Synergy: Unity

Series: Synergy
Sermon: Unity
8/22/10
Intro
• Synergy is the combined efforts of all us are better than one individual doing it all.
• Synergy releases others
• The best gift is the one needed at the time.
• We must consider our gatherings in church in terms of team.
Obj
As we start speaking the same language together, and keep the unity, nothing will be impossible for us.
Premise
 If division trumps our unity then Jesus can’t be glorified.
 It is my greatest desire to be used by God and be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ on the front lines
 We must keep the unity of the faith by speaking the same things together
Body
Eph 4:1-7 NLT
as believers we are one in…
vs 4-5
 body…..the fellowship of believers-the church
 Spirit…the HS who activates the fellowship
 Hope…the glorious future which we are called
 Lord…As Christians we all belong to Christ
 Faith…our singular commitment to Christ
 Baptism…the sign of entry into the New Covenant into Christ and the Church
 God…God keeps us as our Father for Eternity

 Christians get separated because of minor differences in doctrine
 Paul in scripture shows us areas where Christians must agree to attain true unity
 When believers have this unity of the Spirit, petty differences should never be allowed to dissolve that unity
Eph 4:11-16 NLT
 We must budget out for others faults, weaknesses , and sins.
 The way you grow is to get equipped, and built up
 Do your special work, it helps the other parts grow and complement eachother
 When other parts are complemented because of your gift the whole body is healthy, growing and full of love
Gen 11:1-9 NLT story of the Tower of Babel (Read)
 Babel means confusion
 Now this is few years after the flood and Noah and the Ark, and Idolatry is beginning to settle back into the Earth, and Babylon is leading the cause in idol worship.
 The tower of Babel was most likely what they called a ziggurat, a common structure that looked like pyramids with steps or ramps leading up the sides, built as a temple, standing as high as 300 feet tall, and were often just as wide
 The tower was to be the focal point of the city.
 This tower was built as a monument to their own greatness, something for the whole earth to see
 A monument to people rather than to the creator of the universe
How do we remain effective, involved, and engaged in the work that Jesus gives us?
 A key was given in the story of the Tower of Babel in our favor
 In order to be unified we must build something together, by speaking the same words, by speaking the same language together, they were able to remain effectively involved in their purpose
 God knew they would fulfill the wrong thing in the right way
EX: Rush Hour? you understand the words coming out of my mouf…
 We must speak the same things to be involved in His work
 The Babylonians had the right principles working, their hearts were jacked up!
 What language do we all have in common? Language of the name of Jesus
 We may build monuments to ourselves
 Expensive clothes, cars, houses, important jobs
 Calling attention to our achievements
 Your achievements may not be wrong in themselves, but when we use them to give us identity and self worth, they take God’s place in our lives
 We are free to develop in many areas, but we are not free to think we have replaced God.
 What towers are standing in the way of you and Jesus?
 What towers have you built as a monument to self and not God?
 You need God to change your speech, and the way you communicate, start speaking the plan and purpose of God over your life
 Let go and let God.

Horizons Church Offers Wednesday Night Services Too!!!

I want to invite all of you to our weekly Wednesday night services, every Wednesday night at 7pm located at Joy Community Church 35531 Utica Rd, Clinton Twp MI. Located off Utica Rd, between 15 & 16 Mile. Service starts at 7pm. Prepare yourself to go deeper into worship and the Word. Come as casual as you want, and passionate enough to pursue your creator together with us. God Bless YOU.

As usual, childcare provided.

