🎵Piano Music🎵
You
Morning we're in Ephesians chapter number four
Ephesians chapter four the Bible reads I
Therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness
With long-suffering forbearing one another in love endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace
There's one body and one spirit even as you're called and one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptism
One God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all
But unto every one of us has given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ
Wherefore he saith when he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men now that he ascended
What is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fill all things
And he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers
For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry and edifying of the body of Christ
so we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God and to a perfect man under the
Measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ that we henceforth be no more children
Tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness
Whereby they lie in wait to deceive
But speaking the truth and love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supply
According to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love
This I say therefore and testify in the Lord that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind
Having the understanding dark and being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their
Heart who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness
You've not so learned Christ if so be you've heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus
He put off concerning the former conversation the old man
Which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man
Which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness
Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbor who remembers one of another
Be angry and said not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath now they give place to the devil
Let him that stole steal no more rather let him labor working with his hands a thing
Which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth
But that which is good to the use of edifying that may minister grace unto the ears
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking
Be put away from you with all malice and be ye kind one to another tender-hearted
Forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you
Let's pray to Lord God. Thank you for this opportunity to hear the preaching of your word
I just ask that you would be a pastor me here now
Please strengthen him fill him with your Holy Spirit and just as that you would bless the preaching to our edification help us
Continue to grow in grace and the knowledge of your son Jesus Christ and it's in his name. We pray. Amen
Okay, we're in Ephesians chapter 4 this morning look down at your Bible's at verse number 1
It says I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called
With all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering
Forbearing one another in love. I want you to notice verse number three
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
So what I want to preach on this morning is the subject of the elements of church unity the elements of church
Unity, it's important for us as a church to remain unified
That's actually an important aspect of a local New Testament Church is that we are of one mind one accord
Striving together for one specific purpose centered around the Word of God and in fact the Apostle Paul
When he is writing to the church at Ephesus, he's telling them
Hey, I want you to strive to keep the spirit of unity in the bond of peace
This is kind of showing us that it has to be intentional right if we want to be unified as a church
It needs to make we need to make sure that we actually go out of our way to do it doesn't come by osmosis
It doesn't happen by accident. We have to intentionally strive endeavor
Put in the effort to keep unity of the spirit in the bond of peace
It's often said that attacks from without can often unify us
whereas attacks from within can cause division right and
When you are when you or myself our church when we're persecuted for the cause of Christ from people from without
You know, it causes us to bond together that much the more it causes us to become more grounded
It's very easy for us to like each other, you know
It's very easy for us to labor with one another because we have a common enemy so to speak which is the devil his persecutors
Etc. However, when there's this unity in the church though when there's division when there's offenses when there's when there's
Strife within a church that can easily disassemble to let that local New Testament Church
Why because of the fact that the strength of a church one of the strengths of a church is its unity
God wants us to have peace and be bound by unity in the local New Testament Church
The Bible tells us you don't have to turn there Psalm 133 verse 1 says behold
How great and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity
Hold your place there in Ephesians chapter 4 and go to 1st Corinthians chapter number 1 if you would 1st Corinthians chapter number 1
It's pleasant to dwell together in unity Romans chapter 15 as you're turning to 1st Corinthians 1
Romans 15 in verse number 5 says now the God of patience and
consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another
According to Jesus Christ that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God even the father of our Lord Jesus Christ
I want you to notice that in Romans chapter 15 the verse that I just read
Tells us that we need to be like-minded one toward another
According to Jesus Christ meaning that the unity that we experience in church obviously has to be centered around
God
Centered around the Lord Jesus Christ centered around his teachings and his word now
Why is that important to note well because of the fact that you know?
There's a lot of churches out there that are unified around the wrong things
You
Mean like what well you know sometimes there's churches that are unified around political ideologies
They go to whatever Church because it's a Republican Church. It's a conservative Church. It's a Trump supporting Church
right it is a
Democratic Church, I don't know I don't know if there's churches. Maybe there are churches like that Lutherans. I guess you know
But you know that's the wrong type of unity
We should not be unified around political ideologies or because you support a
Specific president or a specific wing you know a specific belief of how this country should be run
But there are churches that are out there that are like that they claim to be Christian
They claim to believe the Bible, but the reality is this the reason they even
Assemble with or congregate with a specific church is because of the fact that they agree that they hate Biden
Right or they hate Kamala
Or they love Trump. That's a wrong type of unity to have in a church, okay?
Now they have you know sometimes people unify wrong around just the music
they go to specific music because of the smoke and the lights and the
Entertainment and the lasers and you know whatever else that they provide you know the the CCM
And they're like we like to come to this specific church because of the music because of the worship
But that's the wrong thing to unify around my friends
We should not ask Christians as those who uphold the Word of God
Join a local New Testament Church just because of the music and in fact you know music is great, but forget the music
You know these are the wrong reasons to unify around a church political ideologies
music
Here's another one. How about just unifying around the fact that they dislike a church or a pastor
That's a wrong reason to unify
Like we're all just gonna gather together because we hate this one church, or we hate this one pastor now on the flip side of that
It's also wrong to unify because you admire another church or admire another pastor
You say why is that well because if that church goes sour you go sour
Look what it says in 1st Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 9
God is faithful by whom you were called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord
Now I beseech you beseech you means I beg you I implore you
Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you
But that they he be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment now before we read on he's saying
You know you guys got to have unity even when you judge a specific matter, right?
He says in verse 11 for has been declared unto me of you my brethren by them
Which are of the house of Chloe that there are contentions among you now this I say that every one of you sayeth
I am of Paul and I of Apollos and I of Cephas and I of Christ now everyone in this group should have just said
I am of Christ
It's weird that that's even like another category. That's that's the only category that should exist for a Christian, right?
