That caterpillar was just like what happened to us, born again. He was born a new life. Now he's got wings; he can fly. Anytime he gets on the ground, it's a choice he makes because he's looking at this or looking at that or smelling of this or whatever.

Butterfly living. There are a lot of people who are crawling and creeping like the caterpillars. In fact, most people are. Sometimes I know some Christians and you do too, who sort of forget for a season who they are. They're down there crawling and creeping in the world, living by the flesh, their naturalness instead of God. If they're really saved, they won't stay there. Every once in a while God's people get out of step with Him and His will and purpose and plan for their life. They can't ever be who they were. We're a brand-new person.

We have been identified with Jesus. Now He's living on the inside of us. Somebody says, "Who are you?" If I should ask you, give me a little brief biographical sketch about you, you'd probably tell me your name and where you live and what you do and so forth. Then I'd say, "Now wait a minute, let's start off. Who are you really?" If you're really a child of God, you could say, "I am a child of God, born again by the Spirit of God, a new creature in Christ Jesus. My citizenship is in heaven."

That's what the Bible says. You could go on and on about your biographical sketch before you ever get to where you live or your social security number. What I want you to see is this: you're a brand-new person. You can't ever be a caterpillar once you've become a butterfly. That is the basis for your capacity and your ability to do what? To make right decisions in your life. You can make right decisions. You can think correctly.

We all have to guard what we think. We have to guard our minds and have to guard what we see and what we listen to because we're children of God. The Spirit of God is living within us, Jesus on the inside of us, and what the world does doesn't fit who you are any longer. Father, how grateful we are that You've made it possible by giving us these awesome minds. Sometimes we think they're asleep; they're not thinking right. But deep down inside, we know they are.

We just want to say thank you for making it possible for us to think in such a fashion that You can govern and guide us in such a way that absolutely amazes us. I pray for people today who feel so down and so unworthy, so dejected, and Father who feel like maybe the world's against them. Help them to begin to look to You and to recognize You are the source of life at its best. You have made it available to all who place their trust in Jesus Christ, asking for the forgiveness of their sin, surrendering their life to You. You will enable them to begin thinking in such a fashion that they'll become the person You want them to be and that they long to be. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Guest (Male): You're listening to In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley. You are a product of what you think. That's why it's essential for believers to have a lifelong pursuit to know God. To go back over what you just heard today, click on "Today on Radio" at intouch.org. That's where you'll find a variety of resources to help you study the Bible. And if you go to our bookstore, you can order a copy of Dr. Stanley's complete message called "Controlling Your Thoughts," or you can order his teaching set, "How to Release Your Burdens." Again, you'll find these resources at intouch.org or call or text us. The number is simply 1-800-INTOUCH. To write to us, address your letter to In Touch, Post Office Box 7900, Atlanta, Georgia 30357.

Is someone wrong about their criticism of you? Learn how to deal with that in today's moment with Charles Stanley, just ahead.

In Touch Plus is streaming on Local Now, featuring all the best of Dr. Charles Stanley. It's important to have strong convictions based on the Word of God. He's working out things that you and I would never know about in our future. In Touch Plus, your streaming network for quality Christian programming 24/7. Now watch this. In Touch Plus streaming free on Local Now. We're not the first to seek a life of purpose. The Bible tells of many who followed a specific path step-by-step with courage, with surrender for a deeper purpose, a stronger passion, a lasting peace. Introducing your path to purpose, passion, and peace. A new 90-day devotional inspired by the timeless teaching of Dr. Charles Stanley. Available now at intouch.org/store.

Dr. Charles Stanley: One of the things we have to remember is that there's a difference in who I am and what I do. If my self-image is all wrapped up in what I do and that I have to do it all perfectly, it's going to be very difficult for me to handle criticism because I'm going to take it as an attack upon my personhood, which is an attack upon my self-esteem, my abilities, my talents, my skills. I have to be able to remember that no matter where it's coming from, they're criticizing what I do, not who I am.

If they're criticizing who I am, I have to respond this way: Lord, You know who I am. You know my motive. I did the best I knew how. Our relationship with Him is such that He is loving us unconditionally no matter what happens in life. He will turn the difficulty and hardship we face from other people's criticism for our good. He will also enable us to take the kind of praise that we ought to receive and recognize that it's all as a result of His goodness and love and provision in our life.

I'm going to reject any attack upon my personhood, accept the attacks upon my actions or my deeds, and say, all right, if I need to be corrected, I'm willing to be corrected. But an attack upon my personhood? No, I reject it. Sometimes a person can attack your personhood because they want to make you feel less than and demean you in some fashion because it makes them somehow feel more superior. All of that is satanic and we have to discern between whether a person is really trying to correct us sincerely or if they really and truly want to hurt us.

There are people who are angry, and I think one thing we have to remember also is that sometimes when a person's being critical, they're really expressing toward us what they feel toward someone else, that if they expressed it toward someone else, it'd be a disaster in their home or in their job. So, we become the objects of that. I would say especially among pastors. I've seen situations where people were critical of me, and then when I found out what was happening—and I always ask this question, "Now what's causing them to say that? Where are they coming from? What's motivating them?"—often times I've figured out they were angry at someone else, critical of someone else, but they can say it to me, get it off their chest. Then I think, "Well Lord, just bless them good because I'm not going to accept that. I know what the motive is and where it's coming from, and so I don't have to feel bad because they're not responding properly to their circumstances."

Guest (Male): You'll find practical instruction on living a godly life at intouch.org. Is there a new insight that you received from today's program that helps you grow in your faith? We'd love to hear about that. With sin and temptation all around you, how do you keep your mind focused on godliness? Our next program offers believers practical guidelines that can help develop purity. I hope you'll join us next time for In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley. This program is a presentation of In Touch Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia, and remains on this station through the grace of God and your faithful prayers and gifts.