Ephesian Church Left Their First Love for What or Whom?

[Vic]

(01-04-2011 10:32 PM)heb13-13 Wrote:  Well, thanks Sheep.

We don't have the same understanding of these scriptures and that is fine.

I am just going to move on because this can't have a good ending.

Blessings,
Rick

Rick let's back up for a second. I am just going to share this. When we are talking about passages of Scripture, we know that the Holy Spirit is the one that gives understanding---to all who love Christ.

When we don't agree on our understandings, I am not so sure it's an issue of , you believe what you want and I will believe what I want. After all, isn't that basically what caused the division of denominations?

And aren't you against that mentality?

Several years ago an incident came up between a person I was doing some research with. She was adament about her stand about something we were discussing. I was a little confused by her approach and attitude because to me it was contrary to what we had already discussed and I had to disagree with her. There was tension, and I said you know, there has to be an answer here, and since the Holy Spirit is the one to give understanding of these Scriptures, lets take some time and ask God to change our thinking and understanding to be what really is of Him. Not based on our own feelings, biases, history, experiences. But let's allow God to really clear out anything this is not of Him and instead give us unity of thought and understanding in this.

So we went and prayed about it. And when we met again, we both had the same understanding and were in agreement.

This whole thing of hitting brick walls on certain topics I believe, from my own personal experience (not saying that's the issue here), comes down to pride, not wanting to be wrong, not willing to set aside what we want to believe, and rather really earnestly desire that God give the right understanding and change our thinking.

I have seen it so many times personally and I really think instead of taking the tack of friction and lack of understanding between others, we need to step back and say, Lord, I really want to understand. I don't want my understandings based on what I think, but on what you think. I think it needs to be put to the test of, do I really want the truth, even if it means I might be wrong in some things. Am I willing to allow God to change my thinking in order to abide in His Truth. Has any pride or personal feelings entered in to keep me from understanding things the way I should.

I believe these things are foundational for having unity with brothers and sisters in Christ.
Romans 12 ;

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Php 1:27 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;

Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Philippians 3:14-17 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

It's God's Word, not ours.

And it's God's Word that holds the understanding that we need. The answers can always be found through earnest prayer and total desire for understanding the Scriptures and that comes from God alone. And it comes from and through the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures themselves. Scripture is used to interpret Scripture.

1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Anyway, just my for what's it's worth, on what may be happening here. I am still working on a response. Just got busy yesterday.