The Community of Believers

whole community. God, we love you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. You may be seated. Turn your Bibles to Acts 2. Acts chapter 2 41-47. I'm excited about celebrating our 40th anniversary in a couple weeks and we're looking forward to that celebration of all that God has done here at Ohana Baptist Church over the years. And what he's done really is he's built a community and that's what a church is. It's a community of believers coming together. And I want to talk about that word community today. And as you look at the word community, uh look first of all at Acts chapter 2 41-47. It says, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day they were added unto them about 3,000 souls, and they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and a breaking of bread and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul. And many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that were believed to were together, and had all things common, and uh and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they continued daily one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house to eat their meat with gladness and signals to heart praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord add the church daily such as to be saved. And we certainly praise God for the community that he's given us here at Ohio Baptist Church. And again, that's what a church is about.

It's about being a part of a community. When you look at the word community, it starts with the word come. And you need to you can't be a part of a community if you don't come. It's just simply that way. In Acts 2:44, it it tells us that and all that believe were together and had all things common. They were coming together as a group of believers. Years ago, we were out garage selling. Now, you know what a garage sale is? It's when people pay you to haul away your junk for you. And uh we were out garage selling. We stopped this one garage sale and bought a couple items. And as I normally do, I had tracks with me and I took out a track and I gave it to the lady we bought things from and I said, "Hey, I want to I'd like to invite you to come to our church and visit our church."

And she said, "Well, I already have a church." I said, "Well, that's great. Where do you go to church at?" She said, "I go to Ohana Baptist Church." And I wanted to ask her, "Well, who's the pastor there?" But I didn't do that. Apparently, she had visited the church maybe a couple times. And and a lot of people think, well, I've been to that church, so it's my church, you know, and I understand that basis of it. But it's really not your church. If you're not a part of that church, if you're not coming to that church, you need to come together. That's what the Bible is all about. In Psalms chapter 122:1, it says, "I was glad when they said unto me, let's go into the house of the Lord."

You ought to be glad that you get to go to church. You ought to wake up on Sunday morning and say, "Man, today is church, and I can't wait to get there." It ought to be a place that you want to be at, but it's also a place you need to be at. In Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 25, it says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching." You see, church today is not as popular as used to be. There was a time in our society where the majority of people went to church, and that's not the rule today.

But, you know, it's needed now more than ever. People need church. And you and I need to come to church. You can't be a part of a community if you don't come. You come because we come together because we have something in common. In Acts chapter 2 and verse 44 again it says, "And all that believe were together and had things common." And what makes a community is when you have something in common together, some common interest. For example, uh if you like plants, you might be a part of some plant organizations. is Connie Nordstrom's part of the Orchid Society in Hawaii because she loves plants and they get together based on their common love for plants.

We have a uh a group that meets here in our building on Tuesday night and they uh collect bottles. Uh they collect old bottles and that's their common interest and they come together for and maybe you come together because you're commonly interested in crafts or something else. Other groups will come together because they have common goals. Maybe they have financial goals and they're getting together to learn how to invest or or they like to exercise and they get together based upon that common goal that they have or or whatever else it might be. Or sometimes you get together, you're part of a group because of the location in where you live.

Maybe because you live in this certain area that you're part of a group. uh uh whether it's uh in in live or online. There's like the Hickham spouses group, there's the Scullfield spouses group, you know, so they have something in common that they get together on. And then other people get together because of uh their background. Uh maybe from where where they're from. A lot of the Filipinos like to get together because they're all from the Philippines. Or maybe you get together because you're from the South or you're from a certain uh area of the South and you get together based upon that. Or maybe it's because you're in the military.

Uh you have that the the the word in the Greek for church is the word eklesia and it means a called out assembly. It's a group of people that are called out unique because of what they have in common. Uh the NFL would be an eklesia. Uh the uh group of homeschoolers would be an eklesia. Uh a face groups, Facebook groups are e are virtual eklesia groups. are groups that come together because they have something in common. They're called to be an assembly together. Um veterans association uh are are eklesas. If you're from the mainland, you can be an eklesia. All these things come together. Another area is sports.

How how many of you like basketball? Raise your hand. You like basketball. All right. You would be an eklesia. How many like football? Raise your hand. Now you be an eklesia. How many how many like uh uh for example, you might be a special sports team. How many you like the LA Lakers? Raise your hand. I'll pray for you. Um, but you know, people that are Laker fans, they get together, they go to the game, and they they don't know each other, but they're cheering together. They're high-fiving each other. They're doing the wave. Why? Because they have something in common. And and and we are a community at Ohana Baptist Church.

