Sermon Notes

Sunday November 20, 2022

My Mind
Part 6: Overcoming Negative Thoughts and Emotions

Today we consider another area of challenge for all of us – negative thoughts and
emotions.

Negative thoughts and emotions – how they affect us

All of us struggle with negative thoughts and emotions. None of us are exempt. A
negative thought is a thought that disturbs or upsets us, triggering feelings of self-doubt,
low self-worth, insecurity, inadequacy, fear, anxiety, worry, discouragement, sadness,
jealousy, bitterness, anger, hate, and a host of other negative emotions. If unchecked
this leads to negative thinking resulting in unhelpful and sometimes unhealthy behavior
such as depression, withdrawal, speaking evil, outbursts of anger, hostility, revenge,
violence, etc.

Negative thoughts and emotions can cripple us, demotivate us and prevent us from
engaging meaningfully in day to day life. These thoughts can leave us feeling helpless,
hopeless, cause chronic stress, and leave us feeling miserable and unhappy. Our thinking
affects how we view and approach life in general.

Our thoughts and emotions also affect our health. A variety of health problems such as
high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, digestive disorders, low immunity,
etc. can be influenced by our mental health condition.

Sadly, negative thinking can become a habit. If unchecked, negative thinking becomes a
normal practice and our default perspective on things. We get preoccupied mentally
rehearsing all possible negative scenarios and start working through how we would get
past them.

While negative thoughts and emotions do have a debilitating effect on our lives, positive
emotions do us tremendous good and help us become resilient even through adverse
situations. We must learn how to overcome negative thoughts and emotions and
develop and maintain a positive mindset.

Being factual without being negative

apcwo.org | [email protected] 1 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

Life has its challenges and can bring several opportunities to become negative in our
thinking. There are two approaches we must avoid in learning to deal with negative
thoughts and emotions. We must not be in denial, avoiding the facts or pretending
things are not the way they are. Neither should we fall into what the Bible refers to as
self-deception, having an incorrect or inaccurate view of ourselves. We must avoid being
in denial or self-deception.
Guard against denial and self-deception

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.

Galatians 6:3
For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

We must have an honest estimation of the situation and of ourselves. We must not
deny what we are facing or experiencing. Neither are we to deny where we are
personally in relation to the situations we are confronted with. We must be honest with
ourselves. We need to see things objectively. We must respect the views and opinions
expressed by others, especially those who have expertise in a certain matter, for
example, the physician, or a financial adviser, or a lawyer, etc.

Having understood and recognizing things for what they really are, we must now
operate from a place of faith in our hearts. In all matters we walk by faith (2 Corinthians
5:7). We bring our faith in God to bear on the situation and the matters we are
confronted with. We must learn to respond responsibly and with faith in our hearts. We
manage our thoughts and emotions in a similar manner, from a place of responsibility as
well as faith in God. We learn to be factual, without becoming negative. We must learn
to be factual and be faith-filled. Faith in God always keeps us positive in our thoughts,
emotions, and perspective of things. Faith enables us to walk with a renewed mind and
take on the ways and thoughts of God even when the facts are negative.

Applying Biblical truth to counter negative thoughts and emotions

To counter negative thoughts and emotions, we are going to apply all that we have
learnt so far from the Scriptures:

Meditation in God's Word (chapter 2).

Speaking God's Word against temptations and obeying God's Word (chapter 3).

apcwo.org | [email protected] 2 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

Taking thoughts captive, casting down arguments and imaginations and pulling down
strongholds (chapter 4).
Renewing the mind by thinking aligned to God's thoughts and God's ways (chapter 5).

We will work through a few examples of applying what we have learnt to one or more
specific areas where we must counter negative thoughts and emotions.

Overcoming fear
Overcoming depression
Overcoming thoughts of self-harm and suicide

For each of these areas we will:

A, Meditate in God's Word
B, Speak God's Word
C, Take thoughts captive, cast down arguments and imaginations and pull-down
strongholds
D, Renew the mind by thinking aligned to God's thoughts and God's ways

You can write down a similar approach for any other area where you are being
challenged with negative thoughts and emotions.

Overcoming fear

For each of us, different situations can cause thoughts and emotions of fear. This could
be fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of heights, fear of flying, fear of meeting
people, fear of death, etc. Sometimes these fears become what is referred to as a
phobia, a type of anxiety disorder. It causes a person to experience overwhelming,
crippling or debilitating fear of something that often in reality does not pose any harm
or danger. The fear seems irrational and yet affects the individual’s everyday life.

If thoughts that cause fear seem to be troubling you, then practice the following.

