THERE IS A SECRET POWER THAT LEADS TO SUCCESS. THE POWER IN AGREEMENT
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is several part lesson.)
Henry Ford said: If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.
Mother Teresa said: None of us, including me, ever accomplish great things. We can do small things with great love. Then together we can do something wonderful.
LET US EXAMINE THE POWER OF AGREEMENT… If a trumpet player is standing near a grand piano… If the trumpeter hits a B NOTE on his trumpet the B NOTE on the grand piano will vibrate? Wow, what a wonderful lesson here on agreement.
TEXT:
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech 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 ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (MSG) I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I'll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.
OUR ENEMY AND ALL THE DEMONIC FORCES POOLED THEIR STRATEGY MEETINGS AND CAME UP WITH ONE OF THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE PLANS KNOWN ON EARTH. ANYTHING SPLINTERED BY FUSSING AND FEUDING WILL EVENTUALLY FALL IN TOTAL DESTRUCTION.
Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN STATED A BIBLICAL TRUTH: He said: A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or the other.
WHY DID THE UNION WIN IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES: A STRATEGY BASED ON DIVIDE AND CONQUER?
UNION GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT DEVISED A MILITARY STRATEGY PLAN. THE NORTH DEVELOPED WHAT IS CALLED THE ANACONDA PLAN TO DIVIDE THE SOUTH 3 WAYS. 1. A blockade of all southern ports. 2. Then advance down the Mississippi River. 3. WILLIAM SHERMAN’S MARCH: led the Northern forces in a crushing campaign through THE SOUTH from South Carolina to Georgia. They burned houses and barns. They destroyed bridges, roads and railroads. These 3 plans were to DIVIDE and CONQUER to preserve the UNION, THE USA. THE PLAN WORKED.
*AGREE: concur, to share the same opinion, consent, to be in harmony, complete accord, to get along, to come to one opinion, to accept.
*AGREEMENT: harmony, common intention, mutual decision, understanding.
DO YOU KNOW THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF AN ENEMY? --- MAKE THEM YOUR FRIENDS!
WISDOM KNOWS SOMETIMES WE MUST AGREE TO DISAGREE. THIS PROBLEM OF STRIFE COULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING US TOGETHER.
What did you win? To win an argument and lose a friend? --- What did you win? Be quick to settle issues. Still come together. THERE IS A RARE LESSON FEW LEARN: LEARN HOW TO RECONCILE.
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
NEVER FORGET DIVISION IS A DEMONIC TOOL TO HINDER THE ADVANCEMENT OF GROWTH. CLIQUES WILL ALWAYS REVERT TO FIGHT EACH OTHER.
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Jesus knew their thoughts! Godly success is kind of like bubble gum, it needs to have STICKABILITY.
ABRAHAM AND LOT HAD CONFLICT AND DISAGREEMENT. LOT WAS FOCUSED ON MATERIALISM AND EASE. LOT HONESTLY NEVER CARED ABOUT HIS UNCLE.
Genesis 13:5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
LOT WAS SELF-CENTERED AND SELFISH. LOT FAILED TO CONSIDER THAT HIS UNCLE WAS THE ELDER. IN LOVE LOT SHOULD HAVE PREFERED HIS UNCLE’S WELFARE! WHY WAS LOT SO SELFISH?
Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
LET US GET REAL: FROM WHERE DOES DIVISION COME… FROM WHERE DOES DIVISION, STRIFE, FIGHTING AND ARGUMENTS COME?
FROM WHERE DO WARS AND STRIFE COME? DISAGREEMENT BREEDS MISUNDERSTANDINGS, DIVISIVENESS AND INSECURITY. There are many negative signals sent by the negativity of disagreement. Stress and anxiety grow. Productivity decreases. There is less satisfaction and a spirit of distrust grows when teamwork and cooperation hinders a focus on teamwork. Disagreement breeds the feeling of being defeated. Where there is much disagreement there will grow a high turnover rate. There are other side effects like frustration, bitterness and hatred.
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Does division just fall out of the sky? Why do people fuss, argue, quarrel, disagree and fall away? People are demanding and self-focused. The attitude MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY? We desire our own way! We have a gregarious EGO. WE ARE LIKE SPOILED CHILDREN, DEMANDING WHAT I WANT!
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LIKENED UNTO A DOVE… THE DOVE IS SYMBOLIC OF DIVINITY, PEACE AND HOPE. THE DOVE IS CONSIDERED AS THE DOVE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE DOVES ARE KNOWN AS MESSAGE CARRIERS. The dove is often seen with an olive branch…
Doves have small heads, pointed bill, round bodies and long wings. Doves mate for life. The dove is a symbol of ENDURING LOVE.
