Weekly Message / Prayer Request

ACTS 2:42 MEN’S FELLOWSHIP

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:1-11 NIV

We are united by something far greater then anything this world has to offer. There is a brotherhood which brings us together for one purpose—in order to bring glory to God the Father. And it begins with the blood of Christ which has stained us all.

But the world would rather differ and promote the individual as the highest unit in society. The belief outside of this brotherhood is that it is all about what the world can offer you. This voice says that your needs outweigh the needs of the group. Nothing matters unless the world gives you what you want.

The Apostle Paul preached something completely different by understanding the importance of unity and where it grows from. His view was not of the world, but was about unity of the blood of Christ and its binding power. This gift given to us by God changes everything and we no longer stand in this world as an individual, but as part of a body.

There is no question that our lives are intended to be lived within these connections. Our God is a relationship driven God down to His very core. One only has to look at the many passages which describe how Christ prayed to the Father, the Father exalted his Son, or how the Father sent the Holy Spirit. All of these exist in the Word because it is necessary to see how the three can become one in their relationship with one another.

And we are to become like Christ and live our lives the same way—relationship driven to our very core. We should be defined by the term ‘brother in Christ’ with other people and know of its important meaning.

About five years before the book of Philippians was written from prison by the Apostle Paul, this same message was preached to the church of Corinth regarding the importance of living your life in a relationship driven manner. It was written:

“…But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-27 NIV

We need to drive this home at the Church. Our heart and mind need to be transformed into the vision set forth by the Word here in 1 Corinthians 12. This humility would allow the Church to function within its highest level of efficiency and bring glory to God the Father like our lives were intended to do.

Therefore may we pray for unity and remove ourselves from the Western mindset that it is only about the individual and his needs. May we pray that we can begin to see the bonds which bind us together as ‘brothers in Christ’ and elevate that in our daily living through love and prayer. And may we stand together in unity within the Church that God has so lovingly composed…


Thanks for coming almost two weeks ago on Wednesday. Meeting with each one of you has been a tremendous blessing and encouragement on my life. I pray that each one of you feels the same and will join us this coming Wednesday…

Prayer request

Gary – pray for strength in working with IRS, praise and prayer for staff infection, pray for stepdaughters in their struggles

Dick – pray for continued strength in finding employment

Ernie – pray for continued health with wife and her difficulties of her knee

Tim – pray for oldest son which was discharged from the Marines early, pray for family support for Dan

Carmine – pray for strength in working two jobs and finding time within others, pray for relationship with family

Chad – pray for strength in living a Christian life

Norman – pray for the strength to focus on God (knowing who He is)

David – pray for the Lord’s guidance and to hear Him clearly

Mark – praise for the trials over the health of Amara, pray for continued discernment over the path God has set before me in doing His will, pray that I may stay focused on the task at hand with work and ministry allowing the future to come at His will

***Pray for relationship building throughout the Northshore Christian Church

Continued prayer needs

Kelcy – pray for healing of sickness and continued strength

Ramon – pray for safe travels to California, pray for continued healing with wife, pray for sister-in-law

Larry Miller – pray for strength and guidance in leading marriage ministry at Northshore

Randy – pray for release of addictions of the flesh

Michael – pray for guidance in finding a Church in Alabama

Chris – pray that he finds Christ and His purpose

*** pray also for the men’s ministry in developing Godly leaders

Future Meetings

Wednesday, October 17th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at the Northshore Christian Church (call Mark for directions) Topic: “The doctrine of the Holy Spirit”

Wednesday, October 31st, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting with site and topic to be determined (we will establish location at October 17th meeting)

Challenge

Live life in the ‘unity of the Spirit’ in our minds so it may translate out into the Church…