Of One Mind
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Continuing in our Spiritually Minded Series:
Romans 8:6 — For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
We found Peace of Mind in Isaiah 26:3
We learned to be Mindful of God’s Mercies in chapter three (3) of Lamentations
We discovered the truth of the Transformed Mind — as found in Romans 12:1-2.
Last time we unwrapped the concept Spiritual Self-Esteem — also from Romans 12.
Today we will discover that Christians are to be of One Mind — as taught in the Book of 1st Peter, chapter 3.
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
[PRAYER]
Be of One Mind: — Only time this word is found in the N.T.
Word Studies in the New Testament Chapter 3
Indicating unity of thought and feeling. From ὁμός, one and the same, and φρήν, the mind.
A Handbook on the First Letter from Peter 1 Peter 3:8
and means both oneness in opinion (compare NEB “one in thought”; NAB “like-minded”), and in outlook, attitude (compare Brc “one in your attitude to life”), disposition, and sentiment
Common Attitude (8-9)
Common Attitude (8-9)
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
Consensus
Consensus
“Of One Mind” — ὁμόφρων homophrōn — being like-minded, united in spirit, harmonious
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
QUOTE — “Unity does not mean uniformity; it means cooperation in the midst of diversity. The members of the body work together in unity, even though they are all different. Christians may differ on how things are to be done, but they must agree on what is to be done and why.”
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 412). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
QUOTE — In his book The Pursuit of God, author A.W. Tozer wrote the following: “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
Concern
Concern
“Having Compassion” — συμπαθής sympathēs — sympathetic, understanding, to suffer with another, to be affected similarly, to be touched with (Heb 4:15)
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
STATEMENT — Being of One Mind produces empathy and sympathy for one another’s circumstances.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
In 1st Corinthians, Paul uses the picture of the body, and each individual body part working together for the whole, to illustrate the importance of likemindedness in the church.
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
QUOTE — American politian, clergyman, and athlete J.C. Watts Jr. once said, “Compassion can’t be measured in dollars and cents. It does come with a price tag, but that price tag isn’t the amount of money spent. The price tag is love.”
ILLUSTRATION — George Truett was a tremendously effective pastor for decades in Texas. His heart was broken by tragedy when he accidentally killed his best friend while they were on a hunting trip. His daughter said that she never heard him laugh after that day. Truett had a radio program, and each day when it came to a close he would say, “Be good to everybody, because everybody is having a tough time.” Because he knew personally what a heavy burden people could be carrying, he encouraged compassion toward them. Sometimes we cross paths with people who seem to be rough and not very easy to like. Yet there is usually a reason for their behavior, and often it is because they are hiding a heavy heart. If we take the time to understand what has happened, we may find that while they have a tough outer exterior, inwardly they are desperately wishing for someone to care about them.
Companionship
Companionship
“Love as Brethren” — φιλάδελφος philadelphos — having affection for an associate, having brotherly love, having mutual affection, fond of one’s brethren, loving as brethren
Let brotherly love continue.
Question — Does is continue through you?
ILLUSTRATION — One Sunday a lady was inviting children to come to Sunday school when she met a boy and asked him why he went so far, past so many Sunday schools to get to his own. “There are plenty of others,” said she, “just as good.”
He said, “They may be so good, but they are not so good for me.”
“Why not?” she asked.
“Because they love a fellow over there,” he answered.
Compassion
Compassion
“Be Pitiful” — εὔσπλαγχνος eusplanchnos — to having tender feelings for someone, tenderhearted, compassionate, lit., “of good heartedness
STATEMENT — Avoid being a calloused Christian. Have a tender and good heart.
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
ILLUSTRATION — Children see the world differently, and once a group of children were asked to describe love. Jessica, age 8, made a very poignant statement. “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” Tenderhearted people express their care. They look for opportunities to show that they really do love the body of Christ — His church. How about you?