DOVES ARE CAPABLE OF FINDING THEIR WAY HOME OVER 100s AND 1,000s of miles. The dove represents PURITY, GENTLENESS, DIVINITY AND BEAUTY.
The dove is MEEK, GENTLE, SIMPLE, INNOCENT AND FEARFUL BIRD. Doves were used as SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS. The dove is timid and easily scared away.
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
TO UNDERSTAND WORSHIP AND PRAISE WE MUST COME TOGETHER IN UNITY, ONE PLACE IN ONE ACCORD AND IN ONE MIND. This is why the enemy of the church SOWS DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN.
It is demonic how the enemy sows SEEDS OF DISCORD BY ANGER, FRUSTRATION, BITTERNESS, DISTRUST AND HATRED.
IDENTIFY AND WATCH OUT FOR THOSE THAT CREATE OBSTACLES AND HINDRANCE TO UNITY AND AGREEMENT.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Will we listen to the word of God? Clearly focus on gossips, loud mouths and trouble makers. There are those that have no intention of being faithful to the church. Many falsely serve God for the free fish and the free bread. Some are only looking for what they can get out of the church. UNITY GIVES! DISHARMONY TAKES…
BARNEY FIFE HAS A PHILOSOPHY LESSON WE CALL: NIP IT! NIP IT IN THE BUD…
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Romans 12:10 (MSG) Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. 11 Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, 12 cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.
The church can be forever changed if we tapped into the POWER OF AGREEMENT. Let us first state there is power in AGREEMENT. We also know the inverse of this is true. There is power in DISAGREEMENT. Is it true we need each other? Why are people always pointing the finger of blame? This needs to stop?
*AGREEMENT is two or more people coming together, a kind of unity, HARMONY IN OPINIONS AND FEELINGS, the absence of strife, coming to a mutual, decision, one accord, acceptance.
*HARMONY: agreement, accord, orderly, peace and harmony means to deal with disputes and resolve conflicts.
*DISAGREEMENT: quarrel, disparity, INTERNAL AND/OR EXTERNAL DISSENT, lack of consensus, quarrel, fuss, negative emotions, blame, anger, ultimatums, falling out, FOCUS? WHAT DIRECTION SHALL WE GO?
Disagreement is often given because of ONE’S PERSPECTIVES, PERSONALITY DISLIKES and HISTORY FROM THE PAST. It can be given birth by MISUNDERSTANDING and a lack of communication. Do you listen? Can you hear? Each person comes from a different background and our perspectives can vary. ARE YOU IN THE RIGHT FAMILY? ARE YOU ALWAYS RIGHT?
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
This verse refers to many things, but could we really apply this to MARRIAGE.
DO WE HONESTLY UNDERSTAND HARMONY AND AGREEMENT… THE POWER OF SYNERGY…
AGREEMENT IN LOVE AND PRAYER PRODUCES A GREATER POWER THAN THE SUM TOTAL OF THE INDIVIDUAL…
One horse can pull 800 pounds. Another horse can pull 500 pounds. What can they pull together? 1300 pounds? No the SYNERGY of pulling together they can pull 2,300 pounds… 1,000 pounds more than individually? STRANGE?
• SYNERGY: cooperation that causes a combined production greater than that of the individual.
Deuteronomy 32:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
IN MARRIAGE WE CALL IT THE GOD KNOT… THE GROOM, THE BRIDE AND THE GOD HEAD… LOVE BINDS US TOGETHER…
Ecclesiastes 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
PAUL ASK IN ROMANS THAT IN MATURITY THAT WE GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER JUST AS JESUS GETS ALONG WITH US.
Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
THERE IS POWER WITH FRIENDS… FORGIVE QUICKLY… THERE IS POWER IN RECONCILIATION. WE NEED TO SETTLE OUR DIFFERENCES QUICKLY BEFORE THEY ESCALATE. WE CAN WORK OUT GOOD TERMS OF AGREEMENT.
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
CONCLUSION: tight knit…KNIT: TO TAKE NEEDLES AND INTERLOCK LOOPS, UNITE, TO JOIN TOGETHER. To be bound together, closely bound, bound in love or friendship, common interest,
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Alone we can do little, together we can do much. Talent can win a game, but TEAMWORK WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. The quickest way to success is by helping others to succeed. Teamwork is working together with a common vision.
Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, then working together will bring success. Find a preacher that can challenge and inspire you… listen to the message very closely and you can change your life.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Catch us on YouTube. (This is a several part lesson.)
