“When We All Get Together!” (It’s Time To Come Home pt. 3)

Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 01/26/25 (4th Sunday Message)

hashtags:

#guidinglight #pastorjim #Faith #heart

#believer #surrender

#love #showinglove #loveofGod #loveofChrist #repentance #serving #forgiveness #Godworks #savedtoserve #overflow #protector #Expectation #worry #Favor #deliverance #listeningears #Godspeaks #blessings #servingGod #heartafterGod #treasure #complaining #God’speace

 

{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}

Message Title:

“When We All Get Together!” (It’s Time To Come Home pt 3)

This is tying the whole series in.

Christ told us in his word that if we love and believe in him, We would do what he was doing.

The Church Was Important To Christ And It Should Be Important To Us!

We talked last week about unity.

So let’s look at the typical unified church.

 

What Are Typical Functions Of A Unified Church?

Typical Functions of the Church:

• Corporate Prayer

• Corporate Worship

• Teaching From The Word

• Outreach

• Church Fellowship

We talked about Corporate Prayer last week.

How a beggar was healed asking Peter and John for money. They were arrested and let go.

they go back to their group and begin to pray.

the bible says how the whole room began to shake. because of their unified prayer.

The Lord’s Church Makes Time For Prayer! Do What You Can To Be There!

This goes to the 2nd thing.

 

• Corporate Worship

We talked about the power of worship… as well as the power of our shout.

How Joshua was told that Jericho was already delivered to him. But all he needed to do was to give a unified shout to see it.

Just Because We Can’t See It, Doesn’t Mean God Hasn’t Already Done It!

When we get together and praise…things happen. Let’s talk about the 3rd one.

• Teaching The Word

This is the main teaching of the church. What happens on Sunday morning.

what happens at dad’s class. what happens in small groups

and ministry functions.

2 Timothy 2:15

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

If no one told you before…

 

We Are Supposed To Know The Word!

It’s always something there we can get.

Like a movie…

you can still watch your favorite movie

and pick up something you hadn’t seen before.

It’s the best way to get to know who our God is!

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was  God.

This is his love letter to us. The more we know the word.

The more we know the personality of our Lord.

We see what he has done for others.

And we know we can do the same for us!

Many things we go through in life…

there’s so much available to us we just might not know.

You might not know that he can meet you in the midnight hour… unless you read Daniel.

and see what he did in the Lion’s Den.

or what he did at the fiery furnace. or read about Gideon.

and how WE might not be able to see it.

but those coming against you have already lost the battle.

 

The Church Should Make Time For The Word! We Need It!

• Outreach

We aren’t just here for ourselves. Jesus gave his followers a command:

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Go out and make disciples of all nations. How many of us are making disciples?

How many of us are teaching others what Christ said? This is the purpose of the church.

Don’t just take all this power to yourself. Teach others about it!

How Often Do We Talk About Good Restaurants, Movies, Shows and Books? We Should Be Sharing The Gospel Also!

You might not feel like you can do it yourself.

- you shouldn’t.

We have a CHRUCH to help others grow.

 

Don’t Sit On A Good Thing! If Your Church Blesses You, Tell Someone Else So It Can Bless Them!

Tell others about your church!

Share posts about things you learned! Talk about the points we talk about!

We Should Not Only Talk About The Gospel, But Bring People To Church With Us!

There are people who need to hear the word. Sometimes you need to do more than just invite people.

people will always tell you they’re coming. sometimes you need to go GET them!

Bring them to church, small groups, Dad’s class, Ministry events. Why?

Because THEY need the prayer. THEY need the worship.

THEY need the word…

and YOU benefit by them being here.

 

The Lord’s Church Makes Time To Share The Gospel! We Need It!

This goes into the final part.

 

• Fellowship With Other Believers

We have a place where we can come together.

2 John 1:12

12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

face to face…

seeing each other…PERSONAL {not online only} so our joy may be complete.

We Find Joy In A Unified Church!

This is why we need to be “in the room.” why?

Because it’s good to SEE each other!

Just like last week.

 

There Is Power In Our Unity!

We talked about the power in our unified prayers. as well as our unified worship.

But just BEING together has power.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Two are better than one. This is about a lot of things.

It shows the strength of others.

 

You Are Stronger With Others!

We have a good return for our work.

But if you fall down…

it’s good to have someone to help you up.

But it also talks about the SUPPORT we should have for each other.

We Need You Here So We Can Help Support Each Other!

How often do we fall?

How often do we have bad days? bad weeks?

How often do we need support?

The bible tells us that part of the fellowship is supporting each other!

1 Thessalonians 5:11

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

 

We All Need To Be Encouraged Every Once In A While!

We never know what someone is going through! That’s why we need each other!

It’s also a place where we can pray for one another!

James 5:16

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Pray for each other… why?

because your prayers are powerful and effective.

Why are they effective?

Because we are a unified church.

Built on the rock that Christ is Lord.

And he told us:

Matthew 18:20

20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

This is a very powerful scripture. When you are with other believers…

when you GATHER together in his name. there he is with us.

This is another reason it’s good to be with one another. This reads a little different in different translations.

Matthew 18:20

20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

The NIV says when two or three come together in his name, there he is with them.

(NIV,NCV) - With them (NLT/ESV) - Among them

Matthew 18:20 (KJV)

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the

midst of them.

That word sticks out.

Typical we can look at the word “midst” and think “in the area. I was curious…so I looked it up.

Doing a study of the Hebrew word for “midst.” It can also translates as “middle.”

And now with this understanding…

we see that when “we” are gathered in his name.

There he is in the middle! In the middle of what?

In the middle of whatever we need.

He isn’t up in heaven listening. He’s in the middle.

In the middle of our trials.

In the middle of that prayer request. In the middle of that situation.

He told Moses he was “I AM.” Meaning whatever he needed to be.

he would be.

and when we get together. whatever we are doing…

he’s going to be in the middle of it.

 

How Many Of Us Need The Lord In The Middle Of Something?

This is why we need church.

This is why we need to come home. Because it’s different in the room.

When We Are Together And Unified, Everything Is Multiplied!

Our worship is magnified. Our prayers are magnified.

We encourage and support one another. We build each other up.

How Many Of Us Need Prayer Today?

{stand}

Go into a corporate prayer. Find someone to pray for. Pray for:

Peace

in their lives.

Health and Strength

that the Lord strengthen them. heal their bodies.

Protection

that the Lord covers no weapon formed