Ingredients for a Successful New Testament Church (In Sync)

Ingredients for a Successful New Testament Church (In Sync)(Acts 2:44)

Meaning

“Together” - the same

To be “in sync” is being in a state in which two or more people or things agree with one another and work together properly.

The local church needs to work together in agreement for the church to work properly for the cause of Christ.

Acts 4:32 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

Philippians 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;”

Philippians 2:1-2 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

Uniting of the Heart

Psalms 86:11 “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name.”

Unite = to join or become one

Batman and Robin

Basketball teams with all “all-star” players hardly win championships because they are concerned with themselves and not uniting as a team.

The Avengers unite to face a foe.

Our heart needs to be united to God’s heart before we can ever be united as a church.

In Salvation

Psalms 24:3-5 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

In Surrender

1 Samuel 13:14 “But now thy kingdom (Saul’s) shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.”

David wanted to do everything he could to please God!

When you start seeking God, He’ll seek you.

James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

In Sanctification

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

to sanctify here means to set the reverence for God in your heart that required of God.

Ephesians 6:5-8 “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

While we can surrender to our bosses and our jobs, we may not like it. When we surrender to God, it should lead to a sanctification of the heart to where it is always a pleasure to serve God in every aspect of life!

Uniting of the Head

Philippians 2:1-2 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

to be of one mind means to be of the same mind, harmonious. (Piano example)

Love for Serving

Philippians 2:1-4 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Love is sometimes difficult with the heart, thus we need a head knowledge that no matter how we may feel, we need to be concerned about the well being of others.

Love for the Saints

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

Having compassion one of another is one long Greek word which means “suffering or feeling the like with another.” Sympathetic!

Not everything is about you

Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

1 John 4:21 “And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

This word in part is the same as “mercy.” God gave us mercy (not giving us what we deserve.) We should always be merciful to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Love for Souls

Philippians 1:27-29 “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; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;”

To strive means to wrestle in company with.

We are in a spiritual battle.

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

David vs. Goliath

Elijah vs. prophets of Baal (1 vs 450)

3 Hebrew boys vs. Nebuchadnezzar

THERE’S LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES WE JUST ATTACK HEAD ON AGAINST SATAN AND GIVE PEOPLE THE GOSPEL!

Love for the Sovereign

Romans 15:5-6“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”