Courtesy
Courtesy
“Be Courteous” — φιλοφρόνως philophronos — well-disposed, friendly, kind or, more fully, “with friendly thoughtfulness”
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
ILLUSTRATION — Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon.com, was ten years old when he saw a commercial stating that every puff a smoker took on a cigarette shortened his or her life by two minutes. He was quite a math whiz, so he began adding up how many minutes a long-time smoker like his grandmother had lost to cigarettes. To his surprise, Jeff’s grandmother began to cry when he announced that she had lost sixteen years of her life to smoking. His grandfather took him aside for a talking to. To Jeff’s surprise, his grandfather was not angry, nor did he attempt to punish him. He simply said, “You’ll learn one day that it is much harder to be kind than to be clever.”
STATEMENT — There are a lot of people more concerned with being clever than being kind. Don’t be one of them.
STATEMENT — Common courtesy is no longer common.
Counter-Cultural Command
Counter-Cultural Command
“Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing”
“Rendering” — ἀποδίδωμι apodidōmi — to recompense, whether in a good or bad sense, render, reward, recompense
“Railing” — λοιδορία loidoria — speech that is highly insulting, abuse, reproach, reviling
STATEMENT — Christians are not to trade evil for evil, insult for insult, abuse for abuse. We are to reward evil, insults, and abuse with blessings.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
STATEMENT — The words of Christ may seem completely unreasonable when you consider the culture we live in, the hatred and anger that surrounds, and the vileness of the people perpetuating it, but He Himself lived those words on the cross when He cried out to His Father, not for deliverance, but for the forgiveness of His tormentors!
[GOSPEL] Have you realized yet Who has mastered all of these traits — consensus, concern, companionship, compassion, courtesy, and the command to love your enemies? JESUS CHRIST.
Common Ambition (10-11)
Common Ambition (10-11)
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
QUESTION — What is the key to enjoying your life?
These verses are a commentary on Psalm 34:12-16
Pronounce No Evil
Pronounce No Evil
“Refrain His tongue from evil” — cease or stop your tongue from evil
“Speak no guile” — say no deceit, cunning, treachery — don’t take advantage by the words of your lips, don’t be treacherous with your tongue
STATEMENT — Isn’t it interesting that the tongue, what we say, made it into the top spot on this list?
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
STATEMENT — What we say, and WHAT WE TYPE, should be wholly good, and full of grace.
STATEMENT — Christians have no business being social media warriors and debaters, Christians ought not attack those of differing opinions online. Christians speak with grace.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
ILLUSTRATION — I heard about a man who was the type of person who just couldn’t say anything graciously. He and his wife owned a poodle. They loved this dog. It was the object of their affection.
The wife was to take a trip abroad, and she made it to New York on the first day. She called home and asked her husband, “How are things?”
He said, “The dog’s dead!”
She was devastated. After collecting her thoughts, she asked, “Why do you do that? Why can’t you be more tactful?”
He said, “Well, what do you want me to say? The dog died.”
She said, “Well, you can give it to me in stages. For example, you could have said, ‘The dog went out on the roof.’ And then when I travel to London the next day and call, you could tell me, ‘Honey, the dog fell and had to be taken to the vet. In fact, he’s in the hospital, not doing well.’ And finally, when I call you from Rome, ‘Honey, brace yourself. Our dog died.’ I could handle that.”
The husband paused and said, “Oh, I see.”
Then she asked, “By the way, how’s my Mother?”
He said, “She’s on the roof.”
Part with Evil
Part with Evil
“Eschew Evil” — ἐκκλίνω ekklinō — to keep away from, steer clear of, to stop doing someth., cease, turning away from evil
STATEMENT — Have you parted with evil? Do you keep away from it? Steer clear of it? Turn from it? Stop doing it? Or are you making room for it, excuses for it, allowances for it, and building habits around it? Time to steer clear of it.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Seven: Preparing for the Best! (1 Peter 3:8–17)
The Old English word “eschew” means more than just “avoid.” It means “to avoid something because you despise and loathe it.” It is not enough for us to avoid sin because sin is wrong; we ought to shun it because we hate it.
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way.
In Amos 5, the prophet is declaring to the people the impending doom of the nation of Israel. They were convinced that God was with them, that He was on their side, and nothing could harm them. But their hearts were not right with God. In order to have God’s blessing, you must love what He loves, and hate what He hates.
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: And so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Produce Good
Produce Good
“Do Good”
STATEMENT — In our avoidance of evil, we produce righteousness. We show the evidence of a life lived by and through the Holy Spirit of God. Is your life an evidence of God’s presence through the goodness you produce?
