WEBVTT 00:00:00.940 --> 00:00:04.660 What a blessing it is to be together again, and 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:09.240 I want to say thank you to the congregation for 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:12.460 Everything your participation last week in the 00:00:12.460 --> 00:00:15.220 meeting. We had a phenomenal meeting from start 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:18.960 to finish We had great teaching great lessons, 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:21.760 but we had great participation from our congregation 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:24.660 We had a lot of other things outside of just 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:26.899 the services that we did and those were well 00:00:26.899 --> 00:00:30.550 participated in and so I think overall we had 00:00:30.550 --> 00:00:32.770 a fantastic meeting and I just want to thank 00:00:32.770 --> 00:00:35.469 you for everything that was done because it does 00:00:35.469 --> 00:00:37.770 take effort and it does take sacrifice to do 00:00:37.770 --> 00:00:41.630 those things. So I'm very grateful. This morning 00:00:41.630 --> 00:00:44.270 for a few minutes I want to continue with a series 00:00:44.270 --> 00:00:47.210 that we started regarding the mission of the 00:00:47.210 --> 00:00:49.030 church and the mission of the church is very 00:00:49.030 --> 00:00:52.890 very simple. It's to save the lost and to keep 00:00:52.890 --> 00:01:01.299 the same. to save the lost and to keep the saved. 00:01:01.619 --> 00:01:04.579 Last time we talked about worship and the importance 00:01:04.579 --> 00:01:07.400 of worship on the mission of the church and it 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:09.980 is important to come together to have time to 00:01:09.980 --> 00:01:11.900 worship but it's also important that we worship 00:01:11.900 --> 00:01:14.719 outside and how we live our lives and it's important 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:17.799 on how we worship that God has called us to worship 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:20.459 in spirit and in truth and it takes both of those 00:01:20.459 --> 00:01:23.760 things. And I look at the thought the thoughts 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:25.859 about fellowship and I think well, we kind of 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:27.980 know what fellowship is We have fellowships we 00:01:27.980 --> 00:01:30.379 get together. We like to get together. Obviously. 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:34.140 We love each other We like to eat some of us 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:36.900 a lot more than others. We like to eat Sometimes 00:01:36.900 --> 00:01:39.060 when we think about fellowship, maybe the idea 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:43.260 popped in your mind was sire dough bread pizza 00:01:43.260 --> 00:01:47.760 rolls Brenda's fried apples Something like that. 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:49.780 That's okay. That's fellowship to you. We can 00:01:49.780 --> 00:01:53.180 fellowship around those things But you know fellowship 00:01:53.180 --> 00:01:56.219 is much more than that And when I think about 00:01:56.219 --> 00:01:58.519 fellowship and I just and I want to just try 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:02.159 to wrap up fellowship and into one sentence I 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:08.639 would say this I Can't do this alone. I Can't 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:13.919 walk alone And I need you to help me walk Then 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:17.800 you need us to help you walk And we were made 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:22.430 to be together It is God's divine plan that we 00:02:22.430 --> 00:02:24.969 come together and we be together not just on 00:02:24.969 --> 00:02:28.129 this time on a Sunday morning, not just a Sunday 00:02:28.129 --> 00:02:30.490 evening service, not just a Wednesday night service, 00:02:30.550 --> 00:02:33.250 but it is important that we come together as 00:02:33.250 --> 00:02:37.389 the church to share our lives together because 00:02:37.389 --> 00:02:40.349 we are better together. It's because that's how 00:02:40.349 --> 00:02:42.840 we were designed. And I appreciate the reading 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:44.560 this morning from brother Matt and acts chapter 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:46.879 two verse 42. I want to go back over this one 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:49.120 more time. I just want to point out some things 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:51.199 in the scripture this morning. I want you to 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.259 think acts chapter two is the day of Pentecost 00:02:53.259 --> 00:02:56.300 right after the day of Pentecost when Peter he's 00:02:56.300 --> 00:02:58.199 been given the keys to the kingdom and he opens 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:00.979 up the door and it lets people into the church. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:04.000 The first time the church is opened up to people 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:08.349 to come into and then what happens next? After 00:03:08.349 --> 00:03:10.349 they heard the preaching of the gospel and 3 00:03:10.349 --> 00:03:13.250 ,000 souls were saved, what happened next? Because 00:03:13.250 --> 00:03:16.530 now we see a picture of the church forming together 00:03:16.530 --> 00:03:19.330 and what it's gonna become and how we're gonna 00:03:19.330 --> 00:03:22.449 live our life and how we're gonna act in our 00:03:22.449 --> 00:03:25.189 life. And it says in verse 42, and they continued 00:03:25.189 --> 00:03:28.449 steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship. 00:03:29.310 --> 00:03:31.169 They gave attention to teaching. They wanted 00:03:31.169 --> 00:03:33.610 to learn what... God wanted for them and what 00:03:33.610 --> 00:03:36.409 God desired for them for they to be pleasing 00:03:36.409 --> 00:03:39.069 to God. And so they took attention to the apostles 00:03:39.069 --> 00:03:41.530 doctrine and what he was teaching, but they took 00:03:41.530 --> 00:03:46.030 attention also to fellowship, to being together. 00:03:46.629 --> 00:03:49.909 They were now the church, the called out of this 00:03:49.909 --> 00:03:52.590 world. And it was important for them to be together 00:03:52.590 --> 00:03:55.710 in breaking of bread and communion. The word 00:03:55.710 --> 00:03:58.530 that we use for communion is fellowship. Those. 00:03:58.699 --> 00:04:02.240 Those words can be used interchangeably in prayers. 00:04:02.939 --> 00:04:05.500 Prayers were important. Praying for one another. 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:08.199 Praying for those that were without. Having a 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:10.639 relationship with God. Being thankful to God 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:12.639 and showing him a heart of gratitude for all 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:15.319 that he's done. And fear came upon every soul 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:17.800 and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:21.360 And all that believe were together and had all 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:25.019 things common. They were living life together 00:04:25.019 --> 00:04:27.379 and some and sold their possessions and goods 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:30.040 and part of them to all men as every man had 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:34.220 need. You know, many people had come a long ways 00:04:34.220 --> 00:04:38.139 to come to Jerusalem for Pentecost. And you know, 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:40.279 when you pack for a trip, you kind of pack what 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:43.540 you need, maybe a little bit extra, but something 00:04:43.540 --> 00:04:45.439 great had happened at Jerusalem and they weren't 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:49.180 going home anytime soon. They needed food. They 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:51.699 needed a place to stay. And I'm gonna tell you 00:04:51.699 --> 00:04:53.620 what, the brethren came up and they said, you 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:56.480 know what, I've got extra. I'm willing to share 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:58.779 with those that they may be a part of this or 00:04:58.779 --> 00:05:01.480 I'll sell a piece of land. That way we can have 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:03.660 money so we can distribute and take care of these 00:05:03.660 --> 00:05:06.920 people here. That seems like a really odd concept. 00:05:07.259 --> 00:05:09.220 Can you ever think about a time in your life 00:05:09.220 --> 00:05:11.519 where you said, I'm gonna sell a piece of land 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:14.379 just so somebody else can meet and eat and worship? 00:05:15.939 --> 00:05:18.980 It's kind of foreign to us, isn't it? But that's 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:21.579 what they did at Pentecost or when the church 00:05:21.579 --> 00:05:24.079 was established here after Pentecost and they 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:28.939 continued daily with one accord You mean they 00:05:28.939 --> 00:05:31.939 just didn't see each other the next Sunday So 00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:34.500 well, see you next Sunday. That's when the Lord's 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:38.259 called us together daily They were a part of 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:41.019 each other's lives They were with one accord 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:43.839 in the temple when they went to worship breaking 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:47.240 bread from house to house They spent time together 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:50.199 outside of the worship times. They did eat their 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:53.860 meat with gladness and singleness of heart They 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:57.899 were of one heart these people Praising God and 00:05:57.899 --> 00:06:00.779 having favor with all the people are having goodwill 00:06:00.779 --> 00:06:03.600 or grace toward the people and The Lord added 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:07.360 to the church daily as such should be saved This 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:10.480 is a picture of the church This is the picture 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:13.040 of the New Testament church. This is a picture 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:17.060 of what our church Must pattern itself after 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:19.920 a group of people that have come together with 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:23.420 one mission one cause under one banner with one 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:30.379 savior Together Now one of great Satan's greatest 00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:33.800 lies is that we can make it alone You know, I 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:37.399 like time alone Sometimes we need that time alone. 