Better Together
Better Together
Why We are Better Together
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
©2009
Scripture Reading: Romans 12
The Visible and Invisible Dimensions of Unity
There are many facets of unity. In the first message in this series, we just touched the surface of the power of physical and emotional unity: how two are better than one, and a three-fold cord is not easily broken, as King Solomon declares in Ecclesiastes. We also reviewed the physical and emotional strength of unity evidenced at the Tower of Babel and then we reviewed the Scriptural passage on unity from Ephesians 4.
There are at least three or four dimensions in unity: unity in our physical world, unity in ideas and emotional dynamics, and unity in spirit. So we see that the most evident dimensions of unity are as follows:
✦The Physical Dimensions of Unity
✦The Mental and Emotional Dimensions of Unity
✦The Spiritual Dimensions of Unity
Spiritual Unity – Oneness with the most enduring strength and deepest understanding
When we explain why we are better together, we could give many diverse reasons. The unity evidenced in Romans 12 deal with the Spiritual dimensions of Unity, which give far deeper elements of Unity than the Power of Physical, Mental or Emotional Unity alone. This passage in the book of Romans explores the Spiritual Dimensions bonded together with the Emotional and Physical Unity – this is the most profound of reasons for why we are better together!
1.The Support for Personal Sacrifice – the Uniqueness of a Refining, Self-Denying Process and Faith
2.The Functionality of Body Life – the Uniqueness of the Church
3.The Blessing of Gracious Interaction – the Uniqueness of a Godly Daily Life
Everyday Sacrifice: We are Better Together because, as Believers in Christ, we Support Each Other in the Uniqueness of Sacrificial Faith
1. The Support for Personal Sacrifice – the Uniqueness of a Refining, Self-Denying Process and Faith
Do you ever notice how people with similar interests often become friends?
This same characteristic should be true of Believers because….
Those who Submit to the Authority of Jesus Christ, denying themselves and living unto God…are better together.
We Submit Ourselves to be under the Authority of Christ (v. 1)
♦We Voluntarily Die Every Day to our own selfish desires, and instead, yield ourselves to Live Unto God (as a “Living Sacrifice”)
We are not to be Conformed to the World (2a)
We are those who are being Transformed (2b)
oWe have been Redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
oWe are being Transformed by New Birth, into God’s Family, through the Power of the Holy Spirit.
•By the Renewing of our Mind
•By Discerning what is the Good and Acceptable and Perfect Will of God
Romans 12:1,2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers,Ó by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.Ó 2 Do not be conformed to this world,Ó 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.Ó
Have you Ever been happy with yourself after giving in to Self-Serving Greed, or Inordinate Anger, Lust or Pride?
Let me ask a very simple question, in light of Paul’s appeal in Romans 12:1 to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Have you ever been sad…after looking at all the circumstances…in denying something – sacrificing something, that merely satisfied your own greed, anger, lust or pride? If we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, denying ourselves the greed, anger, lust or pride that has destroyed so many people in the world…are we sad to yield ourselves to that kind of living sacrifice?
When you or I have given ourselves, in selfishness, to greed, ungodly anger, lust or pride we have always been sorry! If this is so…why is our voluntary death to these harmful vices of life viewed as such a bad thing? I believe God, in His Word, is actually showing us a wonderful solution to enter into the best of life, through the “door” of daily living sacrifice!
Everyday Unity with Diversity: We are Better Together because, as Believers in Christ, we Function Wonderfully as One Body with Many Members
2.The Functionality of Body Life – the Uniqueness of the Church
Rational Understanding of our Place in the Body (v. 3)
Realistic Parallels in our Body with the Spiritual Church Family (4,5)
Responsible Use of Practical Spiritual Gifts within the Body (6-8)
Romans 12:3-8
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members,Ó and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,Ó with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Everyday Living: We are Better Together because, as Believers in Christ, we Seek to live Honorably with Each Other
3. The Blessing of Gracious Interaction – the Uniqueness of a Godly Daily Life
The world may cheat, steal, lie, humiliate, retaliate and bribe – evidencing the classic defective traits of our old nature, but if we are sincerely true Believers in Jesus Christ, there is no room for such deceit.
What are the Spiritual “DNA” Traits, Attitudes and Responses of one who is Born Again by the Holy Spirit of God – one who is seeking to live a mature life in Christ?
Traits of a maturing Believer in Christ
•What is the greatest trait of a maturing believer in Christ? (v. 9a)
•On the other hand, what should we despise? (9b)
•What should we hold on to in life? (9c)
•How should those in the Church display their affection for each other? (10a)
•What is the right kind of competition in the Church Family? (10b)
•How should we not serve the Lord? (11a)
•How should we serve Him? (11b)
Romans 12:9-11
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,Ó serve the Lord.
Attitudes of a maturing Believer in Christ
•What should be three key attitudes when we are going through trial? (v. 12)
•What two attitudes reflect care in the Body of Christ? (13)
•What should our attitude be toward those who hate us? (14)
•How should we respond toward folks who are having great success? (15a)
•How should we act around folks going through a tough time? (15b)
•How should we react to folks around us? (16)
oWhat should we never be? (16d)
Romans 12:12-16
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.Ó Never be conceited.
Responses of a maturing Believer in Christ
•Should Believers in Christ treat meanness with meanness? (v. 17a)
•To whom should we consider being honorable when dealing with negative issues and personalities? (17b)
•What is the one of the most mature and responsible creeds of life? (18)
•What is the best advice when you want to lash back at someone who has hurt you? (19, 20) What should we never do? (19a)
•How should we overcome evil? (21)
Romans 12:17-21
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave itÓ to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Conclusion
As believers in Christ, we have the opportunity to live the most positive and beneficial lives in the whole world; but in saying that, we must live our lives empowered by the Holy Spirit so we can be enabled to live the way God wants us to live and how we know we should live.
1.The Support for Personal Sacrifice – the Uniqueness of a Refining, Self-Denying Process and Faith
Everyday Sacrifice: We are Better Together because, as Believers in Christ, we Support Each Other in the Uniqueness of Sacrificial Faith
2.The Functionality of Body Life – the Uniqueness of the Church
Everyday Unity with Diversity: We are Better Together because, as Believers in Christ, we Function Wonderfully as One Body with Many Members
3.The Blessing of Gracious Interaction – the Uniqueness of a Godly Daily Life
Everyday Living: We are Better Together because, as Believers in Christ, we Seek to live Honorably with Each Other
The unity of a three-fold cord is not easily broken. When Spiritual unity is integrated with physical, mental and emotional unity, God’s Holy Spirit can most effectively grow us individually into Spiritual maturity, and in turn give strength and depth in the Body of the Local Church.
We are better together because, as we are yielded to God, His Holy Spirit, in each dynamic of natural and spiritual unity, unifies those who are Spiritually Born into the Family of God. This is unparalleled in unity anywhere else in the world. We, as a Church, can either recognize the wonderful blessing and benefit of Godly Spiritual unity, or we can be sidetracked into merely copying the natural forms of unity that hold certain parts of the world together.
We are better together because such a Godly Spiritual unity in the Church has the greatest opportunity for the sharing of the redemption message of the Gospel of Christ, the building up of God’s Kingdom, and fulfilling God’s goals in the midst of the sinfulness of this world!