STRONGER TOGETHER

HOOK

We are “Stronger Together” now more than ever…

In just a matter of 6 months, God changed our way of life— He could in fact change it even in just a matter of 6 weeks, or maybe just 6 days, 6 hours, 6 minutes or even just in 6 seconds! — or in just a blink of an eye!

Talk about what’s currently going in our communities across the country

With a quick loud amen—

How many of you are encouraged with what’s going on in our society?— How many are discouraged?— How many of you are unsure?— How many do not care?

We are ON OUR JOURNEY TO BEING FORTY— in two days from today we will mark our 40th year as a church family

We should do more of what we have just done today— more children shall be dedicated to God as it is rightfully so

We reached the point when it became very obvious that the light cannot share space with darkness [for if they did, there will always be shadows]— righteousness cannot partner with wickedness [2 Corinthians 6:14]

The liberals pulled the children of this nation very far to the left and now they’re so confused, and can hardly figure the difference between right and wrong

Is it wrong for us to fight back?— I don’t think so!

Ecclesiastes 3:8 NLT

8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

I think it’s time for us to fight back!— For if we believe that God is in control— and He work on all things for the good of those who love Him— then we have to fight back!— How do we do that?

Let us equip ourselves with love!— With passion & compassion— with mutual care and concern— with wisdom and understanding— with humility & honor— Let us wear the complete armor of God!—

Romans 13 clearly states our social duties and responsibilities— as God fearing and responsible citizens of this country— On November 3rd do not just vote— get your family, neighbors, co-workers and friends to vote as well!

Some other time I will take you to what the Bible says about the separation of the church and the state— I will take you there for us to see the very thin line that separates this institutions under God

Meanwhile, I will consume my short opportunity today to glance back and look forward— we glance back and celebrate God’s faithfulness to our church family for the past 40 years— while we confidently look forward to the Lord’s assurance and promises

The beauty of our journey is that— we are guided by a vision— God gave us not just the confirmation, but also the provision that it needs to translate that vision into a mission— Let me take you back 5 years ago

On my first year with Agape— we worked together to rebuild our church— our battlecry in 2016 was iBuild 2016

The year after that gave us the room to grow— so we said, iGrow in 2017

Inspired by the Lord’s words when He said, “I came to serve and not to be served”— in 2018 our mantra was iServe 2018

We know that leaders are very essential to church growth— 2019 was when followers stepped up to be leaders on their own different rights— we said iLead 2019

2020 was extra ordinary in the very good sense— this year is when God gave us His confirmation, provision, and affirmation for our vision— we started reaching out beyond the walls of our church— we might be a small church, but we have big heart— and in chorus we shouted iReach 2020

Today we are launching our theme for the year— “STRONGER TOGETHER”— from this day forward is when we plant Home Churches where ever the Lord will take us— join me in saying— iPlant 2021 — 2021 will be a spectacular year for Agape— be ready with your ahhs and awes because God is gonna give us many instances and occasion that we will be in awe!

But for us to be able to do this, we need to work together as a team— we are only stronger, when we work together— We are “stronger together” when we work as a team

Speaking of team work— let’s go back to the book of Exodus— When Jethro [the father-in-law] visited Moses— he noticed something concerning the manner on how he served the people of God— On your outline you will find our text for today— and it was from Exodus 18

BOOK

Exodus 18:17–27 NIV

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

LOOK

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IS NOT GOOD

You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out

The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone

Listen to me now and I will you some advice— Jethro said

You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to Him

TEACH THEM HIS DECREES AND INSTRUCTIONS

Teach them! Coach them! Guide them!

SHOW THEM THE WAY THEY ARE TO LIVE AND HOW THEY ARE TO BEHAVE

You do not just teach them— you show them!— “Teach & Show”

SELECT CAPABLE MEN FROM ALL THE PEOPLE— MEN WHO FEAR GOD

Trustworthy— hates dishonest gain

APPOINT THEM AS OFFICIALS OVER THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS, FIFTIES AND TENS

Have them serve as judges for the people at all times

BUT HAVE THEM BRING EVERY DIFFICULT CASE TO YOU

The simple cases they can decide themselves

That will make your load lighter— because they will share it with you

And if you do this and God so commands…

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND THE STRAIN, AND ALL THESE PEOPLE WILL GO HOME SATISFIED

Stand the strain, in other words— endure the pressure— carry the load— share the burden

Jethro added, and all these people will go home satisfied— they will go home in peace

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said

This advice from Jethro may be reduced in two words— TEAM WORK

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER IF WE WORK AS A TEAM

Talents— Combine Various Talents

Energy— Prevents Exhaustion

Abilities— Harnesses the Overall Ability of the Church

Money— Pools Individual Resources

TOOK

TEAM WORK COMBINES VARIOUS TALENTS TO ACCOMPLISH TASK

After they were released from their exile in Babylon— Nehemiah planned and led the rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem

Sanballat [Governor of Samaria] and Tobiah [Wealthy governor of Ammon] were furious when they heard about Nehemiah efforts to rebuild the wall

They plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it

Meanwhile, the people of Judah are getting exhausted and frustrated and fearful

Nehemiah rallied the people to work as a team— to combine their talents and accomplish the task at hand

Nehemiah 4:16–18 NIV

16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

TEAM WORK PREVENTS BURNOUT AND EXHAUSTION

After Moses yielded to his father-in-laws advice— he built his team— and he was able to endure the pressure, the stress and prevented burnout and exhaustion

Exodus 18:23 NIV

23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

TEAM WORK HARNESSES THE OVERALL ABILITY OF THE CHURCH

Towards the end of the book Exodus you will see the ten commandments, the building of the ark for it, the tabernacle, priestly garments, the altar of incense and even the basin for washing

The Lord said to Moses— “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah and I have filled them with the Spirit of God, with understanding, knowledge and with all kinds of of skills”

God gave abilities to all skilled workers

Exodus 31:6 NIV

6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you:

TEAM WORK POOLS INDIVIDUAL RESOURCES

In chapter 2 of the book of Ezra you will see the long list of exiles [the people taken captive in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar]

When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem— they gave their freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the the house of God

Ezra 2:68–69 NIV

68 When they arrived at the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments.

SING

Elevation Worship— WON’T STOP NOW

Let us all give glory to God— after all these years He brought us through

The best is yet to come

In every season— God’s grace to us is enough— Breakthrough is coming