The Christian and Self-Renewal Renewing the Mind (3)

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The Christian and Self-RenewalRenewing the Mind
(3)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind
Romans 122
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Introduction

• Changes will not take place in our lives until
  our MINDS are in tune with Gods will.
• The Bible has much to say about the mind
• We have looked at several things about which we
  OUGHT to be thinking.
• Learn the importance of optimism so you wont
  have to deal with the consequences of pessimistic
  thinking.

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The Need for Optimism

• Optimism is associated with the one who is right
  as he stands before God.
• Gods word calls for optimism.
• See, I have set before you today life and good,
  death and evil I call heaven and earth as
  witnesses today against you, that I have set
  before you life and death, blessing and cursing
  therefore choose life, that both you and your
  descendants may live. Deuteronomy 3015,19

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• Assurance full assurance, most certain
  confidence. (Thayer)
• Usually used in regard to anticipation of the
  reward the faithful will receive when this life
  is over.
• Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our
  God and Father, who has loved us and given us
  everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
  comfort your hearts and establish you in every
  good word and work. 2 Thessalonians 216,17

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• An optimistic prayerPaul knew God was listening.
• I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
  always in every prayer of mine making request for
  you all with joy, for your fellowship in the
  gospel from the first day until now, being
  confident of this very thing, that He who has
  begun a good work in you will complete it until
  the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 13-6

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• Hearts full of assurance of our faith.
• Let us draw near with a true heart in full
  assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
  from an evil conscience and our bodies washed
  with pure water. Hebrews 1022

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• As Christians, can we know were saved?
• These things I have written to you who believe
  in the name of the Son of God, that you may know
  that you have eternal life, and that you may
  continue to believe in the name of the Son of
  God. 1 John 513
• And by this we know that we are of the truth,
  and shall assure our hearts before Him. 1 John
  319

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• ConfidenceChristians need to be confident.
• Do you not say, 'There are still four months and
  then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you,
  lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for
  they are already white for harvest! John 435

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• ConfidenceApplying the term.
• Give an answer for your hope. 1 Peter 315
• We ought to be able to go to our brethren during
  times of need. 1 John 317,18
• We ought to be able to trust our brethren to do
  what they promise to do. Colossians 39

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• FaithThe very idea of true faith is optimism.
• It gives assurance and confidence.
• How seriously have we considered faith?
• Defined, it is conviction of truth of anything
  belief. (Thayer)

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• FaithThe foundation of our faith.
• So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
  the word of God. Romans 1017
• But also for this very reason, giving all
  diligence, add to your faith 2 Peter 15
• Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
  the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 111

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• FaithWe all need more faith.
• QuestionFaith in what?
• If we believe God, then we have reason to hope.
• Can you see how optimism and faith are related?

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• Where is your faith?
• And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying,
  Master, Master, we are perishing! Then He arose
  and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water.
  And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He
  said to them, Where is your faith? And they
  were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another,
  Who can this be? For He commands even the winds
  and water, and they obey Him! Luke 824,25

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• Faith demonstrated.
• So Jesus said to them, Because of your
  unbelief for assuredly, I say to you, if you
  have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to
  this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it
  will move and nothing will be impossible for
  you. Matthew 1720

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• Faith demonstrated.
• When Jesus departed from there, two blind men
  followed Him, crying out and saying, Son of
  David, have mercy on us! And when He had come
  into the house, the blind men came to Him. And
  Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am
  able to do this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord.
  Matthew 927,28

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• Consider Davids faith.
• Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity for
  the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. The
  LORD has heard my supplication the LORD will
  receive my prayer. Psalm 68,9

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The Bible Speaks of Optimism

• The importance of faith.
• But without faith it is impossible to please
  Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He
  is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
  diligently seek Him. Hebrews 116
• But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for
  he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven
  and tossed by the wind. For let not that man
  suppose that he will receive anything from the
  Lord he is a double-minded man, unstable in all
  his ways. James 16-8