NOTE: You can download the ‘All Peoples Church Bangalore’ Church App where
Scriptures on several topics are listed in the TOOLKIT section.

A, Meditate in God's Word to counter fear

Meditate in the following Scriptures

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the
LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

apcwo.org | [email protected] 3 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

Psalm 138:3
In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.

Proverbs 3:26
For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

B, Speak God's Word to counter thoughts of fear and act against fear
When thoughts of fear seem to come into your mind, personalize and speak these
Scriptures. Then do what you can to act against those thoughts of fear. Do what fear
says you cannot do. Act in faith against those negative thoughts of fear. Act against fear.
(Pastors, please illustrate how to speak the above Scriptures in a personalized way)

C, Take thoughts captive, cast down arguments and imaginations and pull-down
strongholds
If vivid pictures, imaginations, or arguments that cause fear seem to capture your mind,
speak God’s Word against such things. Declare boldly in Jesus’ name that you reject
those thoughts, arguments, and imaginations.

D, Renew the mind by thinking aligned to God's thoughts and God's ways
In your quiet moments, when thoughts of fear are not troubling you, take time to
intentionally remind yourself of the Scriptures on boldness. Align your thinking to God’s
thoughts and see yourself being bold and acting boldly in that area. Paint pictures of you
being bold and doing bold things.

Overcoming depression
Depression is often manifested through a sense of hopelessness, heaviness, and
gloominess. We realize there can be many causes and triggers for depression.
Sometimes it could have to do with the functions of the brain (chemicals, etc.).
Sometimes it could be life situations, challenges, experiences, even weather conditions,
etc. Regardless of the cause, God is our Healer. He restores our soul.

Let’s apply the same Biblical principles or practices.

apcwo.org | [email protected] 4 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

A, Meditate in God's Word to counter feelings of depression

Meditate on these and other Scriptures that would be relevant to your situation.

Psalm 30:11
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with
gladness,

Psalm 35:9
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation.

Psalm 42:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet
praise Him For the help of His countenance.

Psalm 103:1,2
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

Isaiah 61:3
To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the
planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

B, Speak God's Word to counter thoughts and feelings of depression

When feelings of depression, and gloominess seem to start coming over you,
personalize and speak these Scriptures. Intentionally bless and glorify God with
thanksgiving and praise. Then do what you can to act against those feelings of
depression. Instead of letting depression dictate your mood, thoughts, and actions,
intentionally do what you would do, if you were full of joy, zeal, zest and passion.
(Pastors, please illustrate how to speak the above Scriptures in a personalized way)

C, Take thoughts captive, cast down arguments and imaginations and pull-down
strongholds
If there are specific thoughts and imaginations that fill your mind causing you to become
depressed, despondent, and hopeless – cast those thoughts and imaginations down.
Don’t let them stay in your mind.

D, Renew the mind by thinking aligned to God's thoughts and God's ways
Instead of thoughts, imaginations and reasonings that cause depression, take time to
think and fill your mind with faith-filled positive thoughts, dreams and imaginations,
based on God’s Word. God’s Word always fills us with hope.

Psalm 119:28
My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.

apcwo.org | [email protected] 5 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

Overcoming thoughts of self-harm and suicide

People often self-harm or cause self-injury is a harmful way to cope with emotional
pain, sadness, anger, and stress. There could be varying causes for the emotional pain
being experienced: low self-worth, experience of failure, increasing peer pressure,
loneliness, conflicts with parents or other authority figures, abuse, loss of a relationship,
etc. Inflicting self-injury may bring a brief sense of calm and a feeling of release from the
emotional tension. However, it is an unhealthy way of coping with life's situations. After
inflicting self-harm, the person usually experiences guilt and shame and returns to the
underlying painful emotions. While self-harm is not usually a suicide attempt, it could
lead to such attempts because of the underlying emotional problems. Sometimes self-
injury can be unintentionally fatal.

Let’s apply the same Biblical principles or practices.

A, Meditate in God's Word to counter thoughts of self-harm and suicide

Meditate in the following Scriptures that speak of your worth and purpose as given by
God. You could also include other Scriptures that are relevant to the specific situation(s)
causing emotional pain:

Psalm 139:13-17
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my
soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest
parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days
fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to
give you a future and a hope.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

B, Speak God's Word to counter thoughts of self-harm and suicide

Speak and declare your worth as described in Scripture. You are worth so much to God
that He sent His Son for you. God has good things in store for you.
(Pastors, please illustrate how to speak the above Scriptures in a personalized way)

apcwo.org | [email protected] 6 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

C, Take thoughts captive, cast down arguments and imaginations and pull-down
strongholds
When negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions that cause you pain seem to come over
you– counter them with the Word of God. Always affirm your worth and value before
God. If you need to release forgiveness for someone who has caused you pain, ask God
to help you do this. (more on this later in this chapter).

