Christian Maturity Part 7
Christian Maturity • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 16 viewsChristian Maturity is incomplete without unity and fellowship with other believers. This lesson helps us examine the question, "How am I in my fellowship with others
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How am I in my fellowship with others?
How am I in my fellowship with others?
One of my prayers in that the Lord will help us beak the spirit of Isolation.
Read Psalms 133
Read Psalms 133
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head,
That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard:
That went down to the skirts of his garments;
As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:
For there the LORD commanded the blessing,
Even life for evermore.
The psalmist writes about a condition that is both good and pleasant.
The psalmist writes about a condition that is both good and pleasant.
These words are high frequency words that typically need no further definition.
We would say good is good.
We would say good is good.
In general this would be an OK definition, however Today, the term good has become a situational, circumstantial term in terms of meaning.
Scripture warns us not to use these interchangeably.
Read Isaiah 5:20
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
That put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Moses makes an interesting connection in
Read Deuteronomy 30
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
Connections
Connections
He puts together life and good Death and evil
He puts together life and good Death and evil
A Song of degrees of David.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head,
That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard:
That went down to the skirts of his garments;
As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:
For there the LORD commanded the blessing,
Even life for evermore.
Unity is compared to the precious ointment used to separate things to the Lord.
Unity is compared to the precious ointment used to separate things to the Lord.
Read Exodus 30:25-29
What did the ointment do?
What did the ointment do?
And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.
Four times the word holy is used in relationship to the oil or ointment.
Yet the psalmist says when brethren dwell in unity it has the same affect.
Unity is a holy thing.
Unity is a holy thing.
Whatever unity touches becomes holy.
Whatever unity touches becomes holy.
What does it mean to be holy?
What does it mean to be holy?
Holy is to
Holy is to
Be dedicated to God or a religious purpose.
Be dedicated to God or a religious purpose.
Be morally and spiritually excellent.
Be morally and spiritually excellent.
Read Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
At the center of Israel's faith was the confession of the Unity of God.
At the center of Israel's faith was the confession of the Unity of God.
What are the implications of this confession?
What are the implications of this confession?
One set of laws or rules of conduct and belief
One set of laws or rules of conduct and belief
Only one to be worshipped by all people
Only one to be worshipped by all people
And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do. One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
Sin is a disruption of God ordained unity.
Sin is a disruption of God ordained unity.
Read Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6 Says "the wages or payment of sin is death....
Romans 6 Says "the wages or payment of sin is death....
What is Death?
What is Death?
Death is separation
Death is separation
Read Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
God's ideal for marriage was one where husband and wife experience unity for life. He uses the term "One flesh" Genesis 2:24
God's ideal for marriage was one where husband and wife experience unity for life. He uses the term "One flesh" Genesis 2:24
What happened when man sinned?
What happened when man sinned?
Read Genesis 3:12
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
The mistrust and accusations that circulated that day was an indicator of the deep divide that now existed in their relationship.
The mistrust and accusations that circulated that day was an indicator of the deep divide that now existed in their relationship.
What do you think the unwritten conversation was like after this experience?
What do you think the unwritten conversation was like after this experience?
The Women would Say..
The Women would Say..
"You threw me under the bus? with God"
I didn't make to eat that.
I'm not your mother
The Man would say..
The Man would say..
Why didn't you listen to me?
It is easier for you to listen to a snake than to you husband
I told you not to touch that tree.
Read Acts 2:42-47
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The unity found at the birth of the Church was nothing less than miraculous.
The unity found at the birth of the Church was nothing less than miraculous.
How are Acts 2 and Genesis 2:24 similar or different
How are Acts 2 and Genesis 2:24 similar or different
It was much like the first marriage.
Adam recognized how special the creation of a women was to him.
Though her function would be as a help meet to him.
To be to him like he was to God.
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Adam did not see her in terms of her function. He saw her as an extention of who he was.
Read Ephesians 5:28
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
God's ideal for marriage was one where husband and wife experience unity for life.
God's ideal for marriage was one where husband and wife experience unity for life.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Can how we interact with others be an indication of our spiritual development?
Can how we interact with others be an indication of our spiritual development?
In Acts 2 is declared that they continued not only learning but in fellowship. John 13:35 said this is the mark of discipleship- our love for one another.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Unity went into action.
Unity went into action.
They had all things common
They had all things common
They shared with one another
They shared with one another
They invested into each other
They invested into each other
They Loved one another
They Loved one another
Read John 13:35
Read John 13:35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
This is the mark of discipleship.
This is the mark of discipleship.
