Being Independent Together With God
Scripture: Amos 3:3; John 8:36; Exodus 1:11a; 3:7-8; Romans 12:2
Good morning Strangers Rest! This morning, I will be talking with you about “Being Independent Together With God.” While the title seems to be contradictory when you consider that the definition of the word “independent” is being “able to operate alone because you’re not dependent on somebody else,” it begs the question how can you be both independent and together? The fact that you are independent generally mean that you are no longer dependent on anyone else, that you are alone. You have heard me say many times that God has given humanity freewill – the freedom to choose and make decisions independently of Him. We have the ability and authority to make our own decisions and live with the consequences of those decisions, be they positive or negative. While we all understand the meaning of independence, we might struggle sometimes exercising our independence while at the same time desiring to be in agreement with someone else – being together per se. Being able to accomplish something together while maintaining our individuality and independence can be extremely frustrating. Strangers Rest, I want to walk together with you while being myself. I want you to walk together with me while continuing to be yourself. And I want all of us to walk together with God based on our acceptance of His Son as our Lord and Savior. So, the message today is two-fold – our being independent together with God and thus, our being independent together with one another.
Let me give you an example of this by using a marriage between a man and a woman. When God made man, He knew it was not good that man should be alone. So, God made a woman – someone that would be a partner for the man. Genesis 2:23-24 says, “(23) And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’ (24) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” The Kings James Bible uses the word “cleave” instead of “join.” The development of a marriage is a three-step process. First, the man and woman must leave their parents. In biblical times, a son stayed at home after taking a wife because he would inherit his father’s possessions. But he was still to leave his parents and cleave to her. In other words, she became his primary focus. The second step consisted of “cleaving,” or “being joined” to your spouse. Both words mean to be close to your spouse – keep remarkably close as in protecting. Your spouse, upon marriage becomes the closest person to you. If the first two are done correctly, then the third part becomes reality: they two shall become one flesh. This means more than just physically. This is the goal that God has for a couple when they marry – that they would leave their parents, be joined (or cleave) to one another and become one flesh. The perfect union.
When we marry, we bring two people from diverse backgrounds and upbringing together. Each person brings their “normal” into the marriage. What they grew up with and were exposed to daily is what is normal for each individual. And things are abnormal when they are different from what the individuals are accustomed to. Understanding this is the beginning point for bringing oneness to the marriage. But for the newly married couple to become one, they must communicate and come into agreement about their new life. Each person brings something unique to the relationship and that is not forfeited because they are now married. When one spouse attempt to force the other to become who they think their spouse should be it will not work and the marriage will be headed for deep trouble. God designed marriage to be a partnership where two people come together to walk as one and the only way this can be done is if they come into agreement with one another. Amos 3:3 asks the question, “Can two walk together, except they are agreed?” Of course, the answer is no. They must agree on what they desire and where they are going. Strangers Rest, we walk together because we come into agreement around the same goal. When there is one unifying goal things can get accomplished.
Now the idea for this message was birthed out of a scene from one of my favorite Christmas movies, “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.” In the 1964 holiday classic, Rudolph (a reindeer) and Hermey (an elf) have individually decided to go off on their own after feeling unappreciated by their peers. They discover each other in a snowbank and confess that they do not need anyone else – that they are independent. After making this decision to be independent, they decide to be independent together. Again, this conversation seems contradictory as independence implies going at it alone and being without other people, yet these two ironically decide to be “independent together.” The scene is meant to be an amusing start to a budding friendship, but there is a deeper truth to be gained from these two new friends about how to successfully be independent while also being dependent on someone else at the same time. For Christians being independent together means more than our having freewill. It also means being independent – separated – from the world while at the same time being together with God. Remember in John chapter seventeen when Jesus prayed for His followers and us? He prayed, “(14) I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (15) I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14-16) We have independence (freewill) to choose Jesus and when we do that we can walk confidently in that freewill while becoming dependent on Him.
I want you to see something that Jesus did for us that goes way beyond freeing us from the penalty of sin. John 8:36 says, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” All those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior have been granted independence from the world of sin; we were made free. The price of our independence from sin came through the death of God’s Son. But sin is not the only thing we have been made free from. While we often talk about Jesus freeing us from sin, being free from sin opens the door for us to be free from other things as well. This is why we believe in healing. We believe that sickness no longer holds us captive in every situation because we can now go to God in prayer. And this is why we believe that when we pray God will hear and answer our prayers. As it relates to togetherness, this is why we believe that we no longer walk alone in this world. This is why when troubles are in our way, we have One providing an answer. Everything that we now experience anchors us back to our being granted freedom from what was holding us in bondage. But it is not always rainbows and chocolates. Some people are afraid of being independent together with God because it is not an effortless walk. If it were easy everyone would be knocking down doors to do it. No, walking in freedom is difficult and to get there is painful, but again, we are not alone.
