Living Up To What We've Already Attained
July 16, 2023      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Jonathan teaches about the 7 fountains of life and demonstrates how the Fountainhead (God) flows through the conduit of the Scriptures into our hearts so that we might “abound with Hope” (Romans 15). But before we abound with hope, we must be found with the same attitude of mind toward one another, speaking the same thing. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 speaks to the Tearing and Mending in relationships, and Philippians 3 tells us to relax and not squabble over minor differences. Instead, we should pray for revelation and live up to what we’ve already attained in the Beloved!

7 Fountains of Life
- source, wellspring, flow

1. Yaweh
Psalm 36:9 (NIV)
9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Psalm 87:7 (NIV)
7 As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.”

Jeremiah 2:13 (NIV)
13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Zechariah 13:1 (NIV)
1 “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.


2. Men
Proverbs 5:18 (NIV)
18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.


3. Women
Song of Songs 4:12-15 (NIV)
12 You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain.
13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates    with choice fruits, with henna and nard,
14  nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices.
15 You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.


4. The mouth of the righteous
Proverbs 10:11 (NIV)
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.


5. The teaching of the wise
Proverbs 13:14 (NIV)
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.


6. The fear of the Lord
Proverbs 14:27 (NIV)
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.


7. Understanding /prudence /insight
Proverbs 16:22 (NIV)
22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.



Romans 15:1-13 (NIV)
1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,
6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed
9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”
10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God = Fountainhead
 - Giving endurance/patience
 - Giving encouragement/comfort
 - God of hope

Scripture = conduit
 - teaching endurance/patience
 - providing encouragement/comfort
 - that we might have hope

….” so that you may abound/overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”

“The same attitude of mind toward each other” is required 

Philippians 3:15-16 (NIV)
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.


Philippians 3:15-16 (NKJV)
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.


“… join together in all the great things in which you are agreed, and wait for further light in the minor things wherein you differ” 


Romans 16:17-18 (NIV)
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep
away from them.
18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.


1 Corinthians 1:9-10 (NIV)
9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Divisions = tearing/rending
United = mending/repairing

“… when there is no unity of sentiment, let there be a union of affections. The consideration of being agreed in greater things extinguishes all divisions about minor ones.“ - Matthew Henry

Love for Jesus is the absolute cure for division within the church.  

“… live up to what you have already attained.”