D, Renew the mind by thinking aligned to God's thoughts and God's ways
Intentionally choose to think and act according to who you are in God’s eyes. Don’t let
your past experiences dictate your value or your identity. Think aligned to what God’s
Word says about you. Speak and act aligned to what the Word of God says you are.

We have only mentioned a few areas where we have to battle negative thoughts and
emotions. However, you can write down a similar approach for any other area where
you are being challenged with negative thoughts and emotions.
Example:
Overcoming anxiety and worry
Overcoming sorrow and grief
Overcoming thoughts of anger, hate, revenge and violence

Wicked spirits behind negative thoughts and emotions

Another important truth the Bible presents to us is that there can be demonic spirits
that energize negative thoughts and emotions. While we understand natural causes, we
must not neglect the fact that demonic spirits could be behind such things.

Fear is a spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7 mentions a spirit of fear.

Depression is a spirit. Isaiah 61:3 mentions a spirit of heaviness

Hence, there are times we need to rebuke and resist the spirit behind that thought or
emotion, I the authority of Jesus name.

Dealing with the negatives of the past

Sometimes memories of past experiences: our own actions, other’s deeds toward us,
etc. Example: unresolved grief, trauma, abuse, betrayal, etc. Some of these painful
memories can affect us in the present. Suppression alone will not help. This must be

apcwo.org | [email protected] 7 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

“erased” or appropriately, dealt with, where you are able to talk about them without
being adversely affected by the pain and negative emotions associated with that
experience. We cannot undo the experience, but we can be released from the painful
emotions associated with what happened.

We will look at two Bible incidents that bear truth that will help us deal with the
negatives of the past.

Jacob meets Esau

Jacob had cheated his brother Esau and stolen the blessings of birthright from him. He
ran away for about fourteen years. God has been gracious to Jacob during this time. He
now had a family and lots of possessions. Fourteen years later, Jacob was headed back
to his homeland, and he now received news that his brother Esau was coming out to
meet him with four hundred men. We read about this incident in Genesis 32.

Imagine Jacob’s thoughts and emotions. What could have been going through his mind.
The Bible simply records "Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed" (Genesis 32:7). That
night Jacob engaged with God. He cried out to God: "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of
my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the
mother with the children." (Genesis 32:11). He had an encounter with God, where he
took hold of God and would not let go until he received God’s blessing.

God changed Jacob’s name from Jacob (meaning cheater) to Israel (meaning a prince
with God)—as he prepared to face his past. By changing his name God changed who he
was. Jacob faced his past, not as Jacob, but as Israel, because he had an encounter with
God.

This is a powerful lesson for us to learn. When we come face to face with the past,
whether in real life or in our memories, we must relate to our past not as “Jacob” (who
we were) but as “Israel” (who we are in Christ). Face your past not as who you were but
as who you are, in Christ.

Joseph meets his brothers

We now consider another incident, that of Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons and how he
related to his brothers who had wronged him terribly. Joseph’s brothers we so jealous
of him that they sold him away to strangers and lied to their father Jacob that Joseph
was dead. Joseph was taken far away from home and made to work as a servant in
Potiphar’s house. There he was wrongly accused and put in prison. However, after more

apcwo.org | [email protected] 8 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

than two years of being in prison (Genesis 41:1), one day, unexpectedly Joseph was
brought out of prison and elevated to the position of Prime Minister and God blessed
him.

During this time God has worked healing in Joseph’s heart. This is evidenced by the
names he gave his children.

Genesis 41:50–52
50 And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of
Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.
51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all
my father’s house.”
52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of
my affliction.”

And then after about nine years being Prime Minister of Egypt, Josephs’ brothers
unknown to them, find themselves bowing down before their brother.

Imagine what thoughts, feelings and emotions Joseph would have experienced at that
moment. While Joseph engaged with them, initially hiding his true identity, here are
somethings the Scriptures state:

"So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. Then Joseph remembered the
dreams which he had dreamed about them,..." (Genesis 42:8-9)

"And he turned himself away from them and wept." (Genesis 42:24)

"Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he
went into his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained
himself, and said, "Serve the bread." (Genesis 43:30-31)

"Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make
everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his
brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it." (Genesis 45:1-2)

And finally, when Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers, listen to the words he
spoke to them:

Genesis 50:18–21
18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your
servants.”
19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it
is this day, to save many people alive.

apcwo.org | [email protected] 9 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them
and spoke kindly to them.

