CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY (way of thinking)

Col 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

(AMP) See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves
captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle
fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the
material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the
rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the
teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

(GNB) See to it, then, that no one enslaves you by means of the worthless
deceit of human wisdom, which comes from the teachings handed down by
human beings and from the ruling spirits of the universe, and not from
Christ.

(MSG) Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and
intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments
that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty
traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But
that's not the way of Christ.

(NLT) Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-
sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil
powers of this world, and not from Christ
 Recap (will really help)

Without faith it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6)

(It’s impossible for God to be pleased with you)

Where we intensely looked at

 How it all began in the Garden of Eden, man been the epicenter of
God’s creation. (the Uniqueness of man)
 God’s provision for man in the creation (Finished)
 Man’s endowments (what man really like in the beginning)
 Man’s mandate: (to represent God in all His essence).
 Man was to replicate Eden wherever he steps his foot on.
 How man perfectly tuned to the both realms (Spiritual & Physical)
 What faith really was (Faith was a function of nature NOT a need)
 What their disobedience did (activation of a spiritual LAW: Rom.
6:16)
 Since the fall God’s position of REST was changed – to restoring
Man.
 The making of the last Adam and His mission. (it is finished,
denotes: Restoration of man was completed)
 How will now faith in be the fallen world. (Faith is based on
knowledge therefore is the Faith of God)
 Wrong knowledge = Wrong Belief
 Why do we need to know?
God made us in His image & His Kingdom works by LAWS, and if
man is to representative Him on earth, this implies that “whatever
God will do on earth NOW we’re to do, but there’s a “HOW TO
 DO” the HOW TO DO literally becomes a LAW - that’s even if you

unknowingly do them it works. You’ll get THE SAME result as

God will have. Instance: Laws of electricity.

Matt. 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto
you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this
mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing
shall be impossible unto you.

The key words: unbelief, faith, seed, say

Faith as a SEED (1Peter. 1:23 – word of God)…no matter how great the
potentials contained in a SEED is still zero until it is planted (Jn.12:24)…
germinate, grows then produces its potentials….

Where is the planting going to be?

Mark 9:28.
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately,
why could not we cast him out?
And he said unto them, this kind (unbelief) can come forth by nothing,
but by prayer and fasting.

The picture here shows there was an act of faith on the disciple’s side. Why
no positive result despite their act of faith?

There’s always a contention between faith and belief. The two MUST work
together…. Our belief always affects our faith positively or negatively.

What is the difference between faith & belief?

Faith: Believe:
- Things not seen. (Heb. 11:6) - On things perceived by senses
- Basically what God says ( is the - With(in) us
faith of God) - Dependent reality
- Independent reality. - There’s a How?
- The “HOW” is outside us.

What is common (their application) between faith & belief?

- Both comes from us

- They both have single Central Processing Unit… the MIND…!

This brings us to our topic:

PHILOSOPHY - (CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY)

What is Philosophy?

A philosophy is simply, a way of thinking – system of thought as opposed to

individual thoughts – it’s an entire approach - the way you look at things.

Where is this taken place…? In the Mind.

Major statement… we’ve had so many pieces biblical truths & principles
here & there BUT that doesn’t build up a philosophy but it’s like the way the
mind filters (explain) every piece of information that comes in!

One’s philosophy i.e. the system of thought – a way of thinking, worldview.

And whether you know it or not it influences, dictates, controls your
responses (reactions)….not because of external influences or forces…
Proverbs 4:23
Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. (GNB)

Proverbs 23:7.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

This system of thought is usually built on past experiences

(relationships/media).
Pessimist & optimist: Half empty: half full.
Your life is going in the direction of your thinking.
*Major statement (Wommack)
If your philosophy is NEGATIVE (your core heart believes are negative,
your DOMINANT thoughts not a passing thoughts) it doesn’t matter
what opportunity set before you – it doesn’t matter what scriptures you’re
standing on – it doesn’t matter you’ve got praying for you, you’ll definitely
going to see yourself falling…a self-fulfilling prophesy.
*the Quality of your life is a reflection of the Excellency of your mindset…
Shocker: if you become sick - your thinking is sick…
If you’re to represent or function in God’s capacity, this implies your
thinking, saying & doing everything in same manner as Go else
misrepresentation is inevitable..!

Major statement…
* Everything begins with thinking….
* You can’t be tempted with what you don’t think…
* You can’t go where your mind didn’t go 1st…
Proverbs 30:32.
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil,
lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

If you think on continuously you BECOME (Translate to)… because it’s

going to come out of your mouth… (Out of the abundance of the heart…)

What is so powerful the mind?

Gen. 11:6. (What God said)
(GNB) and he said, "Now then, these are all one people and they speak one
language; this is just the beginning of what they are going to do. Soon they
will be able to do anything they want!

(MSG) GOD took one look and said, "One people, one language; why, this
is only a first step. No telling what they'll come up with next--they'll stop at
nothing!

2Co 10:4-5 (Apostle Paul pointed out.)

(MSG) The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but
they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.
We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies,
tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose
thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by
Christ.

*Major statement…
Whether you believe or not Satan is after your thoughts but so is God,
because the deal is in your thinking.
This means that everything around you is vying for your
thoughts
Everything that surround you will include:
- God
Romans 1:19-20

(AMP) For that which is known about God is evident to them and
made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has
shown it to them.
For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and
attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made
intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have
been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse
[altogether without any defense or justification]

(MSG) But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes
and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has
created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such
can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine
being. So nobody has a good excuse.

- Satan (he uses people, circumstances to get your mind, twisting all of
these only to discredit God’s word which is our faith)
- Environment.

THOUGHT/SAY/MANIFESTATION
Mar 11:22-23
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain,
Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his
heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to
pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Thoughts will start becoming yours when you begin say them.
We say Favor confession but until the entire fiber of your Philosophy is in
line with God’s word.
Whatever we say it either empowers God to release his life
more into us or empowers Satan to suck the life God had
already given.
Manifestation. Our action is the greatest expression of our authority or who
has authority over US.

As the enemy is going about seeking whom to devour so is God waiting to

release his life… Our thoughts – words & actions is the way for that…this a
spiritual Law.

There’s a need to see how we can harness our thoughts…

How can we do that…next