SURVIVOR SERIES
#7 – SURVIVING TOGETHER
This morning, we are continuing with our sermon series entitled SURVIVOR!
And what we’ve been doing over the last several weeks is talking about how in these times of…
--bail outs
--bank forclosures
--mortgage crises
--bankruptcies
How that we can SURVIVE!
And I’ve given you several things that will ensure your survival in the times we’re living in
So far, we’ve talked about…
--the Assurance of Salvation
--surviving motherhood
--prayer
--the power of the Holy Spirirt
--worship
--knowledge
And today, I want to talk to you about one of the most IMPORTANT things that will ensure our SURVIVAL, and that is learning how to SURVIVE TOGETHER
For without question, the first banana that gets away from the bunch is the first one to get peeled
If we’re going to survive, we need EACH OTHER
And, not only are we going to talk about how you PERSONALLY will survive together with the church, but I’m also going to delve into how this church COLLECTIVELY – how WEST ROAD CHURCH will survive
As you know, we’ve been in intense spiritual warefare over the last few months – but no matter…
--what the devil does
--what Obama does
--what money is or is not in the bank
--what people do
We are going to SURVIVE
With that in mind, let’s read today’s text…
Acts 2:41-47 (KJV) 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
INTRODUCTION
I begin with this thought: SATAN HATES THE TRUE CHURCH!
He’ll do everything he can to destroy any and every…
--Bible believing
--Bible practicing
--soul-winning
--God-loving
--Spirit-filled
--on fire
--worshipping
--active
Church!
He hates everything about it
He hates when we…
--sing
--preach
--teach
--win souls
--organize to become effective
He’ll use any method he can…
--discord
--division
--derision
--ridicule
--sin
--temptation
--fasle doctrine
--(even) people
But I’ve got news for the old devil, Jesus said that THE GATES OF HELL WOULD NOT PREVAIL, and this church is going to SURVIVE
West Road Church is going to…
--survive
--thrive
--reach its potential
--move forward
HERE’S THE KEY: IF we let God do what He wants to do in our midst
You see, I tell people when they take the Membership 101 class that there are two things about the church…
You’re needed!
Your…
--presence
--support
--faithfulness
--frutfulness
--smile
--inviting people
--prayers
--ministry
--willingness
--love
What kind of church would this be if all the members were just like me?
It makes a difference in this church and in the Kingdom of God – YOU’RE NEEDED!
I heard this story…
One day the mayor of a small city was driving through the city square when he noticed 2 city workers doing something rather unusual. Along one side of the main street, they were working steadily. One of the men was digging a hole in the ground, and the other was filling it back up. After watching them dig & fill several holes in this manner, the mayor, somewhat confused, confronted the 2 workers & asked for an explanation. "Well, sir," replied the first man, "we work for the city planting trees, and usually there are 3 of us - one to dig the hole, one to plant the tree, and one to cover it up. The guy who plants the tree called in sick today, but," he proudly announced, "we’re here & we’re doing our jobs anyway."
But not only are you NEEDED, but also…
You need it!
Because there’s no question but that you cannot survive…
--alone
--isolated
--disconnected
As Rick Warren says in the book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” we’re called not only to BELIEVE but to BELONG
And think of how many times the pronoun “we”, “they” and “them” is used, verses the “I” “me” and “mine” is used in scripture
Go back to…
Acts 2:1-4 ( KJV ) 1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
All throughout the book of Acts its about “they”, “they”, “they”
And one of the interesting facts about the book of Acts is that as the book is being written, it’s written in THE FIRST PERSON
But then, staring in 16:10, instead of the book of Acts being a straighforward chronicle, it becomes a personal narritive as Luke, the author, begins writing in THE THIRD PERSON – saying things like…
--we endeauvered
--we came
--we sailed
Think about the LORD’S PRAYER…
--Our Father
--Forgive US
--Lead Us
--Give US
And then, think about what Paul said in Romans
Romans 8:37 (KJV) 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
He did not say I AM A CONQUEROR
No, he said WE
In other words, we need each other if we’re going to SURVIVE
Listen to the rest of the passage…
•Romans 8:28 (KJV) 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
•Romans 8:31 (KJV) 31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
•Romans 8:38-39 (KJV) 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Over and over again we get the picture that there’s something that happens when we get together
Ephesians 3:14-21 ( KJV ) 14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
We were talking about this Wednesday night
Hebrews 12:22-23 (KJV) 22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
And the book of Hebrews speaks of the gathering that is to come and revelation as well
THE POINT IS CLEAR – If you think that you’re so holy that you don’t need the church, then you’re going against all there is in the scripture
And if you don’t like the church, then guess who puts you in company with?
I know the church has it’s…
--problems
--pain
--hypocrites
But it’s still His church!
You NEED IT, and YOU’RE NEEDED!!!
Now, How is this church going to survive?