He says in verse 13 is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you or he baptized in the name of Paul
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius
Lest any should say that I have baptized in mine own name now obviously if he's addressing the church of Corinth
you know, they should be centered around that pastor who's pastoring the church of Corinth and
Even the Apostle Paul who started this church isn't saying don't follow me per se or side with me against someone else
You know, you should be following whatever man is there on deck, you know in person at that church and at the end of the day
We are of Christ is what he's saying, okay
Should be no division
Because well, you know if you don't like this particular pastor that I can't come here or if you like this particular pastor
I can't come here. No, here's the pastor you should like is the one who's here
Okay, I mean that's common sense there
What are we talking about? We're talking about these are the wrong reasons to unify in a church
What's another wrong reason we're just common interest outside of church
You know, we like sports and that's why we're unified here because all the men here love football
They love baseball or they love soccer
If that's even a sport not just kidding, you know, or they love, you know
I just defend a bunch of people, you know, or they love, you know fill in the blank
Rugby, you know and that's why we're here because we all share that common interest, you know
That's great that you share that common interest but you know, that's not the reason why you should be unified in a church
How about this, you know, some people unify in a church
Why because of ethnicity?
Well, I go there because a bunch of Mexicans go there and I'm Mexican and therefore I don't like to be around other ethnic groups
Or whatever we've seen this where it's just all Mexican churches or all black churches or all white churches or all Asian churches
That's wrong
Somewhere in the Bible that says that a church should be made up of one specific ethnicity
But there are people that look for a church based upon the color of the skin
Now thankfully, you know, we don't have that issue. Obviously we have all shades here on the entire spectrum
Some that are just really black and the other ones are just really like clear almost, you know
Ethnicity is a wrong reason to unify in a church
How about this, you know some churches unify because of the conspiracies that they buy into
Whether they're true or not
You know, I've known I've seen churches
Then by the way, we teach replacement theology here, but I've known churches that literally their entire ministry is just based off of their
abhorrence of the Jews
It's like that's all they talk about
That's all they preach about every single sermon is against the Jews, but that's an unbalanced diet for the local New Testament Church
Why because the Bible tells us that we need to preach the entire council of God not just
Focusing and hone in on one specific hobby horse or something like that
But there are churches that literally gather together just to hear about that and God forbid if you should preach on anything else
That's a wrong reason to unify in a church
some people unify because they're just against the government and
They're anti backs
It's just like well, you know, I need to know though, did you capitulate to the 2020, you know
Whatever happened in 22 with the kovat. I need to know that that's the wrong reason to join the church
These are these are reasons outside of the Bible that people will utilize in order to join themselves to a church
Okay. Well, I gotta know did you vaccinate yourselves or something?
Well, you know, let me just tell you there's people in here that got vaccinated. I'm not one of them
You know, I'm against vaccinations, but you know, I'm not against someone if they chose to do that
You know, that's if that's what they wanted to do. So be it but you know what?
I have more in common with the purpose person who got
vaccinated who's saved who actually reads the Bible who goes to church on Sundays who soul wins and
Believes the right doctrines than someone who's not vaccinated doesn't hold to those things. It's the wrong reason to unify in a church
Common interest outside of church because of their ethnicity
Because of the conspiracies that they believe
Because they're anti-vax
There's other churches that unify around the fact that it's more like well, you know, what do you have to offer my children?
Is it a homeschooling group? What do you what kind of Sunday school classes do you have? What do you have to offer the youth?
This is what we have to offer the youth and it's the same thing that we give to the adults
But there's literally people who choose a church based upon
You know how much candy you give them out and in their junior church or Sunday school classes and how many activities you have
That's a wrong reason
Some people unify around a church because of the financial status
You know
They want to go to a church that is as wealthy or has members that are as wealthy as they are
They don't like to you know
mingle with the common man
Believe it or not. There are churches that are like that and that's a wrong reason to unify
in a church
But everything I just mentioned are things that churches do this is these are things it's just like well
You know and by the way, like I I'll be honest with you. Like I don't even vote
I haven't voted in many years because like I don't care and I'm a Christian and you know
I don't believe in this lesser of two evils
Philosophy or whatever, but but here's the thing. Let's just pretend for a second
Let's just fantasize real quick and say that I just voted for Kamala
You know, I mean and I don't want to I don't want to use that little shit. That's a bad illustration
Let's say it was someone else or something, you know
You know, here's the thing but let's say I taught all the right this is way out there though, okay
So this is just not gonna have this is a bad illustration though. I've already dug myself too deep
We're actually, you know, let's just say in the multiverse
Okay, you know I voted Democrat but I held to all these doctrines people should still come to a church
It's if the pastor believes, right?
Regardless of political ideology or whatever now, this is the world we live in and I'm not gonna do that
And I don't really care what goes on out there
But what I'm saying is, you know, we should not join a churches because well who what political party do you support?
You know, what? What are your views on?
You know the vaccinations. What are your views on this? What's your view on 9-11?
You know, what's your view on kovat 19 on the shut on the lockdown and you know
You know, are you fully Mexican or are you you know?
