Untitled Sermon (109)

How To Build A Strong Fellowship

introduction:

THE BODY OF CHRIST CONSIST OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, AND DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, BUT UNTIL WE COME TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF UNITY, WE WILL NEVER RECEIVE OR EXPERIENCE THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

PAUL HAD TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE CHURCH OF ROME.

THERE WAS THE STRONG AND THE WEAK, WHICH CAUSED DIVISION IN THE CHURCH.

THE STRONG WAS THOSE WHO HAD UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD OF GOD, WHEREAS THE WEAK HAD LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S WORD.

BUT PAUL GAVE THE SOLUTION IN HOW TO BUILD A STRONG FELLOWSHIP.

BEAR THE WEAKNESS OF THE WEAK.

STUDY THE SCRIPTURES

WORK IN HARMONY.

DON’T BE PARTIAL WITH EACH OTHER.

ABOUND IN GOD’S HOPE.

A. BEAR THE WEAKNESS OF THE WEAK.

Romans 15:1 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

THE WORD INFIRMITIES MEANS WEAKNESS OR FAILINGS.

SO THOSE WHO ARE STRONG IN GOD’S WORD SHOULD NOT USE THIS AS A OPPORTUNITY TO BELITTLE THOSE WHO LACK THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S WORD.

WE NEED TO BE TENDER AND LOVABLE, AND ABLE TO CARRY THEM ALONG SIDE OF US UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO WALK ON THEIR OWN.

WE NEED TO REALIZE NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE ARE IN THE WORD, WE STILL HAVE WEAKNESS AND FALL SHORT IN AREAS OF OUR LIVES.

IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR JESUS DYING ON THE CROSS, FOR OUR SINS, ALL OF US WOULD CONTINUE TO FALL SHORT OF HIS GLORY.

WE NEED TO LEARN THAT EVERYTHING DO NOT CENTER AROUND US.

WE MUST BE ABLE TO GIVE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.

IF YOU HAVE THE HEART OF CHRIST YOU WON’T TURN AWAY FROM SOMEONE WHO REALLY WANTS TO KNOW THE LORD, BUT DON’T HAVE UNDERSTANDING.

WE ARE BLESSED, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN UNDER A WORD THAT HAS BEEN TAUGHT.

WE MUST STOP TEARING PEOPLE DOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WHERE WE ARE.

ALL OF US ON DIFFERENT LEVELS, BUT IMPORTANT TO THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.

IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE BUILD EACH OTHER UP, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU’RE IN NEED OF EACH OTHER.

JESUS ALWAYS PUT OTHERS FIRST BEFORE HIMSELF.

Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

B. STUDY THE SCRIPTURE.

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

THE REASON WE STUDY GOD’S WORD SO THAT WE CAN KNOW GOD BETTER, AND THE BETTER WE KNOW HIM , THE MORE WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE TO THOSE WHO DO NO KNOW HIM.

ALSO WE STUDY THE SCRIPTURES FOR GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES AND HOW TO LIVE FOR CHRIST.

ONCE WE LEARN HOW TO LIVE FOR CHRIST, WE WILL LEARN HOW TO LOVE PEOPLE THAT WE CANNOT TOLERATE.

THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THEY ARE STRONG IN GOD’S WORD, THEY DON’T HAVE PATIENCE WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT STRONG.

WE DO NOT PRACTICE THE SAME PATIENCE THAT CHRIST HAD WITH US.

WE NEED TO GIVE THE LOVE TO OTHER’S THE SAME WAY WE RECEIVED IT FROM THE LORD.

THAT’S WHAT THE LORD DID WITH YOU.

YOU DID NOT KNOW WHAT LOVE IS UNTIL MEET CHRIST.

THE WORD GIVES YOU HIS PERSPECTIVE AND NOT YOURS.

2 Peter 1:19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”

C. WORK IN HARMONY

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

WHAT IS HARMONY?

HARMONY IS TO BE ON ONE ACCORD, TO FIT TOGETHER, TO JOIN IN UNITY, PEACE AND ALIGNMENT WITH GOD’S WILL.

COULD YOU IMAGINE IF WE ALL CAME TOGETHER WITH ONE MIND AND ONE VOICE, HOW EASY THE FELLOWSHIP WOULD FLOW.

WHEN THIS HAPPEN, WE WOULD HAVE A UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE EACH OTHER AND GLORIFY GOD.

THEN THE DEVIL WOULD NOT HAVE A PLACE IN OUR FELLOWSHIP.

WE ALLOW HIM IN OUR FELLOWSHIP WHEN WE ARE DIVIDED.

JESUS CAME TO SERVE, BUT NOT TO BE SERVED.

THE WASHING OF THE DISCIPLES FEET WAS A INDICATION OF HIS HUMILITY AND LOVE FOR HIS DISCIPLES.

IT UNIFIED THE DISCIPLES WHEN THEY SEEN THERE LORD WASH THERE FEET.

WE HAVE TO GO TO WHATEVER LEVEL IT TAKES TO PROMOTE THE SPIRIT OF UNITY.

EITHER YOU ARE PROMOTING UNITY OR DIVISION.

Philippians 2:2–5 “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. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

D. DON’T BE PARTIAL WITH EACH OTHER.

Romans 15:7 “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”

WHAT I MEAN ABOUT PARTIAL IS TO LIKE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE VERY MUCH AND USUALLY MORE THAN OTHER THINGS OR PEOPLE.

WE LIKE TO TO BE PICKY WHO WE RECEIVE AND WHO WE DO NOT RECEIVE. PAUL SAID WE NEED TO RECEIVE EACH OTHER AS CHRIST HAS RECEIVED US.

IT’S EASY TO RECEIVE SOMEONE WHO YOU FOND OF, BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO YOU ARE NOT FOND OF. THAT’S WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US . HE CHOSE US WHEN WE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM OR HIS FELLOWSHIP.

IT’S TIME FOR US TO TAKE A SELF EXAMINATION OF OURSELVES AND SEE WHAT SPIRIT WE BRING INTO GOD’S FELLOWSHIP.

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

5. ABOUND IN GOD’S HOPE.

Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

WHAT IS GOD’S HOPE?

TRUSTING IN GOD’S PROMISES AND FAITHFULNESS AND WORD, AND BY LIVING WITH ANTICIPATION OF WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED THOUGH THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

OUR JOY AND PEACE REST ON OUR FAITH, GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND OUR FUTURE WITH HIM.

Romans 14:17 “for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

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