Personal Reckonings

This transcript was generated automatically. Its accuracy may vary

Short Summary
The discourse centers on the importance of personal reckoning and self-examination, especially during the memorial season, encouraging reflection on one’s thoughts, actions, and use of time in light of Philippians 4:8. It emphasizes deliberately focusing on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, applying these standards to both internal thought processes and external influences, while recognizing the spiritual battle against worldly distractions. Ultimately, it calls for continual meditation on these virtues to align one’s life with God’s will and to find strength and courage through faith in Christ.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on Personal Reckonings Based on Philippians 4:8

Opening Reflection and Context
– The discourse begins by inviting listeners to reflect inwardly on their spiritual experiences and blessings over the past year, especially timely during the memorial season — a period marked by preparation, trials, and blessings.
– Encouragement is given to make personal reckonings—self-examinations of spiritual growth, application of Scripture, and lessons learned.
– Reference to 1 Corinthians 11:28: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup,” emphasizing the sober privilege of participating in the Lord’s memorial.
– Also cited is Galatians 6:4, urging believers to examine their own work.

The Ever-Renewing Nature of Scripture
– Despite familiarity, Scriptures always seem fresh and relevant when reread, often becoming timely and personally applicable in new ways.
– This continual renewal of understanding is attributed to the sanctification process, growth in wisdom, and changing personal circumstances.
– The speaker recounts the experience of reading familiar scriptures or messages (like the Harvest Message) anew, highlighting the blessings from ongoing study.

Central Scripture: Philippians 4:8
– The core text: “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.”
– This verse is deeply influential and encourages focusing daily on positive, virtuous thoughts.
– The Greek word translated as “think on” is logizomai (Strong’s 3049), meaning to take an inventory, estimate, or make a personal reckoning rather than casual thinking.
– Examples of logizomai’s usage include Galatians 3:6-7, where Abraham’s faith was “reckoned” as righteousness by God, showing a thoughtful, evaluative process.

Method of Study: Creating a Table
– List the six qualities from Philippians 4:8 (true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report) vertically.
– Across the top, note virtue and praise.
– For each, study the Greek word, its meaning, biblical usage, and application to personal life.
– The goal is to develop a deeper understanding of how to apply these attributes in thought and life.

Exposition of Each Quality
1. True (Strong’s 227)
– Meaning verifiable truth, witness.
– Supported by John 5:31-32, where Jesus confirms truth via another testimony.
2. Honest (Strong’s 4586)
– Venerable, honorable, dignified.
– Applied to church leaders (e.g., deacons in Timothy and Titus).
– Illustrated by Romans 9:21, the potter’s right to shape vessels, symbolizing God’s refining work.
3. Just (Strong’s 1342)
– Equitable, innocent, righteous.
– Referenced in Matthew 13:16-17, highlighting the blessing of understanding spiritual truths that faithful prophets longed for.
4. Pure (Strong’s 53)
– Clean, innocent, modest, perfect.
– Cited in 1 John 3:3: “Everyone who has his hope fixed on Him purifies himself just as He is pure.”
– Purity linked to hope in Christ and ongoing sanctification.
5. Lovely (Strong’s 4375)
– Friendly, brotherly love (philia).
– Illustrated by John 15:13, 15, where Jesus calls disciples friends and exemplifies sacrificial love.
– Also linked to Jesus’ restoration of Peter in John 21, emphasizing love and care for the flock.
6. Good Report (Greek euphemos)
– Reputable, well-spoken of.
– Root word appears in Luke 4:14, describing how news about Jesus spread widely.
– Emphasizes a character or conduct that stands public scrutiny and is praised by those who understand the full context.

