Saturday, February 24, 2018

THE VALUE OF UNITY

Psalm 133:1 ¶ A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity![fn]
2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.


Amos 3:3 ¶ "Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?

Ecclesiastes 4:8 one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
9 ¶ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

John 17:11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

John 17:20 ¶ "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.


     ***THE VALUE OF UNITY***
                            God places a high value on unity. 
There is complete unity in the Godhead. 
When the people of God come together in unity behind a common vision or goal it is a beautiful and powerful thing. 
My hope and deepest prayer is that we can become a church unified. 

              Unity may be our most obvious missing ingredient.

Pentecostals of Watson has a lot of important parts in place to become a mighty force for God. 
(1) The most important thing we have going for us is that the hand of God is on us. 
(2) Our property is in an ideal location to take advantage of the rapid growth of the area. 
(3) We have talented, anointed people, dedicated people. *2 or 3 gathered in my name*
(4) We are blessed with unlimited potential (fields white unto harvest)
(5) Pentecostals of Watson is a redeeming church where everyone gets a second chance to reach their spiritual destiny.

(6) Of course it won't be long We will soon have a great facility that God is giving us and we will learn to use it very efficiently. 


What is the mission for Pentecostals of Watson?  www.pow4christ.net

The mission of Pentecostals of Watson is to worship our Lord Jesus Christ and reach out to others in fulfillment of His Great Commission by building a loving fellowship of committed believers.  To accomplish this, we commit:

TO EXALT our God through corporate and individual worship. “Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (Psalm 95:6).

TO EDIFY, encourage and build up one another in the Body of Christ. “So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (Romans 14:19).

TO EQUIP God’s people for productive, fulfilling Christian lives and ministries. “For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).

TO EVANGELIZE those outside the family of God. “…and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth”  (Acts 1:8).




1. Pentecostals of Watson is becoming a great church in the community.      
             We need to find more community involvement 

2. Pentecostals of Watson is becoming a great church in the area of 
    redeeming lives and families.
    We want to become a church that helps redeem lives and families for the  
    glory of God.

3. We want to become a great church in Christian Care. 
    People must believe that God loves them and that we love them.
    I believe we will see a rapid growth over the next few years and it will   
    challenge us in this area. 

    We are not challenged about loving people......we are challenged in   
    showing that love to everyone consistently. 
    

4. Pentecostals of Watson is becoming a growing church spiritually as new  
    believers begin to feast on the living Word of God. We are a  
    Bible believing church and a Bible teaching church. The Word of God, if   
    fed consistently and honestly can produce mature believers. 
    
5. Pentecostals of Watson will become a great church in the area of  
    stewardship. 
    We have had a difficult time in this area. We have had to learn to do 
    more with less and that has been good in many ways. 

Great churches are unified churches!! 

We have to step toward unity in giving


Unity opens the door for God to bless 
Psa. 133:3b “For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Here is what we can expect to happen when we come together in unity.
Psa. 133:1
God promises good and pleasant when we dwell in unity. 

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.
When brothers don’t live in unity it is everything but good and pleasant. 

Disunity in a church makes God’s enemies smile because in time the lack of unity will destroy the work of God.

No one expects unbelievers or even God’s enemies to live in unity, but Christian brothers & sisters, bonded together by the blood of Jesus, are expected to live in unity. 

When we are not in unity the convicting power of God is diffused and weakened.

There needs to be joy and unity living among us when we are building this building. 

Men, women and children sweating, bleeding and shedding tears together to make this dream come true. 

We need to laugh, eat, sing and pray together to make it beautiful.


So, how then are you going to live and serve God in the Pentecostals of Watson? 
The choice is yours. If you decide to come together in unity there is no limit to what can be accomplished. 

We know it will be good and pleasant at least.

********************************CLOSING******************************************

We have two other promises to look at that unity offers.
Psa. 133:2 God pours out his Spirit in abundance
The oil mentioned in verse two is anointing oil made for ceremonial purposes. Its basic ingredient was olive oil mixed with several sweet smelling spices.
When the Levites lead worship this oil was poured on their heads and it symbolized the Spirit of God. It produced a very pleasant smell all over the Temple area. Aaron was the first Levite so he becomes the archetype for all worship and worship leadership.
The major point of interest is the abundance of the oil. It ran down their heads into their beards. It dripped on their garments. It was abundant and lavish.

When the church comes together in unity the Spirit of God is poured out in abundance.
Its smell fills the temple. It runs down the head and drips into the beard and gets on the clothes of all who are involved. It just gets all over everything. It smells up the entire community. It is impossible to overlook.

Resources may be tight, but the Spirit of God can be abundant in unity. The music might be simple and meager, but when we worship God in unity the sweet smell of our service rises to the very nostrils of God.

So, then does the lack of unity create the lack of abundance? 
Does disunity limit the Spirit’s move into the community? 

Common sense says that unity creates an abundance of the Spirit.
Let us seek unity. Let us ask God to send it among us. 
Let us bring an end to the power of evil to weaken and destroy our testimony. Let us come together in unity and watch the Spirit of God fly us to our destiny.


Now lets look at the last benefit of unity mentioned in this Psalm.
Psa. 133:3 God promises we will exist in a growth nourishing environment

Mt. Hermon is the tallest point in Palestine. It is snow covered most of the time and is the source of the Jordan River. When the blistering heat of summer oppresses the people they would find cooling refreshment on Hermon’s heights.

The language is poetic because the abundant dew and rain that falls on Hermon doesn’t reach Zion – Jerusalem -, but what a beautiful picture for this Psalm - The hot city of Jerusalem being blessed by the nourishing water of Hermon.
Like a tree planted by the water, Hermon promises a nourishing environment – even life evermore.

