WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: ONE ACCORD
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18
ACTS 1:6-14 “WHEN THEY THEREFORE WERE COME TOGETHER, THEY ASKED OF HIM, SAYING, LORD, WILT THOU AT THIS TIME RESTORE AGAIN THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL? AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE TIMES OR THE SEASONS, WHICH THE FATHER HATH PUT IN HIS OWN POWER. BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDAEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH. AND WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN THESE THINGS, WHILE THEY BEHELD, HE WAS TAKEN UP; AND A CLOUD RECEIVED HIM OUT OF THEIR SIGHT. AND WHILE THEY LOOKED STEDFASTLY TOWARD HEAVEN AS HE WENT UP, BEHOLD, TWO MEN STOOD BY THEM IN WHITE APPAREL; WHICH ALSO SAID, YE MEN OF GALILEE, WHY STAND YE GAZING UP INTO HEAVEN? THIS SAME JESUS, WHICH IS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER AS YE HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO HEAVEN. THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET, WHICH IS FROM JERUSALEM A SABBATH DAY’S JOURNEY. AND WHEN THEY WERE COME IN, THEY WENT UP INTO AN UPPER ROOM, WHERE ABODE BOTH PETER, AND JAMES, AND JOHN, AND ANDREW, PHILIP, AND THOMAS, BARTHOLOMEW, AND MATTHEW, JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS, AND SIMON ZELOTES, AND JUDAS THE BROTHER OF JAMES. THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THE WOMEN, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, AND WITH HIS BRETHREN.”
I WANT TO PREACH TO YOU ON ONE ACCORD. I WONDERED WHEN I READ THIS SCRIPTURE JUST WHY THESE PEOPLE WERE IN ONE ACCORD. I READ THERE THAT THEY WERE THERE WITH JESUS BEFORE HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. THEY KNEW JESUS. THEY KNEW OF JESUS. THEY LIVED WITH JESUS, THEY WERE AROUND JESUS. THAT’S THE WAY CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO BE TODAY. IN VERSE 9 IT SAYS THEY JESUS ASCENDED UP IN A CLOUD INTO HEAVEN AND THEY SAW HIM. THAT MEANS THEY WERE THERE WITH HIM AND SAW HIM ASCEND. VERSE 14 SAYS THEY ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION.
I LOOKED UP THAT WORD ACCORD IN THE WEBSTERS DICTIONARY AND IT SIMPLY MEANS THIS: HARMONY. I SHARED WITH MY WIFE THIS MORNING THAT IT’S GOOD WHEN YOU’VE GOT GOOD HARMONY. ONE WAY TO HAVE GOOD HARMONY IS TO BE REAL HEAVENLY. IF WE’LL JUST BE REAL HEAVENLY, WE’LL HAVE GOOD HARMONY. IF WE HAVE GOOD HARMONY ABOUT US, WE CAN BE HAPPY. THE OPPOSITE OF ACCORD IS DISARRAY OR CONFUSION.
IN 1 CORINTHIANS 14:40 PAUL SAID “LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.”