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:39.600 Sometimes we need to go into our prayer closet 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:43.160 alone and spend time alone But I will tell you, 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:45.939 for the majority of the rest of the time, I'm 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:48.579 much better with somebody else. I don't want 00:06:48.579 --> 00:06:50.759 to feel isolated. I don't want to feel by myself. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:53.220 But Satan, he likes to isolate us and get us 00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:56.079 alone. Historically, look at some things that's 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:58.459 happened. He asked isolated eaves from Adam's 00:06:58.459 --> 00:07:02.680 council. Separate the husband and wife and take 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:06.519 the woman in and beguile her and and try to tell 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:09.860 her a lie. that she may eat and she did eat and 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:12.000 she took it and gave it to her husband. You remember 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.000 the story? I believe it's in first Kings chapter 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:17.800 19. Elijah, he gets this threat from Jezebel 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.180 that Jezebel says he's going to kill Elijah. 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:22.519 He's going to make his life as a life of one 00:07:22.519 --> 00:07:25.779 of those prophets that Elijah and his prophet 00:07:25.779 --> 00:07:29.399 slew there after the sacrifice, the contest. 00:07:30.189 --> 00:07:32.389 Well, we see Elijah he gets out in the wilderness 00:07:32.389 --> 00:07:34.509 alone He sits down up on it underneath the juniper 00:07:34.509 --> 00:07:36.889 tree and he wishes for himself that he might 00:07:36.889 --> 00:07:44.170 die Because he was alone But he got help what 00:07:44.170 --> 00:07:47.769 about Judas Did you just take Peter with him 00:07:47.769 --> 00:07:50.670 when he went to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of 00:07:50.670 --> 00:07:54.689 silver? Who did he take with him? He didn't take 00:07:54.689 --> 00:07:58.519 anybody with him He was isolated from the Apostles 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:01.459 and it gave him an opportunity to sin and to 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:06.839 betray the Lord of Lords Isolation is dangerous 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:11.019 for the Christian and The devil seeks to isolate 00:08:11.019 --> 00:08:13.720 you away from the church You know one of Satan's 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:16.699 greatest victories is if he can take you and 00:08:16.699 --> 00:08:18.879 drag you away from this group of people here 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:22.279 That's what he wants to do Don't you know that 00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:25.259 it hate that it it? It wears on him and he hates 00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:27.279 to see you and I gathered together in the name 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:30.100 of Jesus this morning as one people called into 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:33.039 one person and one purpose and one salvation. 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.340 Don't you know that he can't stand that this 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:38.639 morning because we're stronger together because 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:40.779 we have brothers and sisters together are looking 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:42.940 after the well -being of each other, not just 00:08:42.940 --> 00:08:45.679 for worldly good. I want to see my brothers and 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:49.000 sisters be prospered in worldly ways that they 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:54.590 have enough, but this is more spiritual. Don't 00:08:54.590 --> 00:08:56.830 want to see my brothers and sisters be weak. 00:08:56.909 --> 00:09:01.289 I don't want to be weak Don't you get strength 00:09:01.289 --> 00:09:03.529 by coming into the assembly? Don't you get strength 00:09:03.529 --> 00:09:05.909 from talking to brothers and sisters people that 00:09:05.909 --> 00:09:08.970 don't just have your best worldly Ambitions in 00:09:08.970 --> 00:09:11.730 mind, but but your best spiritual ambitions in 00:09:11.730 --> 00:09:15.090 mind Don't you know that you're sitting amongst 00:09:15.090 --> 00:09:18.789 people that what they wouldn't do that you go 00:09:18.789 --> 00:09:23.759 to heaven That's what matters The first thing 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:26.419 God said was not good. It was not sin. It was 00:09:26.419 --> 00:09:28.620 not suffering. It was not sorrow It was this 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:31.500 fact here Genesis 2 and 18 and the Lord God said 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:34.940 it is not good that man should be alone. I Will 00:09:34.940 --> 00:09:38.539 make for him a help meet for him or a helper 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:45.320 that is capable to take and help him God saw 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:49.000 man. He created Adam and he was by himself And 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:50.860 Adam looked around at all the other creations 00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:54.179 said all this other creation has something to 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:57.100 Habitate with but here I am. I'm different. I'm 00:09:57.100 --> 00:10:00.200 alone And you know God is the giver of great 00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:03.559 good gifts He's the giver of all good gifts and 00:10:03.559 --> 00:10:06.240 what he do he gave him to Adam this great gift 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:10.120 this helper So that he didn't have to be alone 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:13.320 anymore Someone that he could talk to and that 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:15.360 he could walk by and that he could labor with 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:21.740 in the garden What a precious gift When you think 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:24.360 about your marriage, can you think am I better 00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:27.899 off or worse off with my spouse? I'm going to 00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:30.159 tell you unequivocally this morning. I am better 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:34.519 with my spouse She provides for me things that 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:38.960 I need She cares about me. She looks to my good 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:43.019 She is the person that I dream with make plans 00:10:43.019 --> 00:10:49.710 with The marriage the spouse is an awesome gift 00:10:49.710 --> 00:10:55.409 from God. It's a built -in best friend. And that 00:10:55.409 --> 00:10:57.610 best friend just doesn't say, I'm your best friend. 00:10:57.629 --> 00:11:01.570 They make vows to stand with you, for better, 00:11:01.690 --> 00:11:04.750 for worse, for rich or poor. No matter what happens 00:11:04.750 --> 00:11:08.190 in this life, I will stand with you. God made 00:11:08.190 --> 00:11:11.070 that, and he made that for you because you're 00:11:11.070 --> 00:11:15.169 better off with that. God never intended humanity 00:11:15.169 --> 00:11:17.590 to live in isolation because God himself lives 00:11:17.590 --> 00:11:20.070 in eternal fellowship There's always been fellowship 00:11:20.070 --> 00:11:22.950 inside the realm of God and we consider the Holy 00:11:22.950 --> 00:11:25.450 Trinity the Father Son the Holy Spirit They enjoy 00:11:25.450 --> 00:11:28.429 perfect communion before creation ever existed 00:11:28.429 --> 00:11:31.769 It's not just God the Father, but it's God the 00:11:31.769 --> 00:11:34.649 Father. It's Jesus the Son. It's the Holy Spirit 00:11:34.649 --> 00:11:37.350 altogether You see a fellowship there even in 00:11:37.350 --> 00:11:40.309 God's grander design. There is fellowship. There's 00:11:40.309 --> 00:11:44.850 unity within Fellowship is not merely a church 00:11:44.850 --> 00:11:46.950 activity again. We can't just think about the 00:11:46.950 --> 00:11:49.490 Eaton's we have here We have family game nights. 00:11:49.490 --> 00:11:54.169 I love family game nights hang out play games 00:11:54.169 --> 00:11:57.590 You don't I mean if you've ever seen Daniel giggle, 00:11:57.590 --> 00:12:00.269 I mean Daniel will giggle over certain games. 00:12:00.269 --> 00:12:05.549 It's kind of funny But it's not merely that what 00:12:05.549 --> 00:12:08.549 is it? Fellowship is the answer to man's deepest 00:12:08.549 --> 00:12:10.970 loneliness and God's meth method for keeping 00:12:10.970 --> 00:12:15.519 souls faithful It's intentional. It must be intentional 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:18.460 God create us for fellowship because he desired 00:12:18.460 --> 00:12:22.419 our fellowship Fellowship begins in the heart 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:26.039 of God It does not start in our desires that 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:28.559 we don't want to be alone But it truly starts 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:31.340 inside of the heart of God before man desired 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:35.490 God God desired man We see that in the garden 00:12:35.490 --> 00:12:38.529 after Adam sinned, God came seeking Adam. In 00:12:38.529 --> 00:12:40.909 Genesis 3 and 9 it says, and the Lord God called 00:12:40.909 --> 00:12:43.850 unto Adam and said unto Adam, where art thou? 00:12:44.590 --> 00:12:46.889 Where are you at, Adam? Now why did he ask that 00:12:46.889 --> 00:12:49.669 question? Because what we see before that, they 00:12:49.669 --> 00:12:51.909 were walking hand in hand, there was no sin in 00:12:51.909 --> 00:12:54.649 the world, there was no separation between God 00:12:54.649 --> 00:12:58.750 and man, but man had sinned. And God had warned 00:12:58.750 --> 00:13:01.950 man that if you sin, if you eat of the tree of 00:13:01.950 --> 00:13:04.429 the knowledge of good and evil, In that day you 00:13:04.429 --> 00:13:07.509 will surely die Now we know that the aid of the 00:13:07.509 --> 00:13:09.309 fruit, but they didn't fall over dead. So what 00:13:09.309 --> 00:13:12.309 did God mean? It will cause separation between 00:13:12.309 --> 00:13:14.830 you and I and that's what death is death is separation 00:13:14.830 --> 00:13:18.809 when we die physically We are separated from 00:13:18.809 --> 00:13:21.990 our loved ones. Our body is separated from our 00:13:21.990 --> 00:13:24.350 spirit and our soul their separation, but this 00:13:24.350 --> 00:13:29.909 separation that was caused is much deeper Separation 00:13:29.909 --> 00:13:33.659 than just our loved ones being Torn away from 00:13:33.659 --> 00:13:39.759 us from death. Where are you, Adam? See, God 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:42.740 wasn't seeking information. He was seeking relationship. