United We Stand

- 3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

Would you please stand with me,

I pledge allegiance, to the flag

Of the United States of America

And to the Republic, for which it stands

One nation, under God, indivisible

With liberty and justice for all.

We grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in school, I don’t know about others, but in Angel’s school they still recite it in their morning assembly. Our nation today seems to be in a state of turmoil and confusion and strife. Hatred, bigotry and racism running rampant on social media and even in the news, a medium which is supposed to report just the facts has turned into one which puts such a slant on what they report, it’s obvious where their allegiances lie.

So when we look at our Scripture text, how do our Scripture and the pledge of allegiance go together? Well on today, this day which has been set aside to honor American Veteran’s from all wars, we realize that in the church we are still at war.

We realize that Satan still desires to sift us like wheat, to tear us down, to beat us up and ultimately to destroy and take our soul; the very core being of who we are. Whether you have actually served in the U.S. Military or not; we are at war.

So, on this day that we recognize the service of those military members who have served, we must also reflect on those who serve God with honor.

Is there anyone who feels like you’re fighting for your life, maybe you’re fighting for your family, a job, to grow a ministry, a church, your financial portfolio. There are some who are trying to grow their children into healthy, responsible, contributing members of society who can one day leave their house and strike out on their own and succeed.

Is there anyone who feels like you’re fighting for your life, maybe you’re fighting for your family, a job, to grow a ministry, a church, your financial portfolio. There are some who are trying to grow their children into healthy, responsible, contributing members of society who can one day leave their house and strike out on their own and succeed.

Is there anyone who feels like you’re fighting for your life, maybe you’re fighting for your family, a job, to grow a ministry, a church, your financial portfolio. There are some who are trying to grow their children into healthy, responsible, contributing members of society who can one day leave their house and strike out on their own and succeed.

War comes in so many way; it’s not just the kind were we put on a uniform, leave our families and go out to the battlefield. War is defined as - a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end.

Recently there were wars all over our country and they’re not finished yet. We call them elections.

War is defined as - a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end

There are wars in our neighborhoods, those that have and those who want it, but don’t want to work to get it so they come to take what doesn’t belong to them.

There are wars against human trafficking, where girls and boys, young men and women are taken and sold and forced into prostitution and slavery.

There are wars in our own homes, young adults fighting for their independence, not recognizing they can never have the independence they desire until they leave the safety and comfort of mommy and daddy’s home and get their own. More and more they are what is called boomeranging or leaving home, but coming back.

Some of us have a war going on in our

Some of us even have a war going on between our minds and our bodies. The mind says to do one thing and the body says differently.

The mind says run to stay healthy, but the knees say - no way

The mind says don’t eat that food it’s not good for you; but the body says feed me that sugar, that processed food, that fast food.

The mind says, sit down and spend time with God; but the body wants to do other things

War - a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end.

The opposing forces for our war are God and Satan. The good news is we know who the winner is so we have the ability to choose and join the winning team. It’s a fixed fight.

So why is it so hard to get others committed to the team? Why is it so difficult to convert others and convince them to make their schedule around God’s Word instead of trying to fit God into their already packed schedule?

What to do, what to do? Paul tells us by his example, we are to live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us. Is there something we’re doing that’s causing someone else to doubt our witness for Christ? And before you say, don’t judge me, what you need to know, is people are judging you in some way, shape or form every single day. People are watching you, if you say you’re a Christian, then they’re watching to see if you’re acting like a Christian should. Christianity is not about religion, it’s about relationship. When you spend a lot of time with someone, you begin to take on the characteristics of that person. Whose characteristics do you have? The world’s or God’s?

Paul goes on to say, no one will find fault with our ministry. This is speaking of your personal ministry. Are you spending personal time with God or are you too busy running here and there and everywhere, doing this and that and working to gain treasures here on earth instead of storing up treasures in heaven where they won’t rust or corrode?