Three Practical Personal Reckonings (Applications)
1. What Do I Think About?
– Inspired by Proverbs 23:7: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
– Challenge to actively control and evaluate thoughts, not merely entertain them.
– Brother Russell’s filter questions (from reprint 5908) based on Philippians 4:8:
– Is the thought honorable?
– Is it pure (not selfish or sensual)?
– Is it lovely (lovable, free from malice)?
– Is it reputable (worthy of praise by those who understand)?
– Thoughts failing these tests should be rejected immediately.
2. How Do I Live My Life?
– Consider inputs: influences from environment, friends, media, social media, music, news, internet, etc.
– Recognize the subtle and pervasive influence of modern media and algorithms designed to manipulate emotions and desires, often ignoring spiritual welfare.
– Evaluate what is allowed to influence the mind and life.
– Consider outputs: words spoken, actions taken, influence on others.
– Jesus’ teaching: “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
– Challenge to align life’s inputs and outputs with the Philippians 4:8 standard.
3. What Am I Doing With My Time?
– Two parts:
– How is time spent on the Lord’s work, especially in light of the rapidly changing end-times harvest?
– Are worldly influences (fear, distractions) gaining too much hold?
– Reference John 9:4: “I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day.”
– Consider the dangers of social media, “doom scrolling,” and the loss of time and focus.
– Reflect on 2 Peter 3:3-4 about scoffers in the last days and 2 Timothy 3:1-5 describing perilous times.
– Calls for vigilance to not be distracted or misled.

Spiritual Warfare and Armor of God
– Recognize the battle against “powers and rulers of the darkness” (Ephesians 6).
– The armor of God includes the girdle of truth and the breastplate of righteousness, directly linked to two of the qualities in Philippians 4:8 (true and just).
– These are foundational defenses against deception and unrighteousness.
– Daily putting on this armor is essential.

Encouragement and Hope
– Reflect on Jesus’ words in John 16:33: “In the world you have tribulation; but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
– Apostle Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 3:13-14 to look forward and press toward the heavenly calling.
– Concluding encouragement to meditate on the virtues of Philippians 4:8 regularly.
– Virtue and praise relate to what is valued by God and worthy of honor before His throne.
– Closing prayer for the meditation of the heart to be acceptable to the Lord.

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Key Bible Verses Referenced:

– 1 Corinthians 11:28
– Galatians 6:4
– Philippians 4:8
– Galatians 3:6-7
– John 5:31-32
– Romans 9:21
– Matthew 13:16-17
– 1 John 3:3
– John 15:13, 15
– John 21:15-17
– Luke 4:14
– Proverbs 23:7
– John 9:4
– 2 Peter 3:3-4
– 2 Timothy 3:1-5
– John 16:33
– Philippians 3:13-14

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Summary of Main Takeaways:

– Personal reckonings are vital spiritual exercises, especially around memorial season.
– Philippians 4:8 serves as a guide for evaluating thoughts and life influences.
– The Greek term logizomai calls for deliberate, deep evaluation rather than casual thoughts.
– Applying the six qualities (true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report) to thoughts, life inputs/outputs, and time management helps maintain spiritual health.
– Beware of worldly influences, particularly modern media and social media, which can subtly corrupt thoughts and values.
– Spiritual warfare requires daily putting on the armor of God, starting with truth and righteousness.
– Keep focus on Christ’s victory and the heavenly calling ahead.
– Regular meditation on these virtues cultivates a heart pleasing to God.

This discourse encourages believers to actively and thoughtfully examine their inner lives and external influences in the light of Scripture, making adjustments to grow in holiness and readiness for the Lord’s coming.

Transcript

Reckonings, and while this will not be a memorial talk per se, our conversation on personal reckonings this morning is particularly appropriate for this time of the year. Before I share this presentation with you, I’d like to have each one of us consider for a minute some of the blessings and the experiences that we’ve had over the past year.

Take a pause to look inward. Think about your spiritual experiences and your path in the narrow way. What has been blessed? What have you learned? Where can you grow?

Well, I have a blank sheet of paper if you’d like to follow along with me. I’ve got one up here on the screen that you can use. Or I think Brother Mark may have some blank sheets of paper. You could get a notepad if you’d like, or you could just watch. It’s okay.