The Psalmist is telling us that when unity is in play the environment of the church is one of nourishment. People are filled and blessed and happy when unity prevails.

The promise here is that the Lord bestows his blessing. The people of God come together in unity and God brings the blessing.
Does disunity destroy the nourishing environment of a church? Yes, indeed it does. Disunity dries up the stream of water that the tree grows in. It keeps captives bound in sin. It keeps families in crisis and distress. It allows unbelievers to live undisturbed and unaware of their condition.

So, unity has to be one of the churches highest values. 
Don’t allow someone to divide us. Refuse to listen to negative and destructive accusations. 

Learn to love all the brothers and sisters.

Unity brings life forevermore. 
        Disunity is death.

In conclusion
Two can’t walk together unless they agree. Solomon reminds us that a cord of three strands is not easily broken. 
Jesus prayed for our unity.

Unity is very valuable to a church. 
Seek it at all costs. 

If the enemy has caused you to be filled with destructive divisiveness run to Jesus for help.

If the enemy has kept you from the unity found in Jesus through his death and resurrection run to Jesus for salvation.

SHOUT FOR THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU THE CITY!

Joshua 6: 8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.
9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
11 So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.

SHOUT! FOR THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU THE CITY!


SOME FACTS ABOUT JERICHO

1. About 10,000 plus people in the city.

2. Jericho was surrounded by two huge walls and many soldiers.
an unconquerable, walled city. Excavations there reveal that its fortifications featured 2 stone walls, 15 ft apart, 11-12 feet high and 14-15 feet wide. At its top was a smooth stone slope, angling upward at 35 degrees for 35 feet, where it joined massive stone walls that towered even higher. It was virtually impossible to destroy.

3. At every gate there were watchmen.

"Seven principles for Victory"

1. Seven is the number of completion. Jesus had seven words at the cross, the last thing He said was; "it is finished".

2. Seven is the number of healing. Naamen the leper washed in the Jordan seven times at the instruction of Elias the Prophet.

3. Seven is the number of victory. Six times the Israelites marched around Jericho and nothing happened but the seventh time they shouted and the walls came tumbling down.

"Seven principles for Victory"

#1. A victory involves unity and fellowship.

-Being united to the vision of the Pastor/Church.

-Being in fellowship with the church and brothers and sisters in the church.

- Being united in one spirit with the other churches in the city.


"Seven principles for Victory"
#2. Victory is certain when we recognize who is in charge. 
The battle is the Lord’s.

Without a doubt God was ultimatelly in charge, but he also had a leader that was placed in charge of the battle. Verse 2, "But the LORD said to Joshua, "I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its mighty warriors".

-Somebody has to be in charge.

-Uniting with your Joshua(The Pastor) is key in aquiring the victory.

-God gives your Pastor spititual authority and if you follow, you will see miracles like you’ve never seen before.

Elias saw many miracles. And God later allowed him to get a double portion because he was faithful to Elijah. He understood who was in authority.

The twelve disciples got to see and experience more miracles in three years than many of us will get to see in our lifetimes because they stayed close to Jesus.

-Joshua was not just a messenger but a man with the authority of God. The words were from the Lord Himself, "But the LORD said to Joshua, "I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its mighty warriors".



"Seven principles for Victory"
#3. Victory starts when you change your attitude.

*1 Corinthians 2:16, "We have the mind of Christ"

*2 Timothy 1:7 says; "God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love, of power and of a sound mind."

-Don’t be afraid to move out of your place of comfort.

-Don’t be afraid to move on God’s command.

- People may not understand but if you move they will see the results.

"For we walk by faith and not by sight".

-We are not governed by physical limitations. THE VICTORY IS YOURS, IF GOD SAID IT YOU CAN TAKE IT TO THE BANK.


"Seven principles for Victory"
#4. Victory is assured when we don’t rely on our own strength or abilities but on the power of God.

-God’s call for Joshua to envision the fall of Jericho was based on God’s power and direction, as He declared unto Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand"

"ITS NOT BY POWER OR BY MIGHT, BUT BY MY SPIRIT SAITH THE LORD"

-The Lord has given us power by His Spirit to move forward and conquer.

-If the Holy Spirit is inside of you, you have the spirit of a conqueror.

* Acts 1:8 "And you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you".

Victory depends on God’s favor not mans favor!! 

Psalm 5:12; "For thou oh Lord will bless the righteous and with favor you surround him as with a shield".



"Seven principles for Victory"
#5. Being people of Vision.

It all began with a God-given vision.

*Joshua 6:2 God said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and its mighty men of valor".

The word declares in Proverbs 29:18; "Where there is no vision, the people perish".

-Joshua and Caleb were two of twelve spies sent in to spy out the Promised Land forty years prior to this. Like the others, Joshua and Caleb saw the giants and the fortified cities. But unlike the others they chose to belive God.

-They were men of vision.

THE REASON THAT YOU ARE HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE SOMEONE DARED TO DREAM!



"Seven principles for Victory"
#6. You must have the kind of faith that brings down walls.

Hebrews 11:30 says "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days"

-Without faith it’s impossible to please God

Faith without works is dead. (James 2:20)



"Seven principles for Victory"
#7. Action will assure you the victory.

The Bible says that; "Faith without works is dead", (James 5:20)

(verse 15) " On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the city as they had done before. But this time they went around the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!

(verse 20), "When the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the city from every side and captured it".


-You have endured others thinking you weren’t going to make it.
-You have been waiting to celebrate this victory.

-You have been quiet long enough! This is your seventh day.


-its time for a change!

-Its time to quit living in the land of Bondage, and start living in the land of milk and honey!

-Its time to start living in the land of plenty!

IT’S YOUR SEVENTH DAY!,

SHOUT FOR THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU THE CITY!



NOW, SHOUT! FOR THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU THE CITY!