These are nonsensical reasons to unify in a church, okay
Go to Acts chapter twos still hold your place or an Ephesians 4 go to Acts chapter 2
And I want you to look at verse 41 of Acts chapter 2 it says
In Acts chapter 2 verse 41 then they then they that gladly received his word were baptized
Another way of saying received his word means that they got saved
Okay
The Bible uses various ways to explain someone getting saved calling upon the name of the Lord believing on the Lord Jesus Christ being justified
Being cleansed. Here's just another way. They received his word and then they were baptized
You said well, how do you know that's referring to salvation?
well because of the fact that they were baptized afterwards and
Chronologically speaking the Bible tells us that a person is to be baptized after they get saved
So the pattern that's being followed here is that they received his word meaning they got saved and then they were immersed in water
it says in the same day that were added unto them about 3,000 souls and they continued steadfastly in
political ideologies
homeschooling
conspiracy no in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking bread and in prayer skip down to verse 46 and
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 the Bible tells us verse 44 also says that in that all that believe were together and had all things common
So obviously there's unity in this first church in Jerusalem
They're experiencing one accord being of one mind being like-minded and according to verse 42
It's around the Apostles doctrine and fellowship. Okay, meaning that we should be unified around listen to this and this is crazy
spiritual things
Not carnal things not the things of this world
Right, not even things that take place outside of these walls
We unify together as believers because we share a commonality
Around spiritual matters and that's what matters. Okay
Now go back to Ephesians chapter 4 if you would Ephesians chapter 4
I'm gonna give you a few elements of church unity and a lot of this is very basic stuff that you probably already heard
But you need to be reminded of less. You should think that we should be unified around other things now
Obviously, you know, there are churches out there that maybe believe different than we do
regarding end times Bible prophecy
Regarding replacement theology, maybe even some of the administrations of the other churches
But here's the thing if their basic doctrines are the same we can have fellowship with them, right?
If there's if their salvation doctrine is the same we can have fellowship with them
Okay
But I will say this most churches who believe like we do even on secondary or third issues
We tend to be a little closer to
Right because we share that commonality
But even then my friends the most common
Unity that we should experience is within church meaning that we here in this building
Should essentially believe the same on these things. Okay, so let me give you a couple elements of church unity this morning first and foremost
What should you unify us number one the element of fundamental doctrines?
I know this is crazy. But the reason you should be here is because you believe the Bible that I believe
You believe the same doctrines that I believe you believe the same about
Salvation that we believe the same about Jesus Christ the same about hell the same about damnation
The same about soul winning the same about you name it whatever we believe about the Bible are it should line up with one another
We can have various interpretations regarding the secondary doctrines of the Bible, but the primary doctrines of the Bible we should agree on
We
Have assembled as a church because we agree on the fundamental doctrines of the Bible
Doctrine divides us from others, but it should unify us as a church
This is what has brought us together and as a church as a church in the first place
Okay, now what kind of programs we have for the kids now?
What kind of music we had now how long the worship is now? What kind of gifts do we give out none of that?
What you unify us first and foremost the Bible, okay?
The harmony we experience here is due to our common beliefs about the Word of God
It says in Ephesians 4 and verse 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
Listen to this there is one body and one spirit even as you're called and one hope of your calling one Lord
One faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all
Sounds to me like there's only one right answer right, so we should believe in that one answer
skipping down to verse 11
He says and he gave some apostles some prophets and some evangelists some pastors and teachers
For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ
Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God
Unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ the Bible says
So the Bible tells us that God gave us a local New Testament church with people who know the Bible to teach you the Bible
So that you could be unified with us
Now this is why we're not a cult
Because here's the thing I tell you what the Bible says and what you should believe and if you don't agree with that
It's okay. You could always leave at any time
You know
It's a it's like a revolving door in a church that if you don't agree with the doctrines of what we believe here first works
About this church. You can always find a different church. No one forces you to stay. No one's forcing you to submit here
No one's forcing you to just obey by these rules and the commandments of the Lord
You have a choice to do so and if you don't like that you can go somewhere else
Because why would you want to be somewhere where you don't agree with the doctrines of the faith?
It says till we all come in unity of the faith
We need that the people who come to our church that get saved they don't know all the Bible
So as they progressively learn more Bible by reading the Bible by hearing preaching what happens they come into the unity of
The faith meaning they come into agreements with the beliefs of the church
Okay, you might come you get saved and you believe a little different about you know end times prophecy or just different
Minuscule doctrines of the faith, but then you hear about it in church
You're like, you know what? I'm gonna change my belief about that. I believe what this church teaches now now
I'm unified with the church in this particular area
and
It says there that it happens until you reach the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
Now when do we reach that like never this side of eternity?
So that means that becoming a Christian or being a Christian is a lifelong process of you
Just learning the Word of God and I would hope that if you've been here for a couple years
You've learned the Bible
I've heard that I hope that you've matured and your knowledge of the Word of God and your beliefs
He says in verse 14 that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro
Cared about with every wind of doctrine by the slide of men cunning craft in this whereby they lie in wait to deceive
skip down to verse 16 from whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supply is
According to the effectual working in the measure of every part make an increase of the body unto the edifying of itself
In love now for you. This is like yeah, of course, we're supposed to be unified around the Bible around doctrine
That's why we come here. Yeah, but you'd be surprised that there's churches that find this offensive
There are churches out there that if you bring up this point, they're like, oh hey doctrine divides and it's like in a church
Like we should be unified in a church
That's why in some churches you have this side believing in faith alone
This I believe that you have to repent this side believe repenting your sins to be safe
This I believes in baptism over generation and these people are speaking in tongues. I
don't know what they're doing over here and
They're all they have disunity even in the fundamentals of the faith of salvation
They can't come into agreement which is why a lot of the pastors of these non-denom type churches
Have to speak out of both sides of their mouth that to be very vague when they preach
Right you notice that they were very vague when they preach because of the fact that they have to placate all
The categories that are found within their church. If not, it's gonna create division
So they'll they'll placate the faith alone by saying we have to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and people were like, okay