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:49.240 Where are you, Adam? Adam, you've been separated 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:53.960 from me. He knew exactly where Adam was standing, 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:57.360 but he made the point that we are now separated. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:01.639 Adam, your sin has separated us from each other. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:05.399 Throughout scripture God repeatedly pursues fellowship. 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:07.740 He did it with walking with Adam in the garden 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:10.639 He did it with speaking with Abraham as a friend 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:13.379 dwelling among Israel in the tabernacle becoming 00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:16.960 flesh in Jesus Christ He came and visited mankind 00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:20.000 and had fellowship with mankind and he does it 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:22.139 dwelling within believers through the spirit 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:26.159 today This fellowship exists through us. The 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:29.639 story of redemption is the story of God restoring 00:14:29.639 --> 00:14:35.120 fellowship That's what it is Salvation is ultimately 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:38.080 reconciliation many of you salvation only as 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:40.600 forgiveness and I won't tell you what Salvation 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:43.320 is forgiveness and coming to know Jesus Christ 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:46.759 in faith and obedience It does bring forgiveness 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:48.879 and it does take the burden of sin away from 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:51.080 us and man I tell you what if I had a burden 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:54.309 of sin, I'd sure want it gone If you're not here 00:14:54.309 --> 00:14:55.990 today and you're not a member of his church, 00:14:56.169 --> 00:14:58.769 if you've not been baptized into Christ, if you've 00:14:58.769 --> 00:15:00.429 not confessed faith in him today, I'm gonna tell 00:15:00.429 --> 00:15:02.950 you what, it's great to take a great burden off. 00:15:03.330 --> 00:15:06.570 It's important that you can walk out of these 00:15:06.570 --> 00:15:08.690 doors today, forgiven of your sins, that God 00:15:08.690 --> 00:15:10.970 will no longer hold those things against you. 00:15:11.429 --> 00:15:13.070 But I'm gonna tell you what's just as good today 00:15:13.070 --> 00:15:17.039 as a relationship. That relationship with God 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:19.440 that we can enjoy and share forgiveness is the 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:21.919 means but fellowship is the goal here Isaiah 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:24.940 59 verse 2 says but your iniquities your sins 00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:28.720 Have separated between you and your God and your 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:30.720 sins have hid his face from you that he will 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:34.399 not hear It separated Adam and I'll tell you 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:37.120 what it separated every man and every woman that's 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:41.159 ever lived ever since Our sins have separated 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:44.580 us or cause separation has caused us to go out 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:48.159 of fellowship with God Almighty. First Corinthians 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:52.399 one nine says, but God is faithful man. We can 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.220 spend a lot of time on that statement right there. 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:57.399 How faithful that God is. God is faithful by 00:15:57.399 --> 00:16:00.279 whom you were called into the fellowship of his 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:03.279 son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. You have been called. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:06.679 He has extended an invitation to you and I that 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:09.059 we might be brought back into fellowship with 00:16:09.059 --> 00:16:15.129 God. God won't have to wonder where are you? 00:16:15.190 --> 00:16:17.529 Because God knows where you're at and you know 00:16:17.529 --> 00:16:20.909 where God sits and you enjoy that relationship 00:16:20.909 --> 00:16:23.470 and that covenant relationship Think of all that 00:16:23.470 --> 00:16:27.870 he's done to make that fellowship possible Do 00:16:27.870 --> 00:16:30.509 you remember when you were separated those of 00:16:30.509 --> 00:16:32.070 you that are Christian that you remember when 00:16:32.070 --> 00:16:37.950 you were separated? And how guilty you felt that 00:16:37.950 --> 00:16:41.710 you're seeing you're seeing Had separated you 00:16:41.710 --> 00:16:46.129 from an almighty God that loved you but then 00:16:46.129 --> 00:16:49.850 From hearing the Word of God faith came And you 00:16:49.850 --> 00:16:52.070 understood that God loved you and that he sent 00:16:52.070 --> 00:16:56.350 Jesus his son to be that sacrifice for your sins 00:16:56.350 --> 00:16:59.809 That's your blood your your sins might be blotted 00:16:59.809 --> 00:17:04.289 out by his blood For what purpose for forgiveness 00:17:04.289 --> 00:17:08.049 of sins, but for that relationship to be brought 00:17:08.049 --> 00:17:10.759 back That you could stand and you could call 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:14.339 God your father. That you could be called a child 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:17.259 of God. That you could be a part of the family 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:22.119 of God. Heaven is eternal fellowship just restored. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.319 The greatest blessing of heaven is not golden 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:27.890 streets. It's God's presence. I've made that 00:17:27.890 --> 00:17:29.750 argument before. I won't belabor it today. I 00:17:29.750 --> 00:17:31.829 don't believe in golden streets. I think that's 00:17:31.829 --> 00:17:34.230 just an analogy. I don't think you can put a 00:17:34.230 --> 00:17:35.970 price on heaven. I don't think you can put a 00:17:35.970 --> 00:17:38.210 value on heaven. I just think you have to use 00:17:38.210 --> 00:17:41.809 words like gold to portray value of how awesome 00:17:41.809 --> 00:17:43.869 it's going to be. First Corinthians two nine 00:17:43.869 --> 00:17:46.630 says, but as it is written, I has not seen nor 00:17:46.630 --> 00:17:48.569 ear heard nor entered into the heart of man. 00:17:48.589 --> 00:17:50.849 The things that God has prepared for them that 00:17:50.849 --> 00:17:54.460 love him. You've never seen it. You've never 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:56.539 heard anything like what it's gonna sound like 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:59.740 in heaven Your imagination can't dive deep enough 00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:02.000 into what heaven is gonna be like one day You 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:05.440 just can't do it in a mortal mind The Bible says 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:08.000 in Revelation 21 and 3 and it says I heard a 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:11.259 great voice out of heaven saying behold The tabernacle 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:14.380 of God is with men and he will dwell with them 00:18:14.569 --> 00:18:17.769 They shall be his people and God himself shall 00:18:17.769 --> 00:18:21.029 be with them and be their God. What is heaven 00:18:21.029 --> 00:18:25.730 going to be like? It is going to be pure unadulterated 00:18:25.730 --> 00:18:30.150 fellowship with our God we're going to stand 00:18:30.150 --> 00:18:32.910 there and we're going to be named his people 00:18:32.910 --> 00:18:35.769 and We are going to look at him and we are going 00:18:35.769 --> 00:18:39.470 to claim him as our God and there's going to 00:18:39.470 --> 00:18:41.910 be nothing in heaven that's ever going to separate 00:18:41.910 --> 00:18:44.890 that fellowship between us and God ever again. 00:18:45.529 --> 00:18:47.349 There's not going to be any more temptation. 00:18:48.029 --> 00:18:50.589 There's not going to be any more sin. There's 00:18:50.589 --> 00:18:52.369 not going to be more regrets. There's not going 00:18:52.369 --> 00:18:55.269 to be any more sorrow or crying or pain or anything 00:18:55.269 --> 00:18:57.509 that would take us away from him. What a day 00:18:57.509 --> 00:19:01.509 that'll be to be in full and perfect fellowship 00:19:01.509 --> 00:19:04.329 with the father once again, like he was made 00:19:04.329 --> 00:19:06.990 from the beginning. The church should reflect 00:19:06.990 --> 00:19:11.529 earth on earth what heaven will be forever This 00:19:11.529 --> 00:19:15.990 is our goal to be named his people to name him 00:19:15.990 --> 00:19:20.250 as our God and we We distribute that we voice 00:19:20.250 --> 00:19:23.809 that to where we go Christ demonstrated the necessity 00:19:23.809 --> 00:19:28.190 of fellowship when he came he came as man A hundred 00:19:28.190 --> 00:19:30.470 percent man in the flesh, but a hundred percent 00:19:30.470 --> 00:19:33.750 God. Jesus intentionally surrounded himself with 00:19:33.750 --> 00:19:36.690 people. And if anybody could have lived independently 00:19:36.690 --> 00:19:39.769 in this world, it was Jesus. I mean, what did 00:19:39.769 --> 00:19:45.430 he need from us? Right? What, what act of service, 00:19:45.589 --> 00:19:49.730 what act of tribute can you give a God that literally 00:19:49.730 --> 00:19:53.230 made everything that owns everything? It's like 00:19:53.230 --> 00:19:55.109 trying to find the gift for the person who has 00:19:55.109 --> 00:19:59.079 it all. What are you gonna give? He chose his 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:01.400 disciples, he ate with them, he walked with them, 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:03.759 he taught them, he served them, he prayed with 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:06.839 them, and he prayed for them. But we see a glimpse 00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:10.220 in Gethsemane about the importance of fellowship 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:13.119 and how Christ felt about the fellowship of his 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:16.680 followers. Matthew 26 verse 36 says, then cometh 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:19.500 Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, 00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:22.140 and said unto his disciples, sit ye here while 00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:25.259 I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter 00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:28.460 and the two sons of Zebedee James and John and 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:33.160 began to be sorrowful and very heavy He took 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:35.319 three of his followers with him. He said I need 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:38.279 you to come I need you to watch while I go and 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:41.700 pray And the Bible says he was very sorrowful. 