Having the Same Mind, C. R. Oliver [read along books .TXT] 📗

Having the Same Mind

1 Corinthians 1:10-11

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Introduction:

The Lord's people who have the same mind are being drawn together. 

Universally, regardless of language, we who have brought our thoughts under the obedience of Christ and who live by the Spirit and walk in the same anointing as the early church, know each other supernaturally. 

We are of the same mind and heart, though language, custom and nationality may separate us. We share those Scriptures about "sameness" which are discussed in this study. The mindset which inhabits one also inhabits the others. We are submitted to Christ and are dedicated to pleasing Him. He is bringing those of His mind together. In the missionary ventures of Paul, he witnessed this kind of unity of mind and spirit. He saw it even though it was scattered over many continents. The gospel caused this to happen, and it still does. (Jews and Gentiles [heathen ones] found common ground because both were being changed into Christ's image.)

2 Corinthians 3:12-18
Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech, unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Look into the face of the saint of God and you will see His face. 

"Saint sameness" is no accident. 

Having passed through similar trials (and overcoming them) they become a traceable line through the saints' lives. The golden thread that knits their person to other saints is clearly visible. Their "sameness" is not a dull quotient, but a lively exuberance. When two of them begin to realize they are on the "same page" there is great joy between them. The remarkable "sameness of experience" causes them to meld with one another in a unity which often cannot be defined, but is understood.

2 Corinthians 1:5-6
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings, which we also suffer.

Just as the Lord shaped a people nation in the wilderness, so He has shaped a Holy Nation through history. Israel entered the wilderness with idolatry in their hearts and with Egyptian cultural influences abounding. They verbalized it by relishing "the garlic" of home. They conceptualized it through a golden calf. God had to leave some dead bodies in the wilderness as He changed their point of reference. 

God changed them to "sameness," nonetheless. Their unity of mind and spirit came through the hand of the Lord working them like clay on a potter's wheel, until they could stand as one new nation ready to conquer giants. Their mutual experiences bonded them into a mutually exclusive society. They celebrated their difference from other nations.

1 Corinthians 10:1-6
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples,

A great mystery takes place within the believer's psyche when he/she begins to drink of the same Rock. One finds himself spiritually relating to the Bible, to God's plan and to God's people. No longer does one have to plea for unity or search endlessly for a caring fellowship. This is why 1 Corinthians 10 is the summative statement for Paul's invective of chapter 1.

1 Corinthians 1:10-11
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Somehow there melts away the selfish interests of worldly minds, giving way to "caring for others." Swept away are the goals and dominative structures one finds in religion and among statists. (It was a "pew master" who declared, "I don't mind supporting the pastor in his vision, but wonder why he never wishes to support me in mine?") Tabernacles supersedes Pentecost!

Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion 

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

There really are huge differences between mindsets found in the modern church. Paul found this in the early church, and it did not get vaccinated away by Pauline injections. The earthly mind and the heavenly mind are just at greater odds today than ever before in history. Ask any pastor. See if Paul is not defining the symptoms manifested in 2013. Titus came with the "sameness" of Paul, and it became evident the Corinthians were following the corruption of Rome. Paul took them to task. Who takes the church to task today?

2 Corinthians 12:18-21
Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps? Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, back bitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

Paul mourned for the Corinthians and their condition. Is this not the attitude of those who fellowship in the "sameness" of Christ? Those who share the "same mind" of Paul also weep and mourn for the condition of the modern church. Such is evidenced in their discussions with one another, in their writings, in their topics of interest. Their concerns re-enforce their "sameness" and establish their commonality. 

The early writers had much to say about what causes the cohesiveness to form among those of like mindedness. 

l. We share a common anointing:

1 John 2:26-27
These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

One of the great attributes of the "sameness" group is they display a true anointing; it is not a false manifestation and they discern the difference. Many times these saints are criticized for not following some teaching or person because they sense the absence of the true anointing. The flow of God into and through their lives gives them a perspective unknown to those without it. They are drawn to each other through this commonality and know things in the Spirit because of it. As you look intently into this verse, you will realize it is this anointing that breaks the yoke, and it is this anointing that links us throughout centuries to those of the Word. 

2. We have received the same Holy Spirit in the same way as the early church (with fire).

Acts 11:17
'If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?'
When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life." 

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Unity comes through the Spirit, not the vote of a board. Unity comes through the manifestations of the Spirit for the benefit of the total body of Christ and for that alone. Unity is not adherence to a covenant of faith whether adopted by the UN or formulated by a conglomerate of religious leadership in a conclave of those deemed "patriarchs." Unity is not cross denominational signers of some document of surrender or peace. It is not a religious armistice. It is not a melding into Popery and determinations of prelates for who will "speak for Christianity." Unity is perhaps one of the most misappropriated concepts of Scripture in modern times. Under the guise of unity are all of the imprisonments of conformity. 

3. We are heirs of the same promise.

Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

We, too, are heirs of the "same promise" through Abraham. Let all the discussions of "replacement theology" be hanged! We are not talking Jew and Gentile at this junction; Abraham preceded Jacob covenanted with Melchizedek. The link between "faithful Abraham" and us flows spiritually uninhibited through history. 

4. We have the same spirit of faith.

2 Corinthians. 4:11-15
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you.