Right Thinking In A Troubled World - 6

Introduction - The book of Philippians contains, in my opinion the greatest passages on biblical thinking in the entire Bible.

In fact, we already stated, that Paul penned seven verses in this short epistle dealing with biblical thinking.

The first of the seven passages we have been considering is found in Philippians 1:27.

We have already notices that in this verse and the verses that proceed the Word of God emphasizes that our thinking ought to:

Be As It Becomes The Gospel.

In other words, we ought to think at citizens of heaven, because we are citizens of heaven.

As Paul began in verse 27 using the word ‘conversation’ we noted the word means- ‘citizen-life.’

Our lives should fitting the title, citizens of heaven.

Secondly, we discovered that our thinking should be single.

2. Our Lives Must Be Single-Minded

If we are citizens of heaven, if we possess the mind of Christ, then our thinking will be in the same direction.

Philippians 1:27 “27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

Being single minded means that we think the same way.

We do not think ‘my way’ or ‘your way’— we think God’s way.

It is not, “…through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world…” (Colossians 2:8)

If we possess the mind of Christ, we will be single minded.

In the Old Testament, we find a similar expression in the words ‘one heart.’

In 1 Chronicles 12:38 for example, the Bible says, “38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.”

The men of Israel were unified behind one purpose. That purpose was to make David king. This was in keeping with God’s purpose and will.

In 2 Chronicles 30:12 “12 Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord.”

This account speaks of Hezekiah’s decree to keep the passover. He sent posts throughout the entire kingdom. Though the kingdom was divided, though there was a bitter fracture between the north and the south, though judgment had come to the northern kingdom because of their idolatry. Hezekiah says come let us be single minded and worship the Lord.

In the previous verses in that chapter we discover that some heeded the message, but others laughed the messengers to scorn (2 Chronicles 30:10).

My friend, unfortunately, there will be some who refuse to be single-minded concerning the Lord.

In Jeremiah 32, speaking of the Millennial reign, the hallmark of God’s people, the nation of Israel will be a single mind towards Him.

Jeremiah 32:37–39 “37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: 38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: 39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:”

As we fast forward to the New Testament— we see this kind of single-mind exemplified in the purity of the early church.

In Acts 4:32 “32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

As we think about that infant church, we would come to understand that their single mind concerning the gospel was so new that it was not tainted with worldly thinking.

Why do we find people more willing to testify of the Lord Jesus Christ when they are first saved? Why do they become less of a witness as time moves on— and they become “” more educated and refined as a “Christian?”

I want you to really consider in your heart, why are God’s people not all of one mind concerning the work of the Lord?

Can you imagine as local church body, where every member is so taken with the Lord Jesus Christ—- having the mind of Christ, that there is a singular focus in our lives?

We are familiar with the verse found in the book of James which states, James 1:8 “8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

The admonishment from James is found later in his epistle when he states, James 4:8 “8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Purity my friend has a singleness about it.

When we consider pure gold or silver, the idea is that there are no contaminants.

More gold and less dross.

More silver and less dross. A pure mind is a single mind.

The purest my thinking can ever be is to have the mind of Christ.

If I am thinking the same way the Lord thinks— my mind is pure.

This verse is not about everyone getting along. This verse is about every one yielding to the Lord. When we have the mind of Christ, there cannot but be unity with those who also have the mind of Christ.

Let us consider John 17 (vs.6-17) and the message the Lord Jesus Christ has for us concerning being of one mind.

John 17:6–17 “6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

The Lord’s prayer was that we— you and me— the disciples—- the apostles—- those that are His would be singular—- as Christ is one with the Father.

In John 10:30 the Lord said, “30 I and my Father are one.”

There are some ways we cannot be like God. We are not Almighty, God is. We are not omnipresent, God is. We cannot be omniscient, God is.

But we can be pure minded. We can be one with God in how we think.

How do we know this?

Because we find in the book of Philippians the we are to let the mind of Christ be in us.

We see here also that the Lord stated, that we would be one, as He was with the Father.

“Christ does not pray that they might be rich and great in the world, but that they might be kept from sin, strengthened for their duty, and brought safe to heaven. The prosperity of the soul is the best prosperity. He pleaded with his holy Father, that he would keep them by his power and for his glory, that they might be united in affection and labours, even according to the union of the Father and the Son.” - Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Jn 17:11.