Because what we have in common is our common salvation. In John Jude chapter 1 verse3 it says, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly connected contend for the faith which was once delivered on the saints." That common salvation. We got folks that are here from the mainland and and they go to a church there, Heritage Baptist Church, and and we have a common salvation where both know the Lord. We've got folks that are here from uh other places of the world. What what gives us our community is our common salvation in Jesus Christ.

And uh we we have a common salvation because we have a common problem. And that is Romans 3:23. It says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Everyone's a sinner. That's something we all have in common. All of humanity has in common. And we have a common problem. And our sin, the wages of sin is death. And our sin is condemning us to hell without Jesus Christ as our savior. But we also have a a common solution. Now there's a right solution and a wrong solution. The wrong solution is religion and rituals and righteousness. In Ephesians 2:8:9 it says, "For by grace are you saved through faith, then not of yourselves."

This gift of God, not of works, lest a man should boast. You see the people the way many people try to solve their common problem of sin is I'll I'll go to church and going to church is a great thing to do but going to church is not going to get you to heaven. Becoming a Baptist or a Lutheran or a Catholic or any other religion is not going to get you to heaven. It's not our religion. It's not our rituals like baptism or catechism or church membership. It's not our righteousness because it's not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he has saved us. We have a common problem and there's one uncommon solution and that's Jesus Christ.

In Romans 6:23 again it says for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. See God has given us an uncommon solution and that he sent his son to die for you and to die for me to pay the debt of our sin upon the cross. And when you trust Jesus Christ as your savior, that's what brings us into something that we have in common because we come to Jesus. In Acts chapter 2 and verse number 37, it says, "Now when they heard this, they were pricricked in their heart and said unto Peter and the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?" And what they needed to do was they needed to come to Jesus.

In Matthew 11:es 28-30, it says, "Come unto me all you that are labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." You see, you need to come to Jesus for that common salvation. You need to come to him and receive him as your savior. Acts chapter 2 verse 41. Then they that gladly received his word baptized. In the same day they were added unto them about 3,000 souls. They received his word. They received Jesus Christ. In John 1:12 it says, "But as many as received him, to them gave you the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

And if you're here today, you never received Jesus Christ as your savior. You need to do that today. You need to put your faith and trust in him. It is that salvation that brings us together as a community. It is that salvation that helps us to come together in something in common and that is Jesus Christ. In Romans chap 10:es 9 and 10, it says that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God is raised from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. In Romans 10:13, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If I were to ask you today to raise your hand and say, I have called upon Jesus Christ. I have asked him to be my savior to take away my sins and to give you eternal life. Could you raise your hand? Could you say that today? The Bible says that you can know that you're going to heaven because you have Christ as your savior. And he is what brings us together as a community, as a church, is our common salvation. But we have an uncommon commitment in Acts chapter 2 42. And they continued steadfast in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and in prayers. They continued steadfastly.

Look at verses 46 and 47. And they continuing daily with one accord in a temple and breaking bread from house to house to eat their meat with the meet with gladness and signals of heart praising God and having favor with all the people. and the Lord add the church daily such to be saved. You see that uncommon commitment is to be committed to assembling together, to be committed to coming to church and to being together as believers. You see, God's plan for today is still the local church. In 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 15, but if I tar long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of truth.

God has called us as his believers to come together in our community, the church, and to assemble together. In 1 Corinthians chapter 16 and verse 15, I love what it says here. It says, "I beseech you, brethren, you know the house of Stephanus, that is the first fruits of Acacia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints." You ought to be addicted to going to church. It ought to be you. You have to go to church. You need to go to church. You want to be in church. because it's so important to your Christian growth and your your commitment to the Lord. You see, it's a commitment something like marriage.

The Bible tells us in Ephesians chapter 5 and that uh the the the church that that the church is like the bride of Christ and and we and we as husbands are uh as the um as Christ as the savior and and and the sacrifice for the church. But he goes on down and he gets down to verses 31 through 33. He says, "Let me tell you a secret. I've not been talking about the husband and wife relationship. I've been talking about Christ in the church. And and and marriage is so important for many reasons, but one of them is because it pictures God's love for us. And it's a testimony to the world of the love of Christ for his his church, but it's also a picture of our love for him.

And I believe that church is like a marriage. And you know, I ask you a question. If you showed up in your marriage, the way you show up for church, where would your marriage be? If you were as committed to your marriage as you are to your church, where would your marriage be? You see, there's a commitment that you have to make in in establishing your relationship with your wife and your husband, but there's also commitment you have to make in establishing your relationship with the church. You know, um sometimes I'll have people come to me and they'll say, "Pastor, I don't feel like I'm getting what I need from Ohana anymore."