Dan Mastrogiacomo

Possess the Land: Releasing the Hurts

Series: Possess the Land
Sermon: Releasing Hurts
7-18-10
Intro
 Christians are being tormented by the enemy because of unforgiveness
 Unforgiveness gives the enemy legal claim to come in and oppress and torment you
 Bitterness, the result of unforgiveness, is the seed bed of every evil work
 Satan respects no Christian that walks in unforgiveness
Obj
Release and you shall be released
Luke 6:37 (New Living Translation)37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.
Forgiveness is the key to releasing bitterness
Matthew 18:23-35 (New Living Translation)
Forgiveness
1. Apoluo
 To set free, to liberate on from a thing
 Ex: Luke 13:12, woman thou art loosed from your infirmity
 To Let go, to release a captive
 Ex: gospel: come work for me, grow in your influence, steal from me and stab me in the back, leave me, forgiveness says-come work for me again
 To let go, send away, cancel remit pardon
 You are being the most like God when you are hurt, but forgive, release and pardon
Forgiveness releases the hurts of the past
1. the one who carries the hurt is bound to the past
 Unable to live in the present
 Bitterness of the past flows into present relationships
2. the one who carries hurt is bound to people of the past
 You can retain another in his sin through unforgiveness
 John 20:22-23 (New Living Translation)
22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
 By retaining another’s sin you become like them
 Forgive and be like God; retain and become like the one who hurt you
 Unforgiveness is not changed by time, only worse.
3. The one who carries hurt is tormented
 Matt 18:32 called a wicked servant
 Our attitude toward others must be forgiveness
 Prayers of deliverance comes after forgiveness, Mat 6:13 deliver us from evil.
4. Forgiveness releases God
Forgiveness releases God’s forgiveness for you
Matt 6:14-15 KJV
Mark 11:23-26 KJV
Redemption is co-extensive with forgiveness
Ephesians 1:7 (New Living Translation)
7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
Forgiveness releases God’s forgiveness for others
 Mat 18:18 whatever you loose on Earth…
 The prayer of agreement
 Matt 18:19-20 KJV
Forgiveness releases God’s healing in you.
 Some need to forgive themselves, and others need to release God
 You have blamed God for your mess.
 Forgiveness is an act of the will
 You choose to forgive
 The feeling will come later
 As you release the person, God releases the hurt and healing takes place
Jesus came to heal the broken hearted, preach deliverance to the captives and to set at liberty them that are bruised.
Conclusion
Be like God and forgive
List the relationships that were bad
Analyze to find the reason
Deal with each relationship and release the person by forgiveness
You may need to ask forgiveness from the person for your unforgiving attitude
With each person what do you need to forgive

Possess the Land: Bitterness

Series: Possess the Land
Sermon: “the land of the emotions: Bitterness”
7-11-10
Intro
 The prime intention of Satan is to bruise
 Bruise create an open door to the enemy to do his destructive work
 Bruises bind the person, but the work of Christ is to set at liberty them that are bruised, Lu 4:18KJV
 Bruises keep the body divided and the enemy dwells in the land
 Fear and distrust separate those bruised within the body
 The body of Christ needs to be healed
 As the body is joined together the fullness of the head will flow down through each member.
1 John 3:8 for this purpose Jesus Christ was manifest to destroy the works of the devil
The Works of the Devil
Gal 5:16-21 KJV
Need the picture of the mind and soul for powerpoint here.
Obj
 When the Northern and Southern tribes separated in Israel it created war and division between brothers
 That strategy is being used by Satan today-Separate and Destroy
 Bitterness is the greatest tool at his disposal today, leaving a path of destruction in the Church all because our brothers and sisters left the principle and command of Jesus to Love others
 Ex: we are like an apple that has dropped off the tree, and bruised, no sign of damage for a few days
 Then there appears a dark spot that turns into rottenness and spoil
 This is the way bitterness works after a hurt
Eph 4:26-27 KJV 26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil.
Place=topos position of opportunity
Time does not heal all wounds, Jesus does.
 Time makes it worse like a cancer eating away at you.
Lu 4:18 Jesus came to heal the broken hearted, preach deliverance to the captives and set at liberty them that are bruised!
Hebrews 12:15 (King James Version) 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
1. Bitterness comes from hurts
 Child-parent, husband-wife, other relationships
 Proximity breeds contempt=the deepest hurts come from those closest to us
2. Bitterness pollutes one’s whole system and others.
Speech, actions, attitudes, breakdown in physical health
3. Bitterness builds walls of Isolation
Fear of further hurt, fear and distrust of people, fear of inner hurts and weakness being exposed, loneliness,
4. Bitterness always results in broken relationships
Cut people out of your life, critical attitude toward others
Broken relationships cause blind spots
1 John 2:9-11(New Living Translation)
9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister,[a] that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister[b] is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.
Blind spots stop us from acting wisely, from seeing ourselves, and others as they really are, meaning created in His image.
Broken relationships cause insensitivity
Life becomes self centered, and no proper regard for the need of others
Broken relationships cause immaturity
 The emotional growth stops at the time of injury
 Personality does not mature with the body
 You need to be healed before you can grow as a healthy individual
 Emotional growth resumes when healing and release comes
Pathway of Unforgiveness
1. resentment becomes bitterness
2. blame becomes hatred
3. deception becomes perversion
Conclusion
Bitterness is the seed bed of every demonic work
It will destroy you
It will make you not love
We must remain in the spirit of forgiveness continually
When satan comes to bruise, do not receive the hurt,
Immediately release hurt by forgiveness
If there are years compacted by bitterness, start with the Lord’s Prayer
Mat 6:9-15 KJV