Spiritual Sive

Years ago an evangelist came to our church in Lake Orion and he was really cool for two reasons, he was a magician and a good preacher. Can an evangelist be a magician? Humm. Anyway, he brought a message one of the nights where he talked about the spiritual sive. What is a spiritual sive, you might ask? Look at what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8 and you’ll pick up on the idea real quick.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

Gary Collins, the evangelist, told us that we should use this verse to help us protect our mind from what went into it and our mouth from what came out of it. There is a lot of “whatevers” in this verse and they are there to hammer home Paul’s point

Whatever is

true, whatever is

noble, whatever is

right, whatever is 

pure, whatever is 

lovely, whatever is 

Admirable

If you can put your thoughts and words through each level of this 6 level sive then you’re doing well. You see the residue left at each level just like that at a sewage treatment plant. BTW if you have never visited such a plant you should do it. It is really fascinating. However, back to the spiritual sive thought. To give us the final kick in the spiritual gut that we need Paul ends this verse with these words —if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

In Romans 12:2 Paul tells us to “renew” our mind. The above text is the practical application for that renewal. So, put on your spiritual thinking cap and protect your mind.