One Accord Conference #4: One Accord Follow God to Lead Others

Overview

Following God to lead others starts with what God has already given you, not with a title: you have the same spirit of God that Peter and Philip had, and your value is never associated with a title or position but with what God has done for you in Christ. In this fourth session of the One Accord Conference, Todd Cencich works through three records where one person acted as the catalyst that brought God’s will into a situation, Peter and the apostles in Acts 5, Philip in Samaria in Acts 8, and Moses at the mountain in Exodus 19. One accord, he says, is not being in the same room or the same church. It is the word, and it is Christ in your hearts.

Transcript

Good morning. It’s really awesome to see some wonderful faces in person. I know we’ve, for the last couple years, we’ve done a lot of Zooms and other types of meetings. So it’s really wonderful to be face to face with everybody this morning.

You Do Not Need a Title or Position to Lead for God

So we’re going to talk this morning about Follow God to Lead Others. And when we talk about leaders, when we talk about leading, don’t exclude yourself individually from that, because all of this is for you. You have the same ability, you have the same spirit of God as Peter did, as Philip did, and others in the New Testament, everybody since the time of the day of Pentecost.

So you have a unique and valuable, precious gift. And when I say you, I don’t mean you as a collective blanket that it fell on you. I’m talking about you as an individual. You can supply your name there. You have the gift of holy spirit. It’s unique to you. It’s custom. If God can figure out how to give you two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and one mouth and fingernails, he could certainly figure out how to give you a custom holy spirit that’s designed specifically for you, that it’s a part of you.

It’s intertwined with you. His desire for us is that we listen to him and obey. We listen to that inner voice. We love him and we obey. That’s a line to our Father God. You don’t need a position or title to lead for him and to be a catalyst. That we, you have the full measure of what God gave you. You have a full measure of the faith of Jesus Christ.

Three Leaders Who Were Catalysts for One Accord

Turn to Acts 5, please. This morning we’re gonna look at three individuals, leaders who are catalysts and recognize and acted in order to bring one accord in the situation. There were people who moved and they were catalysts to get God’s will on a horizontal level in a situation. It took someone to lead, trusting God, listening to God, to stimulate and catalyze his will in these situations.

The Inward Man Is Renewed Day by Day

You don’t have to turn there. Second Corinthians says, For our outward man perish, but the inward man is renewed day by day. Well, we look not at things which are seen but the things which are not seen. We focus on the spiritual realities of life. Ephesians 3:16 says, Strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man. God gave you his spirit so that you can live for him and enjoy the fullness for him. He made you acceptable, and you don’t need to be judged by a title or what anybody in the world, what a box wants to put you in, because God made each and every one of you worthy of the gift, and Jesus Christ died for your sins.

Your Value Is Never Associated With a Title

I’ve seen titles get into people’s heads. They were, they are reflective of accomplishment. They’re reflective of things that you’ve done or a level that you have achieved, whether it’s just promotion or whether it’s something you legitimately did. Your value is never associated with a title or position, but what God has done for you in Christ.

Peter and the Apostles With One Accord in Acts 5

Peter. Look at Acts 5:12. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people, and they were all with, what? One accord. Why were they with one accord in one place? Because they were experiencing the oneness that they had in Christ. They were hearing the word taught by leaders and they were experiencing it together.

They were helping each other. They were one. Or there were some wonderful things happening, and there were healings, and the healings are based on the truth of the word and the power of God. You know, we hear about the healings, but the word is being taught, and the word is what brings deliverance.

Verse 13. They were on Solomon’s porch, by the way. And verse 13, and the rest durst no man join himself with them, but the people magnified them. They were excited about these works and about these healings. They were talking about it one with another, maybe like you’ve done in your life. You’ve seen the greatness of God, you experienced the word, and you talk about it. And I heard a lot of conversations last night about the word, about what God has done for you in Christ. It’s pretty cool. That’s what they were sharing here.

Verse 14, and the believers were the more added to the Lord, both multitudes, both of men and women, insomuch they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on their beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing might overshadow some of them.

Peter Gave the Glory to God, Not to Himself

Peter was walking with God. Peter was giving the glory to God. It wasn’t about him. It wasn’t about what he could bring. It was about what God wrought in him and God wrought through him. He and the other apostles ministered, they healed, they gave in the sight of all the people. They didn’t do this behind closed doors.

They did it in front of everyone. And Peter, like you, his life was a reflection of God, and yours can be too. I don’t care where you come from, what background, how long you’ve known God or how long you haven’t known God. It doesn’t matter, because you have the same spirit and your life can be a reflection of God like the apostle Peter. And it was just like and the same as Jesus Christ and how it affected people around him.

Verse 16. There came also multitudes out of the cities round about, that round about Jerusalem, bringing sick folks and them that were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were healed. Some of them? A lot of them? It’s not like a baseball player, you hit three out of ten and you’re considered a tremendous success. Or a weatherman, the 20% of the time you’re right and you’re a success. So no, that he would, they were healed every one, because the power of God was moving, because they understood together what Christ had done for them. They became one on that, and Peter led the way. Peter was the catalyst. Peter was the one leading the charge, had the guts to lead and to be the example, and others followed. They were healed everyone.

