Let's Stay Together

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

This is your call to worship.

Eccl 4:9-12 NLT - 9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

The title of today’s message is, “Let’s Stay Together”.

The book of Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. He was the wisest, because when God ask him in a dream what he wanted and assured him He would give it to him, Solomon’s response was, “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” Solomon’s request pleased God and he responded, “I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!” When your ways please God, He will bless you.

Solomon pens this book to show us the vanity of human pursuits when compared to the real blessing of wisdom. He writes to let us know man’s whole duty is to fear God and keep his commandments.

Typically, we hear about the three strand cord at wedding ceremonies, but if we look at certain Bible translations with topical titles, the title for this portion of Scripture is “The Value of a Friend”. True friends are not easy to find, so when you do find one, stay together.

Let’s, stay together. That has become increasingly challenging in this season of the pandemic. Yes this is a season, and while the world is going through it at the same time, we’re not going through it together.

When you go through things together, you come together, you make a plan, you initiate that plan, and you conquer the challenge. We are far from together on how to conquer the challenge of this pandemic.

We have some who want to and do wear masks and others who a vehemently and sometimes violently oppose wearing masks. We have a vaccine that if taken could stop the spread of the virus, yet there are those who speak against it, those who fan unfounded fears and those who just refuse to believe. And so the virus rages on.

Yes we as Christians are to pray and prayer is a powerful weapon. But there is more to do than just pray. 2 Chron 7:14 tells us, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” It’s about more than just prayer. You have to do something.

We see in Exodus 14the Children of Israel were trapped; the Red Sea was in front of them and Pharaoh's army was behind them. This would seem to be a good time to pray and so Moses did. But here was God’s response, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!” God ask Moses, why are you talking to me, then tells him to get the people moving.

There’s a time to pray, but there’s also a time for action and not only must we know when that is, we must work together, if we’re going to win the battle.

The pandemic rages on because we have failed to come together as a people to get it under control and eradicate it. In this age of anyone with a phone and access to the internet having a voice, even if there is no credible evidence for what they’re saying, they spew out misinformation and strike fear into the hearts of, sometimes those who need the truth the most. And so we continue to battle, people continue to die and friends and families continue to mourn the loss of loved ones. Let’s stay together.

Two are better than one, two are better than one because you can get more done, you can accomplish more, you can do it faster and you can do things more expediently. You can get better ideas on how to complete a project when there is more than one person. Even when lifting, when there are two, it allows you to carry more weight. When there are two, you can help each other succeed.

The incessant need to be right, the constant desire to have more, the endless pursuit of perfection and the desire to fulfil the lust of the flesh, has led some to do cruel and horrendous things to others.

• Stealing pensions and life savings in ponzi schemes

• Robbing people on the street or in their home

• Sucker punching random people in the face on a dare

• Kidnapping children to traffic them for money

• Buying children and using them for sex

• People in authority abusing their power to take unfair advantage of others

We must be willing to speak up and speak out when we witness a wrong. Pay attention to your surroundings, be aware of what’s going on around you. Take off the rose-colored glasses, open your eyes and you could possibly save a life.

Do you have an elderly neighbor who lives alone? Check on them and make sure they’re ok, especially if they don’t have family or have family that lives close by.

When a person falls, we should be there to pick them up not use them as a step stool to get to the next level. There are too many people using others as a step stool to level up instead of reaching down to give them a hand up. And still more who specialize in putting others down to make themselves the hero. Jesus reached down to pull us up out of the mud we found ourselves sinking in. Should we do less? Is it ok to forget that sin is sin and all of us needed and some still need saving?

To fall alone creates real trouble, just ask the person who has been alone and fallen, the one who couldn’t get up, had no one to help them up and couldn’t get to a phone. Talk to someone who’s lost a loved one because they laid on the floor for hours and by the time help arrived they were gone.

Two is better than one because if you’ve ever been cold, it’s much easier to stay warm when there are two of you.

And, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.”

I watch a lot of animal planet type shows and I often refer to the hunting habits of lionesses. They locate a herd of prey, then they watch, looking to find an easy target. They’re looking for

• an old one

• a young or small one

• an injured one

• a weak one

• a careless one or

• one that for any number of reasons has become separated from the group.

You see when you separate yourself from the group, you become easy prey for the enemy. For the hunters, size doesn’t matter if they can get them alone. Size doesn’t matter because there’s strength in numbers. And when the hunters come, when the enemy comes, they come with numbers.

And so,

• you can be that prayer warrior that prays 24/7

• you can be the leader everyone wants on their team

• you can be the most requested speaker traveling the world spreading the Gospel,

But when you’re alone, you’re easy prey and you may quickly find yourself in the enemy’s sites, and so Peter tells us, Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

And if you think two is good, “Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Two and the Holy Ghost is an awesome combination, but there are other combinations of three that have meaning.

When you start with a couple, there’s the husband, the wife and God. When they allow God to be the third strand in the cord that is their marriage, it will succeed, because nothing will be able to break that cord, unless the husband or the wife let go.

Your three-strand cord may consists of the husband, the wife and the children, that family can weather any storm that may arise to tear the family apart when everyone is fulfilling their God-given purpose.

When the father fulfils his responsibility as the spiritual head of the house, praying for and leading the family in prayer, providing for and loving his family; it puts God in first place in the family.

When the mother fulfils her responsibility of supporting her husband emotionally, of being his helpmeet, being trustworthy; when she speaks with wise words and gives instructions with kindness, the children have a role model to follow.

When the children fulfill their responsibilities and honor their mother and father, they receive the promise of long life. When they see their father pray and their mother’s strength they rise up and call her blessed.