He doesn't believe right about that. But then in person he talks to another person. He's like, oh, yeah
You have to repent your sins. If you don't you're not really safe and they're like, oh, okay
I thought you had meant this so he has to like speak out of both sides of his mouth to everyone in the
Congregation in order to placate them and keep them in church. That's not unity
The Bible says that we have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully
And so it's important that we agree on salvation
Folks, it's important that we agree on baptism
You know, you have to understand that baptism is for saved people
And let me just plug this in if you've been saved, but you have not been baptized
You need to get baptized today. The water is nice and warm
Okay
if you've already believed on the Lord Jesus Christ the next step for you as a Christian is to
get dunked completely underwater and come out as a
Profession of your faith to the local New Testament Church
You're buried with them in the likeness of his death and you're raised to walk in newness of life
That's God's command for your life after salvation. And you know what? We don't sprinkle babies here
That's a common belief that we all have now if you believe that we have to sprinkle babies you're in the wrong church
You know, you got to go to the Lutheran the you know, Lutheran Church some Presbyterian Church or the Catholic Church
Because that's what they believe
Because they are wrong on salvation
Okay, and if you're wrong on baptism, let me just tell you something. You're probably wrong on salvation, too
and
So, you know we need to agree on salvation we need to agree on baptism we need to agree on the Bible
You know, this this church is a King James only Church
And what I mean by King James only it means that we only use the King James
Therefore we reject all other modern versions of the Bible and I preach many sermons on that
Most of us if not all of us know the reason why we reject all those
Modern versions of the Bible such as the NIV, ESV, NASB and and so on
They teach false doctrine that remove verses they add teachings that are not found in the Word of God
They pervert the blood of Christ they pervert salvation
Various other things that they do therefore we believe that the King James Bible is the inspired and preserved Word of God for the English-speaking people
That's the only version that we accept. Okay
You said well, I still think I could use the message every once in a while
You're probably in the wrong church
Okay
These are the doctrines that we must agree upon
Hey, we must agree upon the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that he's a hundred percent God a hundred percent man
Okay
The sonship of Christ. Hey, you must agree with us
If you're gonna be in this church, obviously that the Trinity is a biblical doctrine
Well, I you know, I kind of have a difference of opinion on that then you're not gonna do well here
Being surrounded by a bunch of Trinitarians
Okay
The Bible sets us apart from everyone else go to John chapter 17 if you would John chapter 17
I'm trying to bring us back to the basics of what should unify us as a church
Okay, you know, I don't want our church to be unified around Hitler
That's like a thing now amongst young people
Where it's just like you like Hitler I love Hitler we can love Hitler together
It's like what is that?
Hitler's not even a bible-believing Christian. That guy's wicked. He's he's in hell right now
That should be a non-God. Well, I think he was a believer. I
Think you know, I saw a picture with him where there was a cross in the background or something
I think he believes in God or something
I'm telling you but there's people who unify around that though
Okay, we should not be unified around
You know political ideologies political
individuals
Presidents, you know music stars Hollywood. None of that stuff should unify us whatsoever
And you think to yourself like well there are other churches that you know kind of struggle with things like that
Well, there's certain churches even in the old IFP. They unify around a Bible college
Right
They're like, well, this is a hiles church and obviously there's nothing wrong with house churches because they're solid churches
But it should just be that this is a Christ Church
You know now it's like this is we're all about house overall about North Valley. We're all about Paul Chapel
You know, this is where we send our kids
So they literally unify around a particular Bible college where they send all their kids to
That's a wrong thing to unify around
Okay, look at John 17 verse 17
Sanctify them through thy truth thy word is truth now we often think of
sanctification as
Being cleansed and that's absolutely true
But another way another definition and another way to describe sanctification is just to be set apart
Okay, and that's what it is
Another way to describe sanctification is just to be set apart
Okay
Because Jesus in this particular chapter says that he sanctified as well and obviously we know he has no sin
Something wrong with him, but he is set apart from everyone else and he says that to sanctify the disciples
through what through conspiracies
Through particular leaders. No, it says through thy truth
Thy word is truth as thou has sent me into the world
Even so have I also sent them into the world and for their sakes I sanctify myself
That they also might be sanctified through the truth neither pray I for these alone
But for them also which shall believe on me through their word
that they all may be listen to this one as thou father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in
Us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. So I want you to notice here
He says it's important to be sanctified through the truth in order for them to have unity
Okay in order for them to assemble together have unity be of one accord
Be one as Jesus Christ is with the Father that unity that they experience. It has to be through the Word of God
What binds us together?
What causes us to fellowship one with another is the Bible?
Okay
This is why we don't care what race you are what ethnicity you are
I can fellowship if you're with you if you're Asian black if you're Indian
It doesn't matter where you come from if you're saved you believe the Bible
We have more in common than I even have with my blood relatives that you know to a certain degree
Why because at the end of the day we agree on the Word of God, we've been sanctified through the truth
We've been set apart by the Word of God itself. Go to 1st John chapter 1 1st John chapter 1. We're talking about unity here
Elements of unity is
Doctrine the first one the most important thing is when you look for a church you look for what they believe
Not for the aesthetics of the church
not for
What shade of purple they got going on and the lights?
Not for the flooring though. This flooring is nice
not for how comfortable are the chairs though these are comfortable and
Those of you who weren't in the old building you just have no idea
You know in the old building they people who came to our church legitimately only came for the doctrine
Let's just put it that way. Okay
That's the only thing that motivated them come to the churches because of the doctrine because the chairs were just
You know, they're pretty they're pretty they're very primitive
But this should not be a reason why we come to church, right?
First John chapter 1 verse 3 says that that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you
That ye also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and it's not and with the Son Jesus Christ
And these things write unto you that your joy may be full
Then the excuse me
This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you that God is light and in him is no darkness
At all if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness
We lie and do not the truth
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light listen to this
We have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin
What is this teaching us?
It's teaching us that
Part of the unity that we experience as a church is that we want to be around people who are just not involved in crazy sin
We understand we're not perfect
We sin every single day the thought of foolishness is sin
but there's certain particular sins according to the Bible that merits excommunication from a church and the Bible says that we ought not to even eat
With someone who's committing fornication who's involved in extortion who's involved in railing who's involved in idolatry and so forth, right?