Notice down in verse 21.

John 17:21 “21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Our thinking and manner of life, having the mind of Christ ought to be so peculiar, that those who witness it may say— Jesus Christ truly is the Son of God.

There is no other explanation for how it is that person lives there lives, other than Jesus is the Son of God.

Warren Wiersbe in commenting on this verse stated, “Christians may belong to different fellowships, but they all belong to the Lord and to each other…What is the basis for true Christian unity? The person and work of Jesus Christ and His glory (John 17:2–5). He has already given His glory to us, and He promises that we will further experience that glory when we get to heaven! All true believers have God’s glory within, no matter what they may look like on the outside. Christian harmony is not based on the externals of the flesh but the internals and eternals of the Spirit in the inner person.” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 371.

3. Our Lives Must Be Intentional

Philippians 1:27 “27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

Do you notice the word ‘striving’ in that verse?

It is in fact two English words there that account for one underlying Greek word.

Striving and together are one word in the underlying Greek.

It means “to wrestle in company with.” In 2 Timothy 2:5 a similar form of the word is found and is translated as strive. “5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

Our striving must be biblical. We do not attempt to run the Christian race by cheating… God is the God of One way.

There is only one way to think, one way to live, one way to walk in this life and it is God’s way.

The word ‘strive’ means to engage in conflict— and here in oneness or togetherness.

Paul and Philippian church though separated at this time by considerable distance and differing situations were facing the same conflict.

Paul exhorts them that they must be intentional in their lives.

You and I must be intentional in our thinking—- striving—we are not running from the constant assault of the enemies of Christ.

Our thinking is intentional— to be of one mind— to have the mind of Christ.

It is amazing how complicated and complex the world around us is. The world wants you to have complicated situational reasoning on everything.

They want to muddy the waters.

The devil does not want you to think clearly, He wants you to be confused.

My friend, we are intentionally striving and labouring for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Right-thinking says my life is concerned with Jesus Christ.

I wonder this morning, if you and I could look at our lives and our decision-making—- we might say our thinking and say “I am intentionally striving for the Lord Jesus Christ.”

4. Our Lives Must Be Settled

This great New Testament word is to ‘stand fast.’

The Greek word steko which means “to hold your ground regardless of danger.” (Treasures from Philippians (I. A Challenge to Stand for Christ (1:27a)

We might say it this way— do not ever go back.

Refuse to surrender.

I am reminded of the three recorded for us in the book of Daniel. Would you look with me at that passage for just a minute this morning?

What I want you to see is a biblical example of those who are settled in their thinking.

Turn with me Daniel 3.

Daniel 3:16–18 “16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

In our thinking, we are to hold our ground.

“The Battle of Antietam [an-tee-tam] in 1862, lasted for 12 hours and ranks as the bloodiest day of the Civil War, with 10,000 Confederate casualties and even more on the Union side. “At last the sun went down and the battle ended,” wrote one historian, “smoke was heavy in the air, the twilight quivering with the anguished cries of thousands of wounded men.” Though militarily a draw, the mediocre Union General George McClellan was able to end the brilliant Robert E. Lee’s thrust into Maryland, forcing him to retire across the Potomac. How was this possible? Two Union soldiers had found a copy of Lee’s battle plans and had delivered them to McClellan before the engagement.

In some respects, we are no-match for our adversary, Satan, whose wiles we are told to be wary of. But as with General McClellan, our enemy’s plans have fallen into our hands. We know his usual strategies—to entice us with lies, lust, greed, and the like. With such knowledge, given to us by God’s Word and God’s Spirit within, we too can resist the enemy’s advances. Because the adversaries are many and mighty, the saints will have to stand fast in one spirit, with one mind. Fellowship in the faith and in the preaching of the Gospel produces unity.” Rod Mattoon, Treasures from Philippians, Treasures from Scripture Series (Springfield, IL: Rod Mattoon, 2004), 38.

We must be settled in our thinking, that with the Lord’s enablement and help, we will head the direction God wants us to head.

We must be settled in our thinking that we will not back down, we will not change course, we will not be moved.

Acts 20:17–24 “17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Acts 20:24 “24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”