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:43.900 He was very heavy You know, there's three words 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:48.000 in the Greek that describe heaviness right here 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:51.279 And of all those words that describe a heaviness. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:56.420 This is by far the heaviest of the heaviest it 00:20:56.420 --> 00:21:02.420 is somewhat described as depression jesus is 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:06.700 being brought very low why is he brought very 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:11.140 low at this time he quite literally has the weight 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:15.940 of the world and more specifically the sin of 00:21:15.940 --> 00:21:20.759 the world bearing down on his shoulders and he 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:25.720 knows what the cost is. He knows what's coming. 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:31.160 And so he takes three disciples with him to stand 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:33.480 with him, to be with him during this difficult 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:37.259 time. Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceeding 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:39.680 sorrowful even unto death, tarry ye here and 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:42.319 watch with me. And he went a little farther and 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.900 fell on his face and prayed saying, Oh my father, 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:47.799 if it be possible, let this cup pass for me. 00:21:47.869 --> 00:21:50.769 Nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt and 00:21:50.769 --> 00:21:54.349 he cometh into disciples and Findeth them asleep 00:21:54.349 --> 00:21:57.910 and Seth into Peter. What could you not watch 00:21:57.910 --> 00:22:02.890 with me one hour? His most desperate time the 00:22:02.890 --> 00:22:05.390 weight of the world on his shoulders He's taken 00:22:05.390 --> 00:22:07.529 three with him just to be some moral support 00:22:07.529 --> 00:22:09.910 while he's going through this time And he comes 00:22:09.910 --> 00:22:12.210 back out of the garden after he's been praying 00:22:12.210 --> 00:22:15.630 on his face, and he looks at him and there they 00:22:15.630 --> 00:22:25.130 are And they're asleep Man I Need you Peter. 00:22:25.450 --> 00:22:29.490 I need you. I need you right now John Can you 00:22:29.490 --> 00:22:32.690 not just stay awake just another hour? While 00:22:32.690 --> 00:22:35.509 I go through this trial, can you not be with 00:22:35.509 --> 00:22:46.500 me? This is Jesus If Jesus needed a friend In 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:50.099 a dark hour? How much more do you and I need 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:54.680 friends in dark hours? He said, watch and pray 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:57.599 that you enter not into temptation. The spirit 00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:00.440 indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. And 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:02.500 he went away again the second time and prayed 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:05.299 saying, Oh my father, if this cup may not pass 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:07.779 away from me, except I drink it, thy will be 00:23:07.779 --> 00:23:10.640 done. And he came and found them asleep again 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:13.720 for their eyes were heavy. He left them and went 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:16.460 away again and prayed the third time saying the 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:19.599 same words Then he cometh to his disciples and 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:22.359 said to them sleep on now and take your rest 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:25.140 Behold the hours at hand and the son of man is 00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:30.339 betrayed into the hands of sinners Jesus desired 00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:34.099 fellowship It was important to Jesus even though 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:37.859 he was the divine son of God. He was their creation 00:23:38.190 --> 00:23:40.750 He created all things. He knew all things. He 00:23:40.750 --> 00:23:44.009 is a god of infinite power and infinite wisdom 00:23:44.009 --> 00:23:48.970 and infinite love. But yet he desired fellowship. 00:23:50.450 --> 00:23:54.829 Be with me, watch and pray with me. The son of 00:23:54.829 --> 00:23:57.190 God desired companionship. The burden was his 00:23:57.190 --> 00:23:59.390 alone to bear in the garden, but he didn't want 00:23:59.390 --> 00:24:02.329 to face the agony alone. Even perfect people 00:24:02.329 --> 00:24:05.640 need faithful command companions. How about how 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:07.900 much more to imperfect people like you and I 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:12.400 need companions? I Tell you what if Jesus needed 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.440 fellowship if he yearned for fellowship, what 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:18.420 does that say for our? Well, but we need to yearn 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:22.140 for fellowship we need to be faithful in our 00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:26.240 fellowship both asking for it and Giving it in 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:29.819 return the cross demonstrates the horror of the 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:33.529 separation Matthew 27 46 the Bible says about 00:24:33.529 --> 00:24:35.789 the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice 00:24:35.789 --> 00:24:39.029 saying Eli Eli Lamassabat tonight That is to 00:24:39.029 --> 00:24:42.970 say my god my god. Why has thou forsaken me? 00:24:44.089 --> 00:24:47.529 Jesus hung on that cross The sin of the world 00:24:47.529 --> 00:24:50.769 had been laid on him the perfect spotless lamb 00:24:50.769 --> 00:24:56.710 of God And he was there alone the father was 00:24:56.710 --> 00:24:59.519 not going to come to his rescue Father was not 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:01.579 going to pull him down off that cross the father 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:04.880 was going to let his will be done Being the father's 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:12.740 will be done And he suffered The physical agony 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:18.259 was terrible But being separated from a holy 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:23.660 God is worse It's not just mere physical merely 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:26.200 physical suffering. It's the separation and what 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:30.450 sin does it? It destroys fellowship. You know, 00:25:30.450 --> 00:25:33.829 if we let sin come into our marriage, it will 00:25:33.829 --> 00:25:37.990 destroy our fellowship with our spouse. If we 00:25:37.990 --> 00:25:40.509 let sin come into our home, it will destroy our 00:25:40.509 --> 00:25:43.869 home. If we let sin come into the church, it 00:25:43.869 --> 00:25:46.910 will destroy the relationships that we have in 00:25:46.910 --> 00:25:50.809 our congregation. The cross -purchase restoration. 00:25:52.130 --> 00:25:54.910 And it's for him, and it's for him alone that 00:25:54.910 --> 00:26:00.569 you and I have redemption from our sins. Jesus 00:26:00.569 --> 00:26:04.569 hated sin. And you and I as Christians, we ought 00:26:04.569 --> 00:26:07.829 to hate sin equally. We need to keep it away 00:26:07.829 --> 00:26:10.450 from our marriage. We need to keep it away from 00:26:10.450 --> 00:26:12.529 our homes. We need to keep it out of the church. 00:26:13.630 --> 00:26:17.390 Are we imperfect people? Absolutely. But we are 00:26:17.390 --> 00:26:20.849 imperfect people with a realization that we are 00:26:20.849 --> 00:26:24.349 a family of imperfect people. And everybody needs 00:26:24.349 --> 00:26:28.470 support. everybody needs help there's no one 00:26:28.470 --> 00:26:30.750 person looking down on another here because we're 00:26:30.750 --> 00:26:33.029 all in the same boat and I'll tell you what this 00:26:33.029 --> 00:26:35.829 world cries out for equality equality equality 00:26:35.829 --> 00:26:38.650 I won't tell you we're real equality lands it's 00:26:38.650 --> 00:26:42.029 in the gospel because you and I are all sinners 00:26:42.029 --> 00:26:48.089 we're all equal we're all imperfect through the 00:26:48.089 --> 00:26:52.160 cross we can all be saved Biblical fellowship 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:54.660 is more than just association. Fellowship is 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:59.000 sharing a common life. The word koinonia means 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:01.859 participation or communion or partnership. You 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:04.400 can absolutely attend church without fellowship 00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:09.039 in the church. You can be a member of North Warren 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:12.480 Church of Christ and you can disregard fellowship. 