IF YOU HAVE ONE ACCORD YOU OUGHT TO HAVE ORDER. THERE OUGHT NOT TO BE ANY CONFUSION IN GODS HOUSE OR AROUND GODS PEOPLE IF EVERYBODY’S IN ONE ACCORD. BUT WE’RE LIVING IN A WORLD TODAY WHERE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS AND A LOT OF CHURCHES ARE IN DISARRAY. THERE’S A LOT OF CONFUSION IN THE CHURCH AND MOST OF IT IS ABOUT WHO’S GOING TO BE IN CHARGE. THESE PEOPLE HOWEVER WERE IN ONE ACCORD, SIMPLY FOR ONE REASON AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY KEPT THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR LIVES AND THEIR MINDS AND THEIR SOULS FOCUSED ON JESUS CHRIST. A LOT OF CHURCHES TODAY GET SO MANY THINGS IN THEIR MINDS AND IN THE HEARTS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT DON’T PUT GOD FIRST. THEY THINK OF EVERYTHING BUT GOD. THEY PUT EVERYTHING ELSE FIRST BUT WE NEED TO PUT GOD FIRST. LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY. LET GOD BE THE ONE THAT STIRS US AND MOVES US AND LEADS US. THE WORLD WE’RE LIVING IN TODAY HAS GROWN UPHOLDING AND DIFFERENT AND THEY AREN’T FOLLOWING GOD TODAY. I’M GLAD I CAN STILL FEEL GOD WORKING IN THIS OLD WRETCHED SINNERS BOYS LIFE. IF EVERY CHRISTIANS IN GODS HOUSE WOULD GET IN ONE ACCORD, THEN GODS HOUSE WOULD BE IN ONE ACCORD. IF I DON’T HAVE HARMONY IN MY LIFE, HOW CAN I HAVE HARMONY WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD. THE BIBLE SAYS IF A MAN DON’T KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIS OWN HOUSE, HOW CAN HE TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE OF GOD? CHRIST OUGHT TO BE NUMBER ONE ALL THE TIME. THAT’S WHAT BRINGS ONE ACCORD. IF YOU CAME WITH ONLY ONE THING ON YOUR MIND TODAY WHICH IS CHRIST THEN YOU’LL HAVE A BLESSING TODAY. IF YOU COME SEEKING...THE BIBLE SAYS IF YOU SEEK ME EARLY, YOU SHALL FIND ME.
PSALMS 13:1 SAYS “BEHOLD, HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY!”
I’M GLAD HE DOES ALL THINGS IN ORDER AND WE OUGHT TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT. I’M TELLING YOU TODAY THAT THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD OUGHT NOT TO BE FILLED WITH CONFUSION. INSTEAD WE NEED TO BE FILLED WITH JESUS CHRIST.
GALATIANS 3:28 “THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOT GREEK, THERE IS NEITHER BOND NOR FREE, THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE: FOR YE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.”
A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE THAT OUT OF ORDER AND THEY BRING OUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT AREN’T TRUE BUT WHAT PAUL WAS SAYING IS THAT WHEN YOU COME TO GODS HOUSE, FORGET THAT YOU’RE A WOMAN, A MAN, BOND, FREE, FORGET ABOUT THESE EARTHLY THINGS FOR A WHILE AND START THINKING ABOUT GOD. THAT’S WHAT WILL BRING ONE ACCORD IN YOUR LIFE TODAY. I HAVE JESUS CHRIST AS NUMBER ONE!
PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN SIN AND ADULTERY. ALL KINDS OF WICKED THINGS, CURSED WORDS COMING OUT OF THEIR MOUTH, GOING TO THE BARS ON SATURDAY NIGHT. LISTEN TO ME....IF YOU AREN’T IN ONE ACCORD, THEN YOU ARE FILLED WITH CONFUSION. AND GOD’S NOT THE AUTHOR OF IT. IF YOU LOVE GOD, YOU’D LOVE THE HOUSE OF GOD. YOU’D LOVE THE WORD OF GOD, YOU’D LOVE BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND WE COULD HAVE ONE ACCORD.
THESE PEOPLE WERE IN ONE ACCORD. THEY DIDN’T SAY HE HAS THIS AND I DON’T. THEY WEREN’T JEALOUS OF EACH OTHER. GOD DON’T WORK IN JEALOUSY AND PRIDE. GOD WORKS IN PEACE. HE WORKS IN LOVE AND ONE ACCORD. WE NEED ONE ACCORD IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR CHURCH.
YA’LL REMEMBER MATTHEW 14 AS LONG AS PETER KEPT FOCUSED ON JESUS THE BIBLE SAYS HE WALKED ON THE WATER. BUT WHEN HE TOOK HIS EYES OFF JESUS AND STARTED LOOKING AT THE WAVES, THE BIBLE SAYS HE BEGAN TO SINK. EVERY TIME YOU TAKE YOUR FOCUS OFF OF CHRIST, YOU’LL SINK. I DON’T CARE HOW OLD YOU ARE, HOW YOUNG YOU ARE...IF CHRIST IS NOT THE FOCUS OF YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL FALL. HE’S ABLE TO HOLD US UP. A LOT OF CHRISTIANS HAVE FALLEN AND ARE FAILING GOD. AS A MATTER OF FACT IN MATTHEW 24 THE BIBLE SAYS THAT IN THE LAST DAYS, THE LOVE OF MANY SHALL WAX COLD. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF LOVE THEN YOU’RE NOT IN ONE ACCORD.
