The Plan for Unity
What does it mean to belong? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 43:54
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· 39 viewsGod’s Kingdom is a glorious assortment of people representing every people group, every culture and every facet or personality which reflects God’s image. What do we have in common? We all give glory to God!
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Our theme for 2020 has been “Seeing Spiritually.”
We are learning to see from God’s perspective and to understand what God is doing.
We began our study of Paul’s letter to the Romans by asking the question, “What does it mean to believe?”
We discovered that believing involves a supernatural encounter with Christ that transforms us into the people that God made us to be.
You no longer belong to yourself; you belong to Christ!
So the question changes from--What does it mean to believe? to-- What does it mean to belong?
Review:
God chose a people through whom He would reveal Himself to the world.
We then learned that we are all messengers through which God will convey His message to the world. In the case of the Romans- both Jews and Gentiles.
Then we talked about the importance of presenting ourselves to God to be transformed into those who would represent God, not just in name, but in character.
If the world was to receive the message of God’s love, they would need to first demonstrate that love to each other. We do that by pursuing what is good, honorable and edifying.
This last sermon is about unity as the goal, the final piece that needs to fall into place for God’s plan to be fulfilled.
We are not talking about a unity where everybody thinks the same and acts the same - but where we respect each other’s differences and where we each play our part.
God’s Kingdom is a glorious assortment of people representing every people group, every culture and every facet or personality which reflects God’s image.
What do we have in common? We all give glory to God!
United in expectation
United in expectation
1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
Expect something good for someone else.
Expect something good for someone else.
Last week we talked about love being giving and self-sacrificing instead of the human love which asks, “what can you do for me?”
It is our human nature to be selfish.
Ever since the fall, it is our instinct to self-preservation and self-promotion.
Someone might say, “I’m never thinking about myself. I’m always doing things for other people to the point of loosing my own identity in the process.”
That’s what we call co-dependency. And it also is a kind of selfishness.
We want other people to be OK so we don’t have to feel their pain.
Or we immerse ourselves in other people’s problems so we don’t have to face our own.
A healthy balance is called interdependence.
It’s where I get to be me and you get to be you.
But we help each other to be and to do more than we each could on our own.
We can bear one another’s burdens , but we are bearing it with them and not for them.
Jesus does that for us.
He already gave His life for us on the cross.
However, we still go through pain and trials.
Most often, He doesn't rescue us from those trials, but He is with us in the midst of it, giving us peace and holding us together.
What if we were to be like Jesus?
What if we could find that balance of being present, providing encouragement and yet letting people fight and win their own battles.
Sometimes we need to hold back in a way that says, “I believe in you!”
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Expect that together we will learn and grow until we reach unity.
Expect that together we will learn and grow until we reach unity.
The context for Paul’s letter is the Roman church were the Jews had to leave for awhile and then came back to find that the church was mostly Gentiles.
Imagine if you had to leave Spring City Fellowship for a few years (maybe work related or a missions assignment). When you come back you find that the church is full of new people, but not just any people. There are bikers, drug addicts, sex-offenders, kids with strange hair and clothing maybe even piercings.
Are you going to say, “Oh God, what happened to this church?” or are you going to say, “Praise God, what has happened to this church!”
That’s essentially what happened to the church in Rome.
Only the characters were different. - Jews and Gentiles
Would you have the expectation that when these new Christians become mature that they are going to look, act and sound just like you?
Or would you have the expectation that each of you, in your own way are becoming more like Christ?
Would you be able to find common ground? What would that take?
If we are each redeemed sinners and we are each seeking to follow Christ, that makes us partners in the gospel. Right?
Expect your life to follow the example of Christ.
Expect your life to follow the example of Christ.
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
The more I learn to know God the more I find that God Himself is not very religious.
If by religion you mean the system of rules and rituals by which we try to make ourselves good enough to approach God.
Holiness is important, however the primary reason we need to learn about holiness is to learn that we can never be holy on our own.
If religion is a means by which we attain some measure of standing with God, it’s just not possible!
The truth is that God reached down to us.
God fulfilled the covenant with Israel even after they broke it.
God had mercy on the Gentiles and filled them with His Spirit.
None of us are standing here today because of our own merit.
If you are a follower of Christ, you are going to have to do what He did, humble yourself and serve others.
Paul quotes several scriptures as evidence that it was always God’s intention to reach the whole world with the gospel.
If that is what God is doing, then that’s what we should be doing.
United in purpose
United in purpose
Together we have what we need to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives.
Together we have what we need to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives.
14 My dear brothers and sisters, I am fully convinced of your genuine spirituality. I know that each of you is stuffed full of God’s goodness, that you are richly supplied with all kinds of revelation-knowledge, and that you are empowered to effectively instruct one another.
An apostolic (New Testament) church is the opposite of a religious church.
Religion is man’s attempt to understand and be acceptable to God.
The New Testament Church is apostolic (meaning sent). God is sending us as messengers into the world.
A religious system tries to control people.
An apostolic church releases people into ministry.
A religious system keeps putting up hoops to jump through, making it harder for people to serve God.
An apostolic church says, “you already have what it takes - the Holy Spirit in you.” Learn as you go.
A religious system wants to contain the growth, get more people into the church.
An apostolic church knows it can never contain what the Spirit is doing. Let’s build the kingdom!
Expect God to do above and beyond anything that you could do in your own strength.
18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,
Focus your efforts on people who might not otherwise be reached.
