Be Of The Same Mind
Philippians 4:2; 2:2
I. Agree
4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the
same mind in the Lord.
"…be of the same mind", or agree. Note that he adds "…in the Lord."
Human nature being what it is, the only way we could agree is in the
Lord. He is our common bond. He is the only thing most of the 12
disciples had in common. When you think of the vast differences just
in that little group, it is truly amazing they could work together.
At least 4 were unschooled fishermen, one or two (Judas and maybe
Nathaniel) were fairly educated; one was a tax collector, another a
political rebel (Simon the Zealot); one was a skeptic, another would
readily believe almost anything. If these men could work together,
anybody should be able to.
Euodias and Syntyche were two workers in the Philippian church. They
had both helped Paul greatly, and were apparently good Christian women.
But, they couldn’t get along with each other. The work of the gospel
would fare much better if the workers could just get along. Churches
have split, work has been hindered or stopped, souls have been lost -
all because the saints couldn’t get along. Remember what Jesus said
would be our distinguishing mark - that we love one another. What a
shame we can’t seem to do that.
To agree with each other requires effort and hard work. It doesn’t
mean we will see everything eye to eye. It just means we will continue
to look one another in the eye while we work the kinks out. It means
we will negotiate and come to some workable compromise. Compromise is
not a bad word, unless you compromise the integrity of the gospel
message - unless you compromise the holiness of God and your own
personal holiness. But when it comes to your opinion or mine, your
way or mine - unless there is a sin problem, we need to compromise,
that is, we need to meet each other half way for the sake of the work,
and we must agree to do so.
We need to realize, as believers, that there are a few essential
doctrinal matters we need to agree on:
· the sovereignty of God
· the inerrancy of the scriptures
· the Lordship of Christ
· the necessity of t salvation through His death for us on the cross
Outside of these, we can have friendly debate and disagree, as long
as we continue to love. I am certain that the, in church at Jerusalem,
not every saint was in perfect harmony all the time. BUT, the emphasis
was on Jesus and His work, and all these side issues took a back seat.
They just were not worth fighting over. Paul had disagreement with
Mark and Barnabas, but it did not stop the work of split the church.
It separated two good workers for a time (Mark rejoined him later),
but no significant damage was done.
II. Like-Minded
2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Make me happy by being likeminded, having the same love, one purpose,
and one mind. Paul would be tickled if the church would just learn to
get along with each other. Wouldn’t we all. But it will take all of
us working together to make it happen. We think, "oh, if so and so
would just try harder to work things out with so and so." But then
we think, "but I just can’t get along with so and so." And we don’t
try. Why do we always excuse ourselves? We’ll never get where we
should be as a church until we stop excusing our disagreements and
work together.
· Be like-minded.
We may not think the same exactly, but we can think on the
same things. Ch 4:8 gives us a list of things to think on.
Php 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.
Now look at 3:12-16
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:
but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am
apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.
15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and
if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this
unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by
the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Paul indicates that he is stretching himself - he is not perfect (fully
grown, or complete) yet, but he is striving for it. He is reaching forth.
The Christian life in one of continually reaching forth and pressing
forward. He says the mature (perfect) believer will have this attitude
of pressing forward. Then he says that those who have attained to
maturity, or have ‘grown up’. Should "mind the same thing", or ‘be
like-minded’.
If we would follow that counsel, we would find ourselves in much
agreement. We are going to think on the Word - on the Gospel - on
worship and prayer and praise and thanksgiving. When we channel our
energies into those matters, we will be like-minded.
· Have the same love.
If you love me as much as I love you, and we both have our
hearts full of the love of Christ, and we both try to practice the
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 kind of love, and we both let Christ’s love flow
through us, we will be okay.
· Be in one accord, or of the same purpose.
If we agree that our purpose is to serve God, honor Him and
preach Christ, then we can walk together and go the same direction -
even if we speak different languages, have different colored skin, are
from totally opposite backgrounds, prefer different types of worship
services and have differing opinions of how the gospel should be
presented. It just really doesn’t matter that much whether we use the
brightly colored tract or the subtle tract, the direct approach or the
sneak attack, the Christmas or the Thanksgiving theme, the KJV or the
NIV. Technique is negotiable and diversity is tolerable. The message
is the principal thing. The how-to’s and personal preferences are just
extras.
Remember, our fellowship is in the Lord. We don’t come together as a
church because we have so much in common. We come together because we
have one thing in common - Christ.
· Of the same Spirit.
There is only one Holy Spirit. There is not Assembly of God
Holy Spirit, and a Baptist Holy Spirit (who doesn’t speak in tongues),
and a Catholic Holy Spirit (who does everything with formal liturgy),
and a Methodist Holy Spirit (who is quiet). There is just one Holy
Spirit, and He can get along with all of us. He binds us all together
regardless of our preferences. He uses us according to our individuality,
but He is the same Spirit. It is no more correct to pray in tongues
than in English, to pray loud or soft, to sing off the wall or out of
the hymnal, to sing new choruses or old hymns. These things are man’s
personality issues. These should never interfere with the gospel.
Be of the same mind. That is, join your minds together under the
headship of Christ, and have the mind of Christ. Our adversity is
what make us a whole body. We complete one another, for each has a
distinct function and purpose in the body of Christ and in the scheme
of things. Our differences should be an advantage, not a problem.
We have the mind of Christ. That is the same mind that we should be
of. Is Christ divided? No! (1Co 1:13)
III. The Early Church.
The believers in Acts were in one accord. That is why the
dynamite of the Holy Spirit went off. They were not all just alike -
they did not talk the same or think the same, These people were about
as diverse as they could be. But they had purposed in their hearts
to do one thing - to wait upon the Lord - to seek the Lord - to serve
the Lord. Nothing else was to come before this. No man’s way was to
prevail, but the Lord’s way was to prevail. When the church gets to
moving in the same direction again, then we’ll see things happen.
Brownsville Assembly (in Pensacola) is having revival. Some people
don’t like the way the revival is going, but God doesn’t care whether
they like it or not. It’s His show. Once we stop judging one another
and picking each other’s fruit, we will get going with God.
Be of the same mind. Let’s find out our areas of agreement and focus
on those rather than on the areas where we differ.
Let’s get on the bus with God, instead of each driving his own car,
because we can’t stand the company on the bus.
A child said it best, "When you loves somebody, you stands ‘em."
