Let's Stay Together

Introduction

SYMBIOTIC growth is the growth that occurs between two organisms where both benefit. Parasitic growth is growth that occurs in one organism because it’s feeding off of another. Christians must ask themselves how they are functioning in the organism of the Body of Christ.

Am I a spiritual parasite? Sing to me. Preach to me. Pray for me. Counsel me. Help me, but expect nothing from me. That is a parasite. A Christian interested in symbiotic growth says, “Yes, I have needs, but I’m willing to give too because everyone needs to benefit.”

On, GotQuestions.org , there is an article about church conflict which makes the claim:

Church disagreements can occur when someone seeks to manipulate people and/or events for their own ends.

It may be that there is pride in rule-keeping, and those who do not keep the same rules are mistreated. It may be that one interpretation of a non-essential and obscure doctrine is emphasized and used as a measure for who is included and who is excluded.

Or, it could be that someone wants to wrest leadership from the pastor or elders and rallies a group of people around himself to accomplish that end.

Sadly, difference of opinion regarding music and worship style is also a frequent cause of division in the church.

The excuses for conflict within the church are numerous, but they all stem from the same root cause—pride, selfishness, and lack of humility.

And ultimately the main reason for a church split is that someone has taken their focus off of Jesus Christ and begun to use the church organization for his own ends.

In the book of Ephesians put the emphasis squarely back on Jesus Christ where it belongs.

Transition To Body- Theology of the Church

Blessings of the Church (Chapter 1)

Paul & the Saints who are in Ephesus have been blessed together

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Blessing of loving one another

Ephesians 1:15–16 ESV

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

Miracle of the Church (Chapter 2)

You Were Dead

Ephesians 2:1–2 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

You Were Separated

Ephesians 2:12 ESV

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Your are Reconciled Together to God (in one body through the cross)

Ephesians 2:15–16 ESV

15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

No Longer Strangers

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Mystery Of The Church (Chapter 3)

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

So Paul feels a special connection to the church in Ephesus as prisoner of Christ Jesus on their behalf

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:1-2

Ephesians 3:1–2 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

Body- Don’t Walk Away, Instead

Walk Properly With One Another

Ephesians 4:1 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Called by God (the value of the calling)

walk

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 41.11 περιπατέω; πορεύομαι

to live or behave in a customary manner, with possible focus upon continuity of action

in a manner worthy- the manner in which we walk matters

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 66.6 ἄξιος, α, ον; ἀξίως

pertaining to being fitting or proper in corresponding to what should be expected

Worthy of who called you- worthy, comparable, of comparable value, worthily

use in connection with ordinary Christians suggests an extraordinary status in the new order).

worthily, in a manner worthy of, suitably w. gen. in ref. to a deity or person

So We Are To Walk in Good Works

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Called To A Task (to serve i.e. to do something, to a position)

Calling- to call, to call to a task

call, calling, invitation.; position, condition

Christians don’t ride the bench- We get in the game

Called by name (you were specifically called)

Called- call, call by name, name; invite; summon; call

Ephesians 3:14–17 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

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Walk Properly With One Another

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Put Up With One Another

How you put up with one another matters-

Ephesians 4:2 ESV

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Illustration: Performance reviews not only include what you did, but how to did.

How you do it, matters the same if not more than what you do?

Put up with one another with all humility

humility= without arrogance

So we must check our egos at the door

Olney Street, a proper understanding of God’s Work is Always An Attack on the Ego

Jesus said in Luke 9:23-24

Luke 9:23–24 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Put up with one another with all gentleness

gentle in attitude & behaviour, not harsh in dealing with others

Put up with one another with patience

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.167 μακροθυμία, ας

a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation—‘patience

Put up with one another in love

bearing

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.171 ἀνέχομαι; ἀνοχή, ῆς

to be patient with, in the sense of enduring possible difficulty

In other words, the fruit of the Holy Spirit out be harvested within the church

Galatians 5:22 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

1 Corinthians 13:4–5 ESV

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

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Walk Properly With One Another

Put Up With One Another

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Stay Together With One Another

Ephesians 4:3 ESV

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eager in the text means

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 68.63 σπουδάζω; σπουδή, ῆς

to do something with intense effort and motivation

It takes intense effort to maintain unity within the church

Unity Through Diverse Perspectives

Ephesians 3:10–11 ESV

10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Manifold Wisdom of God

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 58.46 πολυποίκιλος, ον

pertaining to that which is different in a number of ways—‘many and diverse, manifold, many-sided

Illustrate Unity of the Spirit: Unison

the writing, playing, or singing of parts in a musical passage at the same pitch or in octaves

a harmonious agreement or union

in the bond of peace

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 18.17 σύνδεσμος, ου

that which ties something together—‘bindings, bonds, that which ties together

Transition To Close- Let’s Stay Together by Al Green

In 1972 Albert Leornes Greene better known as Al Green would sing

I, I'm I'm so in love with you Whatever you want to do Is all right with me 'Cause you make me feel so brand new And I want to spend my life with you

Let me say that since, baby, since we've been together Ooh, loving you forever Is what I need Let me, be the one you come running to I'll never be untrue

Oh baby Let's, let's stay together ('gether) Lovin' you whether, whether Times are good or bad, happy or sad Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

See How Great a Love...

1 John 3:1–2 ESV

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

One...

Ephesians 4:5 ESV

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God & Father of all...

Ephesians 4:6 ESV

6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Finally...

Ephesians 6:10–12 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

But we already got the victory because....

1 Corinthians 15:56–58 ESV

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Close- For God So Loved the World

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.