Division Buster (October 9, 2022)
Sermon Outline for Sunday, October 9, 2022
Pastor Andy Lambert
PASSAGES: Acts 15:36–41; Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9; Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:25; Psalm 139:23–24; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8; James 1:2
Henry Ford ~ Coming together is a BEGINNING, Keeping together is a PROGRESS, Working together is SUCCESS.
What a quote.
Over the past couple months, Coosa Valley has seen growth, in the number of families that have come to be a part of the CV FAMILY. With growth comes pain – growing pains. Sometimes it is hard to allow new people to be a part of the inner circle in our lives, but what we must remember is that God is sending people to Coosa Valley and we all must grow TOGETHER. If you will remember, for sometime, God has been speaking to us through sermons and telling us that growth is coming; well now growth is here. I am so thankful for growth!!
We have also looked at GROWTH in the spiritual as well. Growing Spiritual is getting into His Word more and more. Sunday School classes is a great avenue to help in that growth. Wednesday GATHERED Bible Study is a great avenue to help in that growth. I CAN’T STRESS THESE TWO ENOUGH!!!
Sometimes with growth (numbers) we have people with differences of opinions, personalities, ideas and more gets thrown into the mix and this is a GREAT THING!!! However, some will not like this outcome of growth. This can cause DIVISION – but we are here today to look at DIVISION BUSTER, God’s style.
Let’s take a look at the relationship of Paul and Barnabas. From the relationship of Paul and Barnabas we can draw an important lesson. Here were two godly men, loved by the churches, filled with the Spirit, enduring persecution together, seeing people saved, and enjoying an effective ministry. Yet they were fallible and did not see eye to eye on everything. They quarreled and parted ways. Even the best and most faithful among us are prone to interpersonal conflicts and mistakes. We are all fallen human beings. The ministries of both men continued—in fact, the number of missionary teams doubled! God can use even our disagreements to further His work.
Paul and Barnabas continued to depend on God. They moved forward peacefully, even though it meant parting ways. In matters of personal opinion and practical procedure, Paul and Barnabas differed. In matters of doctrine, they both saw the necessity of sharing the gospel with the world. They were united in what is truly important.
Acts 15:36-41 ~ “And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
We find from God’s word that after the separation, God continued to work though both Paul and Barnabas and continued to grow the Church.
How do we apply this to our church today. I believe that each person connected to the Coosa Valley Family are here, not by chance, but by the direction of God and the Holy Spirit. So knowing all of this, how do we GROW? How do we bust division WHEN it comes? (Because it is not if, but it is WHEN.)
We trust in God! We have to realize that with different personalities comes division or conflict. When that comes, the devil wants to play with our minds and place the thought of “that other person is out to get you” or other thoughts in our minds to bring about doubt of salvation, doubt of God’s will at work, and doubt that I SHOULD BE HERE. This is NOT the division needed. The Division Buster needed is the Holy Spirit at work in our lives to BUST OUT any and all thoughts the devil places in our minds to try to stop the work of God.
WAIT!!! I am saved and therefore the devil can’t place thoughts in my mind, the devil can’t cross the blood line, the devil can’t touch me. If you think all this is true, think again. Please know, when we plead the blood of Jesus around out kids, around out homes, around our lives – the devil can’t cross. THIS IS CORRECT!!! But let’s think back to the very beginning …
God had just created the universe and it was all good. Scripture points out that God is very well pleased – perfectly satisfied – with His creation for it was perfect. NO SIN abides here. But then it happened, out of nowhere, something terrible happened: evil appeared in the form of and evil creature.
Genesis 3:1 ~ “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?””
Scripture tells us that the devil, Satan himself, is called the serpent.
Revelation 12:9 ~ “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
Let’s continue to look at Genesis 3:1. In this we notice several things that we need to take note for our lives today that can help us BUST DIVISION:
The first step in temptation and sin involves the thoughts: suggestive, enticing, and tempting thoughts. Several striking things are immediately noticed about Eve and the temptation that attacked her:
• Eve was alone – she had gone off without her husband, Adam.
• Eve was where she didn’t belong – she was standing by the forbidden tree.
• Eve was apparently thinking about the tree and its delicious looking fruit.
• Eve was not keeping a watchful eye against temptation.
Taking all these things into account, what do you think we can use today to have a DIVISION BUSTER for the church world?
• We need each other
Matthew 18:20 ~ “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.””
• We need to be where God wants us to be
Hebrews 10:25 ~ “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
• We need to guard our thoughts
Psalm 139:23-24 ~ “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Romans 12:2 ~ “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Philippians 4:8 ~ “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
• We need to guard against temptation, but realize it is going to come
James 1:2 ~ “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”
How do we have DIVISION BUSTER? Without it coming to dividing our Church Family, like Paul and Barnabas did? We lean on each other, we pray for each other and we continue our GROWTH in God!!! This growth is Spiritual Growth and we need His Word, His Spirit to have that Spiritual Growth that is needed, today more than ever!!!
Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church
Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101