Being Like Minded
Notes
Transcript
Paul writing the Philippians
From prison
Not sure if he would live or die
but rejoicing for them, and encouraging them
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
Paul promised to send Timothy to visit
to encourage and minister to them
and “so that he could know how they are doing”
He has expressed his affection and care for them
he desires to know that they are still growing in the Lord
Still holding fast the faith
not drifting into false doctrine, or sin
We should care as deeply about he spiritual well being of our friends and family
Do we even ask each other ?
What have you been reading in the Word lately?
What has the Lord been revealing in your prayer time?
How are you growing in your faith?
Many ministers, and serious Christians talk about having “accountability partners” in their life
a friend you can trust
a friend who is connected to Jesus
a friend you can help keep connected as they keep you connected, and growing
I Have No one like-minded
I Have No one like-minded
As he promised to send Timothy, he lamented that he had no one else to send, who was like-minded -
someone who would “sincerely” care for their state
Most people are incredibly selfish - most people
In fact, selfishness is so common that most selfish people don’t even realize how selfish they are
People compare themselves among themselves and measure themselves by themselves
Paul said this is not wise
You should not compare yourself to me - I am not the standard
And certainly, you should not compare yourself to the “norm” - the norm is going to hell
Instead, we should measure ourselves by Jesus Christ
And we should desire and strive to come to the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ
And there is no better way to live
that is the live that really is life
All Seek Their Own, Not The Things Which Are of Christ Jesus
All Seek Their Own, Not The Things Which Are of Christ Jesus
This is the root of course of selfishness - people seek their own
and they seek their own more than the things of Christ
Many of these people do good things -
they often feed and clothe the poor
they want to do good things, and to be acknowledged for them
But their motives are polluted - and they seek what’s good for themselves instead of Christ - instead of others
This was common in Paul’s day - so much so that he said “all seek their own”
friends, it is far more common today
and if it was wrong in Paul’s day, it is just as wrong today
I often lament at what I call selfianity and the selfians who call themselves Christians, believing that they are, but wrongly
So many examples of this -
Consider the homeless shelter here in Springfield
they closed the shelter - not for the good of the people, or the community
not because of any local or state order -
But for their own good —
The problem was not that COVID was so bad - or that we were so much better than others
the problem was that they were seeking their own to begin with - always
the present situation only proved that -
they were seeking the funding, the fame, the careers, the paychecks that came from the “ministry”
A benevolent mission was a by-product of that job - not the end itself
They received millions of dollars to care for this problem, but when threatened with risk, they cared for their selves
and managed to keep the money - here in Springfield
This selfishness is so common that people expect it
We became enemies of the local government when we stepped in to help
Mayor Copeland himself attempted to discredit our efforts saying that I was “entrepreneurial” and just looking for a way to profit from this. (If I were a different kind of man, I might have considered a slander suit)
He told me himself that he believe that I was just trying to find a use for our building —
But what about the people that were freezing- what of those who Jesus said were the least of these?
Many people pretend to care for Christ - even fooling themselves, but really “seek their own”
Before I got married I had commited myself to care for the things of Christ - not my own
that resulted in giving, not only money, but especially of myself
It resulted in taking people into my house - for a meal, sometimes, for a day, a week, or even to live
It resulted in so many sacrifices - but none that God did not restore and more
I met a woman and she committed to join with me in this -
but a couple of months before the wedding - she threatened to break up becasue she said she did not think I would put her first - (this is exactly he opposite of what the bible says here), a perfect example of seeking one’s own
We ended up getting married - but that was by far the biggest mistake of my Christian life
resulted in 18 years of strife, almost always over what we would do, or not do for Christ
Words like balance, and boundaries become popular. Limits.
Don’t limit God.
when people seek their own - they say “well God loves me. He wants me to be happy. God wouldn’t want me to go through bad things, or do without. etc. etc.” It is always a form of “seeking their own”
As I stand here I can honestly say, for 18 years, I fought that good fight - I did not waiver in the promises that we had made - if fault is to be found in me, like Daniel, it will be found in my relationship with God.
in the end, she would take it no more, and so she left - to seek her own - not at all “like minded”
The only way to overcome this is to follow Jesus teaching and “take no thought for this life”
He that loves his life will lose it
if you love anything more than Jesus, you are not worthy of Him
Whoever is not willing to forsake all that they have is not worthy to be a disciple
In sharing these things I am not trying to be boastful or critical of others
I realize that these things are not “politically correct to say”
Some would even say I am tactless, or otherwise out of line.
But I only have so long here to preach - I must be honest - I must Preach the Word!
please don’t compare me to the contemporary self serving Christians and preachers of this day
but please do compare me tot he Word of God, especially the New Testament
Our time is limited
I have preached for some time that we are in the end times
I may have even less time -
Like Paul, I don’t know how it will go -
to live is Christ, and to die is gain
I don’t know anyone else who will say these things after I am gone - no one who is like minded -
So, I will share these stories and testimonies becasue they are my life -
Compare me tot he bible and judge me from it, and if you believe the Word - be like-minded
Are You Like-Minded?
Are You Like-Minded?
As he wrote of Timothy Paul complained that he had no one who was like-minded
Who cared only for the things of Jesus Christ -
That is God’s will for every one of us - that we be “like minded” with Paul and Timothy, and Jesus Christ
as he said earlier, that we have the same mind - that we let this mind be in us that was also in Jesus Christ
Everyone who is a Christian wants to please God and do good things -
but where does that rank in your order of priorities?
He will not accept number 2
Do you care for the things of God more than the necessities of your own life? And family? More than your well being and comfort?
1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’
Take no thought - and He will take thought for you