Sermon Central
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Vision Stopped By Division
Contributed by Dr. Jeremy Simpson on Mar 11, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: A Message on the Importance of Unity in the Church
VISION DESTROYED BY DIVISION
1CORINTHIANS 12:12-27
I WANT TO PREACH TONIGHT ON THIS THOUGH
VISION DESTROYED BY DIVISION
A. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! David declared in Psalm 133:1
No matter how much a local church has going for it, division can negate it’s vision.
The word division is constructed of the word vision with the prefix "di", which means, "double".
Double vision can be dangerous
If you are seeing two of everything you need to make a trip to the eye doctor.
IF THERE IS DISHARMONY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH YOU NEED SOME SPIRITUAL DOCTORING.
1. There is nothing better than a church, a group of brethren, who dwell together in unity.
NOTICE SOMETHINGS ABOUT UNITY TONIGHT
I. THE CALL FOR UNITY
2. Paul wrote to the Philippians, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind (Phil 2:2)
a. He had seen the effects of a unified church
b. It was strong, it persevered, it kept the faith.
3. In Acts 4:32 we read: And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:
The Early Church was ONE in UNITY even in the midst of persecution!!!
THIS UNIFIED CHURCH
1. Was turning the world up-side down (Acts 17:6)
2. People were getting saved, right and left, even hundreds right and left!
3. The church saw the power of God at work and worked for God’s kingdom night and day!
ILLUSTRATE
I was reading the Other day about when the British and French were fighting in Canada in the 1750s
Admiral Phipps, commander of the British fleet, was told to anchor outside Quebec.
He was given orders to wait for the British land forces to arrive, then support them when they attacked the city.
Phipps’ navy arrived early.
As the admiral waited, he became annoyed by the STATUES OF THE SAINTS that adorned the towers of a nearby cathedral, so he commanded his men to shoot at them with the ships’ cannons.
No one knows how many rounds were fired or how many statues were knocked out, but when the land forces arrived and the signal was given to attack, the admiral was of no help.
He had used up all his ammunition shooting at the “saints.”
Unfortunately, the same could be said for many Christians today.
When God calls on them to do something great for Him they have
nothing left to give for they have used up their ammunition
shooting at other saints.
Throughout church history -- Churches have split for the stupidest of
reasons.
There are all sorts of Church Problems that are really not Problems
Things get blowed out of Proportion
Things get taken to the extreme
Most of What Baptist Fight over isn’t worth Fighting Over!!!
IF WE WOULD GET AS STIRRED ABOUT SOULS AS WE DO
SOME OF THIS INSIGNIFICANT STUFF WE COULD DO A
WORK FOR GOD
ILLUSTRATE
Not Long ago I read something that was in an issue of National Geographic
There was a photograph of the fossil remains of two saber-tooth cats locked in combat.
To quote the article: “One had bitten deep into the leg bone of the other, a thrust that trapped both in a common fate.”
The cause of the death of the two cats is as clear as the cause of the extinction of their species.
They could not survive because they were too busy fighting each other and the same can be said of the church today.
As the apostle Paul put it: “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” (Galatians 5:15).
Satan is a master at using controversial issues to distract the church from her true mission in the world.
I was watching a Show on TV the other Day
A Group of Thieves went into a Store – Four of them
2 went in and acted like regular Shoppers
2 went in and started a loud commotion in another section of the store.
This grabbed the attention of the clerks and customers.
As all eyes are turned to the disturbance, the accomplices fill their pockets with merchandise and cash, leaving before anyone suspects.
It was Hours later before the victimized merchant realized he had things missing and called the police.
IF THAT’S NOT THE DEVIL’S STRATEGY I’VE NOT HEARD IT
TOO MANY TIMES WE ARE SEDUCED INTO PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DISTRACTIONS, WHILE OUR CHURCHES ARE RANSACKED.
IN THIS CASE WE HAVE LOST NOT OUR MERCHANDISE, BUT OUR MISSION.
And a church without a mission will soon be out of commission.
Paul tells us that we are to “Be of the same mind one toward another” (Romans 12:16).
