• How many of you have been in an old-fashioned Tug-of-War? You were glad when people would join behind you when you felt the pull of the opposition. You were usually organized with the pullers up front and the heavyweights in the back ... right?

  • When you're pulling from a worthy opponent, you all need to work together on the team. If you have a strategy and you all pull together, in unison, and at the same, you will defeat your opponent.

  • In church, everyone needs to join and pull together at the same time--even children. Everyone pulls or everyone hurts.

  • Acts 4:1-3: Peter and John were beaten and thrown in prison for preaching about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Who in this country has been publicly beaten for doing this? No one ... yet. Don't joke--the time may come. This great country is going down the tubes at breakneck speed.

  • Acts 4:29,32: The key here is being of one heart and soul--pulling together with power. As we yield ourselves to the spirit of God, we will come together as one.

  • Acts 1:22: The purpose of the apostles was to be a witness for Jesus Christ.

  • Romans 10:9: You cannot be saved without believing Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The Resurrection was proof His death was sufficient to pay for our sins--yours and mine.

  • His death is our receipt to an eternal life. So when it's time for you to be justified to enter heaven, just pull out your receipt!

  • Jesus Christ's death was a vicarious atonement for our sins.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:1: This chapter is referred to as the "Resurrection" chapter of the bible. Jesus Christ didn't die to be buried. He died for our sins. That's why he rose again. If he didn't come back to life, what future would man have beyond our death? We'd be miserable through the rest of our life because we'd have nothing to look forward to!
  • When you pray for forgiveness, you can feel guilt for your sins but not be truly in sorrow about them. To have sorrow in addition to guilt when praying for forgiveness is a sign of being truly sorry--as if you were coming to tears--a true emotion.

  • You need power to give the word of God to others.
  • Who is this power available to?
  • How is this power activated?
  • Three things to do to come together:
    CLOSER
  • To come together:
  • Acts 4:32-33: Let us, as Christians and churches, pull together with power today. God has allowed our church to stand today for a reason. Otherwise, we wouldn't be here or have a purpose for God.