Our minds
Philippians 2:1-5 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
True conformity to Christ is a love relationship….and never truly done, until done out of love.
(“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19)
All these verses in Philippians is about our “mindset” in the days in which we live.
The world says….”assert yourself. You will never get ahead, or be successful unless you put yourself as number one.”
But Christ put aside His glory and “humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death,” that we might be brought back to God.
Romans 15:5-7 “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”
And in these verses, we are exhorted to be of the same mind….to seek the good and peace of God for others,….in our home, in our church, and in the world (for they are moving at a fast pace toward Hell)
Jude 21-23 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
(Notice both verses begin with us in Christ’s love and mercy…for ourselves. Then we can be sharers of that love and mercy)
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
We can do no one any good, if we are not holy (sanctified, or set aside to God and His work)
This holiness is not imputed holiness….it is acquired holiness.
Our natural selves….must be transformed to the spiritual. It is personal and practical holiness,…
…which is not attained by standing….but by an earnest, diligent, persistent pursuit after Christ’s mind in all things.
Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”
To fail of the grace of God….which is the unmerited favor of power, or the ability which God gives us.
How can that possibly happen?
It happens when we fail to use the grace we already have. Grace is given us, that we might be enabled to receive more grace….in order that we might do the required Will of God.
John 1:16 “And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.”
Our lives in Christ is all of God, but it is to be attained by us, in our everyday circumstances….
Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
Let us have grace, indeed!
Let us do just that! Use this grace to acquire more. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
For this is required at our hands, as His children. Let us love Him. Let us serve God with reverence and godly fear….
Hebrews 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”
We can become zealous (Rev.3:19)……boiling hot, here….or we can, when we face the Judgment Seat of Christ….see our works of self burnt up (1 Cor.3:13-15).
God is a consuming fire, and He will “burn up” our works of our self-life here, with our cooperation….or there,…”he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
Let us have the mind of Christ and humble ourselves, having the same love, of one accord, of one mind. He humbled Himself for us….will we humble ourselves for Him?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 