But if you’d like to write down your thoughts on your personal reckonings of the last year on this piece of paper or on your virtual piece of paper, take a moment to reflect back on how this year has gone for you in the Lord.

Well, if you’re like me, you’ll want more time, right?

You’ll need more thought. You’ll need more of a pause, and we’re just getting started with conventions, so that’s probably not what you want to do right now. But memorial season is here upon us, and this is often a time of great blessing. It’s often a time of difficult trials, and it’s most certainly a time of preparation.

The apostle reminds us of the soberness of the privilege of our participation in our lord’s memorial in First Corinthians 11, verse 28 but let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup as we examine our own work, as Paul encourages us in Galatians 6:4 and in this Scripture, we often take stock of the year that has passed since we last partook of the remembrance of our Master’s sacrificed human life and his death upon the cross. We seek to sweep out the leaven that might have accumulated in the corners of our mind and in our lives. Our shared fellowship together in the memorial becomes an opportunity for us to evaluate how the Lord has gently guided us through our experiences, chiseling us through trial and joy to be perfectly and quietly fitted as living stones for his temple. Our self examination is an opportunity for us to reflect upon how the Word of God has personally affected us and in some cases even how well we’ve applied the Scriptures that we hope to keep ever within our heart.

While speaking of scriptures, isn’t it amazing that despite all of our study, all of our reflection on God’s Word and His precious promises, that the Scriptures always seem new. They always seem refreshing to our hearts. We just have to make the simple effort to open up our Bibles to gain a new blessing. Well, perhaps you’ve noted something similar when you take time to read through the harvest message. I was attending online last year’s general convention and a brother from the platform said read the volumes again.

They put keep putting new stuff in there.

I know I’ve had that experience picking something up and feeling as though I’m reading it for the very first time. Well, tell me if you’ve had this experience. You reread a scripture passage that you know well and suddenly it comes alive in the moment and you appreciate it in a brand new way, becomes timely and relevant to a current situation that’s going on in your life. This, brethren, is no accident.

Perhaps then you see your trials from a different perspective. Perhaps the Scripture gives you comfort when you need it the most. Or perhaps it gives you a warning, maybe even correction. In all cases. It’s a blessing that is tailor made for you.

These reminders show us why we must continually spend time in God’s Word. Because even when we think we know what’s in there, new things will be revealed to us when we open up the Scriptures, and it’s not just that we forget, which we as leaky vessels do. But you and I are different people than we were yesterday, five years ago, ten years ago. Wisdom and growth, trials and blessing, those things have all changed us.

The sanctification process brings us new perspective and opportunity as that process progresses, and it is the truth, the revealing and understanding of the Word of God that helps this to happen.

Well, the guide for our lesson on personal reckonings this morning comes from a scripture that is extremely familiar to us, one that we’ve probably read countless times. It is quoted many times in the manna, and you’ve been reading this passage for the past nine days and you’ve read the verse itself four times.

It has become a personal blessing to me, and in this particular day and age, and especially at this time of year, it seems to carry more personal meaning than ever.

The course scripture is 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. While this is a scripture, we probably don’t forget, although we might not be able to always put the words in the correct order.

This is a deeply positive and influential scripture for believing Christians everywhere, and Paul gives excellent advice here. Nothing is wrong with putting our focus on these things every single day of the year.

Well, if you like to follow along and you do have a piece of paper or notepad, you can certainly do so what we’re going to do with our piece of paper is we’re going to take the blank side and we’re going to draw some lines on it. We’re going to hold it horizontally, we’re going to draw some lines on it. We’re going to put three lines on the paper up and down vertically, and we’re going to put five lines horizontally. We’re going to create a four by six table.

In the leftmost column, we’re going to write each of the words that Paul lists in Philippians 4. 8, and those words are true, honest, just pure, lovely and good report as we just read, and then across the bottom, if you’d like, put virtue in and praise, and you can use this to take notes on our discussions as we fill out the table.

