Gather For Strength (Proverbs 14:4, Ecclesiastes 4:12, 1 Peter 5:8)

Introduction

When an interviewer asked me about my biggest strength, I said "I can refuse anyone". He asked if I could explain...

...and I said "No.".

An old preacher was dying.

He sent a message for his banker and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. Both the banker and lawyer were honored that the preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments for strength. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness, and avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats. Finally, the banker said, "Preacher, why did you ask us to come?" The old preacher mustered up his strength and then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go."

Hopefully, I have your attention.

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER THAN ALONE!

THE CHURCH GETS TOGETHER FOR STRENGTH

MAIN THOUGHT

Proverbs 14:4 CSB

Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.

In 2005 Hurrican Katrina devastated New Orleans

I was a part of the clean-up there.

The main source for food, construction, clean-up, encouragement, The Gospel, was the Church!

It was not the government.

When the government had come and gone, who was still there. The Church!!

The proverb teaches: “where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,”

Absence of the Ox, no real sustenance!

lacking what is necessary or required is what the proverb is teaching

The lack is due to not having the required worker. NO STRENGTH IS PRESENT!

The proverb also teaches: “but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.”

Jesus has chosen us as the vessel by which His will is accomplished on Earth. (The Ecclessia= The Church= Body of Believers)

Prerequisite to a Harvest (Before the Benefit):

Requires willing workers (Sowers and Reapers)

Sowing= One's action; Reaping= The results of your actions

There is a reward on the side of the Churches Collective Strength

I've seen the negative side of the Church (Internal, non-evangelistic)

Chuch is stronger together

Fattening Frogs for Snakes

There is an old statement in the South, “ Fattening Frogs for Snakes”

The meaning of this phrase means: you're doing something that only ends up helping someone else and doesn't end up helping you. Literally, one is feeding frogs to fatten them up so they'll be big and tasty when you eat them. Then it turns out the snake is eating up all those frogs. So you're fattened frogs for the snake.

Being Alone in the Christian Life is merely preparing yourself for the benefit of the Devil!

Remove yourself from the fellowship of the Church and you become food for the Devil!

1 Peter 5:8 CSB

Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

The hunting style of the Devil is compared to a Lion

Lions are lazy hunters

They look for the young, old, hurt, weak, ALONE.

They don't attack herds!

They look for those who are separated from a pack.

Lions want easy targets.

The Devil is looking for someone separated from the pack (Church)

The strength is in the numbers!

You wouldn’t walk through a bad part of town at midnight alone!

I love what David says in Psalm 23:4, “Though I walk through the valley of Death, I will fear no evil, for YOU ARE WITH ME!

God was with David. Strength was in the number. David had the Holy One of Old!!

Strength is in the Numbers

Often read at weddings is Ecclesiastes 4:12

Ecclesiastes 4:12 CSB

And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

You might be able to beat one, but two is hard to overpower.

God gave Adam a plus one, a wife named Eve. The disciples went out two by two. The plurality of Elders leading the early church.

Together we can see a greater harvest!

Together we are better protected!

We are better together than we are apart.

Us plus God equals His will fulfilled!!!

Conclusion

Turn to Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 CSB

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.

There are many here today who have varying circumstances (Job loss, death in the family, tired, sick, etc..)

A great strength a Christian can have is declaring when He is weak!!

Being Strong is knowing when to ask for Help!

How can you help someone today? This week?

Let's Pray Together.