I WANT TO SHARE FOUR THINGS....FOUR WAYS WE CAN BE IN ONE ACCORD WITH EACH OTHER.
JESUS HAS TO BE NUMBER ONE IN OUR LIFE. HOW CAN I HAVE A GOOD FAMILY LIFE IF MY LIFE ISN’T FOCUSED AROUND JESUS CHRIST? I DON’T JUST PASTOR A CHURCH. I’M A CHRISTIAN TOO. I HAVE A CHRISTIAN HOME AND I HAVE TO KEEP GOD FIRST IN IT. IF I DON’T KEEP CHRIST NUMBER ONE THEN I’LL FALL AND MY FAMILY WILL FALL AND EVERY THING I GO TO DO WILL FALL.
NUMBER ONE: WE NEED TO BE IN ONE ACCORD WITH OUR LOVE TO JESUS.
YA’LL REMEMBER JOHN 21 WHERE JESUS ASKED PETER, “PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?” PETER SAID, “YEA LORD, I LOVE YOU.” AND JESUS SAID, “THEN FEED MY SHEEP.”
CHRIST ASKED HIM AGAIN, “PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?” AND PETER ANSWERED, “YEA, LORD, I LOVE YOU.” AND JESUS SAID, “THEN FEED MY LAMBS.” THEN JESUS SAID THE THIRD TIME, “PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?” AND PETER ANSWERED, “YEA, LORD, THOU KNOWEST I LOVE YOU.” AND JESUS SAID THEN FEED MY SHEEP.” YOU ASK WHY DID JESUS ASK PETER THREE TIMES? IF YOU’LL REMEMBER PETER DENIED HIM THREE TIMES. JESUS JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE LOVED HIM. HE DIDN’T ASK HIM IF HE LOVED THE CHURCH, HIS BROTHER AND SISTER IN CHRIST...THE ONLY QUESTION JESUS HAS TODAY IS, DO YOU LOVE HIM? IF YOU DON’T LOVE GOD, YOU’RE IN TROUBLE.
1 JOHN 4:19 SAYS, “WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.”
THAT’S WHY I LOVE HIM. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY. WHETHER YOU’VE BEEN SAVED OR NOT, CHRIST DIED FOR YOU. HE SUFFERED FOR YOU AND WE OUGHT TO LOVE HIM.
MARK 12:30-31 “THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND, AND WITH ALL THY STRENGTH: THIS IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. AND THE SECOND IS LIKE, NAMELY THIS, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF. THERE IS NONE OTHER COMMANDMENT GREATER THAN THESE.”
IT’S HARD FOR CHRISTIANS NOW A DAYS TO KEEP UP WITH THINGS AND GOD ONLY GAVE US TWO THINGS AND THAT IS TO LOVE THE LORD AND TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR. THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT CAN’T EVEN DO THOSE TWO. WE GOT TO HAVE ONE ACCORD IN OUR LIVES. NO WONDER PEOPLE DON’T GET ALONG ANYMORE. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET ALONG WITHOUT CHRIST. WE’LL NOT MAKE IT. JESUS SAID IN JOHN 15 THAT WE’RE NOTHING. WE NEED TO BE IN ONE ACCORD WITH OUR LOVE TO JESUS THEN IN OUR LOVE TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.
DID YOU KNOW THAT WE DON’T LOVE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THEY DRESSED. WE DON’T LOVE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THEY LOOKED. WE DON’T LOVE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY’VE DONE. IF WE DON’T LOVE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY’VE DONE IN THE PAST, YOU’RE ALREADY BACKSLID AND YOU DON’T KNOW IT. YOU OUGHT TO GET CHRIST IN THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE AND YOU’LL LOVE EVERY BODY.
1 JOHN 4:21 “AND THIS COMMANDMENT HAVE WE FROM HIM, THAT HE WHO LOVETH GOD LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO.”