These are the words that come from a heart that has been healed from the wounds of
the past. If God could bring Joseph to a place where he could forget and forgive his
brothers who had done him wrong, He can help you and me as well today!

Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

What can we learn from this:

➢ Perceive the past from your present identity in Christ (new creation).
➢ Perceive the past from your present position of grace (forgiven).
➢ Pray and extend forgiveness even as God has forgiven you.
➢ Relate to the past based on what God can do through you (forgive and honor those
who may have hurt you).
➢ Pray in tongues about that issue. The Holy Spirit knows exactly what to pray for so
that healing can be accomplished in our souls.
➢ Look ahead to the future (reject negative emotions).

Biblical and practical steps to guard and strengthen yourself emotionally

(Pastors, briefly mention these. No need to elaborate due to lack of time. Details will be
in the book.)

Complete tasks
Proverbs 13:19
A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Watch what you say. Your words affect your soul.

Proverbs 21:23
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.

Choose your company carefully

Proverbs 22:24-25
24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,
25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

apcwo.org | [email protected] 10 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

Do deeds of kindness
Proverbs 11:17
The merciful man does good for his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Receive encouragement from those who care

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

SALVATION CALL

SUPERNATURAL MINISTRY TIME

Minister as the Spirit leads

apcwo.org | [email protected] 11 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

LIFE GROUP STUDY GUIDE

Sunday November 20, 2022

My Mind
Part 6: Overcoming Negative Thoughts and Emotions

The is a simple guide for use in Life Group discussions. Our objective is to focus on the
application of the Sunday sermon - how each one is becoming a doer of the Word and
building their life on God's Holy Word. The Life Group meeting would normally last for 2
hours. Each Life Group would have up to 12-15 people.

Preparation
To prepare for the Life Group meeting, you can listen to the Sermon Key Points (sermon
summary in five minutes) or the full-length Sunday sermon. You can also review the
Sunday Sermon notes. All these are available in the "All Peoples Church Bangalore"
mobile App or online at our sermons page . Pray for the Life Group meeting and invite
the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Welcome
The Life Group meeting may commence with a time of prayer, worship, and a fun
activity.

LISTEN to God's Word

Read the following Scripture references: Psalm 23

INVESTIGATE God's Word Together

Please discuss a few of these together, giving time for people to share their insights. We
encourage each one individually to make notes of their personal learning during the
Group discussion.

1, Review the four Biblical practices that were highlighted in countering negative
thoughts and emotions and how these are applied to (a)overcoming fear, (b)overcoming
depression and (c)overcoming thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
A, Meditate in God's Word
B, Speak God's Word
C, Take thoughts captive, cast down arguments and imaginations and pull-down
strongholds

apcwo.org | [email protected] 12 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

D, Renew the mind by thinking aligned to God's thoughts and God's ways

2, Try to “re-live” being Jacob and journey through his life experience and discover how
he would have dealt with the pain of the past, his own wrongdoing of cheating his
brother, with God’s help.

3, Try to “re-live” being Joseph and journey through his life experience and discover how
he would have dealt with the pain of the past, the negative thoughts and emotions that
would have come to his mind, with God’s help.

If time permits, each one can take a few (3 minutes max) to share one or two key
learning and how they see themselves applying it into their specific life situations.
Encourage each one to participate and share.

FELLOWSHIP by sharing your life and spiritual journey

Each one takes a few (3 minutes max) to share anything from their walk with God,
something God has been teaching them, a testimony of answered prayer or a specific
challenge that they would like prayer for. Encourage each one to participate and share.

ENCOURAGE each other by praying and ministering to one another

Get into small groups of two or three and take turns to thank God and pray for each
other in the light of what was learnt today. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Expect the gifts of
the Holy Spirit to flow bringing healing, releasing miracles, prophecy, etc.

Regroup and pray together for:

1, families to be protected and strengthened
2, a mighty outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on us as a church and through us to bless
many others in our city and nation. Nothing but a mighty work of God's Spirit can change
our city and nation.
3, for the BUILD TO IMPACT project - for God's hand to guide us through the land search
and acquisition process, and for finances to be more than enough to get this project
done.