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:14.940 You're not supposed to, but I'm saying you're 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:17.880 capable of it. You can come and share a building 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:20.299 together and you can still failed to share a 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:23.119 life together. I will tell you what, brother, 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:26.980 we were called for much higher than that. The 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:29.000 life that we've been called to in the example 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:31.640 that we see there in Acts chapter two, what the 00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:33.740 church did, how they come together and had all 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:35.680 things common and they broke bread from house 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:37.940 to house and they had singleness of heart and 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:40.259 they were in one accord. That's what God is calling 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:43.619 us to. There's no sex in the church. There's 00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:46.759 no clicks in the church. There's no groups. There's 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:51.210 no hierarchy in the church. There ordained offices 00:27:51.210 --> 00:27:53.609 of elders and deacons in this church, but I'm 00:27:53.609 --> 00:27:55.309 gonna tell you what elders and deacons are not 00:27:55.309 --> 00:27:58.849 any better than anybody else If it were just 00:27:58.849 --> 00:28:00.910 up to elders and deacons to do the work of God 00:28:00.910 --> 00:28:02.769 and that would leave everybody else out But it's 00:28:02.769 --> 00:28:08.009 not the way God set up the church It's our job 00:28:08.009 --> 00:28:10.950 to do the work of the church it's everybody's 00:28:10.950 --> 00:28:13.970 job to do the work of the church and to function 00:28:13.970 --> 00:28:17.670 Biblical fellowship is much deeper A few things 00:28:17.670 --> 00:28:20.809 that God has called us to do to each other. Share 00:28:20.809 --> 00:28:23.730 burdens is one. Galatians 6 and 2. Bear ye one 00:28:23.730 --> 00:28:27.109 another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. 00:28:27.829 --> 00:28:32.230 You know, it's not just suggested. It's mandatory 00:28:32.230 --> 00:28:36.190 to bear one another's burdens. You know how you 00:28:36.190 --> 00:28:38.619 do that? You share each other's burdens. You 00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:40.900 know what each other's burdens are. You spend 00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:42.720 time together and you figure that out. You build 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:45.359 trust and relationships with other people so 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:47.279 that you can share those things and those things 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:50.380 can be shared with you. We share joys here. Romans 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:53.220 chapter 12 verse 15, it says, rejoice with them 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:55.460 that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. 00:28:55.640 --> 00:29:00.079 I'm gonna tell you what, in real thing, when 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:03.680 you have a victory in your life, I have a victory 00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:08.099 in my life because I enjoy being a cheerleader 00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:11.599 for my brethren. When I see somebody do good, 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:15.019 let's say somebody else's kids. Now, I like my 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:18.359 kids. I want to see them do good. But you know 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:21.180 what? I get excited when I see your kids do good. 00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:24.500 That makes me excited because, hey, that's my 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:28.660 people. That's my people. We are the same congregation. 00:29:29.069 --> 00:29:31.450 We have the same promises together. We have the 00:29:31.450 --> 00:29:34.269 same wants and desires together. And I enjoy 00:29:34.269 --> 00:29:36.789 when you get a promotion, man, it may not affect 00:29:36.789 --> 00:29:38.890 my bottom line, but I tell you what, I get excited 00:29:38.890 --> 00:29:41.410 when you get a promotion. I get excited when 00:29:41.410 --> 00:29:43.549 you have something good happen to you. I want 00:29:43.549 --> 00:29:47.250 to be a cheerleader for you. And I'll tell you 00:29:47.250 --> 00:29:50.650 what, you've been a cheerleader for me and my 00:29:50.650 --> 00:29:53.690 home and my family, my kids. You come to my kids 00:29:53.690 --> 00:29:56.349 ball games. You come to my kids graduations. 00:29:56.549 --> 00:30:01.119 I appreciate that. And we need more of that We 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:03.859 need more those opportunities to intertwine our 00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:07.380 lives rejoice with them that rejoice We share 00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:11.240 struggles and vulnerabilities around here Bible 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:14.319 says in James 5 16 confess your faults one to 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:16.380 another and pray one for another that you may 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:18.579 be healed the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous 00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:23.319 man availeth much You ever walk up to complete 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:25.279 strangers and tell them all your dirty laundry 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:30.430 No, I don't either You know who I tell people 00:30:30.430 --> 00:30:33.130 my deepest and darkest secret secrets to people 00:30:33.130 --> 00:30:37.670 I trust people I know People that I know love 00:30:37.670 --> 00:30:41.509 me people that I know that care for me You know, 00:30:41.509 --> 00:30:44.269 it's it's difficult even to come up to a brother 00:30:44.269 --> 00:30:46.849 and sister to share your faults that it really 00:30:46.849 --> 00:30:51.509 is It's embarrassing to be honest with you I'll 00:30:51.509 --> 00:30:53.390 tell you what the times in my life that I give 00:30:53.390 --> 00:30:56.450 myself over to that. There's always been blessing 00:30:56.450 --> 00:30:58.500 attached to it Let me tell you what it does. 00:30:58.539 --> 00:31:00.259 It does a couple of things that are really important. 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:05.200 One thing is it gets it off of you. There is 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:08.099 freedom in confession. To get something out in 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:10.240 the open and not just hold it and hide it to 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:12.839 yourself, there is freedom in that. I'm gonna 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:14.680 tell you something else it'll do. It will bind 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:16.640 you closer together with that person that you 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:20.039 confess to. Because you have relayed that there 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:23.359 is a trust there that I can trust you. Can trust 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:25.539 you with my deepest and darkest secret and I 00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:27.079 know that you're not gonna go tell everybody 00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:29.259 I know that you're not gonna look down or judge 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:32.059 me for it But I know that you have true care 00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:33.960 and compassion that you're gonna try to help 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:36.140 me with whatever problem I've come and whatever 00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:38.619 fault that I've laid on you that I trust you 00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:41.299 to try to help me with that I'm gonna tell you 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:44.299 what? I'm not saying you got to do that every 00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:46.839 day. I'm saying if you will practice that in 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:51.559 your life blessing Blessing will come from it 00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:54.059 Not only just you personally but relationships 00:31:54.059 --> 00:31:57.019 around you if you will humble yourself and confess 00:31:57.019 --> 00:32:00.380 your faults one to another We share resources 00:32:00.380 --> 00:32:03.039 acts chapter 4 verse 32 and the multitude of 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:05.400 them that believed were of one heart and of one 00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:08.039 soul Neither said any of them that ought to things 00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:10.640 that which were possessed was his own But they 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:12.980 had all things common and with great power gave 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:15.220 the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:18.140 Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all 00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:20.440 Neither was there any among them that lacked 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:23.400 for as many as were possessors of lands or houses 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:26.319 sold them They then brought the prices of the 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:28.240 things that were sold and laid them down at the 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:30.680 Apostles feet and distribution was made unto 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:34.640 every man according as he had need There should 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:37.059 never ever be anyone that goes hungry in the 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:43.119 church Minimum. Now we can't make boat payments 00:32:43.119 --> 00:32:47.460 here. We can't do a lot of things. But I'm going 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:49.940 to tell you what, the attitude of the first century 00:32:49.940 --> 00:32:52.980 church when it was established was a very sharing 00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:57.299 group of people. They shared. You know, they 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:59.880 were concerned about people that had need and 00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:02.960 they tried to fill those needs. We can do that 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:07.059 too. We are a blessed