CHRISTIANS ARE SPENDING THEIR TIME IN SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE ANY MORE. BE HEAVENLY AND HAVE HARMONY. YOU SAY PREACHER, HOW CAN I DO THAT LIVING IN SUCH A SINFUL WORLD AROUND A SIN FILLED PEOPLE? GET JESUS CHRIST AS NUMBER ONE IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU CAN SUSTAIN ANYTHING. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IN CHRIST.
NOW LET ME PICK ON THE FATHERS. I BELIEVE EVERY MAN THAT HAS A FAMILY IS THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THAT FAMILY. IF HE’S NOT THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF HIS FAMILY THEN HE’S NOT WHERE HE OUGHT TO BE WITH CHRIST. CHRIST LEADS THE MEN IN THE BIBLE ACCORDING TO WHAT IT SAYS IN TIMOTHY AND TITUS...GOD DEALS WITH THOSE MEN AND HE HOLDS THOSE MEN RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING A GODLY MAN OR FOR WORKING FOR THE DEVIL. ONE OR THE OTHER. IF YOUR ORDERS ARE IN DISARRAY THEN YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT THE MAN IN YOUR HOUSE FIRST. SEE IF THAT’S WHERE THE PROBLEM IS AT. IF HE IS THE MAN GOD CALLED HIM TO BE AND THERE’S STILL PROBLEMS IN THE FAMILY THEN YOU CAN GO RIGHT ON DOWN THE LINE TO THE WOMAN OF THE HOUSE. THERE’S TOO MUCH CONFUSION IN THE WORLD. WE NEED TO BE IN ONE ACCORD. IF WE’D JUST SPEND OUR TIME LOVING JESUS AND EACH OTHER, WE’D WOULDN’T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. WE WORRY ABOUT THIS AND THAT AND WORRYING IS A SIN FROM THE DEVIL. THERE’S NOT A LOT OF MEN LIKE LITTLE DAVID WILLING TO STAND UP AND FIGHT THE DEVIL. THEY DON’T WANT TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND WITNESS TO THE LOST. PAUL SAID I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. HE SAID IT’S THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION.
IF WE LOVE THE LORD WE’LL LOVE HIS PEOPLE. IF WE LOVE THE LORD, WE’LL LOVE HIS HOUSE. IF WE LOVE THE LORD, WE’LL LOVE HIS WORK. IF WE LOVE THE LORD, WE’LL LOVE TO PRAY. THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS THAT DON’T LOVE GOD LIKE THEY NEED TO. YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF TODAY, “HOW MUCH DO I REALLY LOVE GOD?”
NUMBER TWO: WE NEED TO BE IN ONE ACCORD IN OUR LEARNING ABOUT JESUS.
PAUL WAS TALKING TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN 2 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3:7 HE SAID THEY WERE “EVER LEARNING, AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.” THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LEARN BUT THEY DON’T WANT TO LEARN ABOUT JESUS. I’M GOING TO SHARE A THOUGHT WITH YOU. I WAS SITTING AT THE PIANO AND YA’LL WERE TAKING UP THE OFFERING AND I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW PEOPLE PAY THEIR BILLS. I PICTURED IN MY MIND HOW PEOPLE WRITE OUT THEIR CHECKS AND WELL YOU DON’T WANT YOUR LIGHTS TO GO OFF OR DO WITHOUT HOT WATER. YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO HAUL OFF THAT GARBAGE BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO LAZY TO DO IT YOURSELF SO YOU SIT OUT AND WRITE THEM A CHECK. BUT I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES YOU SIT DOWN WHEN YOU GET YOUR BILLS IN AND YOU PUT THEM LAST AND GOD FIRST AND SAY I HAVE TO WRITE OUT MY TITHING. LISTEN, YOU OWE TEN PERCENT OF YOUR GROSS SALARY. IT’S NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO DO IT...YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IT AND THAT’S ONE REASON YOU’RE FAILING WITH GOD. YOU DON’T DO ENOUGH FOR GOD BECAUSE YOU DON’T LOVE GOD ENOUGH. IF WE GAVE GOD WHAT WAS DUE HIM, HE’D SUPPLY ALL OUR OTHER NEEDS. WE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM. YOU KNOW WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T TITHE RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HIM TO DO IT. THEY DON’T READ THE WORLD OF GOD ENOUGH TO TELL THEM TO DO IT. THEY DON’T COME TO SUNDAY SCHOOL TO LEARN ABOUT IT EITHER. YOU WANT TO BE A GOOD SCHOOL TEACHER? YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL TO BE ONE. YOU CAN’T JUST DECIDE TO BE SOMETHING AND GO OUT AND DO IT. YOU HAVE TO BE TRAINED. YOU HAVE TO BE TRAINED ON HOW TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN. TO BE IN ONE ACCORD WE HAVE TO LEARN.