Or if you’d like, I can send you a copy of this after we’re done. That’s fine. So across across each one of the columns, as we go from left to right in the first column we’re going to put the word. Of course the second one’s going to be the strong’s word or the word that is in the New Testament. Then we’re going to put its meaning down and then we’re going to put additional thoughts which could be comments or the way the word might be used in the Scriptures to help us get more understanding of how to apply it.

So that’s how we’re going to fill this out. Now notice when we go back to our Scripture that Paul ends Philippians4.8 with a call to action and he says, think on these things.

Well, other translations this is in the King James Version. Other translations give a deeper nuance to this word that is translated think on. In the new American Standard, it’s dwell on these things. In the new King James, it’s meditate on these things, and in the Weymouth it’s cherish the thought of these things.

The RVIC translation seems to take this concept even a step further. The footnote on this verse says, take account of these things. Well, brethren, this is not casual thinking. This is deliberate intent. As you might guess, the Greek word for think on is a little more meaningful than simply having something just Pop into your mind.

The word is the Greek 3049 in Strong’s, it’s logizomai, and it means to take an inventory or to estimate both literally and figuratively. If we take this word and find where it appears in the New Testament, we discover about 40 different verses, and almost all uses of this word seem to go far beyond the thought of just something coming into my mind.

Let’s read from Galatians 3, 6, 7. Even so, Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are the sons of Abraham. The word here translated reckoned, is the Greek word logizomai, and it’s the same word that we see in Philippians 4.

8 as think on.

Well, most of the examples of this word actually occur in Paul’s writings and specifically in the book of Romans in Romans 2, 3, and there’s 25 verses in Romans 11, or, sorry, Romans 4, 25 verses, and this word appears 11 times in that chapter.

And it represents the thinking of God on Abraham as a result of Abraham’s faith. It’s how God thought of him. It’s both the crediting of Abraham with righteousness in God’s mind, and it’s also used when God does not impute Abraham with sin.

So the meaning here is, as we can tell, more than just thinking. The Greek word here is meditating. It’s the making of an assessment and a judgment. It’s a personal reckoning.

Well, let’s return to our theme text and the individual aspects that we’re asked to think on or reckon, and let’s take our piece of paper or the virtual one that’s going to be up on the screen and let’s begin to fill in some of the details. The first word that we’re going to consider is true, whatsoever things are true. This comes from the strong’s word 227, and it means true in the sense of a witness, something verifiably true, and that is the emphasis of this particular word.

We have a good scripture to support it. It comes in the words of our Lord, from John 5, verses 31 and 32, where Jesus said, if I alone testify about myself, my testimony is not true. In other words, this, it’s not complete. There’s more to this. He then says, there is another who testifies of me, and I know that the testimony which he gives about me is true.

Well, here Jesus is speaking to the public and to his disciples, and in this passage he’s just given them the promise of the resurrection, which was a very difficult thing for many to believe, and he is saying, in effect, there is another who verifies who I am, and that what I say is true, and that is the level of truth. That is the standard to which Paul is referring back in Philippians 4. Eight, when he says, think on these things true.

Our next word is honest, and this comes from Strong’s 4,586. It appears only four times in the New Testament, and it means venerable or honorable. The New American Standard translates it as dignified, and the King James often translates it as grave. The rvic notes the same sentiment, and it reflects this root idea of reverence or worshipful.

In Second Timothy and in the Book of Titus, Paul’s Pastoral Letters, this word describes deacons and their wives and aged men, and it’s translated grave in most cases. Another example or example of this word occurs in Romans 9:21. Does the potter have a right over the clay to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? Well, this gives us a beautiful picture of the heavenly Father working in us. Though we are in a sinful condition, in the flesh we are being shaped into something honorable.

Paul is making a larger point about the opportunity offered to the Gentiles after the Jewish opportunity ended. But the word’s meaning is clear, clearly illustrated. The third word in Philippians 4. 8 is just, and this comes from Strong’s 1342, occurs many times in the New Testament, and this word means equitable by implication, innocent.

