February 3, 2008 Summit AM

Recognizing The Power Of Togetherness

Introduction

A. Text – Jn.17:1-26

B. Jesus is nearing His final moments

            1. His work is about to be finished

                        a. Throughout His life He has heavily relied on His Father

                        b. His goal – to always be doing the Father’s will

            2. Now He turns His attention to His disciples – their task

                        a. Has done what He could in revealing God to them

                                    1) Know He has come from God – was sent by God

                                    2) Wants God to bless them in special way

                        b. They have been obedient up this point

                                    1) Protect them from the world – so they may be one

                                    2) I want them to have the full measure of My joy

                                    3) They have your word – now they must live it

            3. Jesus recognizes the power of togetherness

                        a. The power that comes from being united with His Father

                        b. The power that comes when we are truly united

                        c. Question is – do we?

C. Pray

 

I. God’s Goal – That We All Be As One

            A. Eph.4:1-6

                        1. Live a life worthy of your calling

                                    a. As the church we have an obligation to God

                                                1) To live according to His standards

                                                2) To accept His aims & objectives as ours

                                                3) 1 Cor.6:19,20 – bought with a price – not own

                                    b. Jesus has saved us – something we could not do

                                                1) Without Him – still be facing God’s wrath

                                                2) In Him we are blesses with all spiritual blessings

                        2. Now we must develop the right attitudes – oneness

                                    a. Called from many different sorts of backgrounds

                                                1) One thing was common – all sinned

                                                2) None of us are good enough – all need Jesus

                                    b. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit

                                                1) Comes thru humility; gentleness & patience

                                                2) Because we seek to bear with one another

                                    c. This unity comes from within – God’s Spirit

                                                1) Because we are made new – old man crucified

                                                2) Now He guides me to a real unity in Christ

            B. Eph.4:11-16

                        1. Jesus gifted leaders to equip us for this unity

                                    a. Equip = medical term for the setting of bones

                                    b. Fix what sin has broken (focus was self)

                        2. Their task – prepare us for works of service

                                    a. God’s goal is that all be servants – faithful servants

                                    b. To accomplish that takes a change in attitude – inside out

 

II. Realizing The Power Of Togetherness

            A. Physically

                        1. Illustrations

                                    a. A 3-legged stool (remove one & useless)

                                    b. Suspension bridge cables (many strands woven together)

                        2. Eccles.4:7-12

                                    a. Alone = no end to the toil (never fulfilled)

                                    b. Two are better than one

1) Good return on work

2) Help each other when fall – defend selves

3) Keep warm

            B. Spiritually

                        1. Mt.18:19 – 2 agree

                                    a. Context is discipline – encouraging one another to repent

                                    b. Point - Our agreement brings heaven into the situation

                                    c. Realize – God not giving us a blank check – anything we want

                                                1) God is sovereign – must seek His will

                                                2) Adds to the seriousness of the discipline

                                    d. Is – showing God’s seriousness about the purity of His people

                                                1) Are to strive for oneness – not offend

                                                2) When unwilling – our soul is in danger

                        2. Gen.11:5-7

                                    a. Man is seeking a name for himself – vs.3,4

                                                1) No interest in doing God’s will

                                                2) Evil has full control – we will be in charge

                                    b. Look at God’s response

                                                1) As one nothing they plan to do is impossible

                                                2) In His grace He made this impossible (evil not spread)

 

III. What Take To Achieve Togetherness Spiritually?

            A. Purpose to be equipped spiritually

                        1. Eph.4 – usually just see leaders responsibility (equip us)

                        2. Yet this is impossible to do without our cooperation

                                    a. 2 Pet.1:5 -  make every effort

                                                1) Realize the possibilities

                                                2) Be serious about your growth

                                    b. Heb.6:4-6 – if not take this seriously

                                                1) Come to place where won’t repent

                                                2) Not that can’t – no interest to (slave to sin)

c. 2 Tim.4:1-5 – be faithful even if they are not

           

 

B. Actively seek to serve in God’s kingdom

                        1. Jesus came to serve – not be served

                                    a. Not looking for His own comforts – way

                                    b. Came to do the will of His Father

                                    c. Phil.2:5 – we to have the mind of Christ

                        2. Eph.2:10 – created for good works

                                    a. God has something for us to do – get after this

                                    b. Look for ways to be involved

            C. Accept our responsibility to build up not tear down

                        1. Anybody can tear something up (puppy – her task shred paper)

                                    a. World is full of critics; faultfinders

                                    b. Need people who seek answers – solutions

                        2. Goal - that we attain the unity of the faith?

                                    a. All speak same – find ways to agree; get along

                                    b. Give one another room to grow – 2 Tim.2:24-26

                                    c. What can we do to help one another know Jesus better?

                                    d. How get to where all function together as a body

            D. Realize we have a common enemy – it’s not flesh & blood

                        1. Always on the prowl – 1 Pet.5:8

                        2. Wants to enslave us as Pharaoh did Israel

                                    a. Craftiness & scheming

                                    b. Keep us as children – fall for anything

 

Conclusion

A. Jesus knew the power of togetherness

            1. Always sought to be one with His Father

            2. Prayed that His church would see the wisdom of the same action

B. If we want to be victorious – must seek this togetherness

            1. Is our calling – to become one

            2. Gives us awesome power

            3. Each must take personal responsibility to achieve this