people. We have much more 00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:10.140 than we need. We always look for more there's 00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:12.740 always an attraction for more more more, but 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:16.500 we have plenty we have plenty to share and I 00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:19.400 believe wholeheartedly that God will bless us 00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:22.619 and we will be fruitful and multiply in those 00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:25.940 things if we share Why would God bless you with 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:29.220 more material things if he knows you're a stingy 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:34.680 person to begin with? That makes sense Why would 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:36.880 he give you more just so you would hold it up 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:40.630 and hoard it up? God will bless us if we continue 00:33:40.630 --> 00:33:43.210 to share of those things that we've been given 00:33:43.210 --> 00:33:45.950 and sharing responsibilities first Peter chapter 00:33:45.950 --> 00:33:48.569 4 verse 10 says as every man hath received the 00:33:48.569 --> 00:33:51.549 gift Now these gifts were several different things, 00:33:51.569 --> 00:33:54.589 but they were gifts of ministry Even so minister 00:33:54.589 --> 00:33:57.069 the same one to another as good stewards of the 00:33:57.069 --> 00:34:00.400 manifold grace of God You know how powerful and 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:02.579 effective that we could be if we all use our 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:04.599 gifts. Now he's not talking about money here 00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:06.619 per se. He's not talking about money. He's about 00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:10.360 the abilities that God has given each of us to 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:14.099 do ministry, to help other people, to serve in 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:17.260 the church, to be a light in the world, to share 00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:21.380 the gospel, all those things. Man, what would 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:23.760 happen if a group of people use the gifts that 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:27.000 God gave them? for his glory. What would happen 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:29.460 to the congregation? What would happen to that 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:32.000 group of people? There's no telling what could 00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:34.019 happen to a group of people that put their minds 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:36.380 to it, put their hearts in it, and took what 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:38.780 God gave them and used it to his glory. There's 00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:42.500 no telling. The early church practiced real fellowship. 00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:46.460 Acts 2 and 44. We already read this, but I want 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:48.719 you to look at it one more time. and all that 00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:51.400 believe were together and had all things common, 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:53.480 sold their possessions and goods, parted them 00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:56.360 to all men as every man had need, and they continued 00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:58.719 daily in one accord in the temple, breaking bread 00:34:58.719 --> 00:35:00.940 from house to house, did eat their meat with 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:03.559 gladness and singleness of heart. They were together, 00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:06.079 they shared possessions, they shared meals, they 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:09.019 shared worship, they shared daily life. Christianity 00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:14.300 was never to be a once a week activity. If we 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:17.860 have it in our minds that What God expects for 00:35:17.860 --> 00:35:21.159 us is to go to church once a week To see those 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:24.340 people to ask how they're doing even if it's 00:35:24.340 --> 00:35:27.539 truly genuine if we ask how they're doing Brother, 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:31.519 we're missing an opportunity We're missing what 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:37.659 God has blueprinted for our lives You know We 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:40.280 need to find opportunities to bring people to 00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:44.260 our house share a meal We need opportunities 00:35:44.260 --> 00:35:47.780 to go out to eat in other places. We need more 00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:50.920 opportunities that we can get together Study 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:54.639 the Bible Formally informally you can have a 00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:57.260 study sheet you can hey invite somebody over 00:35:57.260 --> 00:35:59.579 to the house and say hey I've just got a question 00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:02.260 Let's talk about this. Tell me what you think 00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:04.679 about this Maybe you've got an idea about it 00:36:04.679 --> 00:36:06.340 that you want to share with somebody else to 00:36:06.340 --> 00:36:08.719 see if they they agree with the same thing There 00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:13.000 are all kinds of opportunities Maybe it's going 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:14.760 somebody's house mowing the yard. Maybe it's 00:36:14.760 --> 00:36:16.280 going picking up sticks at somebody's house. 00:36:16.280 --> 00:36:18.500 That's fellowship. That's ministry That's the 00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:20.880 work of the church There's a lot of opportunities 00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:23.039 to do that and but if we're shutting it down 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:26.280 to say it Hey, my Christian walk is one hour 00:36:26.280 --> 00:36:29.880 a week. That's my family time. It's not enough 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:34.139 We never see that in Scripture where an hour 00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:37.900 a week was enough Fellowship is God's design 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:40.460 for keeping the same Christianity was never designed 00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:43.000 as a solo journey I want you to consider all 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:45.519 these passage right here of one another one another 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:49.639 one another Love one another Encourage one another 00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:52.280 bear one another's burdens forgive one another 00:36:52.280 --> 00:36:55.940 pray for one another admonish one another None 00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:58.619 of these commands can be filled in isolation 00:36:58.619 --> 00:37:02.480 And I'm gonna tell you why they're important 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:09.730 one It's on me I've got to love. I've got to 00:37:09.730 --> 00:37:12.130 encourage. I've got to bear. I've got to forgive. 00:37:12.250 --> 00:37:14.110 I've got to pray. I've got to admonish. Because 00:37:14.110 --> 00:37:17.889 you know what I need? I need somebody to love 00:37:17.889 --> 00:37:23.369 me. I need to be encouraged. I need help with 00:37:23.369 --> 00:37:26.110 the burdens that I bear. Because I can't bear 00:37:26.110 --> 00:37:33.349 them alone. I need forgiveness. I need prayer. 00:37:34.570 --> 00:37:39.039 I need admonishing. We're gonna live by the rule. 00:37:39.099 --> 00:37:41.639 We're gonna treat others how we want to be treated 00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:44.559 I'm gonna tell you what we've got to be willing 00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:48.340 to give these things Because every one of us 00:37:48.340 --> 00:37:53.579 need these things in return So let's set an example 00:37:53.579 --> 00:37:59.679 Let's set the pattern Let's do those things one 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:05.440 to another, but you'll never fulfill any of them 00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:08.650 any of them If you don't spend time together 00:38:08.650 --> 00:38:12.610 If you don't make part of your life part of your 00:38:12.610 --> 00:38:16.389 brother and sister's life and vice versa Isolation 00:38:16.389 --> 00:38:18.730 creates spiritual danger coal removed from the 00:38:18.730 --> 00:38:24.690 fire soon grows cold You take a month off and 00:38:24.690 --> 00:38:28.769 you don't talk to anybody here You see where 00:38:28.769 --> 00:38:34.550 your spiritual well -being is You need to be 00:38:34.550 --> 00:38:38.619 close to the Coles A sheep that's separated from 00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:42.000 the flock becomes vulnerable. We see that all 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:45.760 throughout scripture when somebody's isolated 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:48.219 away from God's people, how vulnerable they become. 00:38:48.659 --> 00:38:50.800 We know that a branch detached from the vine, 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:57.980 it dies. And you will too. And how can this be 00:38:57.980 --> 00:39:03.639 fixed? Fellowship. Coming together. Interwoven 00:39:03.639 --> 00:39:06.039 your life into the life of those that you go 00:39:06.039 --> 00:39:09.139 to church with that you worship with Satan oftentimes 00:39:09.139 --> 00:39:12.920 off Tax isolated believers Hebrews 3 and 13 says 00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:16.320 but exhort one another daily as it is called 00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:18.320 today lest any of you be hardened through the 00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:21.760 deceitfulness of sin Exhort one another once 00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:24.460 a week. Is that did I read I read that wrong? 00:39:24.659 --> 00:39:29.139 exhort one another daily Exhort one another daily. 