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
QUOTE — Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. is the man that said, “Do right till the stars fall,” and he also said, “The test of your character is what you would do if you knew no one would ever know.”
Pursue Peace
Pursue Peace
ILLUSTRATION — In one Peanuts cartoon Lucy says to Charlie Brown, “I hate everything. I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world!”
Charlie says, “But I thought you had inner peace.”
Lucy replies, “I do have inner peace. But I still have outer obnoxiousness.”
“Seek Peace” — ζητέω zēteō — to devote serious effort to realize one’s desire or objective, strive for, aim (at), try to obtain, desire, wish, to seek after
“Ensue Peace” — διώκω diōkō — to follow in haste in order to find someth., run after, pursue, to pursue what makes for peace, “pursuing” (as one would a calling)
STATEMENT — Do you make peace with others your calling? Do you pursue it, strive for it, devote serious effort to it?
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
STATEMENT — Many people value relationships so meagerly that they treat them as if they are completely disposable. Seek peace with others, and refuse to pave your path with burned bridges.
Common Accountability (12)
Common Accountability (12)
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
God Looks
God Looks
“His Eyes are Over” — His eyes are on your actions and your attitudes.
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And he pondereth all his goings.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But the Lord weigheth the spirits.
STATEMENT — Others may not see your actions, they may not hear what you say. They may not know what you think. But God sees, hears, and knows. And He’s keeping a record.
God Listens
God Listens
“Ears are open” — God listens to His children when they pray.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: But the way of the righteous is made plain.
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
God Loathes
God Loathes
“Face is against them” — God’s person, His countenance, His face opposes those who do evil.
ILLUSTRATION — Napoleon made a mistake when he said that God is on the side of the strongest battalion. This statement has been proven wrong many times in the Bible and throughout history.
Abraham took 318 men and defeated 4 kings and their armies. Gideon with his 300 dedicated men defeated an army of thousands. David, a shepherd lad, untrained for war and armed with only a sling, killed a giant nine feet tall.
I believe that God is on the side of those who do right and against those that do evil. God will fight the battles of those who determine to be in His will. Righteousness is still the greatest weapon. Use it and set yourself apart from the enemy.
Conclusion —
Conclusion —
Christians that are of One Mind have a Spirit of Tender-hearted compassion. It is the ability of the believers to identify with each other and show genuine interest, concern, and at times heartache for each other.
How much love and compassion have you invested in those in this room?
Do you have the heart and mind of Christ — a mind of compassion?
Or do you simply fill a seat — or worse yet — even despise a brother or sister in Christ?
Being of One Mind overrides all desires for revenge and manipulation. Instead, it promotes the edification and blessings of everyone, pleasant and unpleasant.
Do you treat people with God’s grace consistently?
Or are you self-centered in your treatment of others — liking those that like you, kind to those who are kind to you, and manipulating others to benefit you?
That’s not the mind of Christ.
Being of one mind brings about a joy of living. Peace is pursued and good is done by means of a sacrificial service for others.
Do you put much effort into having peace with others?
Do you value people enough to treat that relationship as worth saving or maintaining?
Are you a peacemaker, or a pot-stirrer?
Being of one mind embodies the presence of the Lord.
Do you attitudes and actions reflect His righteousness?
Can others see Christ in your behavior?
Being of one mind leaves no room in the church for selfishness or a self-seeking attitude.
You just have the time or the desire to seek yourself when you are seeking Christ.
So whose will are you seeking today?
INVITATION — HEADS BOWED, EYES CLOSED —
Is God doing a work in your heart?
ALTAR CALL [STAND] — Piano plays — Randy Leads
If you are here this morning and you aren’t sure you know Jesus as you personal Saviour, it would be our joy to take a Bible and show you how you can know you have eternal life — when we start to sing, you step out from your seat and come forward, and I’ll introduce you to someone who can answer your questions from the Bible
If you are here this morning, and God’s convicted your heart and shown you that there needs to be a change in your heart and mind, or your behaviors in life — it’s time to surrender to Him — when we start to sing, you step out and come pray at this altar, give it over to God, and surrender to His perfect peace today.
As we sing, you step out of your seat, and come.