IN EPHESIANS 4. THERE ARE SEVEN THINGS: THERE IS ONE BODY. ONE SPIRIT. ONE HOPE. ONE LORD. ONE FAITH. ONE BAPTISM. AND ONE GOD. NOTICE HE SAVED GOD TILL LAST AND PUT THE BODY FIRST. HE ALWAYS PUTS US FIRST IN EVERYTHING WE GO TO DO FOR HIM. THAT’S WHAT BRINGS ONE ACCORD TO THE BODY....THOSE SEVEN THINGS.
PAUL WAS WRITING TO THE EPHESIANS CHURCH AND THEY WERE IN DISARRAY AND DISACCORD. TALKING ABOUT ONE ANOTHER AND THEY WOULDN’T COME TOGETHER AS ONE AND PAUL SAID THIS IN EPHESIANS 4:20 “ BUT YE HAVE NOT SO LEARNED CHRIST.”
HE SAID IS CHRIST DIVIDED IN FIRST CORINTHIANS. LISTEN, CHRIST IS NOT DIVIDED. WE’RE SERVING THE SAME GOD, THE SAME LORD AND THE SAME SPIRIT AND WE OUGHT TO BE IN ONE ACCORD.
JESUS SAID THIS IN MATTHEW 11:28-29 “COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I’LL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOLK UPON YOU AND LEARN OF ME.”
LEARN OF ME. YOU HAVE TO LEARN FROM CHRIST.
PROVERBS 9:9 “GIVE INSTRUCTION TO A WISE MAN, AND HE WILL BE YET WISER: TEACH A JUST MAN, AND HE WILL INCREASE IN LEARNING.”
I LIKE LEARNERS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. JESUS SAID BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY SHALL BE FED. I WONDER , DO YOU HUNGER AFTER HIM TODAY. DO WE HAVE ONE ACCORD? WE COME HERE FOR ONE REASON AND ONE REASON ONLY AND THAT IS TO LEARN ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. HE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIFE.
NUMBER THREE: WE NEED TO BE IN ONE ACCORD WITH OUR LABOR FOR JESUS CHRIST.
YOU KNOW THE SCRIPTURE WHERE JESUS SAID THE HARVEST IS TRULY GREAT BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW.
FIRST CORINTHIANS 3:9 “FOR WE ARE LABORERS TOGETHER WITH GOD...” THAT MEANS EVERY ONE OF US IS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, FOR THE SAME PURPOSE, FOR THE SAME CAUSE, FOR THE SAME GOD. THAT’S HARMONY. THAT’S ONE ACCORD. I’LL NEVER FORGET THESE SPARROWS I SAW ONE DAY SITTING ON A POWER LINE AT WORK. THERE WAS THOUSANDS OF THEM. ALL UP AND DOWN THOSE POWER LINES. I WAS STANDING THERE THINKING TO MYSELF, HOW DO THEY COMMUNICATE. AND I HADN’T NO MORE THOUGHT THAT WHEN A SPARROW WAY DOWN ON THE END JUMPED OFF THAT WIRE AND CAME FLYING AS FAST AS HE COULD, COMING ON DOWN THE LINE AND WHEN HE GOT TO THAT LAST BIRD ON THE LINE, THE REST OF THOSE BIRDS JUMPED OFF THAT LINE AND WENT THIS A WAY, THEN THAT A WAY, THEN UP AND OVER. THAT’S HARMONY. THEY WERE FOLLOWING THAT ONE BIRD. THAT’S WHAT THE CHURCH AND CHRISTIANS NEED TO DO. WE NEED SOME GOOD HARMONY IN OUR LIFE. WE LIKE THOSE SPARROWS NEED TO FOLLOW THE LEADER. THE LEADER BEING CHRIST. WE NEED TO LET CHRIST BE NUMBER ONE IN OUR LIVES. YOU SAY PREACHER I GO TO CHURCH BUT MY FAMILY DON’T. YOU JUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS AND DON’T YOU LET YOUR FAMILY GET YOU OUT OF CHURCH. YOU KEEP SERVING GOD AND GOD WILL BRING HARMONY TO YOUR LIFE.