So part of the unity that we experience here is because we want to be unified with people who are not involved in those sins
We don't want to fellowship with people who are drunkards
We don't want to fellowship with people who are involved in fornication
This is why God provides fellowship in the local New Testament Church because we can't just separate from every fornicator of this world
Because not everyone in this world is the same person and even if they are a lot of say people still commit these sins
But the local New Testament Church should be filled with people who are not doing these things and this is how we experience fellowship
Why because we're both walking in the light
We're not walking in darkness. We can rest assured that when we come to church. We're coming to a spiritually clean church
Understand what I'm saying
It's a spiritually sanctified church not perfect
But you know what? I'm looking at a bunch of believers who are probably striving to keep sin out of their life
You're striving not to be involved in alcohol and marijuana
Fornication adultery and you may know you're like, well, I'm not striving to do those things. I'm not tempted with that
Well just in general though, we should abstain from those things
And we should view them as iniquity, you know as sinful and something that we don't want to be around
That's why we fellowship with one one with another
Whereas there's a lot of churches that because they don't practice that the church is just a cesspool of sin
What is an element of church unity the fundamental doctrines of the faith what we believe should gather us together, right?
We should believe in hell
You should believe in heaven
We should believe that the Word of God is the literal Word of God
And yeah, there are sometimes when it's symbolic but for the most part it's literal
We should believe in the fundamental doctrines of the resurrection of the laying on of hands
We should agree on those things
We should agree on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
Go to Philippians chapter 1 if you would Philippians chapter 1
Talk about elements of church unity should be centered around the fundamental doctrines of the faith what we believe
Elements of church unity number two. Here's here's another thing that should unify us and
That is the element of evangelism
We can experience unity in our church because we share a common objective
What is the common objective? We want to get people saved
We want to preach the gospel
We want to go out and win people to Christ
We want to be soul winners. We want our church to be a soul winning Church and we should agree upon that
Okay, we share the common goal of preaching the gospel to every creature. We share the common burden
That our fellow man needs to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ
You see, you know one thing that we have in common you and I that we both think about lost people
You
Know what commonality we share is that we both think about lost people and we both agree
Let's go win them to Christ
right
That provides unity that's really basic. But you know what? These are the the threads that are holding the unity of our church together though
fundamental doctrines of the faith and soul winning
Look at Philippians chapter 1 and verse 3. I
Think my God upon every remembrance of you
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making requests with joy
Listen to this for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now now
Let me just say something before we read on
If you feel like you don't have unity in our church
One of the best ways to kick start that up again is literally this come sowing with us
Because often when people stop sowing they become more self-centered than others centered
You see there we go so only because it's commanded of us
We go so only because we love lost people, but it's also just a great way to abstain from being selfish
Because when we go and preach the gospel, we're thinking about others
In spite of the fact that you're going through problems
Right, you're experiencing problems. You're experiencing issues. You're experiencing tribulation
And trials but then you get together with someone else in the church and you say
but you know what the most important thing is for us to win people to Christ and
then you go out you share that commonality and it unifies you a
Person who feels this this unity in the church or feels like they're not close to people in the church
It's because they're not laboring with people in the church
Because the church is meant to go out and preach the gospel
Okay, that's what we're here for and it's just like well, you know
I'm just here to get my family together and fix my family. Yeah, that's a good
That's a good byproduct of coming to church and that will happen
But that should not be the primary reason why you come to church
Because you know what? Sometimes maybe you're maybe we're not gonna I'm not gonna preach on the family. I don't know, you know
Or sometimes maybe you know, you're just gonna go through a season where you don't have obedient children
You're just gonna experience merit of problems
It's not to say that it's not gonna get fixed later on
But you know what one of the best things to do
Why you're experiencing those trials is go out and preach the gospel get people saved
Like well, I don't agree with that then this is probably not the church for you then
Because the commonality that we share here is there regardless of what we're going through
Regardless of what trials regardless of the tears regardless of the fire
We still share the commonality that we want to go out there and get people saved. I
Mean
That's what the Bible is talking about fellowship in the gospel what kind of activities you provide for the youth though
Here's the activities that we provide for the youth for the ancient for the children
Here's the here's an activity we have every single week. It's called soul winning
It's a great activity
We all go out preach the gospel get people saved go eat go fellowship go laugh go enjoy each other. It's great
look at verse 27
He says only let your conversation meaning your conduct be as it become at the gospel of Christ
That whether I come and see you or else be absent. I may hear of your affairs
I want you to notice this they stand fast in one spirit with one mind
Striving together for the faith of the gospel
What are you saying I want you guys to be unified around preaching the Word of God preaching the gospel
Well, we know that but we you know, we want to be unified around other things folks
Think about what Jesus is saying here through the Apostle Paul
What is it? What is he what is he saying? I want you to be unified about talking about me
Because we're going to preach in the gospel. What are we doing? We're talking about Jesus
We're testifying of the Lord Jesus Christ
That brings Jesus Christ a lot of honor and pleasure
Knowing that a group of people in the local New Testament Church are banding together to go tell people about him
That's wonderful
that brings unity and
You know what? I don't know if you notice this but the head of this church is Jesus Christ
So we can't necessarily determine what this what this church is gonna do or what it's gonna become
Based upon what we desire what we want
We need to ask the boss and the boss says the Lord says I want you to go out there preach the gospel to every creature
Testify of the Lord Jesus Christ going there for and teach all nations
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. I've commanded you, you know, the Bible is about Jesus
Now the byproduct of being a Christian is that it fixes a lot of our problems sometimes, you know
Right gives us a lot of answers gives us wisdom
That is the fallout of being a Christian is just we benefit from it in every aspect of life
But folks, let me just say this don't make that the primary reason why you're coming to church
Well, I'm coming to church because I want to fix my marriage. Amen to that
Let's fix your marriage. But can you go out and preach the gospel though? I
Want to I want to be able to learn how to raise my children
Amen to that raise your children, but can you also like raise them as you're going out preaching the gospel?