Men, as the priest of your household are leading your family in daily devotion and prayer? Ladies are you allowing your husbands to be the spiritual leader in the house? Children are you obeying your parents?

All of these relationships have the potential for war. So often we think those who could find fault with our ministry are coming from outside the home, when in fact, the real you is revealed inside the home. What does your family see? Are you showing the world one person but your family sees someone completely differently. Your first responsibility in ministry is in your own home.

Paul continues saying, “In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God”. Now let’s not get hung up on that word minister. We talked about this Thursday during prayer. These ministers are not just the people standing in the pulpit preaching. Every person who has accepted the salvation of Jesus Christ and has made him Lord of their life is a minister of the Gospel.

The word minister means servant. It’s not about being up front, on a podium, in a pulpit or in the spotlight. Being a minister is about serving the people of God. All of them, not just the saved ones, not just the nice ones, not just the pretty or handsome ones, not just the ones you like, but all God’s people.

Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.

And guess what, no matter how old we get we are still God’s children.

So what does that look like? What does being a true minister of the Gospel look like? We are people and we tend to look at other people, but sometimes we find ourselves looking at the wrong people. Let’s look at someone who through their example proved that they got it right. When you are a true minister of God you

Patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

Anyone have any troubles out there? Are you experiencing some hardships. How about a calamity, have you suffered a calamity in your life. I feel confident saying yes to these questions, we all have . But here’s the good news - are you ready? God has got your trouble, your hardship and your calamity all taken care of, all you have to do is trust and believe that He not only can, but He will take care of you. God loves you, in spite of you and when you are His, he provides what you need when you need it. He’s always on time and He always comes with the right thing.

Now because we are blessed to live in this great country, because of those who we honor today we don’t have to face these kinds of trials today, but there are those who do for the sake of the Gospel. Paul says they were beaten, put in prison, and faced angry mobs. This is not to say you never will, because your calling could take you to a place where you could experience this for the sake of the Gospel. Can you handle it? But here are some things you may be experiencing

Paul said they worked to exhaustion - do I have any exhausted people in the house? You work and work and work and then it seems like you have to work some more. In fact, it seems like your work never ends. Well get ready, as long as there are unsaved people in the world, our work is never done. We have been called to go ye therefore into all the world and make disciples. The world starts inside our own front door and spreads to our neighbors, our acquaintances, and the people we run into as we go about our everyday life. But we know that God will give us strength for our journey and not only that, he gave us a Sabbath. You’re supposed to be taking a day of rest every 7 days, a 24-hour period where you turn off all those things that would keep you from resting, those things that would take away your peace. Turn off the electronics, spend time in meditation and prayer, spend quality time with your family.

Then Paul said they had some sleepless nights. Who has had sleepless nights - why? God never sleeps nor slumbers, so we don’t have to stay up.

And they went without food - well for most us I dare say that is not our testimony, some of us could go without food and we’d be ok, because we have reserves. But for them it was not a choice and for some today, it’s not a choice.

Now here’s what we do, here’s how we show the world who we are.

We prove ourselves by our purity - Only God can make us pure and when He does we need to not sully ourselves again. We need to be holy as Christ is holy. There are places holy people don’t go, there are things holy people don’t say, and there are things holy people don’t do. Our behavior is that which is pleasing to the Lord.

We prove ourselves by our understanding - we’re not so quick to judge the actions or behaviors of others. We take the time to listen and comprehend where they are and why they did what they did.

We prove ourselves by our patience - we slow down and give people time, time to process, time to change, time to grasp this wonderful gift of salvation and all that it means to have it.

We prove ourselves by our kindness - a little kindness goes a long way. Compliment a brother or sister. Tell her she looks nice, offer to help a stranger with something. There are so many ways to show kindness.

We prove ourselves by our sincere love - sincere love is not pretentious, it’s genuine; it’s not forced, it’s easy; it’s not selfish, it’s given with nothing expected in return. When you love sincerely, the recipient can feel it.

