Think Different

Think Different – Yet Be Like-Minded

Philippians 2:1-5
2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Like-minded, purpose, attitude, all the same word in the Greek:
Phroneo “to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication, to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively, to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience)”
The word “to think” or “phroneo” – occurs 11 times in this epistle
Understand for comparison

• In the OT, (the Septuagint) “Phroneo” occurs 15 times.
• “Phroneo” occurs 30 times in the NT.
  • In the NT, “Phroneo” is almost exclusively apart of the Pauline vocabulary.
  • The word appears 27 times in the Pauline corpus.
  • It is found, twice in 1 Corinthians, once in Galatians and Colossians and 11 times in the book of Philippians (Phil. 1:7; twice in 2:2; 2:5; twice in 3:15; 3:16, 19; 4:2; twice in 4:10.) and 11 times in the book of Romans (which is four times the length of Philippians)

Think Different – About the People Around You

Philippians 1:7
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

• Paul was thinking about these disciples – “his” people.  Why?  They share in God’s grace with Paul.
• This ministry had a ton of problems!  (Philippians 1:27, 2:4, 2:12, 2:14, 3:1, 3:2, 3:15, 3:18, 4:1, 4:2, 4:4, 4:12)
• Paul still felt a great joy about this ministry and his thinking was:
  • You share in God’s grace with me! 
  • I pray with joy when I always remember you – because you are my partners in the Gospel.
  • Confident of our partnership, God will finish the good work he’s begun in you!
  • Philippians 1:19 – Paul expresses that their prayers with the help given by the Holy Spirit…he will be delivered!
  • Crucial nature of asking our people to pray for us, even as we pray for them!!!

No matter what – how he felt(phroneo, “thought”) about them was …

Philippians 1:3-6
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

Think Different About Your Circumstances

Philippians 1:12
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
Very interesting – “prokopo”

• Examining the Greek roots – “pro” and “kopo.”
  • Pro – “in front of, prior to, ‘fore’”
  • Kopo – “to chop”; specifically, to beat the breast in grief.
  • Figuratively, to drive forward (as if by beating), i.e. to advance.
• Defining the section Philippians 1:12 through Philippians 1:25.  
  • This is the technique of inclusio, or “inclusion” where a section starts with the deliberate use of a word (in this case, prokopto) to define a conceptual segment.

Philippians 1:25-26
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
How?
Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

When we are not rejoicing?  When we are not gentle?  Fix your eyes – they are broken!
2 Corinthians 4:18 – heaven.  What more could we be grateful for!?  Lose sight of salvation – the light and momentary troubles take over our thinking.
Hebrews 12:2 – Jesus Christ. Lose sight of the love of God – bitterness makes its way into us and taints our view of ministry.

Think Different About Unity In Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:1-5
2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

• He’s trying to get them to recall and submit to the pattern of Jesus Christ, they need to change their attitude (phroneo) (especially towards one another!)

• Think like Christ, have the purpose of Christ.
  • Luke 19:10
    • Do you have biblical clarity on who is lost and who is saved?  
      • Matthew 7:13-14; 21-23
      • Mark 10:17-22
    • Do you want to make exceptions to God’s teachings about salvation, repentance, and discipleship?  Do you put words into the mouth of God, telling him to think differently because of how you feel?  Do we have a right to tell God he must “think different” about who is lost and saved – because of our sentimentality?  Sentimentality is the pinnacle of selfish arrogance.  Sentimentality defines truth by our feelings, thoughts, and opinions.  We have nothing in common with Jesus, the Truth, when we are sentimental.
    • Are you unified with Jesus in mind?  Check with his Word!  Hebrews 13:8

Think differently about discipleship and spiritual authority.  Both of these lead us to unity in Jesus Christ.

• Do not wait to confess sin! (James 5:16)  Don’t linger.  Get real (1 John 1:5-10) and get Jesus in the situation! Get help with your struggle.
• Are you missing giving for weeks?  It is time for you to be honest about it and deal with the sin of greed.  Do not be deceitful about financial pain personal irresponsibility.
• Interests of others.  Know their hearts and life situation well enough to do so?  
  • Kids class, Children’s ministry.  MERCY?
• Personal: Better and better at listening.  Better and better at discipling the heart, the attitude, the thought life (helping people take captive their thoughts and make them obedient to Christ! 2 Cor 10:4-6)
• Personal: Lift up Kristen and Josiah, pre-marital, her heart radically changing, deep study of the roles in the marriage, grateful to see her heart transformed by the Word of God, the Mind of Christ.

Think Different About Your Destiny

Philippians 2:5-30
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

• What was Jesus’ destiny?  Jesus served and was humble – even unto dying on the cross so other’s would have life! (Luke 9:23)

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 

• Consider your response to those around you.  Think about your responses to your circumstances.  Ponder your unity (or lack thereof) with the mind of Christ (the Word of God).  Additionally, realize, all of these are your responsibility.  Ultimately, your spiritual destiny you are responsible to work out with fear and trembling!  
• Will you be blame shifting until the day of Judgement?  Will you spew the same rationalizations on judgment day to try to excuse putting God off and giving Jesus a back seat?  Will we be able to blame our circumstances, our relationships, our hardships or even our ignorance on judgment day?
• What God understands is that he gave his all to you.  His one and only Son.  

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. 

• Children’s ministry.  Missions, evangelism, follow up for women’s day, bible studies, picking up people for Sunday service.  Do it all without complaining or arguing.  Shine like a star, it is your destiny!

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. 

• For now our destinies are intertwined.  We are here to shine.  We are here to change a hurting world.  We are here to hold out the word of life.  We are here to look out for the interests, the mindset, of the Lord Jesus Christ.

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. 

• May we have the same heart – a willingness to die for the destiny of working for Christ, for if that is our heart, we will share in destiny eternal and spend eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ.

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made- I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”