I’ll tell you how it will survive – let’s look at our text this morning again and let me give you 7 things that will ensure that our church will survive…
1. THE APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE
Acts 2:42 ( KJV ) 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…
In other words…
--they learned the Word of God
--they didn’t go by feelings alone or emotioanlism
--they didn’t go by the latest styles or trends
--they gave serious place to discipleship
And notice the INTENSITY of it – they continued STEDFASTLY
Notice the beauty of the balane in this passage – I think God for…
--shouting
--dancing
--charisma
--gifts of the Spirit
But we must also have clear and concentrated study of DOCTRINE!
If you don’t STAND FOR SOMETHING, you’ll FALL FOR ANTHING
The average person sitting on the church seat ought to be able to defend the most important tenants of the Christian faith
If I ask you to turn to the book of Hezekiah – and you started trying to find it, if you’ve been saved 3 months, no problem
If you’ve been saved for 13 years, something’s not right
We need the APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE
Secondly…
2. FELLOWSHIP
Acts 2:42 (KJV) 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread…
And this continues down…
Acts 2:46 (KJV) 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
A. FELLOWSHIP SHAPES
Because the truth of the matter is who you hang around shapes your…
--thinking
--talking
--destiny
"The difference between who you are today and who you will be in five years will be the people you spend time with and the books you read." – Charlie Jones
Fellowship shapes
And secondly,
B. FELLOWSHIP SHARPENS
The Bible says…
Proverbs 27:17 (KJV) "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
When we fellowship together, it helps us learn…
--quicker (it takes years to learn the Bible)
--easier (it's easier to learn from others experience!)
--better
Not only does fellowship…
--shape
--sharpens
But thirdly…
C. FELLOWSHIP SECURES
The Bible says…
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (KJV) "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. (10) For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."
In other words, when we fall down, if we're walking in fellowship, IT'S MUCH SAFER!!!
Listen to what happened in…
Deuteronomy 25:18 (KJV) "[The enemy] smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary…"
In other words, as the congregation was moving forward, there were those who were lagging behind, and it caused them to be a greater target
Not only…
--the APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE
--FELLOWSHIP
But, thirdly…
3. PRAYER
Acts 2:42 (KJV) 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
If we’re going to SURVIVE as a church, it will be through prayer
And not just individual prayer – but COOPERATE PRAYER
I encourage you to join in with us in the “First Friday Fasts” and those prayer meetings
Fourthly…
4. THE MIRACULOUS
If we’re going to SURVIVE, we need the miraculous
Acts 2:43 ( KJV ) 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And by the way – notice that pharse “and fear came upon every soul” – I think there needs to be REVERENCE in a church if its going to survive
I know that we want the Holy Spirit to move and we don’t want to get bogged down by a church man-made order of service
But neither can we go the other way
And not only that, but I think we need to RESPECT the church house – be careful what you let your kids do
I’m not trying to be hard, but we need that reverence as a part of the church life
And we need the miraculous
I believe God is wanting to do the miraculous this morning
Not only…
--the APOSTLES DOCTRINE
--FELLOWSHIP
--PRAYER
--the MIRACULOUS
But, fifthly, there was…
5. UNITY
Acts 2:44-46 ( KJV ) 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common…46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple…
There’s just so much more we can do when we get TOGETHER
We are BETTER TOGETHER
In fact, this thing of UNITY is so important, the Bible says that we ought to guard against those trying to cause strife and discord in the church
•Romans 16:17-18 ( KJV ) 17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
•Proverbs 6:19 ( KJV ) 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Dr. Robert G. Lee, in his first sermon at the great Belvue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, wrote in his memoiors that his first message was taken from…
…Judges 20:11: “The men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.” I told the folks that together the bricks make the wall; together the links make the chain; together the trees make the forest; together the soldiers make the army; together the cents make the dollars. And that if we would love and work and pray together great things could be done!
Not only…
--the APOSTLES DOCTRINE
--FELLOWSHIP
--PRAYER
--the MIRACULOUS
--UNITY
But, sixthly…
6. GIVING
Acts 2:45 (KJV) 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
In other words, they were a giving church
And if we’re going to be a church that SURVIVES and if you’re going to be a Christian that SURVIVES, then you’re going to have to develop a…
--cheerful
--liberal
--radical
Genoristy and attitude toward giving (which most of you have already)!
Not only…
--the APOSTLES DOCTRINE
--FELLOWSHIP
--PRAYER
--the MIRACULOUS
--UNITY
--GIVING
But, finally…
7. WORSHIP
Acts 2:47 ( KJV ) 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
IN CLOSING
Here’s the key: We need each other!
Let us…
--pray for one another
--provoke one another to good works
--confess our faults to one another that we may be healed
--I was glad when they said let us go to the house of the Lord
And for West Road to Survive, WILL YOU…
--continue in Apostles’ Doctrine (discipleship)
--fellowship
--pray
--walk in unity
--radically give
--worship
What kind of church would this be if all the members were just like me?
