More Powerful Together
Notes
Transcript
More Powerful Together
Philippians 1:27-30
INTRODUCTION
Synergy is the idea that when we work together we do more than the sum of working independently.
EXP- Two people who are too short to reach the apple on the tree. They can reach when one gets on the other’s back.
ILL- Wayne Cordeiro- pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawaii
Tells story of learning to paddle an outrigger canoe with 6 men from church staff.
1/8 Mile spirnt
1st experience- no training- everyone worked hard.
2nd experience- after training- everyone working together.
Paul stressed the importance of unity and working together to the church at Philippi.
READ Philippians 1:27-30
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
PRAY
There are a lot of reasons to divide in our world.
Black Lives Matter/ Blue Lives Matter
Democrat/ Republic
Wear a Mask/ Don’t Wear a Mask
Conspiracy/ No Conspiracy
There is not place for division within the church.
The Gospel is at stake.
Eternity is at stake for the lost.
4 Reasons We Must Be Together
Together Makes Us Sharp (27)
Together Makes Us Sharp (27)
Sharpening a Knife
Christmas gift as a child-- I made the new knife dull.
I went different directions with the wrong angle.
Must go one circular direction with the perfect angle.
Our enemy is strong- no room for division or even half-hearted devotion.
2 Timothy 1:7
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Together Makes Us Confident (28)
Together Makes Us Confident (28)
ILL- U.S. Dream Team (Michael Jordan)
Best in the world- expecting to dominate every game
Compare to the first Hockey Dream Team- went to party and didn’t get along.
Basketball- knew they destiny and went and took it.
We have confidence to take on enemy.
Prove to the world we will not back down.
Our enemy is not each other- it is a spiritual enemy.
Ephesians 6:12
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.
Together Makes Us Endure (29)
Together Makes Us Endure (29)
Just because the victory is secure does not mean the battle is not real.
Creation- only one part does God say was not good.
It was not good for man to be alone.
We must not try to fight alone. We need each other to endure.
Together Makes Us Engage (30)
Together Makes Us Engage (30)
“Engaged in the same conflict”
We are all working to accomplish the same purpose.
ILL- Mission Team going through the same struggles.
No matter how different and how little you know those one a mission team, by the end of the trip you are family.
Why? Because of the common struggle.
CONCLUSION
We need each other and we must be together.
Are you committed to a local church where you are on a team?
Have you joined the team by surrendering your will to Jesus?
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:9
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:13
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Are you on the team?