“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help, but someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Eccl 4:9-10
“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Eccl 4:12
“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47
Henry Blackaby makes the statement, God is at work all around us. We just need to see where He is at work and join Him there.”
Rick Warren’s “The Daniel Plan” states there are five essentials to a healthy lifestyle. One of these essentials is family/friends.
Basically God created each of us for a need for community. God has a great big family in this world and He has joined each of us together. I call God’s system “networking.”
God’s amazing network! The amazing family of God is everywhere! God moved my daughter and her family next door to very sweet believers in Jesus who helped her in a summer feeding program. Along the way in Landry’s football career, God has surrounded him with people who love the Lord. Landry and his cousin, who was his college roommate, recommitted their lives to Christ while sitting in their college dorm. Landry’s and his center in college, Ben Habern, travelled to Haiti for a mission trip and did bible studies together. Now, once again God has given Landry another Christian center. Quarterbacks and centers hold special bonds. They work very closely together and have to be in sync. Cody Wallace is the center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is one of the guys God has put in Landry’s life to walk along side of Landry. They do bible studies together. I met him this weekend. I can definitely say, “God put these two together for this time, and they have each other’s back.”
God has given each of my three kids Christian mates. God has given me a Christian mate. Together we each have someone to help us stand and succeed. Together we all stand and together we all conquer whatever attacks us. Kevin walks alongside of me as we work with Project Hunger and Lunch Buddies; two ministries in our church. My connect group has joined with me to help in Project Hunger. Going together to deliver food makes you bold. It helps me reach out and boldly pray for people who cross my path.
“And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.” Mark 6:7
We were meant for community. When the church was in its infant stages throughout the book of Acts, over and over scripture says, “And God added to their number…” God never meant for us to live this Christian life by ourselves. Life is too hard. We need help. God made each one of us family. We are to lean on each other for strength to carry on when life brings us to despair. We are to be strength to others when life brings them to despair.
My friend, Christine Fenn, has a three year old granddaughter with neuroblastoma cancer. She is always reaching out to her Facebook friends, her christian friends, and her family, please pray for Charlotte. My own family members are walking through various trials and we need each other. We reach out to each other asking for prayer. We each try to be the others strength when called upon. Solomon recognized this basic human truth when he penned these words from Ecclesiastes. “Two can stand back-to-back, three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken.” We need each other. We need church. There is power in unity.
“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20
In the greek it is called koinonia and it is this powerful unity among believers that sets Christ in our midst.
When we stand together in the will of God there is no power of hell that can stand against us.
I know I write a lot using football analogies, but it is what I know.
One person never wins a game by himself. The quarterback needs the line to protect him. The linemen needs the quarterback to get the ball to the playmakers. The quarterback needs the plays from the coaches. You get the picture. All eleven men, whether offense or defense needs the man next to him to help him make the play. Just as one person never wins a game by himself, that same person never looses a game by himself.
Did you see the show American Sniper? Seal training makes you depend upon your fellow soldier. Just as you can’t win a game by yourself, you cannot fight a battle by yourself. Guys we are in Seal Training. Our enemy is very real. His greatest weapon is despair and discouragement. First off we cannot win without the promised Holy Spirit in our lives, because He who is in us is greater that He who is in the world. Secondly our battle victories come along much sooner when you have people alongside of you helping you and holding you up.
“Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.” Exodus 17:12-13
Kevin and I just recently watched “Woodlawn.” It is the new faith based movie about football players coming together in Christ. The setting is the early 70’s. We watched it with my grandsons and daughter. I told my grandson I knew all the songs. I sang them in youth choir. If your from the 70’s era you’ll remember this one.
We are One in The Spirit
copyright 1966 Peter Scholte, F.E.L. (licensed)
-1-
We are One in The Spirit,
We are One in The Lord.
We are One in The Spirit,
We are One in The Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
Chorus
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love,
By our Love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
-2-
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity
And save each man’s pride.
Chorus
-3-
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity
And save each man’s pride.
Chorus
-3-
We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand.
We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand.
And together we’ll spread the News
that God is in our land.
The church standing together can turn a nation back to God.
I found these words this morning while reading from 2 Chronicles 32, “Hezekiah’s words put steel in their spines.”
I pray these words I write would put steel in someone’s spine.
Over the years of my Christian walk. I have had to have many people pick up my cross and carry it. There were also times when I would cry out and say. “God let me put my arms down”, I don’t want anyone to hold my arms up anymore. I’m tired, I see no hope. But when it’s all said and done, my Abva holds out His great big hands and holds me up for me to see all the misery, the praying, not trusting!! Being self consumed!! God holds me higher so I can start to see the break through and His glory in action all with my other fellow believers!!
You are one of those who holds my arms up in the battle
“But 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.” Ex 18:4 When “life” gets heavy, I am so thankful for my Aaron’s and Hur’s to stay up my hands! You have been that encouragement for me these past few months. Love this post!
I know
I love this story of Moses
You are part of my mental picture of the Aaron an Hurs in my life
Oh, how we need each other, Kellye! And for such a time as this.Thank you for sharing these beautiful life-filled words. Love you and miss you! God bless you richly, xxoo
Thanks you, my daughter in love, I needed those words of encouragement!