Well, I just want to learn how to overcome depression I got the answer for you go out and preach the gospel
Because it'll make you a selfless person
It'll help you realize what the real problem is
And when you go out and preach the gospel to lost people you'll realize how better your life is compared to others
You get people saving you're like man. I actually have it really good number one because I'm saved
So my worst day here on this earth will still be someone someone's best day if they're not safe
I
Let's have fellowship around the gospel go to Philippians chapter 4 if you wouldn't Philippians chapter number 4
Same book there Philippians chapter 4 verse 1 says therefore my brother and dearly beloved and long for
My joy and crown so stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved
The Apostle Paul really knows how to butter up people, huh?
When he writes to them verse 2 says I beseech Euodius and beseech sin Tiki that they be of the same mind in the Lord
And I entreat the also true yoke fellow
Help those women which labored with me in the gospel with Clement also and with other my fellow laborers whose names are in the book
Of life rejoice in the Lord always always and again. I say rejoice. What is he saying?
He says I want Euodius and sin Tiki to actually be unified and I don't think it's a coincidence that in verse 3
He says that he entreats them to be true yoke fellows
What does he talk about bear the burden to preach in the gospel?
It sounds like Euodius and sin Tiki need to need to start preaching the gospel they need to start going soul winning
You don't want to unify you with someone who you don't like in the church
Going soul winning together
Because when God uses you both it lead someone to Christ
Now you have that bond you have that eternal experience that would just last forever. I
Mean all of us can testify of a time. We went off Sony
We've got someone saved with a sowing partner and it's just like it's there
Like we remember that day that we experienced with that person or we change someone's life
That's called the fellowship of the gospel and the Bible's telling us here that we need to strive
To keep that unity. Okay of the gospel
What is an element of church unity well we said the fundamental doctrines of the faith what we believe the element of evangelism what we do
Here's another one go to 2nd Corinthians
I'm sorry. No, you actually stay in Philippians stay in Philippians
Element of church unity number three. Here's here's a big one. Okay
So doctrine is important and some of you came because of doctrine
Evangelism is important and some of you came because this is a soul winning church
But here's one that will keep you here. Okay, and that is the element of friendship
Doctrine unites us the gospel unites us friendship actually keeps us here though, okay
You have to like the people here if you're gonna stay here
Like they have to be your friends
Like you got to go talk to them
Like you got to like build a relationship with them. You cannot hate them
You have to actually like like to be around them
You say why because God created the local New Testament Church yes to preach the Word of God
Yes for evangelism. Yes to teach doctrine, but here's also what he provided through the local New Testament Church fellowship
And what's fellowship hanging around?
Just hanging around
Just talking to one another
Laughing with one another eating with one another
Being with one another
And let me say this if you're like well, I'm only here for the doctrine I
Only I only want to know systematic theology
Go so any and that's it
Well number one
You're not gonna last very long. But let's just say you do you're just gonna be the grumpiest sourpuss in our church
If that's all you do if you're like, I just want doctrine just teach me the Bible
I just want to win people to Christ. I don't need a fellowship with anyone
I don't need that type of relationship in my life right now. Just leave me alone. I'll be in the corner somewhere
You're just gonna be a grumpy sourpuss in our church
And you're gonna remain listen to this you're gonna remain weird
You know what church does to you it makes you not weird
And in my experience pastoring this church we attract a lot of weird people
And that's okay as long as you start fellowshipping
You said what does fellowship have to do with making me not weird?
Well, then you start realizing how other people act and you're like, I'm gonna adopt the way this person acts
I'm gonna adopt the way they talk. I'm gonna adopt a better attitude. I'm gonna
smile
2020 mess people up
Apparently made all people autistic or something like that
Because everyone says they're autistic now after 2020 is like well, I'm autistic why cuz you're just not social or something
No, what you need is a local New Testament Church. You need to make some friends
Like I got so much social anxiety. I must be autistic. No, you just need to be in church and go talk to someone and
be normal
What's normal is actually talking to people?
What's normal is laughing, right?
The
Relationships that we build actually sweetens the labor here at our church and look here's a I'm telling you
This is an important element of church unity
You actually have to like the people you're going to church with
You like well, you know, I thought like as our church gets bigger you don't just don't like everyone
I mean that's true to a certain degree just people you don't want to be around as much or something
But in general though, you should like the people in our church
You come there just like I just love the people I like to be around the people
I like talking to the people, you know, because we have a common interest
You know, I think about yesterday yesterday. We had the men's activity
And it was great. We had a great time. You know, we got a lot of men show up
I I preach I was supposed to preach like a 15-minute sermon. It ended up being like an hour or something like that and
After that, we had a men's competition. We did planking
Okay, what else did we do push-ups and
Oh
Yeah, we did Bible trivia. We did hanging by your hands. Okay, we did
Bible trivia and then what else we did and then all the guys went in the gym and just maxed out on bench. I
Don't know about you, but I had a great time
And you know, I think that the testosterone went up like really high that day for everyone just being around them in right the planking
You know
Glen had some ninjutsu move or something that he was doing you look like a gecko the entire time, but
We were laughing. We're having fun. We're unified and let me just say this like I love the men more now
Just being around the men made me love them more
And you like well, did you guys discuss the Bible doctrine? No, we're yelling at each other most of the time telling to get it up
Like when they're bench pressing 300
They're taking pre-work everyone's just it stinks in there, you know dudes when they didn't come showered and you know
We had a great time
You said war you guys doing
fellowshiping and
Then when we ate we just you have like three groups just talking about different things. Just hanging out just talking to one another
Like well, I prefer to have friends outside of church. Oh, you mean like unbelievers. Oh
You mean like Christians who don't go to church
Like we should be around Christians
Who are as devoted if not more than us right who are good influence on us
We should be around Christians who go to church
Who read the Bible?
Who love the Lord Jesus Christ?
Who prioritize spiritual things?
