Mystery of Fellowship
... One Mind
... Teach
... Correct
... Counsel
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;..."
-Philip.1:27
-Philip.1:27
Through humility and submission ... the true Church of Jesus Christ demonstrates that "God is love" ... by caring for the physical ... as well as spiritual needs ... of those in the Body of Christ.
Their mutual love and care for one another ... brings about a strong unity that fortifies them against the wiles of the devil ... as they remain united as the "forever family of God" ... like sheep ... safely in the fold ... under the ultimate protection of their Lord and Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
This unity can only be achieved in the Church ... as the Body ... exclusively ... maintains "one mind" ... grounded in the faith of the Gospel ... found in the totality of the Word of God
... for Jesus Christ ... Himself ... is the Living Word
... leading His Bride by the power of the Holy Spirit
... illuminating His Word in the hearts of His people ... to keep them securely united ... in a spiritually and physically protective ... "fellowship" ... where they can grow in the knowledge of His Word ... equipped to bring forth a harvest of souls.
One very important means of spiritual growth is facilitated by the efforts of members of the Body doing independent study of the Word of God ... applying what they are learning to their individual experiences in life ... then sharing resulting insights and lessons learned with the entire Body of Believers.
Not all knowledge is meant to come from one person ... or one group of people within the Church of Jesus Christ.
Therefore Paul and Timothy are also unified ... as one ... in writing to the Philippians ... providing the information they need to be successful in ministry
... reminding them that Love is the key that opens the Door to the type of supernatural "fellowship" Jesus prayed for in John 17
[See: "Word Speaks...before Departure" ... link at list in left column]
... this is the type of unity required to accomplish the task the Lord Jesus Christ has set before them ... and before us.
We can clearly see a picture of this connection when we remember that ... "God is love" ... and ... Jesus Christ is the "Door."
Let this MIND be in you,
which was also
in Christ Jesus: ..."
-Philip.2:5
-Philip.2:5
Therefore ... Paul and Timothy ... spell out how this type of required unity is achieved
... the Church of Jesus Christ must maintain "the mind of Christ"
... through teaching ... correction ... and wise counsel.
The main focus of Paul and Timothy's letter to the Philippians is about "the mind of Christ" ... and the spiritual condition of our own "mind."
So it is important to consider exactly what they are referring to ... when they are speaking of the "mind" ... this part of our body ... that must be in harmony with Christ's "mind."
"mind"
[G5590] = "psyche"
= life .. breath .. spirit
= soul .. heart .. mind
= us .. you .. me
While the "mind" resides in the physical brain ... and also has a significant connection with the physical heart
... both the "mind" and the heart ... at the same time ... possess an amazing spiritual connection to one another ... and our Creator God.
[See: "Total Eclipse of the Heart..pt.1 and 2" at blog list in left column.]
In the Greek ... "psyche" ... describes the "mind" as the foundation of our "life" ... where our "spirit" and "soul" reside ... forming our personality ... manifesting who we really are in our "heart" ... at the very core of our being.
Therefore ... when we address issues of the "mind" ... it is not something we can approach from a clinical perspective ... unless it is specifically related to a physical impairment of the brain.
If issues of the "mind" are not specifically associated with a physical impairment located in the brain ... then they must be addressed from a spiritual perspective ... not a clinical or medical perspective ... because medical science is not spiritually qualified to minister to spiritual issues.
Much damage can be done when spiritually unqualified practitioners attempt to "fix" spiritual problems with physical resources ... such as unbiblical psychological counseling ... and drugs that have never produced a remedy ... but like sorcery ... only opened undesirable spiritual gateways ... creating more complicated failed "fixes" ... that can actually ... create drug addictions and/or physically damage the brain ... making a real ... effective ... spiritual remedy more difficult to bring about.
The "mind" is ... God's spiritual territory ... so we dare not tamper and experiment with what He has created ... only His Word and Spirit can heal mental confusion and problems created by having to live in a fallen world ... born with a nature that is contrary to His Word and will.
It was really His initial intention that we have an organized ... productive ... loving ... and beneficial "mind" patterned after the attributes of the "mind of Christ" ... and to enjoy the love and benefits of genuine "fellowship" with like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ
... which is the whole purpose of Christ's suffering on the cross ... so we might be redeemed out of the mess we were born into ... and preoccupied with from birth ... causing us to be destined for Hell.
The genuine love and gratitude toward God that we experience through repentance and conversion to Christ ... is the first step ... to bringing us out of our spiritual dilema and into harmony with the "mind of Christ" ... because it is able to redirect our focus from self-centeredness ... to yielding to the preeminence of Jesus Christ ... and caring for others according to His Holy Word
... and only God can provide this type of love ... because "God IS Love."
The "mind of Christ" also dispels confusion by establishing a strong mental foundation on the Truth of God's Word
... from which it then validates Truth to successfully lead us in our everyday experiences
... making it possible to draw peace and satisfaction from the stabilizing order that fills:
(1)..our thoughts
(2)..the work of our hands
(3)..the environment in which we live ... and move ... and have our being.
Therefore ... teaching ... correcting ... and counseling must be firmly based on the Word of God ... not our own opinion ... the world's philosophy ... the most recently published best selling Christian author's point of view ... or someone's "Christian Psychology for Dummies" book.
Here is another situation where the necessity of an authoritative structure needs to be addressed
... since we see one person attempting to take authority over another person's "mind" and thought processes.
Anyone who sits in a position of "authority" over the thoughts of another ... surely holds a lot of power over that person's life ... for as the thoughts go ... so goes the life of the person.