And the New American standard, of course we’re familiar with this, translates this word just as right or righteous. Once again, the example that we’re going to share comes from the words of our Lord in Matthew 13, verses 16 to 17, Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see and hear what you hear, and did not hear it. The righteous men and prophets, of course, refer to the faithful of old, particularly the patriarchs like Abraham, who longed to understand the kingdom blessings that we now see. They wanted to see what we see.

They could not, and this is inspiring to us. We have the privilege of the high calling and the grace granted to us through Jesus Christ first and foremost, and especially at this time of the end, when we have so many truths revealed to us in the harvest. These are opportunities that the men, the faithful men of old, did not yet have, and so when we think of things that are just we should apply this grace that we’ve received and use it to guide our thoughts and decisions.

Our next word is pure, which which is from Strong’s 53. It appears eight times in the New Testament. It means clean, innocent, modest, perfect. In some translations it appears as chaste, a beautiful thought, especially in the sense of a chaste virgin, a picture of the bride.

James uses pure as the first element of wisdom from above. Our scripture is from 1st John 3, 3, where the apostle says, and everyone who has his hope fixed on him purifies himself just as he is pure. What a beautiful thought. Here. Have this hope fixed on him, purifying himself.

This too is thinking on it at another level. What a blessed scripture. When we place our hope in Christ, his sacrifice for mankind, the new and living way that he’s opened, simply thinking on him becomes a purification process for us. This truly is grace at work.

Our next word is lovely. This appears only once in the New Testament. It’s a compound of two words, and it means friendly, towards, literally for friends, or brotherly love.

Here strong 4375. The first word here means toward, and then the second word we recognize is a derivative from philio, and it means to be a friend, to have affection. Of course, we know this as brotherly love.

We’re reminded of the beautiful words of our lord in John 15, verses 13 and 15. Greater love that’s agape, has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends, and our Master’s words to our us and to his disciples. But I have called you friends for all things that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.

Well, we are truly humbled by this passage that our Lord would call us his friends. He was speaking to his disciples. But our Lord extends this to us in his beautiful prayer of John 17. What a blessing to be in his friendship and in his care, and to have the opportunity to show that same love by laying down our lives for our friends, for each other, and ultimately for the world of mankind. Another beautiful lesson from this word comes from our Lord’s experience with Peter.

John 21 is a blessed passage to many. A resurrected Lord, not yet ascended, is on the shore teaching Peter. After Peter’s denial three times, Jesus asks, do you love me? And Peter’s reply was this, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you well.

What a blessing that our Lord would reach, would reach to Peter with heartfelt love, encouraging him to take leadership of the church, and Jesus gives Peter three different expressions of how he should care for the little flock. But Peter, troubled from his denial and probably wishing that he could respond with agape love in his distress, and perhaps his humility answers here with Philio. Our Lord’s must have resonated with him significantly after the Ascension.

Reprint 4183 entitled Lovest Thou me more than these says as our Lord said to Peter upon the profession of his love, that he might feed the lambs, and tend and feed the sheep. So he says to all who are his followers, not that we can have the honorable place of apostles in connection with the Lord’s dear flock, but that each of us may find opportunities for tending and assisting, feeding, nourishing the flock of God.

Well, brethren, this has been an encouraging and personal consideration of the word lovely, and it’s truly a word that we see as grounded in love. Now we come to the last of our six words for our table Good report. There’s only one occurrence of this word in Scripture comes from two different Greek words combined into that word, which is euphemos.

The first part, you means well, eu means well, and then fimos refers to reputation. You might recognize it as the root of our English word fame, and so the meaning is reputable, something that would stand the test of public scrutiny and be spoken of well. Now, although good report only appears in Philippians 4. 8, this word, this root word for fame appears two other times in the New Testament and one example is Luke 4:14 and Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread all through the surrounding district or all the surrounding district. This gives us context for this word.

Anything that would resound outward, that would spread, that would be spoken of words well fits this idea that Paul had when he said good report.