Close by thanking God together.

apcwo.org | [email protected] 13 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

USEFUL RESOURCES

Watch our online Sunday Church service live stream every Sunday at 10:30am (Indian Time, GMT+5:30).
Spirit filled, anointed worship, Word and ministry for healing, miracles, and deliverance.
YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/allpeopleschurchbangalore
WEBSITE: https://apcwo.org/live

Our other websites and free resources:

CHURCH: https://apcwo.org
FREE SERMONS: https://apcwo.org/resources/sermons
FREE BOOKS: https://apcwo.org/books/english
DAILY DEVOTIONALS: https://apcwo.org/resources/daily-devotional
JESUS CHRIST: https://examiningjesus.com
BIBLE COLLEGE: https://apcbiblecollege.org
E-LEARNING: https://apcbiblecollege.org/elearn
WEEKEND SCHOOLS: https://apcwo.org/ministries/weekend-schools
COUNSELING: https://chrysalislife.org
MUSIC: https://apcmusic.org
MINISTERS FELLOWSHIP: https://pamfi.org
CHURCH APP: https://apcwo.org/app
CHURCHES: https://apcwo.org/ministries/churches
WORLD MISSIONS: https://apcworldmissions.org

SERMON OUTLINE
In this sermon we discuss four Biblical practices in countering negative thoughts and
emotions and illustrate how these are applied to (a)overcoming fear, (b)overcoming
depression and (c)overcoming thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
A, Meditate in God's Word
B, Speak God's Word
C, Take thoughts captive, cast down arguments and imaginations and pull-down
strongholds
D, Renew the mind by thinking aligned to God's thoughts and God's ways
We also discuss how to deal with the negatives of the past, situations where we may
have done wrong, as in the case of Jacob and Esau, or past situations where we have
been wronged, as in the case of Joseph and his brothers. We discover Biblical principles
to be healed of the pain of the past and be free from the negative thoughts and
emotions associated with past experiences.

Mental health has to do with how you are doing in your soul - your mind, will and
emotions. It has to do with your emotional and psychological well-being. Having good
mental health, being sound, well and whole in your soul is important because it affects

apcwo.org | [email protected] 14 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

how we feel, think, and behave. It affects how we go about life, how we relate to others,
how we face challenges and handle difficult situations and how we do things we are
responsible for - education, work, etc. When we are doing well mentally, we can enjoy
life, enjoy meaningful relationships, enjoy work, overcome life's challenges, be
productive, keep growing towards our full potential and make meaningful contributions
to those around us. The fact is that all of us face challenges at one point or another, with
our mental health, our emotional and psychological well-being. There is nothing wrong
in recognizing the difficulties you are facing, getting help, and addressing those mental
health challenges in a positive way.

In this sermon series we discover a Biblical approach towards training and developing
our soul, so that we can maintain good mental health, live with soundness, wellness,
and wholeness in our mind, with a good, healthy positive mindset. In part 1, we discuss
"The Mind, Imagination and Mental Health." In part 2, we address the topics of
"Concentration, Distractions, Wandering". In part 3, we try to understand how
"Temptations, Addictions, Deceptions" work and how to overcome these. In part 4, we
learn about "Controlling Your Thoughts, Training Your Thinking" so we can use our
faculties effectively. In part 5, we discover the important discipline of "Renewing Your
Mind and Renewed Thinking", that transforms our way of life. In part 6, we learn the
Biblical way to "Overcoming Negative Thoughts", an important area for all of us. In part
7: we understand the importance of "Maintaining a Positive Mindset".

KEYWORDS
mind, mental health, mood, positive mindset, peace of mind, mental fitness, mental
well-being, emotional well-being, controlling my thoughts, training my mind, renewed
mind, renewing my mind, spiritual mind, Bible and mental health, Biblical mental health,
negative thoughts, emotional disorders, mental illness, concentration, distraction,
temptations, addictions, negative thoughts, sermon, sermons, sermon notes, sermon
outline, free sermon notes, free sermon outlines, Bible study resources

REFERENCES/CITATIONS
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible
2020, (NASB) Copyright © by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Biblical definitions, Hebrew and Greek words and their meanings are drawn from the following
resources:

Thayer's Greek Definitions. Published in 1886, 1889; public domain.

Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance by James Strong,
S.T.D., LL.D. Published in 1890; public domain.

apcwo.org | [email protected] 15 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India
 Sermon Notes

Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, © 1984, 1996, Thomas
Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN

Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary. Edited by William D. Mounce with Rick D. Bennett, Jr.
(1993)

Word Pictures in the New Testament. Archibald Thomas Robertson. Published in 1930-1933;
public domain.

Word Studies in the New Testament. Marvin R. Vincent, D.D. (1886)

apcwo.org | [email protected] 16 All Peoples Church & World Outreach, Bangalore, India