... "Let this MIND be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ..."
Jesus Christ is God ... but who really is this person sitting in authority over you ... behind a desk with pad and pen ... writing down every thought that comes out of your mind?
Is he someone you can trust to correctly analyze ... and sit in judgment of your sanity ... determining your future ... by what he thinks you are trying to put into words ... when he has no idea or context regarding all that has actually happened in your life ... but can only use his own standard of morality ... (or lack thereof) ... and limited personal experience ... to sit in judgment of the decisions you have had to make in your lifetime?
Do the diplomas on his wall really prove that he is qualified to probe your mind ... and experiment with your life ... or did he actually purchase his position of authority ... through his psych school tuition?
... And ... understanding that the word "psych" means "spirit" ... so which "spirit" is he consulting through hypnosis and the other methods he is calling on to influence your life ... if he does not know Christ?
On the other hand ... let us put teaching ... correcting ... and counseling where it belongs under the category of godly Word-based "fellowship" ... acknowledging that Christ alone ... has the spiritual Authority to address confused minds
... then we can clearly see a picture of "fellowship" ... and members of God's spiritual family meeting together under His banner of love and Truth ... where the one being counseled ... and the one counseling ... are equally submitted to each other ... and to the Authority of the Word and Spirit of God
... both ready to learn what the Spirit of God is going to teach them about one another ... as they search God's Word for the "mind of Christ" ... regarding how to find God's Way to Truth in order to dispel any type of confusion
... trusting that their "fellowship" at the moment ... is really part of God's plan ... for which He has prepared them ... through their study of His Word ... and the experiences He has already brought into their own personal lives.
More than likely ... this desire to find the "mind of Christ" in any matter ... will also serve as motivation to go deeper into God's Word together ... in order for both ... to find the answers they need ... to benefit one another ... and the entire Body of Believers.
Unfortunately ... many churches today are appointing "counselors" ... like the counselors we might find in the world ... using the world's methods of counseling ... but functioning as church appointed "authorities" ... sometimes trying to incorporate Scripture with worldly "remedies" ... or often ... totally void of any Scripture.
As a result ... counseling sessions can become more like an "inquisition" than a "fellowship" of Believers in the process of seeking unity through the Word and will of God.
What also is unfortunate ... these "counselors" have the power to make a determination (in their unqualified opinion) regarding the spiritual and mental status of one being counseled ... which can be passed on to another church ... the person may attend in the future ... causing them to be continually in suspect and shunned.
This slander can quickly turn into a form of persecution ... causing a dedicated Christian to become isolated ... cut out of the flock ... opening the door to further persecution by demonically motivated wolves and worldlings.
Therefore ... it is wise to avoid churches that engage in these unbiblical worldly methods of "trying to help" others.
Any two people can only arrive at Truth and unity ... if it is something they both desire.
Also Truth sometimes requires time and further study ... so it is not wise to pressure anyone to accept another person's opinion ... but both should withdraw for a short period of time to thoroughly study what the Word of God ... as well as any other fact-based sources pertaining to the topic ... have to say regarding the issue being addressed.
Sometimes it is beneficial just to bring an issue into a group for study without identifying a specific person ... however ... it is extremely counter-productive to try to arrive at Truth ... and avoid confusion ... without the totality of the Word of God.
Most errors occur when Scripture is taken out of context ... or Scripture is replaced with church doctrine ... so arriving at Truth is only going to be discovered by the diligent study of the totality of Scripture.
In a world ... like today ... when so many strange things are taking place through end time events and new technology ... we cannot do justice to our brothers and sisters by imposing our uneducated opinions on them and trying to use that method to help them with events in their life that appear to be confusing to us
... and we must also keep in mind that just because an opinion is believed by the majority ... it does not mean that it is actually true ... because an entire group could have very easily been affected by the same worldly opinions ... that are being propagated by the media and the masses
... so keep in mind that the majority is usually wrong ... unless conclusions are coming strictly from the Word of God by those who actually have been born again of the Holy Spirit ... and therefore ... are able to rightly interpret Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The problems that can arise during "fellowship" that involves "teaching" ... "correcting" ... and "counseling" stem from our concept of Truth.
If our idea of Truth is not coming purely from the Word of God ... missing some facts ... or out of touch with the reality of what is actually taking place at the moment ... then we must work at discovering the real Truth.
If someone is not open and committed to seeing the real Truth according to the Word of God ... then we have no other option except to separate from those who are not receiving Truth
... and don't be surprised if those in "authority" are actually the ones who do not rightly interpret the Word of God ... because they do not love the sound of the Voice of God from the pages of His Holy Word enough to study it themselves ... so are stubbornly in denial of reality
... for Jesus warned us that in end times there will be much deception ... and now we are seeing "wolves" coming in packs to scatter the sheep.
When confronted with this type of situation ... we have no other option except to separate from those who refuse to receive the Truth.
Just as our salvation experience cannot be brought about by any person's clever sales pitch ... neither can our ability to see Truth.
Like the saying goes ... "A man convinced against his will ... will be of the same opinion still."
"Can two walk together,
except
they be agreed?"
-Amos 3:3
* * * * *
Please Note:
... Current chapters will be found at the top of the listings ... when blog opens
... but will be placed in chronological order when a new chapter is posted.
... To find assurance of eternal salvation in Christ ... and escape the wrath to come ... scroll to the top of the blog and click on the gift wrapped in gold in the left column.
♡♡♡
No comments:
Post a Comment