And I understand sometimes things change in life and and so on, but what if you were to go to your wife and say, "Honey, I don't feel like I'm getting from you what I need anymore." You you don't just walk away from the relationship. What do you do? You say, "Well, we need to fix the relationship. We need to put more into the relationship." And and I believe that that we need to be committed to the local church. A church relationship is like a marriage relationship. It's for better or for worse. And when it's worse, you work at it. It's a commitment. Now, understand, I'm not saying that joining a church is like getting married.

Please don't misunderstand me of it. But I do think there's a picture here that God has given us of the commitment that we need to make if we're going to be part of a community, a part of a church. You know, when you read Acts chapter 2, it almost sounds like he's talking about a a commune. They had all things common. They were together. A a commune is a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities. In Acts chapter 2 and verse 45, Acts 2:45 it says, "And they sold their possessions of goods and parted them to all men as every man had need. And they continued daily with one accord to temple and breaking bread from house to house that eat their meat with gladness and signals of heart."

That that commonality of coming together. Look at chapter 4 and look at verse number 32. Chapter 4 and verse number 32. It says, "The multitude of them that believe were of one heart, of one soul, neither said any of them that ought of the things which they possessed was their own, but they had all things common." Verse 34. Neither was there any among them that lack. For as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and and brought the prices of the things that were sold. See, the church is not a commune, but the church is a community. It's a place where people come together to support, help, and encourage one another.

In Galatians chapter 6 and verse number two, it says, "Barry one's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." You know, the word the phrase one another is used 53 times in the Bible. It's about caring for one another. It's about helping one another. You see, you need a community before you need a community. Let me say that again. You need a community before you need a community. You see, we get calls all the time from people needing help. Can you help me with my rent? Can you help me with my electricity bill? Can you help me with food? We'll get calls all the time from people needing help. And we can't help all of them because we just have limited funds.

So, we're not able to help everybody. But I'll tell you who we do help is those that we know. Those that are part of our community. See, people call me up and say, "I need help." And I say, "Well, do you have a church that you go to?" Because that church is your community. They're there to help you. If somebody in our church is needing money, uh, we're going to help them. If somebody in our church is, uh, is running out of food, we're going to help them. If somebody in our church is need helps in some way, we're going to be there for them. Why? Because we love them. We know them. They're part of our community.

Look at First John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3 and look at verses 16-18. Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But who so this world's good and seeth his brother have need and shutth his bowels of compassion from him. How dwelleth the love of God in him. My little children is not love and word neither in tongue but in deed in truth. You see it's being there for those folks that have a need. You need a community before you need a community. Because when that call comes and the the person on the other side says you have cancer, you need your community already.

When that call comes and you've lost your job, you need your community. During COVID, we had a lot of people that were put out of work, but our church was there for them to help them. They already had their community to help them out. When you go on deployment, your family needs that community. When your spouse wants a divorce, you need your community. I I sometimes will follow the the pages on Facebook for the groups on Scoffield and on Hickham and so on, and over and over again, somebody will come on one of those pages say, "I'm getting divorced, so what do I do? What do I turn to? Who can help me?"

But see, the problem is they don't already have their community. And that's why church is so important. Don't wait until you need a community to have a community. You see, they're going to be there when you need them. Church is a place to live out your faith. Look at James chapter 2. James chapter 2. Look at verses 15-1 17. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be you warmed and filled. Notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body, what does the profit? Even so faith that have no works is dead being alone.

See church is a place where you and I live out our faith by being there for others. I quoted earlier to you Psalms chapter 12 22 verse number one and it says uh that I was glad when they said unto me let's go into the house of the Lord. But verse 9 says this because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. You see you don't come to church just to be blessed. You come to church to be a blessing. You come to church to to be there for others in their time of need. And we need to be that kind of community. A community is people that spend time together. In Acts chapter 2 and verse 44, it talks about how they had they they would spent time together.

In verse number 44, and all that believe were together. And that's so important. It's building relationships in and out of church. In verse 46, they went from house to house. It wasn't just when they gathered as a church body, but they were together individually as families, as couples together, building up one another in the Lord. And you and I need to build relationships. It's not just enough to come and sit in that chair and go home. It's about coming and connecting with people. It's about coming and building relationships with others. is about getting together for a cup of coffee during the week or having each other over your home or having a prayer time together, whatever else it might be.

That's what community is all about. It's about laughing together. It's about crying together. Romans 12:15, rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep. There's many of you in this room that I have laughed with, and there's some of you I've laughed at. There's many in this room that I have cried with, and there's others that I've cried for. You see, church is a place where you know there's people that are going to rejoice with you when good things happen. And you know there's people that are going to cry with you when bad things happen. You know there's people there that will cry for you.