00:39:29.139 --> 00:39:32.420 It's important Why? Because the enemy, you know 00:39:32.420 --> 00:39:36.300 what he does? He is daily trying to tear you 00:39:36.300 --> 00:39:39.039 and I down. He is daily trying to tear the church 00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:41.679 down. He is daily trying to tear relationships 00:39:41.679 --> 00:39:44.739 down. He is daily trying to drive a wedge between 00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:48.760 you and I. So what must we do? We must build 00:39:48.760 --> 00:39:52.320 each other up. We must encourage each other daily 00:39:52.320 --> 00:39:57.900 so that we can overcome the deceitfulness and 00:39:57.900 --> 00:40:01.599 hardened hearts of sin. that it causes. God uses 00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:05.159 believers to sustain faith. When Elijah wanted 00:40:05.159 --> 00:40:09.699 to die, God provided companionship. After that 00:40:09.699 --> 00:40:12.800 spot under the juniper tree that day, God, he 00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:15.659 had a meal fixed for him. He said, you're going 00:40:15.659 --> 00:40:18.599 to annoy some kings. He said, but you're also 00:40:18.599 --> 00:40:22.280 going to go and find Elisha and he's going to 00:40:22.280 --> 00:40:26.119 be prophet in your stead. And Elijah and Elisha 00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:28.949 walked together for a while. until Elijah was 00:40:28.949 --> 00:40:31.909 taken up in a fiery chariot. When Paul needed 00:40:31.909 --> 00:40:34.530 encouragement, God sent brethren. Do you think 00:40:34.530 --> 00:40:36.550 Paul went on all those missionary journeys by 00:40:36.550 --> 00:40:40.730 himself? What about Barnabas and Silas and John 00:40:40.730 --> 00:40:43.369 Mark and Priscilla and Aquila? How about all 00:40:43.369 --> 00:40:47.550 those that walked with Paul? See, he never went 00:40:47.550 --> 00:40:51.190 alone. Can you imagine having to do all that 00:40:51.190 --> 00:40:53.670 traveling all by yourself? I guess it would be 00:40:53.670 --> 00:40:55.530 okay. I guess you'd get by, but boy, it sure 00:40:55.530 --> 00:40:58.059 would be better with somebody with you. You know 00:40:58.059 --> 00:41:00.239 when the Lord sent out those disciples, how do 00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:02.780 you send them out one by one? No, he sent them 00:41:02.780 --> 00:41:07.760 out two by two He said you need some help When 00:41:07.760 --> 00:41:12.239 Timothy struggled Paul wrote letters to him An 00:41:12.239 --> 00:41:14.840 older apostle reaching out to a younger evangelist 00:41:14.840 --> 00:41:18.059 to give him support God often answers prayers 00:41:18.059 --> 00:41:19.860 through people one of the greatest evidences 00:41:19.860 --> 00:41:26.949 of God's care is the church family This Goodness 00:41:26.949 --> 00:41:32.530 that you and I enjoy It comes from God These 00:41:32.530 --> 00:41:35.489 relationships that we enjoy that we've got somebody 00:41:35.489 --> 00:41:37.809 that encourages and somebody that looks out for 00:41:37.809 --> 00:41:40.110 us and somebody that truly cares about this our 00:41:40.110 --> 00:41:42.849 soul This is all evidence of God's love for his 00:41:42.849 --> 00:41:46.110 people Because he's not called us to walk in 00:41:46.110 --> 00:41:48.929 isolation after our salvation, but he's called 00:41:48.929 --> 00:41:51.789 us to walk together Fellowship is essential to 00:41:51.789 --> 00:41:55.489 saving the lost the lost are watching our relationships 00:41:56.710 --> 00:41:59.090 People that don't know what we do here don't 00:41:59.090 --> 00:42:01.269 understand why we do the things that we do here 00:42:01.269 --> 00:42:03.349 I'm going to tell you what they may not know 00:42:03.349 --> 00:42:05.750 all those things and understand those things. 00:42:05.750 --> 00:42:08.789 I'll tell you what they watch how we live They 00:42:08.789 --> 00:42:11.389 watch how we love they watch how we care for 00:42:11.389 --> 00:42:13.809 each other and how we treat one another John 00:42:13.809 --> 00:42:17.469 13 35 says by this shall all men know that you're 00:42:17.469 --> 00:42:21.510 my disciples if you have loved one to another 00:42:21.510 --> 00:42:26.869 All men those that are inside the church, those 00:42:26.869 --> 00:42:29.829 that are outside the church, sinners of all kinds, 00:42:30.210 --> 00:42:32.570 they will understand that you're my disciples 00:42:32.570 --> 00:42:38.070 by the way you love each other. We are that light 00:42:38.070 --> 00:42:40.429 set up on a hill. We treat people different. 00:42:40.489 --> 00:42:42.289 We care about people. You know what people in 00:42:42.289 --> 00:42:44.809 the world that live for the world do? They really 00:42:44.809 --> 00:42:47.530 just care about themselves. They really just 00:42:47.530 --> 00:42:49.170 care about their own well -being, about their 00:42:49.170 --> 00:42:51.489 own bank account, about their own entertainment. 00:42:51.570 --> 00:42:55.280 But you know what? I know you people here. You 00:42:55.280 --> 00:42:58.500 people care about more than that. You people 00:42:58.500 --> 00:43:01.260 care about the church as a whole. You people 00:43:01.260 --> 00:43:03.719 care about the relationships inside the church. 00:43:03.760 --> 00:43:08.280 You care about people. You want to see people's 00:43:08.280 --> 00:43:11.260 physical needs met, yes. But you know what the 00:43:11.260 --> 00:43:14.400 desire of this people that I know here is? You 00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:18.400 care about people's souls. You want people to 00:43:18.400 --> 00:43:22.280 go to heaven. and you're willing to reach out 00:43:22.280 --> 00:43:24.659 a hand and take somebody by the hand and lead 00:43:24.659 --> 00:43:28.079 them and Encourage them and pick them up when 00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:30.519 they've fallen down so that they could meet that 00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:34.019 goal People don't won't judge us by our building 00:43:34.019 --> 00:43:36.599 They won't judge us by our budget. They won't 00:43:36.599 --> 00:43:39.719 budget by programs that we have It's because 00:43:39.719 --> 00:43:42.039 how we love each other and the church becomes 00:43:42.039 --> 00:43:46.440 visible proof of the gospel The way you and I 00:43:46.440 --> 00:43:50.119 treat each other and love one another Is a loud 00:43:50.119 --> 00:43:55.320 voice to the rest of the world We belong to Jesus 00:43:55.320 --> 00:44:00.980 We believe in Jesus and That is the message that 00:44:00.980 --> 00:44:03.519 we're campaigning on people often belong before 00:44:03.519 --> 00:44:07.079 they believe When they come in they can see genuine 00:44:07.079 --> 00:44:10.860 care and they can see real love for each other 00:44:11.179 --> 00:44:13.739 And they can see people sharing each other's 00:44:13.739 --> 00:44:16.039 burdens and they can see this mutual support 00:44:16.039 --> 00:44:18.239 and I'm gonna tell you what you don't get that 00:44:18.239 --> 00:44:22.619 everywhere You know where you get a lot of that 00:44:22.619 --> 00:44:29.579 outside of the church in a gang a Gang is somewhere 00:44:29.579 --> 00:44:33.619 where people can go to belong and They all have 00:44:33.619 --> 00:44:36.400 one creed and they all have one goal. It's all 00:44:36.400 --> 00:44:40.079 about the club all about the club all about the 00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:44.059 game But I'm gonna tell you what you and I is 00:44:44.059 --> 00:44:46.239 the church by the way the gang world got that 00:44:46.239 --> 00:44:48.260 from the church It's not vice versa. We didn't 00:44:48.260 --> 00:44:51.460 get this from the gang world But you and I we 00:44:51.460 --> 00:44:53.920 are a place where people can come and belong 00:44:53.920 --> 00:44:57.079 No matter who they are. No matter what background 00:44:57.079 --> 00:44:59.300 they come from no matter what kind of sin they 00:44:59.300 --> 00:45:02.300 committed This is a place where everybody belongs 00:45:02.300 --> 00:45:08.320 This is home And we have one purpose here. We 00:45:08.320 --> 00:45:11.730 have one mission is the church That's to save 00:45:11.730 --> 00:45:13.650 the loss and to keep the same. That's what we 00:45:13.650 --> 00:45:17.849 do and we're unified in that People might ask 00:45:17.849 --> 00:45:19.650 what's different about these people. The answer 00:45:19.650 --> 00:45:24.949 is Jesus The answer is Christ our Lord Because 00:45:24.949 --> 00:45:28.769 he is our Savior. He is our Redeemer Acts 2 and 00:45:28.769 --> 00:45:31.809 47 They said praising God and having favor with 00:45:31.809 --> 00:45:33.849 all the people and the Lord added to the church 00:45:33.849 --> 00:45:36.900 daily such as should be saved Now Matt read it 00:45:36.900 --> 00:45:38.780 this morning. I started with it this morning 00:45:38.780 --> 00:45:40.900 We've read other parts of that this morning all 00:45:40.900 --> 00:45:43.139 that was going on all that fellowship that was 00:45:43.139 --> 00:45:45.780 going on all that Singleness of heart all that 00:45:45.780 --> 00:45:48.119 one accord all breaking bread from house to house 00:45:48.119 --> 00:45:52.300 all those Was just the precursor to what was 00:45:52.300 --> 00:45:56.059 about to happen The Bible says and more people 00:45:56.059 --> 00:45:59.559 came People saw what the church was doing people 00:45:59.559 --> 00:46:02.719 saw the attitude of this this early church and 00:46:02.719 --> 00:46:04.340 they said you know what? I think I want to be 00:46:04.340 --> 00:46:08.260 a part of that And the Bible says the Lord added 00:46:08.260 --> 00:46:12.260 the church daily as such should be saved a Big 00:46:12.260 --> 00:46:14.380 part of that was because they saw the fellowship 00:46:14.380 --> 00:46:17.579 of the church They saw these people and they 00:46:17.579 --> 00:46:19.980 were radical people. They were radical. They 00:46:19.980 --> 00:46:22.400 were taking care of people They didn't even know 00:46:22.400 --> 00:46:26.000 who would sell a piece of property So that somebody 00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:27.679 they didn't even know could have something to 00:46:27.679 --> 00:46:32.579 eat who would do that. That is crazy No, that's 00:46:32.579 --> 00:46:35.550 love That's love for the church. That's love 00:46:35.550 --> 00:46:38.170 for people's souls. That's what that is That's 00:46:38.170 --> 00:46:40.090 what we want to have here fellowship creates 00:46:40.090 --> 00:46:42.230 an environment where the gospel can flourish 00:46:42.230 --> 00:46:44.969 And when people on the outside sees what the 00:46:44.969 --> 00:46:47.510 people inside here doing they'll want to be a 00:46:47.510 --> 00:46:50.269 part of it, too And the gospel will have its 00:46:50.269 --> 00:46:53.130 roots And many people can come to be saved the 00:46:53.130 --> 00:46:55.010 mission of the church is to save the lost keep 00:46:55.010 --> 00:46:57.949 the saved Fellowship serves both of these purposes 00:46:58.980 --> 00:47:01.159 Fellowship is that example to people that are 00:47:01.159 --> 00:47:04.280 outside to come in and people that are inside 00:47:04.280 --> 00:47:07.880 it keeps us here It keeps us grounded Why would 00:47:07.880 --> 00:47:11.199 I ever want to leave a group of people that loves 00:47:11.199 --> 00:47:14.599 me so passionately? That cares about me at my 00:47:14.599 --> 00:47:16.739 deepest level people that I can be vulnerable 00:47:16.739 --> 00:47:19.280 with people that I can be why would I ever leave 00:47:19.280 --> 00:47:25.460 that? You won't you won't you will fall in love 00:47:25.460 --> 00:47:28.559 with this group of people And you'll say this 00:47:28.559 --> 00:47:32.019 is my family and I don't walk away from my family 00:47:32.019 --> 00:47:36.280 And that's how we'll keep the saved It draws 00:47:36.280 --> 00:47:38.320 the loss toward Christ while strength and believers 00:47:38.320 --> 00:47:41.199 to remain faithful behind it all stands a God 00:47:41.199 --> 00:47:43.860 who always desired fellowship with his people 00:47:43.860 --> 00:47:47.019 We don't do this because it's a good idea. We 00:47:47.019 --> 00:47:49.400 don't do it because it's my idea We don't do 00:47:49.400 --> 00:47:51.760 this because it was another smart man's idea. 00:47:52.079 --> 00:47:55.079 This was God's plan And that's why we're gonna 00:47:55.079 --> 00:47:57.800 follow it the invitation of the gospel is ultimately 00:47:57.800 --> 00:48:02.340 an invitation into relationship We want you to 00:48:02.340 --> 00:48:04.199 be saved, but we want you to be in fellowship 00:48:04.199 --> 00:48:07.539 with God The Bible says in first John 1 3 it 00:48:07.539 --> 00:48:10.099 says that which we have seen and heard Declare 00:48:10.099 --> 00:48:12.420 we unto you that she may also have fellowship 00:48:12.420 --> 00:48:16.789 with us He's talking to to Christians, to believers. 