The Power of Gathering Together

Uganda- 2008- May 2022 400 children. including 40 children fron congo7 chuches, Bible school and various other projects. Came home feeling overwhelmed by the need of another 400-500 children. 6 children from Congo

-Congolese Pastor Video- ??Life church African Congregation Help.

Testimony About one School- Eva May Foundation

Pray For God to touch people

Together We Are Stronger

---Conference Theme- The Power of Gathering Together---

Early Church Reference- Pattern

The Holy Spirit Comes- Acts 2:1–2 (NKJV) 2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Heaven Makes A Sound - Roar- When Gods people gather Heaven regognises the opportunity for Gods Power to move on the earth.

We Need The Power of The Holy Spirit

Rushing Mighty Wind- The Breath of God

The Things We do Need The Breath of God

The Power of Gathering Together- Is The Holy Spirit- When We Gather His Power Can Manefest

Souls & Provision- Acts 2:44–47 (NKJV) 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Enables Corporate Prayer Power - Acts 4:23-24 , 27-31 (NKJV) 23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

The Natural Is Shaken & The Holy Spirit Fills People 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

One Accord- With One Mind- They were all thinking the same way about their purpose together- Jesus Was God- The Name of Jesus was The Greatest Name

Unity Commands Blessings

Psalm 133:1–3 (NKJV) 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

Good- Beautiful, Best, Better, Bountiful

Pleasant- Favourable, Beautiful, Sweet

Oil Running Over- The Annionting of God

Like Dew on Mount Hermon- everything is touched by it- it soaks

Gathering In Agreement

Where Two or Three Agree - Matthew 18:19–20 (NKJV): 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Gather Together- We can Gather but are we together? There is a difference.

“If”- A marker of the condition - The Condition Must Be Fufilled

If Two Agree- sound together, harmony, in unison (Symphony)

Illustration- Singing Harmony is different to singing as a soloist. Its all about the sound they make together- one might sing high, another low. But its all about the sound they can make together.

Marriage- a marriage where the 2 spouses are continually not in agreement can be like to people pulling the marriage in 2 different directions. pulling it apart.

Agendas- an underlying often ideological plan or program.

Gathering Together In His Name- The purpose or reason to gather is not about our Names or Agendas but “His Name”

Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

We - Not me or you- “We Are More Than Conquerors-"

A City On A Hill Cannot Be Hidden - A city that cant be hidden is made up with millions of small lights that create an incredible glow.

Our Lights Together Make A City of Lights That Can Not Be Hidden

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Written Approx. 57 years after Jesus Birth-

Paul had not yet visited Roman church- Probably founded by by Christians from Asia.

Book where we get a lot of doctrine and theological understanding

Romans 8:31–39 (NKJV) 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Unified Message- Say The Same Thing- Paul Wanted The Church To Say The Same Thing- Carry the Same message

What We Say Together Matters- If say the same thing we are demonstrating a unified message.

Teams that say the same thing have a common vision or plan

We Not Me or You

Paul uses we instead of you or I - Us instead of you, me or I

Us- People in Relationship

All- The Whole, Everyone, Total,

What We Say Matters----What We Say Under Difficulty Really Matters

Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) 21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.