Steps To Bind Us Together To Serve The Lord Better
INTRO: The word bound is found in the New Testament 39 times. It is used in varying ways to deal with several different ideas. Last week I looked at the idea of being delivered from those things we are bound with. Today I intend to deal with the steps of being bound or helped to serve the Lord together by good things.
When we begin to look for things that strengthen us, we can find several.
Before I start, I want to look at physically how we bind to help ourselves. Many of these can be temporary, some permanent.
We bind up an injury or a bone break with a splint or a cast to help us heal.
We bind up a strain, twist or a pull with an Ace bandage to let us recover.
We bind up a cut or a wound with stitches to protect from germs and promote quicker healing.
We bind up a sore with a poultice to help remove the poison that has invaded our body.
We bind together permanently broken bones with wire, screws and plates to make us stronger.
Let’s get started. First…
We strive or work or bind together to help each other
It brings strength
Two is better than one
Defeats loneliness
Accomplishes more
Continues the work
Ecclesiastes
4:9-12 KJV 9Two are better than one; because they have a
good reward for their labour.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that
is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one
be warm alone?
12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a
threefold cord is not quickly broken.
It brings support
Needed encouragement
Helpful examples
Unifies our actions, thoughts, goals and results
Improves our actions towards each other
Philippians 1:27 KJV Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Colossians 2:2 KJV 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;
1 Peter 3:8 KJV Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful [tenderhearted], be courteous:
It brings success
Let go of old wounds
Isaiah 11:13 KJV The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
See greater harmony
Isaiah 52:8 KJV 8Thy
watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for
they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
Do greater things
Exodus
17:12-14 KJV 12But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a
stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur
stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side;
and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the
sword.
14And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in
a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put
out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Also…
We strive or work or bind together to help the work of the Lord
Jeremiah 50:4 KJV In those
days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they
and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek
the LORD their God.
Selfishness is removed
1 Samuel 14:6-7 KJV 6And
Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over
unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for
us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
7And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine
heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
Self-glory is crumbled
Philippians 2:3 KJV Let
nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves.
Strife is thrown away
2
Timothy 2:14 KJV Of these things put them
in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about
words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
2 Timothy 2:24-25 KJV 24And the servant of the Lord must not
strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
Souls are shown the way
Mark
2:1-5 KJV 1And again he entered into Capernaum after some
days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there
was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he
preached the word unto them.
3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was
borne of four.
4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they
uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they
let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy,
Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
So, how so we do this? How do we bind together?
Serve God, not man
Know God
Trust God
Glorify God
Obey God
Follow God
Spend more time in prayer, seeking God’s blessings for others, seeking unity, seeking souls
Matthew
18:19 KJV Again I say unto you, That
if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask,
it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Christ’s prayer…
John
17:21 KJV That they all may be one;
as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one
in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
“Lord, if anyone here this day needs more blessings from you than I do, bless them instead of me.”
Stand side by side against Satan the Enemy
Judges 20:11 KJV So all the
men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
Nehemiah 4:16-17 KJV 16And it came to pass from that time
forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other
half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the
habergeons [armor]; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
17They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with
those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work,
and with the other hand held a weapon.
Serve together
Care for each other (just like binding a wound – clean/germ free)
NO gossiping
NO undermining
NO deceitfulness
NO two-facedness
Help each other
And let us not forget to…
Sing and eat together (worship)
Hebrews
10:25 KJV Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
Regularly
Attend
Worship
Walk the walk
Continually
Sing praises
Sing victory songs
Eat God’s Word
Encourage each other
Testify of His goodness
Lift up His name and His works before all
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 100508am