00:48:17.110 --> 00:48:19.110 He's talking about that fellowship that those 00:48:19.110 --> 00:48:21.309 believers have with the apostles and those that 00:48:21.309 --> 00:48:23.590 are working in the church here, John the writer. 00:48:23.829 --> 00:48:27.889 And he says, and truly our fellowship, both mine 00:48:27.889 --> 00:48:30.849 and both your fellowship is with the father and 00:48:30.849 --> 00:48:34.469 with his son, Jesus Christ. That's where I want 00:48:34.469 --> 00:48:37.929 my fellowship. My fellowship belongs amongst 00:48:37.929 --> 00:48:42.710 God's people, but my fellowship is with God himself. 00:48:43.199 --> 00:48:46.760 He has accomplished what he set out to when he 00:48:46.760 --> 00:48:49.659 called out to Adam and said, where are you? That 00:48:49.659 --> 00:48:52.400 separation existed, but Jesus Christ has come 00:48:52.400 --> 00:48:55.079 and he has filled the gap of that separation. 00:48:55.079 --> 00:48:59.139 He has brought you and I now And now we can enjoy 00:48:59.139 --> 00:49:02.480 a covenant relationship. We can enjoy real fellowship 00:49:02.480 --> 00:49:07.940 with God our Father our Creator Jesus our Redeemer 00:49:07.940 --> 00:49:13.000 and with his people Started out by saying I can't 00:49:13.000 --> 00:49:19.039 do this alone You can't either Ecclesiastes chapter 00:49:19.039 --> 00:49:23.260 4 the Bible says two were better than one because 00:49:23.260 --> 00:49:27.880 they have a good reward for their labor You ever 00:49:27.880 --> 00:49:30.039 had a job where you were working on something 00:49:30.039 --> 00:49:34.159 by yourself And you said man, I just had another 00:49:34.159 --> 00:49:37.840 hand. I Just had somebody here to help me. This 00:49:37.840 --> 00:49:41.340 would just be a lot smoother I'm sure you've 00:49:41.340 --> 00:49:44.039 had that time. Well, if I could just have somebody 00:49:44.039 --> 00:49:46.059 here to hold this steady for me, I'd get this 00:49:46.059 --> 00:49:49.960 done. You know, if we work together, we will 00:49:49.960 --> 00:49:56.780 get so much more done. I was a young man. I told 00:49:56.780 --> 00:50:01.320 an old man one time, I said, I'm done with these 00:50:01.320 --> 00:50:05.739 crazy women. I said, I want to live single. I'm 00:50:05.739 --> 00:50:08.219 going to save all my money. I'm going to have 00:50:08.219 --> 00:50:13.000 all my money. And I'm not gonna get married He 00:50:13.000 --> 00:50:16.579 said you're a fool He said let me tell you something 00:50:16.579 --> 00:50:20.739 son He said there's no way in the world. I could 00:50:20.739 --> 00:50:28.800 have what I have if it not be for my spouse I 00:50:28.800 --> 00:50:32.420 Wouldn't have my children I Wouldn't have this 00:50:32.420 --> 00:50:35.800 home that we have that we share I Wouldn't have 00:50:35.800 --> 00:50:37.880 the blessings of having a helper walk through 00:50:37.880 --> 00:50:44.010 life with me He said you need a helper And he 00:50:44.010 --> 00:50:47.289 was right And I have thanked him for that several 00:50:47.289 --> 00:50:51.309 times for that good advice You know us as a congregation 00:50:51.309 --> 00:50:55.750 If one of us try to do a little work you'll get 00:50:55.750 --> 00:50:58.010 something done, but how much more if we all work 00:50:58.010 --> 00:51:03.170 together How much more could we accomplish? And 00:51:03.170 --> 00:51:05.250 I'm gonna tell you something. I won't tell you 00:51:05.250 --> 00:51:08.010 another reason why you need each other He says 00:51:08.010 --> 00:51:11.110 verse 10 for if they fall The one will lift up 00:51:11.110 --> 00:51:13.530 his fellow but woe to him that is alone when 00:51:13.530 --> 00:51:16.610 he falleth for he hath not another to help him 00:51:16.610 --> 00:51:20.889 up in verse 11 again if two lie together then 00:51:20.889 --> 00:51:24.150 they have heat but how can one be warm alone 00:51:24.150 --> 00:51:28.070 and If one prevail against him to shall withstand 00:51:28.070 --> 00:51:31.650 him and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 00:51:32.869 --> 00:51:35.190 I Want to tell you what this really scripture 00:51:35.190 --> 00:51:41.219 is really getting at You're gonna fall You're 00:51:41.219 --> 00:51:43.219 gonna find times in your life where you feel 00:51:43.219 --> 00:51:48.920 cold Your zeal grows cold You're gonna have times 00:51:48.920 --> 00:51:51.340 that you want somebody to fight for you and with 00:51:51.340 --> 00:51:55.800 you Now it's not it's not maybe circumstances. 00:51:55.920 --> 00:51:58.179 I'm telling you this morning. You're gonna fall 00:51:58.179 --> 00:52:01.260 down And you're gonna need somebody to help you 00:52:01.260 --> 00:52:05.460 get back up And you're gonna have times in your 00:52:05.460 --> 00:52:08.820 life where your zeal is gonna grow cold And you 00:52:08.820 --> 00:52:12.599 need somebody to help you fire back up And there's 00:52:12.599 --> 00:52:14.860 gonna be times in your life where people are 00:52:14.860 --> 00:52:17.219 gonna fight against you and you're gonna want 00:52:17.219 --> 00:52:21.519 somebody in your quarter And I will tell you 00:52:21.519 --> 00:52:23.739 you're gonna get all that with fellowship in 00:52:23.739 --> 00:52:26.920 the church You're gonna have somebody to help 00:52:26.920 --> 00:52:29.360 you up. You're gonna have somebody to fire you 00:52:29.360 --> 00:52:31.780 up and you're gonna have somebody to fight with 00:52:31.780 --> 00:52:38.170 you That threefold cord that's you And that's 00:52:38.170 --> 00:52:42.769 me and that's Jesus And that's what binds us 00:52:42.769 --> 00:52:45.809 together and when you take those three and you 00:52:45.809 --> 00:52:49.570 braid them together That is a cord. That's not 00:52:49.570 --> 00:52:55.949 easily broken And you need that and I think that 00:52:55.949 --> 00:53:03.230 And we can't do it alone One little strand You 00:53:03.230 --> 00:53:08.900 fall down and you'll stay down You'll get cold 00:53:08.900 --> 00:53:13.579 and eventually you'll go out You'll get in a 00:53:13.579 --> 00:53:17.840 fight And you won't get back up because nobody's 00:53:17.840 --> 00:53:21.940 there to fight with you and for you Fellowships 00:53:21.940 --> 00:53:25.960 important this morning Fellowship is required 00:53:25.960 --> 00:53:29.840 to fulfill the mission of the church And it's 00:53:29.840 --> 00:53:32.960 going to help save people the way we live our 00:53:32.960 --> 00:53:36.280 life is going to help save people That otherwise 00:53:36.280 --> 00:53:39.840 might not be saved And it's going to be good 00:53:39.840 --> 00:53:41.739 for the church It's going to be good for you 00:53:41.739 --> 00:53:44.119 individually if you'll put your heart into fellowship 00:53:44.119 --> 00:53:46.460 and fellowship in God's people There's going 00:53:46.460 --> 00:53:50.260 to be great Unspeakable blessing if you'll do 00:53:50.260 --> 00:53:54.059 that That's what God's Word tells us to do. That's 00:53:54.059 --> 00:53:56.280 the pattern. That's the blueprint of what the 00:53:56.280 --> 00:53:59.820 church should do That we have all things common 00:53:59.820 --> 00:54:02.579 That we come together in one accord singleness 00:54:02.579 --> 00:54:08.039 of heart And we do it in the name of Jesus If 00:54:08.039 --> 00:54:09.960 you need something this morning, perhaps you 00:54:09.960 --> 00:54:12.820 feel like you've been isolated you've isolated 00:54:12.820 --> 00:54:16.340 yourself Maybe you've been knocked down. You 00:54:16.340 --> 00:54:18.239 need somebody to help you get back up Maybe you 00:54:18.239 --> 00:54:20.400 need to help some have some prayer this morning 00:54:20.400 --> 00:54:23.880 that your zeal not grow cold Maybe this morning 00:54:23.880 --> 00:54:25.599 you need somebody to fight with you and I tell 00:54:25.599 --> 00:54:27.599 you what prayer warriors will fight with you 00:54:27.599 --> 00:54:29.480 We'll pray for you this morning. We'll pray with 00:54:29.480 --> 00:54:31.679 you this morning and not just today, but from 00:54:31.679 --> 00:54:35.889 here on out We'll be your champions will be your 00:54:35.889 --> 00:54:37.969 brothers and sisters. We're gonna hold together 00:54:37.969 --> 00:54:40.110 lock tight together We're gonna remain together 00:54:40.110 --> 00:54:44.630 until the Lord comes back If you haven't got 00:54:44.630 --> 00:54:46.670 a relationship with Jesus today, I'm gonna tell 00:54:46.670 --> 00:54:50.510 you what today's the day Jesus is calling this 00:54:50.510 --> 00:54:53.769 morning He's begging for you to come in back. 00:54:53.769 --> 00:54:56.989 He wants fellowship with you this morning He 00:54:56.989 --> 00:55:00.010 wants to walk with you. He wants to be your Savior 00:55:00.829 --> 00:55:03.369 And if you believe that Jesus Christ is the son 00:55:03.369 --> 00:55:08.190 of God If you'll confess that and if you're willing 00:55:08.190 --> 00:55:10.809 to turn away from your sin and turn towards him 00:55:10.809 --> 00:55:17.550 and be washed Acts 2 and 38 after they'd asked 00:55:17.550 --> 00:55:19.389 the question men and brethren. What shall we 00:55:19.389 --> 00:55:23.090 do? Peter said repent be baptized every one of 00:55:23.090 --> 00:55:24.989 you in the name of Jesus Christ for remissions 00:55:24.989 --> 00:55:26.929 of sins And you shall receive the gift of the 00:55:26.929 --> 00:55:29.599 Holy Spirit It's what he's told him to do repent 00:55:29.599 --> 00:55:34.400 be baptized wash away your sins So when God calls, 00:55:34.420 --> 00:55:38.739 where are you? I'm right here I'm right here 00:55:38.739 --> 00:55:42.920 father And I'm yours If you have a need this 00:55:42.920 --> 00:55:45.400 morning, you won't come sit on the front. We'll 00:55:45.400 --> 00:55:48.460 pray with you The water is ready. We'll baptize 00:55:48.460 --> 00:55:52.320 this morning will wash away your sins This morning 00:55:52.320 --> 00:55:55.639 today is the day of salvation if you have a need 00:55:55.639 --> 00:55:57.239 won't you come as we stand the same?