And we need to be that kind of community. A community is a place of accountability and encouragement together. In Hebrews chapter 10, beginning with verse 23, it says, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised." And let us consider one another to provoke and to love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another so much the more as you see the day approaching. I talked about this last Sunday night. We've started a thing called one-on-one Bible studies, and I tell you what, it has been such a blessing.

I I've gotten to meet with some of our men one-on-one and we've gone through and studying the word of God and challenging each other and praying for each other and holding each other accountable. And it has been life transformation for me as well as for them. And that's what that what church is all about. It's getting together with people that are going to challenge you to be better Christians. I'm I'm teaching child training in in the Sunday school class. One of the things I mentioned last week is they need to find mentors and find people that they can turn to and say, "How are you doing this?"

and how did you do this? Get some older folks that have been there and done that and they can give you this is what I did right and this is what I did wrong and this is what I could have done differently and to find peers that you can go to and say how are you handling this? It it's developing those relationships to challenge you and to help you to be a better Christian, a better husband, a better wife, a better father, a better mother. That's what community is all about. It's about praying for one another. In 1 Samuel chapter 12 and verse 23 so Samuel said, "Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord and ceasing to pray for you, but I will teach you the good and the right way."

Let me ask you a question. Is there anybody in this service today you can walk up to after the service, look them in the eye, shake their hand, and say, "I prayed for you this week." See, that's what community is about. It's about knowing people are praying for you. I I'm so thankful. You know, I've had some health issues here recently and I it just it's just amazing to me how people come up to you, pastor. I prayed for you every day this week. Pastor, I've been praying for you to get better. And and I'm so thankful for that. And that makes such a difference in my life to know that there's people that are praying for me.

Are there people that know that you're praying for them? You ought to be praying for one another. You see, community is about being with friends. In Psalms 55 and verse14 says, "We took sweet counsel together and walked into the house of the Lord of God in company. It's about having people that you can just be friends with that you can fellowship with." Now, what's the sad part about this verse is verses 12 and 13. It says, "Where was not an enemy that reproached me then I could have borne it. Neither was he that hated me, that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him.

But it was thou, oh man, my equal, my guide and my acquaintance. He said, you were the guy that I went to church with. You were the guy that I knew I could always depend on, and then you forsook me. You left me. And and and church is about that commitment. It's about building relationships. The greatest friend we have is Jesus Christ. There is a friend that stickketh closer than a brother. In John 15:14, the Bible tells us that um Jesus, we'll turn over there. John chapter 15 and look at verse number 14. John chapter 15 and verse number 14. John 15:14. The Bible says, "You are my friends if you do whatsoever I commanded you.

We're his friends. He is the friend that's going to stick closer to us than the brother." And here's the amazing thing. Look at John chapter 17 and verses 20- 23. says, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word, that they all may be of one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee thee, that they also may be of one in us, that in the world may that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which the these thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one." Look again verse number 20. Neither I pray for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me.

Jesus prayed for you. Way back in the New Testament, he prayed for you. He prayed for me. And folks, we need to pray for one another. We need to pray for each other. A man that have friends must show himself friendly. And there is a friend that's sick closer than a brother. Having being a part of a community like ohana, you've developed long long life lifelong friendships. We have the lanes here, former members that were here before and they're back and and they'll tell you they got friends that are friends for life, not just friends for the time they were here in Hawaii. They're friends that you develop that relationship with that will be there for eternity.

It's people we come to worship together with. In Acts chapter 2 verse 47 it says that they worshiped together they came before the Lord. Verse 47 it says Acts 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added the church daily such to be saved. You know I love about coming to church is singing with you. Worshiping the Lord together. Coming together corporately to worship God. Colossians 3:16 let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Now, people will often tell me this, "Well, pastor, I can worship God by myself."

You can, but you know, worshiping God by yourself is like going to Disneyland by yourself. You know, you're on one of those rides and you're got, "Hey, look at us." Oh, nobody there. It's just not the same when you're by yourself. You want to share that experience with others. And there's no better place to share that experience than in your community, in your church, with your family. The word community starts with the word come. It has the word commune in there. And we're not a commune, but we are a community of believers. But the word community ends with the word unity. In Colossians chapter 3, turn over there if you would.

Colossians chapter 3 and:es 11-15 the Bible says where there's neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision barbarian schyian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bows of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness longsuffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against many. Even so, Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on charity or love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you are called in one body and be thankful.