Well all of this may seem impossible for the mere human, but I’ve got to tell you about the help you have, I’m so excited to tell you this…the help you have is the Holy Spirit within you. The Holy Spirit lives in you and will help you in all these things. You are not alone and you don’t have to do it alone. He will help you. One of my favorite songs says

Ask the Savior to help you, comfort, strengthen and keep you, he is willing to aid you, he will carry you through.

But that’s not all - as ministers of the Gospel we faithfully preach the truth. We consistently preach, not just when we feel like it, not just to those we like, not just when it crosses our minds, but faithfully, we’re intentional about preaching, speaking, living the truth. How many know you speak louder with your actions than you do with your words?

Here’s more exciting news, we have God’s power working in us and because we do we have authority, we use the weapons of righteousness in our right hand to attack and the left hand for defense, this is akin to putting on the armor of God, in the right hand you have the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and in that left hand you’re holding the shield of faith.

This walk is not just one of defense of taking attack after attack after attack. If you’re going to walk this walk you’d better learn how to fight. You’d better learn how to stand your ground, how to study and interpret the Scriptures for yourself. You’d better know what God has given you through the Holy Spirit and the authority you have. You’d better get strong in the Lord and the Power of His might. You’d better know where your help comes from. All of my help comes from the Lord. You’d better know and be sure of who you are in the Lord because here’s what you must recognize…we serve God

Whether people honor us or whether people despise us

whether people despise us

Whether people slander us or whether people praise us

Whether people praise us

You are being honest, yet you’re being called an imposter, a phony, a fake. Constantly being reminded of who you used to be, what you used to do, what you used to say, where you used to go, but now, now you can lift up your head and boldly and confidently say, “Yeah, I used to be all that and some more, but praise God, look at me now! I’ve been washed by blood of the Lamb, made righteous by His sacrifice and now I’m clean, now I’m whole, now I’m a new creation in God.

Anybody dealing with being ignored, even though you’re well known? Even though you’ve studied, you’ve gotten your degree, you’ve prepared, yet you’re still looked at as less than, as second or as just not there. But can I tell you, God sees you, He sees your work and He sees your heart. So be of good cheer, your time, your labor, your sacrifice, are not in vain.

We live close to death…it is appointed unto man once to die. We never know when our time is coming, but what we do know is it’s coming and we need to be ready when it does…but for now, we are still alive and we need to live life to the fullest. This is the day that the Lord has made, we need to choose to rejoice and be glad in it.

We may not have been physically beaten, but how many of you feel like you’ve been emotionally, mentally or spiritually beaten. You’ve been wrestling with thoughts that tell you you’re less than, no one likes you, you don’t have, you’re not worthy…I’m here to tell you put those thoughts under subjection and don’t let then kill you.

Don’t let them kill your spirit.

Don’t let them kill your desire.

Don’t let them kill your passion.

Don’t let them kill your drive.

Don’t let them kill you self-confidence.

Don’t let them kill your zeal for the Lord.

Your heart may ache over what it feels like you’ve lost, but God will give you the joy of the Lord and when you’ve got the joy of the Lord, there’s nothing and no one who can bring you down.

We may be poor, but we have an abundance of spiritual riches that we give to others. Our spiritual account will never be overdrawn, you’ll never get an insufficient funds notice or have a zero balance.

We own nothing, because everything we have belongs to God, yet we have everything because we belong to God and our Father supplies all our need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. We are heirs with Jesus Christ to the Kingdom of God.

What is it you stand in need of? God’s got it, just ask him for it and it shall be given. God we are asking for a debt-free facility where we can continue to carry out the ministries you have given to Love Christian Center. Lord God we’re asking and not only are we asking we are believing it’s done in the name of Jesus.

It’s just that simple and while we wait, we work. While we wait we pray. While we wait, we praise. Jesus died to give us the opportunity to receive salvation. He died so that we might have a right to the tree of life. So now if you’ve never received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, today is a good day. The doors of the church are open.