Man Your Battle Stations

ILL.- One of my many embarrassing moments was when I worked at Safeway in the 1960’s. Another Safeway employee and I got into a big argument in the backroom one day. He was a Mormon and I was a new Christian. I certainly didn’t handle myself well or conduct myself properly. We nearly started throwing fists at one another just because we didn’t agree on some matter of opinion. HOW TERRIBLE!

While we may not get into a fight with someone over some issue, we will rant and rave, cuss and discuss at times. And I’m not talking having a religious discussion or argument. We rant and rave in many places in life.

James 1:20 “For man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”

ILL.- I am my neighbor’s Bible

He reads me when we meet;

Today he reads me in my home –

Tomorrow, in the street.

He may be a relative or friend,

Or slight acquaintance be;

He may not even know my name,

Yet he is reading me.

ILL.- The story is told that Alexander the Great once met a lazy, good-for-nothing soldier in his army and asked his name. The soldier replied, “Alexander, sir.” Alexander the Great then said, “Either change your name or change your ways.”

It’s possible that Christ could say these words to some of us today. Consistent living for Christ is needed in order to overcome the enemy.

II. COOPERATION IN THE CHURCH

V. 27b “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”

Stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man. Paul is talking about cooperation in the body of Christ.

ILL.- Bill Buckner said, “WHEN I came back to the States after a tour of duty with the Marines in Vietnam, I stayed with my parents for a 30-day leave. Mom’s rules were simple: I could come and go as I pleased, but I must let her know when I returned home each night. After one long evening with friends, I crept into the house and didn’t knock on Mom’s door. Late the next morning when I came down to breakfast, she glared at me with icy silence. ‘Look, Mom,’ I said, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I got home safely last night, but what did you do all the time I was in Vietnam?’ ‘Well,’ she replied, ‘at least then I knew where you were!’”

When you’re in mama’s house, there must be some cooperation. And it matters not how old you are when you are in mama’s house!

Without cooperation in the house, nothing great will be accomplished.

I Cor. 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be a no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

If there ever was a divided church, it was Corinth. You name it and seemed like they were divided over it. Most of us would not have wanted to be members in that church.

No church is immune to division and disunity, but if we’re going to go forward, succeed, experience growth, etc. we must pull together for the cause of Christ.

ILL.- “We have tough choices ahead," Schwarzenegger said in declaring victory. "The first choice that we must make is the one that will determine our success. Shall we rebuild our state together or shall we fight amongst ourselves, create even deeper divisions and fail the people of California? Well, let me tell you something - the answer is clear. For the people to win, politics as usual must lose."