So let me give you an example that those of you who have been supervisors might be familiar with. When I was a district director, I had representatives who were independent together with me and some who were dependent on me (no independence on their part). The independent representatives who were independent together with me thrived in their independence to make decisions about their business and would consult with me when they needed advice or help. They were always accountable for their results and when the results were good they could tell me why. Likewise, when the results were not so good we would sit down together and work through their plans to address any issues – with them taking the lead in the conversation. They could independently make the decision, but together we worked through the ideas to create a responsive plan. They felt empowered by being able to make independent decisions about their business.
Now this was not the case with my representatives who were more dependent on me. They wanted me to tell them everything they needed to do and if a decision about their business needed to be made, they wanted me to make it for them. Now hear me closely on this; these representatives did not want to be held accountable for the results because the things they were doing were the things I had instructed them to do. If I told them what to do and it did not work out as planned they would tell me that it was not their fault as they were only executing the plans that I had directed them to do. Do you see the difference here? Imagine being made free but choosing to remain in bondage because to be free you had to be accountable. Imagine being dependent on someone to the point that you become incapable of making your own decisions. This can happen when a person is not confident in their abilities and when they have a supervisor who will not let them make decisions without their expressed approval. Regardless of the situation, their independence has been removed. God has made us free, but He wants us to be independent together with Him. He wants us to walk in agreement with Him. He wants us to make quality decisions as His children because we want to out of our love for Him.
Let me share with you how this “should” look in the Church. If you remember my message last week I shared the reason the office of deacon was established in the Church? In Acts chapter six a complaint was made by the Hellenists that their widows were being neglected in the “daily” distribution. When the issue was brought to the disciples, they created a plan to ensure the situation would be managed immediately and in the future. Acts 6:2-4 records, “(2) Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. (3) Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; (4) but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’” The apostles, because they understood that their jobs were to be in prayer and study of the word to feed the people spiritually, recommended that they select men who were of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to be over that business. So, the office of deacon was established so that the physical needs of the Church members could be managed appropriately while the disciples focused on the spiritual needs. For this to work to its best, they had to choose men who had a good reputation, were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.
The leaders of any Church should be able to work together for the common good of the Church. The pastor is one person who primary job is to make sure the spiritual need of the Church is met. This is not an easy job, and it gets much harder if that person does not have dependable people in leadership that can be trusted to make the best godly decisions on behalf of the Church. Paul wrote the following to the Church in Corinth, “(4) There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (First Corinthians 12:4-11)
Paul makes it clear that the Spirit has distributed gifts within the Church as He pleased. Your gifts are different from my gifts but we both received them from the same Spirit to strengthen God’s Church. You should benefit from my gifts as I should benefit from yours. This is not a competition, but a godly union. Because we have differing gifts that should work harmoniously for the glory of God, we must be independent together, respecting one another’s gifts and talents as fulfilling a needed role in God’s house. From the maintenance person to the pastor and every role in between – when there is a need in God’s house the Spirit will provide people with the gifts to fulfill those needs. Not everyone can sing; teach; pray publicly; cook; preach; usher; or work on the media stuff and that is okay. But whatever it is you can do; you should do it because God can use your gift in His house. Again, for this to work we must be willing to be independent together with God and one another. This means the pastor, if they have the right people in the right role who are individually praying and seeking God about the decisions they are making can trust them to make those decisions independently of him. He or she does not have to dictate everything because there is trust amongst the leaders. The Church should have that same trust with their pastor and with the leaders representing and looking out for them. And then, the membership should have that same trust with each other. Imagine, if you will, what this Church is going to be like as we continue our growth being independent together and respecting one another’s talent and gifts. Imagine what we are going to be able to get done for Jesus when we begin saying, “I have no experience with that, so I am trusting you to make the right decision.”
Strangers Rest, we will get there as we continue to renew our minds – how we think which impacts how we act. Paul wrote the following to the Christians in Rome and I will read this from the Amplified Bible for better clarification, “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” (Romans 12:2) As Christians, we must renew our minds continuously to walk independently together with God and one another. Our old lives, while familiar and comfortable, are no longer the lives we are called to live. Now we must begin to live differently based on the newness of our freedom. The renewing of our minds, which is a continual and ongoing process, enables us to be independent together with God and with one another. When we are walking independently together with God and with one another, we experience:
Trust. When we are independent together with God we can “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; (6) in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Because we have chosen to walk together with God, we learn to trust Him, not in some things, but over time, in all things. And this is the good part: when we encounter other believers who are trusting God, then that trust is shared. You see, it is easier to trust someone who truly trusts the same God that you trust. It is a family thing! King Solomon also wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “(9) Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. (10) For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. (11) Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? (12) Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” The message here is simple, we need other people to trust and rely on. All of us have stories about things that have happened in our lives where we struggled to trust God and man – but those stories do not have to be the end. We can move beyond those failures in a renewed spirit. Without a doubt, God is truly worthy of our trust and faith in Him and hopefully the same can be said of us.
