Stronger Together

Part 1

I would like to start out by giving you an example of How God answers prayer.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine I have been praying for an end to this conflict.

specifically I’ve been asking God to make the Russian soldiers lay down their arms and surrender.

I know....a big request.

but that is exactly what is happening in Ukraine. starting last week

Russian soldiers are abandoning their tanks and other weapons and asking Ukraine to take them captive.

Praise God!!

There are so many things on my heart, I’ve had a challenging time determining what God would have me say

As I was seeking God on the matter He reminded me of the Vision He gave me prioir to covid. I’ve shared this before with you but it bares repeating

It was the image of water buffalo standing in a circle with the young, old, and infirm in the centre

with all the strong healthy water buffalo standing guard around them.

I could see the enemy circling like a lion, looking for a way to get in, but nothing could be found

Until all of a sudden the strong healthy buffalo just walked away to do their own thing

leaving the the ones in the center defensless

and the lions had their way with them.

I’m afraid this vision came to be over the last few years.

Although the virus did kill people, and I understand the goal was to prevent that from happening

the strategy implemented by those in power did far more damage to so many more people than we will ever know.

eg The strategy to “social distance” although intended as a physical distancing measure...really did was its name suggested.

People are feeling more isolated and alone than ever before

An ipsos Poll says 54% of Canadians feel lonely , isolated

Feelings of isolation are most significant among

68% people between the ages of 18 and 34

58% people between the ages of 35 and 54

40% people older than 55

This was the primary purpose of the enemy.

Matthew 12:25 NASB95

25 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.

The enemy knew God was about to do something unprecedented on Earth.

It was his plan to bring isolation and division to slow the work of God

Little did satan know He was playing right into God’s hands.

Romans 8:28 NASB95

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

I believe the opportunity God has handed to us is the opportunity to spread the gospel like never before as originally intended.

Relationships

Christianity is not a religion, but rather a compilations of relationships

Discipleship was always intended to work in the rhealm of relationships

unfortuntely modern evangelism strategy has lead to leaving a tract on a bus seat or a Bible in a hotel drawer.

although these thing may produced some fruit

God’s real intention was for people to be in relationship.

first with Him and second with each other

Relationships form the very basis of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christ taught that all of the gospel laws hang on our ability to love God and others

Matthew 22:37–40 NASB95

37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

All of God’s laws are ultimately laws of love.

Every commandment is given out of love for you and concern for your well being.

Every commandment ultimately tests your ability to love Him and the people around you.

The idea of monks or nuns who keep to themselves in isolated buildings is foreign to God’s way of thinking

but who are we to judge.

we’ve all spent the last few years isolating in our houses

Just as God has a gospel of relationships,

Satan proposes counterfeit principles that eventually leads to the destruction of relationships, both with God and with others.

have any of you had struggles in your relationships since March 2020?

I believe the enemy has been working on overdrive to destroy relationships

whether through conflict (disagreements) or absence (not feeding the relationship) , relationships are under great destructive force

God teaches you to love others and to learn to live in a Kingdom community.

satan encourages jealousy, disagreement, pride and self righteous judgments.

These keep you from feeling close and connected to others.

God teaches you grow in faith in the community,

while satan teaches its counterfeit perfectionism and “go it alone” mentality which destroys your confidence in yourself and others.

But let’s be real.

relationships are hard.

If your in a relationship, you already know challenges will come up.

when you put impefect people together it won’t create a perfect relationship

the key is to Love the person more than being right.

God was aware satan would focus his efforts on destroying relationships

God knew relationships are key to His Kingdom coming to earth

So God gave us the tools to have good healthy relationship.

These instructions come in the form of “one Another”

The English phrase "one another" is derived from the Greek word allelon,

which means "one another, each other; mutually, reciprocally."

It occurs 100 times in the New Testament.

Approximately 59 of those occurrences are specific commands teaching us how (and how not) to relate to one another.

Obedience to those commands is imperative.

It forms the basis for all true Christian community, and has a direct impact on our witness to the world.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 NASB95

9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

2 are better than 1

but do you know whats better than 2

a community that works as one

that’s what I want to build here a Kingdom Way

I’ve been a part of this church for 29 years,

and 1 thing is clear......I need your help.

I’m not just looking for a church building that is full every Sunday

but rather a community of people that support and build up one another throughout the week

Look to your right.....

Look to your Left....

Look behind you......

now close you eyes and imagine who God has called you reach out to

These are the people that God has brought into your life to make it better

He brought you into their lives to make them better

1 Corinthians 12:14–27 NASB95

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

A local church is not just a place where you come 1 morning a week, sing a few songs, throw a few bucks in the plate and hear a preacher rant on the stage

Sunday morning is where the community comes together as a whole, to celebrate

during the week is when the community comes together.

Over the next few months we will explore the “one another” commands

Like..

Love Another

John 13:34 NASB95

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Devoted to and Honour

Romans 12:10 NASB95

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

Build up

Romans 14:19 NASB95

19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

Accept

Romans 15:7 NASB95

7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Admonish

Romans 15:14 NASB95

14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.

Care for

1 Corinthians 12:25 NASB95

25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

Speak the truth in love

Ephesians 4:15 25

Ephesians 4:15 NASB95

15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Ephesians 4:25 NASB95

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

Show hospitality to one another

1 Peter 4:9 NASB95

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

Forgive one another

Ephesians 4:2 NASB95

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

Pray for one another

James 5:16 NASB95

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Over the next few months i hope we can learn how to increase our relationships with one another

I pray Holy Spirit reveals to you the ones He wants you to go into deeper relationships with.

God doesn’t want us to be lonley

He created us for relationship.

and has promised to meet our every need

Philippians 4:19 NASB95

19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

let me tell you His plans

Lonliness causes us to desire relationships

When we seek a relationship with Him it will foster relationship between each other

those relationships then equip us to carry God’s work out on earth

Its all in God hands

In fact let’s pray that right now.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the people God wants to fit into your life to fill that void of lonliness.

Who He has called for you to be in greater relationships with.

Let’s pray