Romans 2:12-16. Our Thoughts. I. WHY OUR THOUGHTS ARE IMPORTANT. II. PROPER THOUGHTS, POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE.

1. OUR THOUGHTS

2. Romans 2:12-16 For as many as have sinned
without law will also perish without law, and as
many as have sinned in the law will be judged
by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are
just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law
will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do
not have the law, by nature do the things in the
law, these, although not having the law, are a
law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the
law written in their hearts, their conscience
also bearing witness, and between themselves
their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of
men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

3. OUR THOUGHTS
A.Our thoughts are extremely important.
B.One day we will stand before God in
judgment and answer for not only our
actions on this earth but also for our
thoughts.

4. I. WHY OUR THOUGHTS ARE IMPORTANT
A. OUR THOUGHTS ARE FUTILE
1. Psalms 94:11 The Lord knows the
thoughts of man, That they are futile.
2. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 Let no one deceive
himself. If anyone among you seems to be
wise in this age, let him become a fool that
he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of
this world is foolishness with God. For it is
written, "He catches the wise in their own
craftiness"; 20 and again, "The Lord knows
the thoughts of the wise, that they are
futile.“

5. I. WHY OUR THOUGHTS ARE IMPORTANT
A.OUR THOUGHTS ARE FUTILE
3. OUR FUTILE THOUGHTS BRING FOOLISH
ACTIONS - Romans 1:21-25 because, although
they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God,
nor were thankful, but became futile in their
thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23
and changed the glory of the incorruptible God
into an image made like corruptible man--and
birds and four-footed animals and creeping
things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to
dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who
exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and
worshiped and served the creature rather than
the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

6. I. WHY OUR THOUGHTS ARE IMPORTANT
B.WE WALK ACCORDING TO OUR
THOUGHTS - Isaiah 65:2 I have stretched
out My hands all day long to a rebellious
people, Who walk in a way that is not
good, According to their own thoughts;
C.OUR REBELLIOUS THOUGHTS BRING
CALAMITY UPON US - Jeremiah 6:19 Hear,
O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring
calamity on this people-- The fruit of their
thoughts, Because they have not heeded
My words, Nor My law, but rejected it.

7. I. WHY OUR THOUGHTS ARE IMPORTANT
D. OUR THOUGHTS POISON AND BIND US - Acts
8:21-23 You have neither part nor portion in this
matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and
pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may
be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned
by bitterness and bound by iniquity."
E. OUR THOUGHTS CAN BE WRONG - 1
Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks
he stands take heed lest he fall.
F. OUR THOUGHTS CAN DECEIVE US - James 1:26
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and
does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own
heart, this one's religion is useless.

8. I. WHY OUR THOUGHTS ARE IMPORTANT
G. OUR THOUGHTS CAN BRING OUR DESTRUCTION -
Genesis 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness
of man was great in the earth, and that every intent
of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually.
H. WE ARE AS WE THINK - Proverbs 23:7 For as he
thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says
to you, But his heart is not with you.
I. GOD KNOWS OUR THOUGHTS - Psalms 139:1-4 O
Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You
know my sitting down and my rising up; You
understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend
my path and my lying down, And are acquainted
with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my
tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

9. I. WHY OUR THOUGHTS ARE IMPORTANT
J. GOD THINKS DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO - Isaiah
55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor
are your ways My ways," says the Lord. 9 "For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways
higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your
thoughts.
K. THE WORD OF GOD DISCERNS OUR THOUGHTS -
Hebrews 4:11-13 Let us therefore be diligent to
enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the
same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of
God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of
soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but
all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to
whom we must give account.

10. II. PROPER THOUGHTS
A. POSITIVE
1. OUR THOUGHTS SHOULD BE OBEDIENT TO
CHRIST - 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk
in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but
mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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, 6 and being ready to punish
all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
2. OUR THOUGHTS SHOULD BE ACCURATE -
Galatians 6:3-4 For if anyone thinks himself to be
something, when he is nothing, he deceives
himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work,
and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone,
and not in another.

11. II. PROPER THOUGHTS
A.POSITIVE
3. WE SHOULD KEEP OUR THOUGHTS ON THE RIGHT
THINGS - 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.
4. OUR THOUGHTS SHOULD BE ON GOD’S WILL -
Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in
the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of
sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his
delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he
meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its
fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

12. II. PROPER THOUGHTS
A. POSITIVE
5. OUR THOUGHTS CAN CALM OUR ANGER -
Psalms 4:4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate
within your heart on your bed, and be still.
6. GOD SHOULD BE IN OUR THOUGHTS
CONTINUALLY - Psalms 10:4 The wicked in
his proud countenance does not seek God;
God is in none of his thoughts.
7. WE SHOULD FORSAKE OUR UNRIGHTEOUS
THOUGHTS - Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked
forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his
thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He
will have mercy on him; And to our God, For
He will abundantly pardon.

13. II. PROPER THOUGHTS
A. POSITIVE
8.OUR THOUGHTS SHOULD BE
CONTROLLED BY LOVE - 1 Corinthians
13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy; love does not
parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not
behave rudely, does not seek its own, is
not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not
rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the
truth; 7 bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all
things. 8 Love never fails.

14. II. PROPER THOUGHTS
B. NEGATIVE
1. BE CAREFUL OF SINFUL THOUGHTS - Isaiah
59:7 Their feet run to evil, And they make
haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts
are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and
destruction are in their paths.
2. WE SHOULD NOT THINK TOO HIGHLY OF
OURSELVES - Romans 12:3 For I say,
through the grace given to me, to everyone
who is among you, not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think, but to
think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a
measure of faith.

15. II. PROPER THOUGHTS
B.NEGATIVE
3. OUR THOUGHTS SHOULD NOT BE
CHILDISH - 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I
was a child, I spoke as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a
child; but when I became a man, I put
away childish things.

16. II. PROPER THOUGHTS
B. NEGATIVE
4.WE SHOULD NOT THINK WE WON’T BE
JUDGED FOR OUR SIN - Romans 2:1-3
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man,
whoever you are who judge, for in whatever
you judge another you condemn yourself; for
you who judge practice the same things. 2 But
we know that the judgment of God is
according to truth against those who practice
such things. 3 And do you think this, O man,
you who judge those practicing such things,
and doing the same, that you will escape the
judgment of God?

17. YOUR THOUGHTS?
A.Do you realize the importance of your
thoughts?
B.Are you controlling your thoughts?
C.Will your thoughts accuse or excuse
you?