Well, how do we make Philippians 4. 8 more personal than we already have? I’d like to suggest three applications and these applications are meant to be used quietly, reflectively when we pause when we have a moment, perhaps during our morning or our evening devotions, and these applications may help us to evaluate our thoughts and our experiences in light of today’s uncertain world where the real truth often seems hidden beneath the layers of so called truth. You may want to keep your filled in sheet paper filled in sheet of paper handy for easy reference.

The following suggestions have been meaningful to me. You might consider writing down some of these things or some of your own thoughts as you reflect on the questions that I’m going to ask you. The personal reckonings we will consider do relate back to this word logizomai which means to take an estimate or an inventory.

So personal reckoning number one. What do I think about.

Proverbs 23:7 says, for as he thinks in his heart, or for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

My challenge to you and to me is this. What do I think about? And do I deliberately handle the thoughts that come into my mind?

When a thought arises, whether it’s a motivation, an instinct, a reaction, or it’s an emotion, do we evaluate that thought, or do we just let it sit there? Well, that is the spirit of this first reckoning. From reprint 5908. Brother Russell raises several practical questions based on Philippians 4. 8, and these questions that he offers are organized as sort of a filter for our thoughts.

Here are the questions. Number one. Is the thought which is seeking consideration in our mind an honorable one? If so, it may pass in and be entertained. If not, it should be immediately resented and driven out from the mind as an evil influence.

Two, Is the thought suggested a pure one, not sensual, not selfish? If so, if it pass these examinations, it may pass on for further consideration. If by these it fails to prove its purity, it should be immediately resented as a thought likely to do great harm, as would the entrance into our home of things infected with the plague. 3. Is the thought lovely?

Does it appertain to things that are lovable? Does it excite lovable influences? Or is it identified more or less with hate, resentment, anger, or malice? If lovely, it may pass on if not, it must be immediately expelled, not permitted to go further to do harm to ourselves and to others, and fourth, is it reputable?

This cannot mean is a thing well spoken of by the world. The apostle himself and our Lord Jesus were reviled by the world, who said all manner of evil against them falsely. The word reputable here must be taken to mean that which would be thought well of by all reputable people if they knew and understood everything connected with the thought.

Well, these are all valuable questions, and we may not have time to apply them to every passing thought. But if a thought lingers, or if it leads to action, we may be able to benefit greatly by testing it with those questions that we just read. Will it pass this filter, these four words? You’ll notice that Brother Russell did not specifically address true or just in these questions, and he covers them more broadly in this article, but more actually in other articles.

I have some thoughts on this if we have a little bit more time at the end.

Well, our personal reckoning number two is not just what we Think on. But now it’s how do I live my life?

This one doesn’t come from Brother Russell’s writings per se, but I think this is somewhat obvious to us, especially as we’re examining ourselves at this time of the year. So this question has two parts. We’d like to break it into two parts. One, what are the inputs to my life? And two, what are the outputs of my life?

Lets first consider the inputs. What influences me?

What do I experience with my senses?

What is coming in front of my face or in my ears that has the ability to influence me? Let’s consider what these might be. They might be your surroundings. They might be the brethren, they might be your friends. They might be other people with which you associate, such as co workers.

It might be the news that you watch on tv. It might be the programs that are on tv. It might be the music you listen to. It might be what you search for on the Internet. It might be the commercials that you see or that you hear.

Might be a podcast that you listen to. It could be the short videos that you occasionally look at from time to time or more frequently look at. It could be what social media delivers to you, opinions, perspectives. Or it could be just something that’s on in the background of your life, some noise that’s there and potentially going into your mind.

Brethren, we live in a very dangerous world flooded with influences that shape us, often without our awareness. We are constantly targeted by marketing that is designed to affect and manipulate our emotions and our desires. Let’s not be naive.

Systems and influences that surround us are run by psychology based algorithms. What I am saying is no conspiracy theory. I learned it 45 years ago in business school.

