Winter Gathering 7 Saturday Evening session 1

Pastor/Teacher

Robert R. McLaughlin

Saturday

February 19, 2011

Walk not only on the road God called you to travel, but walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

The key here is not where you are walking but the manner or the way you are to walk.

It's not the ends but the means that Paul is concerned with.

Paul does not want them to get so occupied with the calling or the goal of the calling that they overlook the means of how to attain the goal.

With God, especially in light of the rules established in the angelic conflict where there is to be no manipulation or violation of the free will of man, the ENDS DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS.

The causes of disunity resulting from putting the cart before the horse.

Because many believers are obsessed with approbation lust and wanting to be accepted with a good reputation, they will do anything including putting doctrine aside for the sake of unity.

They will strive and even compromise doctrinal truths for the sake of having a good reputation among their peers as a church who is growing and being blessed by God.

There is no unity outside of the word of God being your number one priority.

PHI 2:2  make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

It is much easier for a group of people to get along and appear to be loving each other when doctrine is put aside.

Rom 12:9  Let love be without hypocrisy.

Many local assemblies cater to the flesh and the old sin nature for the sake of growing and appearing that they are being blessed by God and that the proof is in their numbers, etc.