JOHN 6:27 “LABOR NOT FOR THAT MEAT WHICH PERISH, BUT FOR THAT MEAT WHICH ENDURETH UNTO EVERLASTING LIFE.”
WE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO LABOR TO SEE HOW MUCH THE CHURCH OFFERING IS TO PAY OUR BILLS. THAT’S BETWEEN YOU AND GOD. IF YOU’RE NOT DOING IT, GODS GOING TO DEAL WITH YOU. WE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO KEEP RECORD OF EVERYTHING WE DO. GODS ALREADY KEEPING A RECORD. WHAT ARE WE LABORING FOR? WE’RE LABORING FOR LOST SOULS. THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. NOT ONLY FOR LOST SOULS BUT FOR THE SOULS THAT ARE ALREADY HIS, IN DISCIPLESHIP IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THAT YOU MIGHT GROW AND PROSPER INTO GOOD CHRISTIANS.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 “THEREFORE MY BELOVED BRETHREN, BE YE STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, FOR AS MUCH AS YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD.”
NOW THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN LABOR AND SOME OF IT BE IN VAIN. IF YOUR LABOR IS FOR THE LORD IT WON’T BE IN VAIN. THERE’S NO REASON WE SHOULD DO ANYTHING UNLESS GOD SAYS TO DO IT. WE NEED TO BE IN ONE ACCORD IN OUR LABOR FOR JESUS CHRIST.
NUMBER FOUR: WE NEED TO BE IN ONE ACCORD IN OUR LOOKING FOR JESUS CHRIST.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY DON’T LOOK TO JESUS. THEY MAKE DECISIONS IN THEIR EVERY DAY LIFE AND THEY NEVER CHECK IN WITH THE LORD. YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS WHAT GOD WANTS AND NOT WHAT YOU WANT.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE PSALMIST SAID. HE SAID I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES TO THE HILLS FROM WHENCE COMETH MY HELP. MY HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD.
I’VE BEEN SO DOWN AND OUT SO MANY TIMES AND I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO BUT GOD SAID TO LOOK UNTO HIM AND I GET DOWN ON MY FACE AND BEG GOD TO HELP ME AND HE’S ALWAYS THERE.
HEBREWS 2:9 “BUT WE SEE JESUS, WHO WAS MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS FOR THE SUFFERING OF DEATH, CROWNED WITH GLORY AND HONOR; THAT HE BY THE GRACE OF GOD SHOULD TASTE DEATH FOR EVERY MAN.”
THAT’S HOW WE NEED TO SEE JESUS. THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR EVERY BODY. THE RISEN SAVIOR.
HEBREWS 12:2 “LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND IS SET DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.”
WE LOVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD BUT THERE’S NOBODY I LOVE MORE THAN MY SAVIOR. HE’S THE ONE I LOOK TO FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE. I MIGHT LOOK TO YOU WHEN I NEED A LITTLE MONEY. A LOT OF PEOPLE DO. THEY COME BY CHURCH ALL THE TIME SAYING THEY NEED SOME MONEY. BUT IF YOU’LL JUST CHECK IN WITH GOD HE’LL GIVE YOU MONEY JUST LIKE HE WILL A NEW HOUSE, A NEW CAR AND A NEW JOB. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL OF OUR NEEDS. THE BIBLE SAYS YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT. HE SAID IF YOU DID ASK AND YOU DIDN’T GET IT, IT’S BECAUSE YOU ASKED IN THE FORM OF LUST.
WE NEED TO BE IN ONE ACCORD, ALWAYS LOOKING TO JESUS.
