10/29/22 GOD HAS HIS REASONS

10/29/22 GOD HAS HIS REASONS

Bringing every thought captive to Christ will bring believers together with one mind.

The advantage of bringing every thought captive to Christ is not simply to avoid the obviously negative thoughts of adultery, deceit, covetousness, hatred, but also the seemingly less important offenses, such as jealousy, envy, suspicion, arrogance, division. Also bringing every thought captive means thinking the same good thoughts God thinks and eliminating personal views, worldly views, earthly views, devilish views, un-Biblical views. There is a negative side (get rid of), and a positive side (add) to Christian thoughts

Christians are called to be of one mind with God and one mind with one another. This is not a "one and done" moment of time. It is a growing, developing, advancing reality. We all have ideas at the beginning of our Christian walk, which will need to be abandoned and traded for more Biblical understanding. This is why we are told to "grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ." In order to think the same thoughts as God thinks, we must rid ourselves of our own thoughts.

I pointed out recently that the living truths, the up-to-date light that God gives us, does not fit into old lifestyles, ie, New Wine should not be put into Old Wine Skins. The freshness of the New Testament message and our growing awareness of Divine enlightenment requires us to be in a state of change; such as growing, going from light to light and grace to grace. As we add principles of grace, we abandon principles of our errant culture, education, worldview, understanding.

Not only do we have the unchanging word of God and the ever present Holy Spirit to lead us into godly thinking, godly living and godly relationships, we have shepherds who know the way of God, the truth of God and the changes that believers need to make in their spiritual journey.

Here are some verses, which address the importance of being of one mind with God and with other believers. 

ONE MIND 

Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 

Romans 15:5-7
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 

1 Corinthians 1:10-11
10 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.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 

2 Corinthians 13:11
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 

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; 

Philippians 2:1-5
1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Philippians 3:14-16
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. 

Philippians 4:2
I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 

1 Peter 3:8-11
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 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:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

1 Peter 4:1
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;