How many of you ever passed a written test knowing you studied really hard, read all the material, and answered the questions feeling so confident that you had it all together? It’s a wonderful feeling. Then there is the reverse prognosis where although you may have studied, you just weren’t prepared enough, even if you blame it on the dog. Can anyone relate to this?
In May 1845, two Royal Navy ships, HMS Terror and Erebus, embarked from London under the direction of Arctic veteran Sir John Franklin with the ambitious aim to travel a risky passage to northeast part of Canada to hopefully open trade routes through the unmapped territory. The ships were equipped with the newest technology pioneered in Britain—from coal-fired engines powering propeller screws for locomotion to canned tin food which was designed to preserve food.
Hostile conditions, the use of new technology, and operating beyond the reach of immediate rescue parties meant the expedition was the equivalent of a Victorian-era moon landing. If men, supplies, technology, knowhow, or leadership failed, then deaths could be expected. But if the ships had been properly equipped with the right resources and decisive leadership it would succeed.
In July 1845, the ships sailed out of Baffin Bay and were never heard from again. After two years of silence, the alarm was raised in Britain and rescue ships dispatched. The rescue mission brought back the tragic news—129 men had died in the greatest single disaster in Arctic exploration. After a careful investigation it was determined the ships had been poorly equipped from the start. From engines that were underpowered that weren’t tested correctly and much of the tinned food turned out to be rotten due to the lowest bidding contractor did not properly seal the food—truth be told there was other factors of human error involved as well. Then a note was ultimately found stating that Franklin was dead and survivors were abandoning the ships to head south with rowing boats. Eventually one of those rowing boats was discovered—with the skeletons still on it. What a sad end to such a bright and cheerful beginning.
To the crew’s obvious surprise, even with all the preparations made to get the ships ready for sea and fitted for an adventure, before they even set sail, they were doomed. All because they were not properly equipped. There are many stories like this in life from all sorts of backgrounds, yet the same problem exists even in our personal lives when we think we got all our ducks in a row, we seem to be blindsided, thrown a curve ball—left scratching our heads saying, “Where did that come from?”
You probably have heard me say before that God does NOT call those who are already equipped, He equips the called—meaning each of us! Like it or not, we all are called into Gods Holy Army which includes being a servant while equipping togetherness with others. This life we live is not a one-man band, a solo effort, a hermit only club, a single-handed, unsupported, go it alone type of life. This life is designed by God to be a life of unity with one another, and when we look at God equipping togetherness, we will see firsthand, just how unity itself will stand not only the test of time but is an absolute necessity. When God said, “It is not good for man to be alone,” there is no truer statement.
In starting our journey this morning, we are going to look further into equipping togetherness, especially in a fallen world. In the Gospel of John, we see John the Baptist preparing the ministry of God with Jesus baptism and then starting in verse 35, Jesus began by not charging off into the world, but uniting and equipping people to do Gods work.
In paraphrasing, when John baptized Jesus, God sent Jesus into the wilderness to prepare himself. Upon Jesus return, the Baptist saw Jesus and said to his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God” and this is when the first two disciples were called into service. From this point, one of Jesus new disciples named Philip found Nathanael and told him who Jesus was, but Nathanael sort of mocked Philip. All Philip told Nathanael was to come and see, see for yourself, don’t take my word on it. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit. 48 How do you know me? Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you. 49 Then Nathanael declared, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
This may not sound very dramatic friends, but the point I would like for you to take away is the new disciple Philip helped equip Nathanael to what God had called them to do. It was not forced upon them, no ultimatum or threat was delivered to them. All that was said was Come and See for yourself! You see friends, as the disciples grew with Christ over time, they cherished each other, served one another, and help equip togetherness in doing everything for God together. They became unified in every sense of the word. Listen to Pauls first letter to the people of Corinth, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it.” We each are to lay a foundation for others in equipping togetherness. In this sense we are actually building upon one another in such a way where we become stronger—which only works when Christ is doing the equipping! Nowhere in scripture does it declare to go at it alone, quite the opposite! People have tried it, but obviously failed. One of the first examples of this we find is the tower of Babel from the book of Genesis. “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let’s make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of all the earth.” This is all from selfish desires of not being united but being isolated from each other. People came together and built this majestic tower, but the intent, the true purpose was of self, not for others let alone God. What towers do we build in life where our real intent is not to serve God or be united in Christ, but to exemplify ourselves more than others? How often do we really put ourselves over others or feel so separated from people we tend to forget the true purpose of servanthood?
A well-known celebrity, William Shatner at the age of 90 became the oldest living person to travel into space, but as William quoted, he was surprised by his own reaction to the experience. He wrote: My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral. It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness.
Everything I had thought was wrong. Everything I had expected to see was wrong. I had a different experience, because I discovered that the beauty isn't out there, it's down here, with all of us. Leaving that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound.
What a tremendous testimony from William. Not only did he realize even at his older age that everything he thought he knew turned out to be useless. “Beauty isn’t out there in space, its down here with all of us!” It is togetherness, unity and downright love!
Theres no doubt that it’s hard to be in unity when the world displays so much ugliness, hatred and negativity! This is not new to mankind unfortunately. We tend to have many excuses to be hateful, disrespectful, isolated and downright rude to other people that cut us off in traffic, swear at us, calls us names, treat us unfaithfully, disrespectful and the list goes on. In other words, it’s really hard to care and love for others who have no love or passion for life none the less others. I wanted to leave you with a few items to consider when equipping togetherness.
First and foremost, the Church of Jesus the Christ is not ours. WE don’t get to decide with whom will come to our physical Church, God does. Matthew chapter 5 tells us “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?”
Second, we tend forget what Jesus himself came to do for each of us as we find in Luke chapter 19 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” No soul on earth deserves salvation, yet by Gods grace, we are freely forgiven and so we should freely forgive. Matthew chapter 9 “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.”
Third, God himself desired and expected all mankind to help and equip one another in the most faithful way. Hebrews 13 “7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.” Here is a clear picture of where we are to not only help and equip others, but to also remember and reflect upon those of the faith. This shines brightly to the fact that the way we live, people will indeed see and imitate it.
Last but not least, no one is exempt from serving Christ and equipping togetherness. Through Him [Jesus] then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased… Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.
I know it’s not easy to be commissioned by God to be gathered together in Christ with those we have little in common with other than Christ Himself. Remember friends, Christ came for ALL people, not just you and me. He came for the ugly, the poor, the lost and the lonely. The rich, the wealthy, the bosses and even the presidents of the world. All mankind of every race, creed or color will be bowing down to the one and only living God of Heaven and Earth to give account for their own sins and to answer the question, is your name written in the lamb’s book of life? Being divided in this life is rather simple—we just stop caring. Togetherness is hard. Congregating together requires something outside ourselves as what Galatians tells us “its Christ that lives in me.” We are not our own, but bought with a price, we are Christs. So let us ask God to help us go beyond our comfort zone, obey God at all times and leave all consequences with Him.
Let me close with a wonderful statement from Max Lucado. “Questions can make hermits out of us, driving us into hiding. Yet the cave has no answers. Christ distributes courage through community; he dissipates doubts through fellowship. He never deposits all knowledge in one person but distributes pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to many. When you interlock your understanding with mine, and we share our discoveries, when we mix, mingle, confess and pray, Christ speaks.” Amen.