Why because that way they could exhort us
To continue in the faith iron sharpened with iron the Bible says so a man sharpened at the countenance of his face
The element of friendship is important. I'm glad you're here because you like doctrine
I'm glad you're here because you want to go soul winning but make some friends
You know, I know you get all anxious once the service ends everyone gets up. You're just like
You just book about you're just gonna have a meltdown
But you know what? No one bites
No one's gonna look at you weird if you just go up to you introduce yourself and just go and make some friends
Why because friendship will keep you here and you know what? That's God's will for your life
God's will for your life is for you to be a social creature
To develop friendships ladies develop friendships in our church
Young people develop friendships in our church
And you know what? It's great when the young men hang out with the older man because it matures them a little more
The element of friendship
That is what brings church unity
And you know what? We kind of need to be friends to me and you
Because you got to listen to me yell at you for three hours a week
So, you know if we're not friends that you're just gonna be offended at me all the time
But if you only listen to me up here, but you never listen to me down here
You're gonna think that up here is the way I am all the time
But when you talk to me down here you realize oh, he's not always angry
Oh, he's not always mean he actually oh, he doesn't always yell, you know, or you might think actually oh, he does always yell or you know
Look at Philippians 2 verse 1
It says if there be any if there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if
Any fellowship of the Spirit if any bows and mercies?
Fulfill ye my joy what brings the Apostle Paul joy the same thing that brings the Lord Jesus Christ joy
They ye be like-minded listen to this having the same love being of one accord of one mind
Let nothing be done through strife and or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves
Look, not everyone every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others
What is he saying? You know, I want you guys to treat each other. Well, I want you guys to get along
Why don't you guys to be friends?
Want you guys to have love?
Comfort
Being of one accord no strife or vainglory
Be humble
Esteem your brothers in Christ better than yourself. That's what he's saying there and
I want you to notice that in verse 1 he says, you know, if there's any bows of mercies consolation and comfort
You can get it through your brothers and sisters in Christ
You know, one of the best reasons to develop friendships in church is that people in church will help you get through a hard time
Plain and simple
But if you don't develop friendships in church, how do you expect to get through the hard times?
Like how how do you expect God to help you through this because yes, he comforts you through the Holy Spirit
But he also uses people to get you through the hard times
Okay
The Bible tells us you don't have to turn there Romans chapter 12 verse 9
You could write it down or you can go there. Let love be without dissimulation
Abhor that which is evil cleave to that which is good be kindly
Affection one toward another with brotherly love in
Honor preferring one another not slothful in business fervent in spirit serving the Lord rejoicing in hope patient in tribulation continuing instant in prayer
Distributing to the necessity of the Saints given to hospitality
bless them which persecute you blessing curse not
Rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that we be of the same mind one toward another
Might not hide things but condescend to men of lowest state be not wise in your own conceits over and over again. The Apostle Paul is
Exhorting the brethren. Hey be kind to one another
Love one another come from one another rebuke one another
And look, it's important to receive rebuke from your brother in Christ
But it's hard to receive a big from a brother in Christ if you don't like them
So this is why we're trying to get you to like us so we can rebuke you
That's the point
You know, I try to strive as best as I can as a pastor to create a lot of unity in our church through friendships
That's why we're having a Christmas party this year at my house
Yep, you know this year and sometime in December I haven't decided when but I'm announcing it right now party at my house
Not on Christmas Day, but sometime before that and ever we did this like two years ago
I think it was like two years ago and it was just like the worst idea ever
because
My house was packed. No one can move everyone just because I had like a small little place, but we move. Yeah, it's still fun
Actually, that wasn't the worst one. The worst one was like three or four years ago
Where we didn't put a time limit
To the party and people are at my house at like three o'clock in the morning
Like my kids are asleep. My wife's already in bed, you know, and I'm just there
I'm like tired out of my mind and there's still guys in my living room. Just you know, hang it out
But you know, those guys are still here though
And you know, that's a memory that we'll share for years on end
But you know, I want to create your unity here
But I want you to realize that you need to have friends here and I don't think it's it's out of place
I don't think it's I'm crossing boundaries to say that you know
The friendships you have in church should be more than what you experience outside of church with unsafe people
That's not too much to ask and I feel like that's what the Bible requires
The Bible tells us be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness
That's not about being Amish
Obviously you have to deal with me about your work and all these things
But if you spend more time free time with unsaved people who don't believe the Bible, they're not saved
They blaspheme the things of God then you spend with God's people then there's something wrong there
And that's probably why you're experiencing this unity in the church
It's not because of anything going on in the church is because you are not making friends in the church
To be like-minded. What is the element of church unity? It's the fundamental doctrines of the faith what we believe
the element of evangelism what we do the element of friendship who we do it with and
Then lastly go with me if you would to Hebrews chapter 13
Hebrews chapter 13
Here's the last element of church unity and that is the element of one pastor
I feel weird kind of having to say this point because I am the pastor
But this is something that this is something that binds the church together is a pastor
This is why we reject the house church movement
Okay, it kind of has just everyone leading the whole thing and there's not there's you know
There's too many Chiefs not enough Indians type of a thing and you know
You have everyone just coming up with their own interpretation their own him their own doctrine their own administration
Whereas we just need one
And we need one man to lead that charge
And not by the way, let me just boldly say this no pastor outside of this church either
We are an independent fundamental Baptist Church
And as an independent church an independent church requires one pastor to determine the course of this church
No one else outside of the church determines that
No one determines what doctrines we teach the administration that we have the direction we're going in
You know
I was commended unto the Lord when I was ordained and
Therefore I'm the one who basically charts the course here
Okay, and you're like, well, I don't agree with that. Then you have to go to our church where you can't agree with that
The element of one pastor is the one who leads the way and obviously I'm saying this because I'm the pastor here
But also we're gonna raise pastors here as well
There's people in our church that are gonna be pastors in the future starting future churches and then guess what?