• In music, we have the soprano, the alto and the tenor notes to make three-part harmony.

• In government we have the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to maintain the balance of power.

• And in heaven and on Earth, we have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

We have the Father, who created everything we see, who keeps the sun, the moon, and the stars in their orbit. Who keeps the waters in their place and the land in its place. The Father who looked down on His children and saw they needed help.

He looked down and saw we needed a Savior and so He went into action, he loved us so much he sent his only begotten son to come and save us.

We have Jesus the Son, who when the Father gave him his assignment he gladly accepted.

• He knew that he would have to take off his deity and put on limitations in the form of humanity.

• He knew he would experience hunger, and tiredness.

• He knew he would encounter fickle, fake, and phony people, but he came for them too.

• He knew he would choose 12-men to follow him,

o that he would teach them for three years,

o that he would love them and feed them and provide for them

o and one of the twelve would betray him.

• He knew he’d be falsely accused, despised and rejected

BUT

• He still came

• He still suffered the beating

• He still endured the mocking

• He still experienced death on a cross

AND THEN

• He descended into the deep and preached to the captives

• Oh I can just see it in my imagination. On the first day, Satan thought he had him and he decided to throw a party.

• On the second day the demons joined in.

• On the third day, just as the party was really getting started Jesus snatched the keys to death, hell and the grave and left.

• On the third day he got up with all power in his hands

• On the third day he showed Satan exactly who he was

• On the third day he set the record straight

• On the third day the angels in heaven were cheering at the glorious rising of the King of kings and Lord of Lords.

There’s just something about that number three.

• On the third day the women came to the tomb, you see they didn’t get to finish their task.

• On the way to the tomb they were trying to figure out how they were going to move the stone, but they kept going, they knew there was an obstacle in their way, but they kept going, they knew there was a guard at the tomb, but they kept going. Even when it seems impossible, keep going. Even when the odds are stacked against you, keep going. Even if they tell you no, keep going and know that if God sent you to it he will clear the way for you to get through it.

• God moved the stone away with an earthquake, and caused the guards to faint so the women just walked right in. What door has God opened for you? Go on in.

• It was the third day and Jesus had returned, he had a little more to do, he had just a couple more things to put in place and then, then after 40-days he went back to his place at the right hand of the Father where he sits and intercedes on our behalf. But he didn’t leave us comfortless.

And we have the Holy Ghost

• He empowers us to do what Jesus did

• He helps us to love like Jesus did

• He helps us live like Jesus did

• He helps to navigate this life, like Jesus did

• He’s our conscious and our guide, leading us in the right direction and away from danger.

• He’s that still, small voice telling you don’t say that, don’t go in there or this is the way.

What is the Holy Ghost telling you to do and you’re afraid to step out? Come on, let’s go together, I’ll walk with you, I’ll pray with you, I’ll stand with you. Let’s stay together.

The church is the body of Christ and as we prepare to return to in person worship, let’s stay together so we can impact the world for the Kingdom of God. But we can do that now. Be faithful in our online meetings. Join us on zoom on Sundays at 10 for Sunday School and stay for the message or join us on Facebook Live at 11. Come and interact on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. where we go deeper into the Word with Bible study. Then pray with us Thursday mornings starting at 8:30. You can find the login info on our website at www.lovechristianctr.org. And last, help us spread the message, like and share on whatever platform you’re viewing.

Our mission is to wins souls for the Kingdom of God, if you’re not currently a member of the team you can join today. All it takes is a simple pray, Lord God, I know I’m a sinner, I ask you to forgive me. Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and you died for my sin. Please come into my heart and be Lord of my life, in your name I pray, amen.

If you prayed that prayer for the first time, welcome to the family, please send us and email at [e-mail] and let us congratulate and connect with you. Perhaps you’ve already given your life to Christ and you need somewhere to exercise your gifts and talents, we would love to welcome you into the Love Christian Center family.

Finally, perhaps you’d like to give a tithe or offering to support this ministry. Grab your phones or your checkbook and we’re going to do a virtual offering.

• If you’re giving through CashApp the tag is $LoveChristianCenter all one word.

• If you’re giving through Givelify the tag is Love Christian Center

• To use PayPal you can either login to our website and go to the giving page and click on the donate button or login to your PayPal and send to our email at [e-mail].

• If you don’t have any of those and you’d like to send a check, you can mail it to Love Christian Center, 6000 Stewart Parkway, #5666, Douglasville, GA 30154

Thank you for your giving, let us pray,

Father God, we thank you for the gifts which have been sown into your kingdom, Lord, we ask you to bless them and multiply them that they may be used for the work and advancement of this ministry. We ask a special blessing upon the giver, as they sow their seed into good ground, Lord let it reproduce 30, 60 and 100-fold that which has been planted, we ask it all in Jesus’ name, amen.

And as I come to a close this morning, sometimes depending on the friends you have on Facebook, you can run across some really inspiring things; this was one of those times. This was written by Bill Young.

Every minute someone leaves this world behind.

We are all in “the line” without knowing it.

We never know how many people are before us.

We cannot move to the back of the line.

We cannot step out of the line.

We cannot avoid the line.

So while we wait in line -

Make moments count.

Make priorities.

Make the time.

Make your gifts known.

Make a nobody feel like a somebody.

Make your voice heard.

Make the small things big.

Make someone smile.

Make the change.

Make love.

Make up.

Make peace.

Make sure to tell your people they are loved.

Make sure to have no regrets.

Make sure you are ready.

We can accomplish so much more together, even virtually, than we can as individuals, let’s stay together.