Women of Courage- Lydia June 20, 2015

Women of Courage- Lydia  June 20, 2015

Philippians 3 – What it is to have the mind of Christ

Shera handed out a summary from a book written by John MacArthur. In the first paragraph was a portion of John Bunyan’s allegory from “The Holy War”.  It speaks of how Satan continues to assault us to turn us from God.  He often does this in ways that seem pleasing to us.  

We returned to Philippians 1:27-2:5

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; ²⁸ And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. ²⁹ For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; ³⁰ Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. 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:

And how do we keep this mind:  Eph. 6:10-20  The full armor of God!

The breastplate covered the vital areas. The soldier needed to protect that area since much of their fighting was hand to hand, face to face.

Prov. 23:7;  The mind and emotions encompass everything that causes a person to act: one’s knowledge, understanding, conscience, will, desires, and drives.

Self-righteousness- Satan has people believe they are going to heaven because of their good deeds.  Luke 18:9-14 How many times have we thought like this Pharisee! Luke 15:21-32  The prodigal son. He was self-righteous as well.  Mark 10:35-45 and Matt 20:20-28 – there was even self-righteousness within the apostles.  The ten were very displeased with the request of John and James. Deluded – to deceive to fool, to thin it down. 

Just like the fool in Ecclesiastes 10:3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

1 Peter 4:1-5 If we are paying attention to Satan we will be deluded.  They were listening to the wrong voice.  How quickly it can happen when we don’t pay attention to God’s truth.  What are we paying attention to?  Especially when we are alone! Are we the same behind closed doors? Are we stopping the conversations that aren’t right or are we going to continue down that path? But we need to be careful not to fall into self-righteousness!

Imputed Righteousness – is the righteousness from Christ, which gives us the victory over death and eternity with Christ

Practical Righteousness – is righteousness that assures you of ultimate victory over Satan, which allows us to win the daily skirmishes.  Philippians 3:4-16

¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Satan will always look for the weakness in a believer’s armor. He will exploit whatever weakness he finds.  Sometimes self-love blinds us, but another, a true companion, will dare to speak out for you, to bring you back to the sure walk, to keep our heart and our walk in the truth.

Romans 13:11-14  Live holy and be willing to hear the truth about yourself.


Isaiah 59:14-17  ;  Romans 13:11-14;  2 Tim 4:7-8
Keeping our armor on and fighting the good fight.

Lydia - June 6 study

Women of Courage- Lydia  June 6, 2015

We began by discussing the blog notes from last week and encouraged all to review them before coming to the study.  We would be reading from the new King James Version.  Philippians 2:9-11.  Then we went back to read more context from chp 1:27-3:17.  As we read we highlighted the names and pronouns of Jesus, God and Spirit.

Phil 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 

Chp2:1-8  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Chp 3:15-17 ¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. ¹⁷ Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.



These passages are all concerned with unity.  Where is the like mind from?  Look again at 3:15



as many that are mature,

Hosea 14:9    Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent? (discerning)
Let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them.

have this mind,

John 15: 14-15   You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (Jesus is inviting us in as family, but they must follow his commands)

and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to  you

Hosea 6:3 Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.



James 1:5-6 ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.



James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.



The world today doesn’t really consider the spiritual, but the evil within the world is subtle in its influence and many embrace those influences.  The evil infiltrates our homes and influences our children.  What we might think as innocent in influence, if it has dark spiritual undertones, what are we saying in our acceptance.



Philippians 2:5 ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus

When he is talking about the unity, let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus.  The word mind (from Strongs) means to exercise the mind (train it); to entertain or have a sentiment or opinion.  It is our responsibility to exercise the mind (train it) to follow the ways of Christ.  To be mentally disposed earnestly in a certain direction (it will be difficult at times) .to interest oneself in (with concern to obedience) and set affection on the mind or regard of the mind of our Savior.



John 15:14-16  ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another.



We are going to be obedient to Christ or we will fall to obedience to Satan. 



Matthew 16:13-23 ¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” ¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. ²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. ²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” ²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”



The word mindful is the same word.  Peter was choosing, being influenced by, the things of Satan and not God. How quickly we can change in our view, following God at one time and then being influenced by the world and Satan in the next thought.   Where is our focus?  We need to realize where our focus is and pray for God to keep our thoughts captive.



2 Corinthians 10:5   (KJV) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: ⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ⁶ And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.



Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.



It is a battle and we need to be strong in that battle. We may not agree with everything, but we need to be unified and stand firm. We should not be passive! A diplomat that wants peace works hard to bring the people involved to the table to reach agreement.  It takes a lot to get to that peace.  Action is demanded in striving for unity.  The two words in Philippians 4 – the true companion, God wants us to be the true companion.  We need to keep our minds focused on Christ, take action to be busy for God, to do his will.



Next time we will focus on the unity of believers.