You know once they get ordained once they get sent out. I don't determine the course of that church
That church needs unity that church needs to be centered around their doctrines their faith their soul and their pastor
Look at Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 7
It says here remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of God
I want you to notice these three words whose faith follow
Considering the end of their conversation skip down to verse 17
Obey them to have the rule over you and submit yourselves for they watch for your souls as
They that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you
Let me say a couple things regarding this passage
Number one we see here that the Apostle Paul is saying that there should be one leader who's and it's the one who's actually watching
over your souls
Now do we listen to other pastors online and all that? Of course, I
Mean day and age in which we live, you know
We have so much access to a lot of preaching a lot of knowledge
But let me just say this when it comes to this church though. You got to abide by what's going on in this church
Because we're we're not a part of a universal church
Okay
You know, you got to obey the leadership here
Well, that sounds cultish. No, the cold tells you you got to obey the leadership here and you can't go anywhere else
That's not what I'm saying
Not only that but it says here that those who watch for your souls
must give an account and
he's saying there, you know, you should submit to the lead to the leadership because the leadership has to give an account to God and
When they give an account about you you want them to do with joy and not with grace
Now what I believe this is referring to I don't believe this is talking about like when we go to heaven
You know, there's like a separate line for pastors
Having to give an account of their church members like how was geo, you know
You know, he's I
Guess he's okay, you know, he hit three seven three sixteen three seven was it three seventeen three sixteen on the bench
But you know, he's a good guy, you know, I don't think it works that way
I think what this is actually referring to is when I pray for a church
Because
When I pray into the church, well when I pray unto the Lord for the church, I'm calling out people specifically
you know, I'm praying for you guys specifically by name and
The Bible's telling us here that
When you submit yourselves, I'm able to like give an account with joy
Like Lord, I thank God for geo. I thank God for his wife
You know, I thank God for brother Cody. I thank God for his wife and they're just they're an asset to our church
They're just love the Lord
And I'm thankful they're in our church
But the Bible is also saying here
That when I pray for you, you know, God doesn't God's warning you. Hey, don't don't make them like pray with grief
Let me just let me just pick on some I'll pick on hike cuz I always pick on hike you cool with that hike you good
All right, that's a good that's a good example. That's a good example
You know, I pray Lord
I'm here about hike again
Ah
You know, I got to do those groanings which which cannot be uttered
the Romans eight groanings
And I'm just like, I don't know what to do Lord, you know, he's caused me so much grief
Just can you just do something with him, you know who or
And obviously I don't I don't pray that I love brother. Hi, can I pray? Oh, I always pray for brother hike
As I do for everyone what the Bible's telling us here is that that's unprofitable for you, right?
Why because then God has to come down on you as
It as a Christian or as a church member because you know, you got a D on your report card
on your church report card
So that's why it says obey them to have the rule over you now, this doesn't mean like obey me in every aspect, right?
It's not like I'm even
Enforcing rules or something upon you that are just grievous to be born
But just it's basically saying just be a good church member
Be a church member that promotes unity
Be a church member that promotes comfort love
evangelism
support a good attitude
Why so that when I have to give an account before the Lord I say I praise God for TJ
He's not talking about the Ravens anymore
You know, he's talking about the Ravens and we're you know, now he's just he's a great church member. He's growing in the Lord
He's
He's an asset to our church. He loves the people here Lord. Thank you. Thank you for brother Lucas, you know
Giving account like man this guy that's encouraged. He's been faithful
See him in every service. He's just here. I'm like Lord. Thank you for that person and
the Lord takes that and
But it's unprofitable for you if I have to do it with grief though
So what creates unity in the church is the leader who prays for you
Leading the charge leading the course of our church
So that when things happen in this world things happen in Christianity, you know, you just gotta listen to the captain
Okay, let's just band together
Stick it out. If something's happening in your life. You're experiencing a storm, you know, I'm there with you
Just kind of telling you don't jump ship
Just hold on to the mast
We're almost out of it. You know, I've been through this before too, you know, if you a little seasick, it's okay
You know, you'll get through it
When we as a church experience trials and tribulations most of my job is just preventing people from jumping ship
It's like don't go to the edge. Don't look at the water. Just look just put your head down
Just don't look just close your eyes. Let me chart this course
We'll make it out of here
The point that I'm making here is that you know, the Bible does tell us be followers of me even as I am of Christ
Now
Lord willing I'm gonna do this for the rest of my life
That's my desire. I believe that's the Lord's desire
obviously things can happen in the future that might disqualify me and
You know, I can no longer pass or whatever or you know
Some evil can come upon me some sickness or something where I'm incapacitated. I'm no longer able to lead
but you know, I'm gonna pray that I can do this to the very end and
And what I like in my lifetime is to keep unity
You know that you would continue to believe the same doctrines
That we would be a church that would continue to evangelize even into our old age
Okay
That we would be here for generations to come because our children grow up here
And we would also pass that down to them and they would experience that same unity
That we would actually like each other in our church
And not be divisive not have strife or vainglory
But they would be here doing the work of the Lord charting the course
until the very end
The point that I'm making here is hey, let's endeavor
Let's strive to keep the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace in our church. Amen
Let's pray father. We thank you so much for your word and I'm thankful for the unity. We do experience in our church
This is just a reminder to us all Lord
That these are the main
Elements of church unity and thankfully we share more things in common than just those things that we that we listed today
we share a lot of common beliefs a lot of common interest a lot of common backgrounds and
upbringings Lord
Personalities and that's a great thing. It just kind of it ties us in even more
But more than anything we should always take into account
these four things are the most important things to unify us Lord and I pray that you'd help us as your people to
emphasize and understand the importance of being independent autonomous churches and
To endeavor to keep the spirit of the union the bond of peace at first works Baptist Church. We love you
We thank you pray these things in Jesus name. Amen