Media in all of its forms is openly, openly and unabashedly based in the principle of influencing other people’s decisions and their ideas. Take social media, now, that’s at a completely different level, and artificial intelligence that adds an exponential layer, maybe even more of complexity to the influences that affect my life, and that we don’t have time to consider in depth today. But the bottom line is this.

Whether these algorithms are nefarious or just simply economic, it’s irrelevant.

They don’t include your spiritual welfare in any part of their logic. They only cater to or prey upon your flesh, your human nature.

So can we apply Philippians 4, 8 to all these things that we’re taking as input in our life? Well, this is for me personally, extremely sobering. Remember, a little leaven does what leavens the whole lump. If any part of what we put into our mind is not true, it’s not honorable, it’s not just. Or if it’s not pure, not lovely, not of good report, then they are far from the standard that Paul sets before us, so why should we allow them to linger in our lives?

Ask yourself, what am I allowing in? What is influencing me? And do these things belong?

Well, let’s consider the other side of this now. What are the outputs that come from my life? What do I say? How do I act? How do I influence others?

Remember that Jesus said, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. What we take in, what fills our heart, affects what comes out of our mouth. It affects what we produce, and it’s not just for ourselves. It’s not just something that affects us, it affects other people.

Our influence on others is not neutral. Every output of our life has an effect. So can I apply the filter from Philippians 4. 8? What comes out of my mouth to the things that I do?

Are they true, honest, just pure, lovely, and of good report?

In the spirit of examining ourselves, what can I say and do better? Does my conversation, both literally and figuratively, reflect the influences of my life? And knowing that we now live in the day of the Lord, what sort of persons should we be in all holy conversation and godliness?

2nd Peter 3:11. Well, this is a serious consideration, and I believe that Paul intends this level of seriousness when he directs our minds in Philippians 4. 8.

How can I control what I put into my thoughts and into my heart so that what comes out lives up to that standard? Truly a personal reckoning. Well, let’s go on and consider our third of these applications. Personal reckoning number three. What am I doing with my time?

And this reckoning or consideration is perhaps a little bit more nuanced than the others. The other reckonings, I think, are pretty obvious to those of us that have been in the way, and most of us who have been very familiar with Philippians4. Eight have been thinking about this and in this way for a very long time. So reflecting back on 1 and 2, these are not new reflections or reckonings for you, but we live in a different time and we could use reminders.

What am I doing with my time? Well, let’s consider this also in two parts. First is, how does living in the end of the age affect my focus on the Lord’s work? And then second, do the influences of the last days have a greater hold on me than I realize?

Let’s consider the First.

Brethren. We’re at a time in the harvest where Things are changing extremely quickly. Things are very dynamic. Take the news of the past week, for example. A lot has transpired since the narrow way was first open to most of us.

We want to make sure we’re using our time in the most reverential and appropriate way that we can to focus on what the Lord wants us to do. Our Lord’s example was very strong along this line. He said in John 9:4, I must work the works of him who sent me. While it is day, the night is coming when no one can work.

Now that we’re nearing the end of this harvest age, this age of information, we have this ability to spread the truth and encourage one another like never before. So how am I spending my time in the Lord’s work? Well, the other angle we’d like to consider is, do these influences of the last days have this greater hold on me? Am I fearful because of what’s going on around me? Am I more confident because I feel like I have everything at my fingertips?

Well, there’s much for us to weigh in the balance here, and let’s bring two scriptures to mind. These are again familiar scriptures to you. 2nd Peter 3:3 4. Knowing this verse that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts and saying, where is the promise of his coming brethren?

This should just make us wonder, if nothing else, are we getting distracted from the truth and from the harvest message? The scoffers are likely represented in the higher thinking attitudes that Brother Russell wrote about, you know, his higher criticism. But now it’s at a whole new level and it’s been amplified by the things and events happening in this Laodicean age, which has generally dissuaded most of the modern world from actually pursuing the real truth. We see this lapping of the ages, in this lapping of the ages that so many bonds have been broken, so many shackles have been smashed, so many liberties are being restored to the oppressed, and that’s glorious in its own little way.

