Summer Classes TONIGHT 6:30
Daily Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart:
Philippians 2:2, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
Fill full my joy by thinking the same thing, by having the same love, joined in soul, thinking the one thing.
At the end of this verse, Paul says something very unique: “thinking the one thing.”
Although some versions translate this phrase as “having the same mind,” the Greek construction is properly translated as “thinking the one thing.”
Thus, from the supply of the encouragement in Christ in verse 1, something happens to us.
There is the harmony of the Spirit between us to the extent that we think the same thing, have the same love, are joined in soul, and think the one thing.
We are thinking the one thing.
It does not simply say, “thinking one thing.”
There is a definite article before the word “one.”
Thus, it is translated properly “thinking the one thing.”
That means there is one unique thing to think.
This is the burden Paul opens up in Philippians.
It is that in the supply of the Spirit we are reduced to being saints who have a common factor between us–we think the one thing.
What is this one thing that we are thinking?
To answer this we must understand something about the Greek word for “thinking.”
This word, used primarily in Philippians and Romans, is one of the most spiritually rich words in the New Testament.
First, this word means a supplied kind of thinking.
It is not something we come up with on our own.
It is a thinking supplied to us by the Spirit (Rom. 8:5-6).
To think the one thing is something that God enables us to do.
He dispenses into our being an inclination to think the one thing.
Second, it is a word that includes the thought of direction, tendency, and being focused on an object.
Thinking the one thing means focusing the mind, emotion, and will on one object with one direction.
In the book of Philippians that one thing is Christ!
The one object being focused on is Christ!
It is being supplied by Christ (1:19), magnifying Christ (1:20), living Christ (1:21), having the mind of Christ (2:5), confessing Jesus Christ as Lord (2:11), boasting in Christ (3:3), counting all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ (3:8), gaining Christ (3:8), being found in Christ (3:9), knowing Christ (3:10), having a mind to pursue Christ (3:12-14), and more.
Thinking the one thing is thinking Christ.
It is to be a person always interacting with Christ to experience something more of the riches of Him (4:19).
This is the one thing.
Until Tomorrow,
With a Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
…….
TODAY’S PRAYER LIST
Bill Lawhead
Brandon Black – Tests
Debra Roberts – Much Prayer Needed
Greg Payne – Lisa’s Brother
Hanna Hall – Pray For Grace
Jeanie & Joanie’s Mom
Joe Johnson – Better
Kelly Raines – Car Accident But not hurt
Liz Knight – Recovering
Marli Page – Galapagos Islands
Marynell Ford – Pray For Guidance
Nancy Fair
Amy Garner’s Mother
Ashley Burn’s Sisters
Brandon’s Dad & Grandmother
Barbara Shed’s Family
Bill Moody
Charlie Sessom –Waiting
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Denise Stubbs – Kim Allison’s Mom
Donna Gourley
Doug Fritzel
James Garner’s G’Son
Joyceann – James Garner’s Daughter
Kimberly – Dustin’s Sister
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Lynn – Nancy Brown’s Daughter
Mary Sims
Mary William’s Son – Mike
Michael Stanley
Nancy Brown’s G’Daughter
Nora Allison – Dustin’s Mom
Pastor Stucke– Nikki’s Dad
Paula Ferus’ Missionary Friend
Ricky Stubbs
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier – Lisa’s Cousin
Sharon Blalock
Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend
Sheila Simmons Cousin
Tom Witcher