THE WRITER SAID THIS IN PROVERBS: WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH.
OUR VISION NEEDS TO BE THE RESURRECTED SAVIOR.
ACTS 4:31 “AND WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED, THE PLACE WAS SHAKEN WHERE THEY WERE ASSEMBLED TOGETHER; AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND THEY SPAKE THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS.” NOT ONE OF THEM BUT ALL OF THEM. THEY WERE ALL FILLED. WHY? BECAUSE THEY WERE IN ONE ACCORD. THEY HAD JESUS CHRIST IN THEIR HEARTS, THEIR MINDS, THEIR SOULS IN THEIR LIFE. THAT’S WHAT THEY HUNGERED FOR AND THIRSTED FOR. IT’S WHAT THEY DESIRED. BUT I LIKE VERSE 32: “AND THE MULTITUDE OF THEM THAT BELIEVED WERE OF ONE HEART AND OF ONE SOUL: NEITHER SAID ANY OF THEM THAT OUGHT OF THE THINGS WHICH HE POSSESSED WAS HIS OWN; BUT THEY HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON.” IF WE COME IN HERE WITH THE WORLD ON OUR SHOULDERS AND WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO AFTER CHURCH....LISTEN, THE BIBLE SAYS OUR LIVES ARE LIKE A VAPOR. WE’RE HERE FOR A SHORT TIME AND IT VANISH AWAY. WE NEED TO HAVE CHRIST IN OUR LIVES EVERY MOMENT.
I DON’T WANT TO STEP ON YOUR TOES. I WANT TO GET IT IN YOUR HEART AND MINDS. I’LL BE HONEST, OUR CHURCH ATTENDANCE ISN’T WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE. YOU CAN HAVE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP SUPPERS EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT FOR ALL I CARE BUT WHAT MATTERS TO ME IS THAT PEOPLE GET CHRIST IN THEIR HEARTS AND SOULS. HE ASKS A SIMPLE QUESTIONS: DO WE LOVE HIM? ARE WE IN ONE ACCORD ABOUT WHY WE’RE REALLY HERE? WE NEED TO HAVE CHRIST AS NUMBER ONE.
MAYBE YOUR AN INDIVIDUAL TODAY AND YOU NEED TO BE IN ONE ACCORD. IF YOU’LL GET IT IN YOUR LIFE IT MIGHT GET IN YOUR FAMILIES LIFE AND YOUR FRIENDS LIVES AND YOUR CHURCH LIFE. YOU KNOW WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE QUIT GOING TO THE HOUSE OF GOD? THEY SAY WELL THINGS AREN’T GOING THE WAY THEY OUGHT TO GO. IF YOU’LL DO THINGS GODS WAY AND NOT THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO GO, EVERYTHING WILL GO IN ONE ACCORD. GOD HAS TO BE NUMBER ONE. THEY SAY WELL IF THEY AREN’T GOING TO DO IT THIS WAY AND THEY GET OUT OF THE HOUSE OF GOD THEN THEIR ALREADY BACKSLID. WHO ARE WE HERE TO THINK ABOUT AND TO PRAISE? WE’RE NOT HERE TO CARE WHAT SO AND SO IS WEARING. WE’RE NOT HERE TO SEE WHAT SO AND SO IS DOING. WE’RE HERE TO PRAISE GOD. GET YOURSELF RIGHT AND YOU’LL BE ABLE TO PRAY ABOUT THOSE OTHER PROBLEMS.
LET US PRAY: FATHER I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP ME GET MY MIND IN ONE ACCORD. SHOW ME THAT MY EYES NEED TO BE ON YOU AND NOT ON THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. ONCE I GET TO THAT PLACE I WON’T WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT THE THINGS GOING ON AROUND ME AND MY FAMILY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE ME AS MORE CHRIST LIKE AND I’LL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO HELP THEM GET INTO CHURCH AND TO ALSO HELP THE ONES THAT ARE LOST TO FIND YOU. HELP ME ALSO TO HELP MY CHURCH TO GET INTO ONE ACCORD WITH YOU BY BEING A PRAYERFUL PERSON.
I PRAY THIS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.