Faith. Being independent together with God and one another also means that we will live by faith. We sometimes forget that living by faith is choice. It is not something that happens automatically once we are saved. The Bible tells us repeatedly that “…. the just shall live by faith” – Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38. Strangers Rest, living by faith is not easy because to do so means that we do not have all the answers. Living by faith also means that, in the midst of our freedom, we refuse to allow our minds to live in the past. Remember what I told you last week about a faith budget? Living by faith means we believe God for the impossible because we do not know how He will do what we are believing in Him for. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that “…. without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Just as we have faith in God, we must also have faith in one another. Faith will follow trust.
Security. Being independent together with God and one another provides security. One of my go to verses is Hebrews 13:5 which remind me that no matter what situation I may find myself in God is there. It says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.’” When we know that God will never leave us or forsake us, then we know that when things happen that are not good, we are not alone. This also applies to our experiencing security with one another. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:3-4, “(3) Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (4) Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” This is how we make sure those around us never feel alone. We esteem others better than ourselves and in doing so we look out for the needs of others. This establishes the feelings of security and further establishes trust.
Provision. Finally, we must know, without any doubts, that God is our Provider and He will use others to assist us in our time of need. When we are independent together with God we understand that He is our source – for everything. There were times in my life when I tried to provide for myself and family because I did not understand fully that was God’s job and not mine. It was during those early days of growing in faith as an adult with responsibilities that I had to learn to rely on Him – even when I thought I had the answer. We have all been there. But I will tell you God worked some things out during those days. I am a living witness to Philippians 4:19 which say, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Can you say, “My God will supply!”
We recognize that one way God supplies our needs is through our jobs – but it is not the only way. God’s ability to meet our needs is not limited our paychecks. If we believe in Him, He will move beyond our paychecks when we need more. Yeah, I know some of you have never been hungry or had times when your needs were not meet, but I have, and I saw how God worked it out. When my family’s income was fixed, but our bills were not (meaning that our bills fluctuated based what we spent and our utility usage) God had to show us how to manage through those times. He showed us how to reduce cost, so our income went further. And, this is important, when we really needed it, He sent people to give it to us. And they gave without knowing what our needs were, but simply because they felt led to do so. God, our Father – your Father – moved on people’s hearts to give to us without ever knowing we had a need. God will provide for us individually and as a Church when we choose to walk together with Him. Before I close I want to go back to Rudolph and Hermey. I want to share part of the conversation they had when they decided to be independent together.
Hermey: I do not need anybody. I am… I’m independent.
Rudolph: Yeah? Me too. I’m whatever you said… Independent.
Hermey: Hey, whad’ya say we both be independent together?
Rudolph: You wouldn’t mind my red nose?
Hermey: Not if you don’t mind me being a dentist.
Rudolph: It’s a deal.
This is the conversation they had. Now did you notice what had to happen before they could execute on being independent together? They had to come into agreement. Before deciding to be independent together, Rudolph and Hermey discussed their strengths and weaknesses. For both, being independent was an important strength that set them apart from their peers, which gave them the courage to face the North Pole and the abominable snow monster alone. Then they revealed some personal characteristics that others found challenging in the past. For Rudolph, it was his red nose that glowed bright and for Hermey it was his desire to be a dentist. Rudolph could not play in the reindeer games with his peers because of his nose and Hermey had no desire to make toys like his peers. But together, they could be themselves and independent while also being dependent on one another. This story is an example of Amos 3:3. Remember, it says, “Can two walk together, except they are agreed?” We cannot walk together with someone else if there is no agreement. Rudolph and Hermey came into agreement about their supposed “weaknesses” and decided to be independent together. We have that same opportunity – to look passed each other’s weaknesses and focus on each other’s love for Jesus. Then, when we come into agreement with Him, we can be independent together with God and with one another.
Strangers Rest let us walk independently together with God and one another. Let us accept that we are different, maybe even a little challenging at times, but we still serve the same God. Let us accept one another’s gift as being equal to our own even though they are different. Every gift if placed within the Church for God’s glory and to ensure His work is done. We want this Church to succeed so let is all do our part to ensure that it does. Let us move this Church forward in faith. Can we do that? Can we come into agreement with one another and walk together as we come into agreement with God to walk together with Him? If we are independent together with God and are in agreement with Him then we can trust Him, and have faith in Him, and know that He has us in the palm of His hands because He loves us. If we can all agree on that, then the foundation is set for our coming into agreement with one another. I pray God’s blessing upon you!
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