That unity, that one body community is a place where people who are very different come together in unity. Pastor Andy, are you in here? Pastor Andy is Come up here with you. Is in the other room there? Is Pastor Andy there? Can you grab him real quick out of there? Pastor Andy is is is part of our church family. Uh Pastor Andy, come on up here. Now, Pastor Andy and I are are very different. Pastor Andy is Filipino. I'm Caucasian. Pastor Andy was born in the Philippines. I was born in the United States. Pastor Andy is old and I'm older. I'm good-look. Pastor Andy is Thank you, Pastor Andy. Appreciate it.

But the point is, look how different we are. But wait a minute, Pastor Andy, look how different we are. But here's the thing. This is my brother. Amen. This is my friend. We have very different backgrounds, but we are one in Christ. Amen. We have unity. As I look around the room, we have that same thing. We have people from every background, every different situation, but we come together in the unity that comes in Christ. God wants us to be united through Christ. Look at Philippians chapter 2. Look at verses 1-5. Philippians chapter 2:es 1-5. Philippians chapter 2, beginning verse number one. If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any bows and mercies, fulfill you my joy, that you be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in loneliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man his own thing, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. It's that unity we come. It's the love of God working in our lives and through our lives as we come together in unity in love. In John chapter 13 34 and 35, a new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you have love one for another.

What makes the church unique over other groups is this. We are united in the love of Christ. We are united in the bond of Jesus Christ. You know, as believers, we need to look at others, not just ourselves. There's five phrases I want to challenge you with, and I've challenged this before that ought to be phrases that are heard every Sunday at Ohana Baptist Church. The first one is this. I love you, brother. You know, we're afraid of those words today, but they're words that are Bible words, and we ought to love one another and not be afraid to express that love one for another. Second phrase is this.

I prayed for you this week. Every Sunday when you come to church, you ought to be able to look at least a dozen people and say, "I prayed for you this week. I prayed for you this week." If you're not, then you need to. The third phrase is this. H how is blank going to remember the prayer request? Remember what's going on in people's lives. How how's your mom doing? How how's that situation at work? How how are you feeling this week? People want to know that you you prayed for them and that you remember what's going on in their lives. And then the next phrase is, "Let me tell you what God's doing in my life."

We ought to come to church rejoicing about the blessings of God and we ought to share them with one another. Let me tell you what God did. Let me tell you what he taught me this week. Let me tell you what I read in my Bible this week. Let me tell you about an answered prayer. And then the last phrase is this. Tell me what God is doing in your life. To share with one another. We ought to love one another as Christians, but we also love the stranger. In Deuteronomy chapter 10 and verse 19, it says, "Love, love you therefore the stranger, for you were stranger to the land of Egypt. Every one of you was a stranger at Ohana Baptist Church at some point."

And I want you to remember back that first day you came to church. Coming to a new church is so hard. You don't know what to expect. You don't know what's going to happen. Are people going to welcome me? Are they going to talk to me? Am I going to know where to go? Am, you know, it's so hard to go to a new church. But you remember when you walked in the door and you were greeted and welcomed. Remember how people talked to you and invited you to sit with them? Well, now you're the regular and they're the stranger. And don't forget that. Don't forget to be that that person that welcomes the stranger.

Somebody once said, "There are no strangers here, only friends we haven't met yet." And that's so true. These are family. When Elaine first walked in the door, they were strangers, but now they're family. And every one of you in this room is family that started out as strangers. So the word unity is also the word united. And we united we stand. The in Ecclesiastes it talks about the one chord and the unity we have. The strength and unity. The you of unity is you. You and I are the ones that bring unity within the church. The difference between uni, united and untied is where you put the eye. Where you put the eye.

If the eye, if you're the center of everything, then you're going to be untied. But if others are the center, you're going to be united. Our souls need to be knit together. In 1 Samuel 18, it says the soul of Jonathan, the soul David was knit together. They loved one another. They weren't afraid of that love, but they strengthened each other. When David was at the lowest point of his life, Jonathan came to him and strengthened his hand in the Lord. Later on, when Jonathan was dead and gone, David was able to strengthen himself in the Lord because of what Jonathan had done for him. Jonathan had helped him at the worst time.

And when that time came again, when he was at a low point, when Jonathan wasn't there, he was able to strengthen himself because of what Jonathan did for him. And that's what church is all about. Folks, ohana Baptist Church is a community. It's a community of believers that come together, that are committed to being here. It's a community of believers that are not a commune, but they do care about one another. and are going to be there for each other. You need a community before you need a community. And a community is place where people come and are united. United through Jesus Christ and what we have common in him. Let's bow our prayer. Every head bowed, every eye closed, no one looking around.