Focus your efforts on people who might not otherwise be reached.
Have you noticed that Christians tend to spend most of their time around other Christians?
We tend to frequent Christian businesses and send our kids to Christian school.
Our social life consist of church, Bible study and hanging out with Christian friends.
Unless you are intentional about putting yourself in situations where you are around non-church people, you might find yourself in a “Christian bubble.”
I realize that not everyone is wired this way, but Paul had this drive to go where the message of Christ had not been heard.
Not everyone can go to unreached people groups, but you can partner with those who do. (missions plug!)
But we also have unreached people all around us.
There’s the neighbor that nobody talks to.
There’s the family member that nobody has heard from in a while.
There’s the coworker who isolates from the rest of the group.
Sharing the gospel doesn’t mean you have to explain the whole Bible.
You can begin by noticing them and giving them a smile.
Sometimes listening to a person is more powerful than talking.
If someone shares a concern, offer to pray for them. Most people are glad for prayer!
Don’t feel like you have to fix everything, that’s God’s job.
Ask God what He would have you to do and be obedient.
Paul had it on his heart to go to Spain, but first he has to go to Jerusalem to finish something that he had begun.
24 I am planning to go to Spain, and when I do, I will stop off in Rome. And after I have enjoyed your fellowship for a little while, you can provide for my journey. 25 But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. 26 For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. 27 They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. 28 As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. 29 And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together.
Use crisis as an opportunity to build bridges.
Use crisis as an opportunity to build bridges.
Historical texts confirm that the was a famine in Judea from AD 46-48.
Paul was traveling through Asia Minor when he wrote the letter.
Instead of continuing on the Rome and then to Spain, he was going back to Jerusalem to deliver a gift on behalf of the churches of Asia Minor.
He couldn’t just send it by Western Union. The best way was to convert it to currency and to hand-deliver it.
This is more than just charity, this is an opportunity to bring the relationship between Jews and Gentiles full circle.
The Gentiles would never have known the gospel if the Jews had not preserved the scriptures, the traditions and prepared the way for Jesus to come.
Now the Jews are humbled by famine and are in a position to receive a blessing in return.
The relationship is moving toward interdependence.
Even Paul relates to the Roman church in both giving and receiving.
Paul would, in fact, go to Rome after Jerusalem, but not in the way that he thinks.
He would be transported as a prisoner and be under house arrest in Rome awaiting trial.
The church in Rome would care for his needs until he is eventually released for a short time.
We may see crisis as an interruption of our plans, but God will use these things as an opportunity.
It’s an opportunity to experience humility.
It levels the playing field and encourages interdependence.
Sometimes the best way to create a bond with someone is to let them minister to you.
United in spirit
United in spirit
Avoid people who are divisive.
Avoid people who are divisive.
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
So if our purpose is to spread the message of God’s love and to reach out to people who might not otherwise hear, watch out for people who are doing the opposite.
They are often well-meaning people, but they can sometimes be well…mean!
For example, someone makes a commitment to Christ and the next thing they hear is “do this… don’t do that.”
What denomination are you? What Bible do you read? What makes you thing you are a Christian?
Sometimes religious people are the worst people for new believers to be around.
It’s good for new believers to be around real people:
Humble people - people who know the grace of God in their own life.
People who know what is to struggle, but who also know what it means to overcome.
People who are like Christ, who meet you on your level and who raise you up.
What does it mean to belong? It is to be united in spirit with those who are redeemed in Christ.
Pay more attention to good than to evil.
Pay more attention to good than to evil.
19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
We are in a spiritual battle, but we are not focused on the enemy.
We are focused on God!
This is also what unites us in spirit, we know and are filled with the goodness of God.
We are fighting from a place of victory.
Satan was already defeated at the cross.
Evil no longer reigns.
It must remain hidden to survive.
In the end, evil will be exposed for what it is, and then it will end.
Remember, we said that both evil and good are contagious.
If we allow ourselves to become preoccupied with evil it will consume us.
But if we are keeping our eyes on the goodness of God we will have peace.
I want to be innocent, to be unaware of the bad things,
I want to delight in all that is right and beautiful and good.
Live for the glory of God!
Live for the glory of God!
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
God is good.
God created us to reflect His goodness.
Glory- weighty, majestic, shining brightly, splendor
We are privileged to live in a time like no other.
We know God in a way that many people have longed for, but few have found.
We have access to the Word of God.
Many of us have read it multiple times, we can study it.
We have countless teachings, sermons, and study resources.
We have Christian music, movies, radio and TV.
So much revelation that we are tempted to be mere consumers.
In fact, we are messengers, living demonstrations of God’s power and love.
What does it mean to belong?
It means that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves.
It means that we are “in Christ” and that we are connected to every other person around the world who is also “in Christ.”
It means that when the world looks at us they should see just how awesome God is!
Questions for reflection:
Questions for reflection:
Who are the “weaker’ people that God wants you to bear with? Are there people that you find difficult to love? Are there people who wear you down? What would happen if you ask Jesus to respond through you? What would Jesus do?
Why do you go to church (or tune in on-line)? Are you just here because of what you think God can do for you? Or have you realized that God wants to do something through you? Are we like peasants coming to pay tribute to our king? Or are we an army training and preparing to be sent out?
What does it mean to live for the glory of God? Are your eyes on Jesus? Where do you see the goodness of God? His majesty? His brightness and splendor? Ask God to remind you where you are fighting from and what you are fighting for!