Work of the Lord, no doubt, as many of these systems of oppression have been dismantled or in the process of being dismantled. But this perceived sense of freedom that we see in the world is still yet under the lingering influence of sin and fallen spiritual forces, and it’s false.

And so is a portion of the freedom enlightened thinking that goes along with it. We have a second scripture, what am I doing with my time? From 2nd Timothy 3, verse 1 and 2 say, but know this, in the last days, perilous times will come for men will Be I think you can fill in the blanks.

Well, what are we supposed to do with this from these men? Turn away, Verse five. Of course, we’ve read and studied this scripture many times. But does it seem to you today that the conditions are better, worse? I don’t know.

I think the influences are more insidious than ever. There’s a lot of goodness in this world.

One of the biggest temptations for young people and those at heart is social media, those young at heart, and there are many vectors to this particular threat. One is just simply the time that it consumes. There’s even a term you may know, doom scrolling, which is endlessly scrolling on videos, whether they be good or neutral or not so good. That takes many of our own personal time and that of our young people.

When you spend time on any sort of a social media app, you are being studied, you are being watched. Computers that are behind these platforms know enough about you, how to decide what you should look at next, and this they could do before AI so if you even have one bad habit. Who has a bad habit? We all have them.

Or one interest that doesn’t meet this Philippians 4. 8 standard. You’re going to be fed that constantly gaps know more about you than you realize, and I think it’s just an understatement to say that we could get lost in these things, and some of these are just, you know, positive or friendly or what have you.

But is that how we should be using our time?

And for children, of course, there’s great concern.

Well, brethren, we consider these things. We got the chairman up here, so we’ll wrap up in just a minute here, Brother Larry, if that’s okay. As you examine yourself in your Christian walk in preparation for your common union and participation in the memorial or at any other time of year, perhaps you’ll use these three reckonings to consider what do I think about? How do I live my life? What am I doing with my time?

And at the very least, Philippians 4. Eight, along with your conscience and with prayer as a guide, can help you set straight paths for your feet. Be sure that this battle, brethren, to be sure this battle goes far beyond the influences of worldliness. We are in a warfare against the powers and rulers of the darkness of this age. But we are not unprepared.

We have the armor of God. What a blessing to have all these tools in the armor at our disposal, and each one of these is to be put on Daily. Now, two of these pieces of armor represent two of the items in our Philippians 4:8. True and just.

And that’s the girdle of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.

These two things are the first pieces of armor, or we think scripturally, they are to be put on. They’re the two standards for anything that we let into our life to any significant, significant degree. They are the foundations for those test questions provided in reprint 4183.

True is perhaps obvious, but many are deceived by untrue things. Today in justice or righteousness, the absence of anything that’s unjust is something that should be a foundational thought for us. Well, brethren, let’s remember the pattern as we conclude of the faithful who have gone before us. We recall the experiences of Jesus some 2000 years ago. He fought all of the adversarial forces.

He said in John 16:33 these things I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation. But take courage. I have overcome the world. Jesus won.

He’s overcome it all. That should give us courage, even though we have tribulation.

Take strength in him, and the Apostle Paul says one important thing. I won’t read the verse, but make a note. Philippians 3, 13 and 14. He doesn’t say look back.

He says, look forward. Reach for the prize of the upward call or the heavenly calling of God in Jesus. That’s what we should be doing. So, brethren, finally, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, there be any virtue and any praise. Think on these things.

Virtue means value to our Creator. It means value to our new creature. Heavenly treasures and praise means worthy of offering for the majesty of the Heavenly throne.

Brethren, may the meditation of your heart be acceptable in the sight of our Lord, our strength and our Redeemer, and may the Lord add his blessing.

What lovely thoughts on personal reckonings. I don’t know about you, but I could have listened for another half an hour.

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