The Sadducees, the Prison and the Angel of the Lord

Then the high priest rose up and all that were with him, that sounds like one accord, maybe not going in the right direction, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and they were filled with indignation, because it wasn’t done according to the Hebrew standards or the Jewish standards that they had at that time. It was done according to what Christ had done, and that’s what was happening. And they brought, and they laid their hands on the apostles and put them in a common prison. And but the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them forth and said, Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

So what was that like? So I think about this. And so Peter, you know, they, the angels bust them open, or bust the doors open. All right, Peter’s like, Okay, come on guys, let’s go. Yeah, we’re racing prison. Yeah. Thanks angel. High five. Great. Awesome. And then, yeah, go back and sneak the word in the temple. What? Wait, what? Isn’t that what got us in trouble in the first place? Um, okay. Well, let me throw this idea by you. Mr. Angel, you know, the guys never talk, and maybe what we ought to do is do a big fundraiser to generate awareness for Christ. We’ll have some celebrities. So why don’t we see if we could do that instead?

No, I’m being, I’m being silly. But you know, it probably was a human temptation to have some hesitation when they said that, but not with Peter. Again, I joke about that. But Peter did not have that. Peter was changed at the, on the day of Pentecost. He was changed because he got Christ in his heart.

And also two times in this section it mentions Lord. Lord is indicative of the relationship to God by way of what Jesus Christ did. So when it says multitudes were added to the Lord, it wasn’t just like, hey, they came to a meeting for a day, or they, you know, they sang hallelujah for a day or whatever it is. It means the word got in the heart and they had a relationship with God.

We Ought to Obey God Rather Than Men

So they did as the angel sends. Turn down to verse 28. They did as the angels directed. They went back in the temple and spoke to the people in the temple all the words of this life. For, and so here’s what happened later on in the record, verse 28, saying, and this is the Sadducees, got him back together again and captured him again and took him into custody, and said, Did not we straitly command you that you should not teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man’s blood upon our hands.

Then Peter. Peter was the leader, he spoke for disciples, but they were in alignment with them at this point. Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. That is like a lightning bolt in that situation, because he brought the word into that situation.

He didn’t answer their question. They said, Did not we command you? Well, you know, you said that, but he didn’t jerk around with that. What he would, he went right to the point, and he said, We ought to obey God rather than men. And you can say the same thing in a situation too, because you have the same spirit of God in you that Peter had, and you can lead and you can be a catalyst in that situation. He injected the word into that situation. People try to put you in a corner. You don’t have to be defined by what they say. You don’t have to answer their question or get into their box. Are you for this, you against this, you do them? It doesn’t matter, because our standard does not, nothing to do with what the world says to us, but what God says.

And the God says right here. We ought to obey God rather than men, and that’s a powerful thing. Skip down to verse 42. And, and, and daily in the temple and in every house, they means all the people in that group that were inspired by Peter and were around Peter and the other apostles, they ceased not to preach and to teach, or teach and to preach Jesus Christ. I’d say that’s a pretty good example of one accord, wouldn’t you? Peter led, man. Peter was that, he was the guide. So when Peter spoke with them, maybe he spoke the words, but they were all with him, but he led and God worked in him.

With One Mind and One Mouth We Glorify God

You know the verse, turn to Acts 8 by the way, please, says with one mouth, one mind and one mouth we glorify God, even as the father of our Lord Jesus Christ. One mind is your heart. One mouth is indicative of the actions, the walk, the words that you say. And these leaders were a mouthpiece to God. These leaders led and they were not afraid, and they had the courage and guts to stand for God.

Philip Preached Christ in Samaria

Philip. Acts 8 verse 4. Therefore they were scattered abroad and went everywhere preaching the word. Philip went down to Samaria and preached, what? Christ unto them. The resurrection and the ascension and the crucifixion, Jesus and Christ, what he did for us and where he is now and our heavenly position. That’s what he was teaching. Christ is everything, and that’s what brought people together in this situation in Samaria.

Not the name itself. It’s not just the word Christ, because if that’s, if that’s the case, you might as well say hocus-pocus. It’s the meaning and the depth, because where you understand that Christ died for you on the cross, where he gave up everything for you, he stood in your stead and paid the price for you and for me. He did it out of love and it was God’s will.

Verse 6, and that was, that was Paul, it was Philip’s purpose. Verse 6, and the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. Notice hearing is first before seeing, so they heard the word and then they saw great results afterwards. And, For unclean spirits, crying out with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them, and many taken with palsies and that were lame were healed.

Sin Keeps You Tethered to the Past, but It Is Finished

And it starts with the preaching of Christ in it, and this, that’s what tells us in the word. Sin often is the underlying issue with man. Sin a lot of times will keep you bound and tethered to things that you did in the past, when God forgave you in Christ. It’s done. When Jesus Christ said, It is finished, those are some powerful words, and you understand what they are. It means your war, your accomplishment, and he redeemed you at that time, because he fulfilled God’s will, the law of the Old Testament, and your sins are forgiven and God forgets about him.

Verse 8, and there was great joy in that city. That’s pretty cool, because they were drawn to the light.

Simon the Sorcerer and the People Who Take the Credit

So we’re gonna see some other detail about what was going on here too. Verse 9. But there was a certain man called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, bewitching the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one. Do you feel, do you, do you see people in the world today that claim they did this or they built this, or they’re going to the moon or wherever they’re going, or they’re, you know, people like to take a lot of credit for things that they did? Philip didn’t, but Simon did.

Bewitching the people of Samaria, giving out themself with some great one. Verse 10, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because long time he had bewitched them. With love and kindness and truth? Sorceries. He fooled these people, to tricking, so that they would give Simon the praise.

But when they, but when they believe Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the, what, name of Jesus Christ, and everything that it represents and the truth it means to you and to me, they were baptized both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also, and when he, when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

One Man on a Mission Turned a City Upside Down

That guy Philip went down to Samaria by himself, and if one man turned that city upside down. He didn’t have a title. Maybe he did, but it doesn’t mention that in the word. He was one man on a mission for God. Wherever you go, you can have that same mindset and that same heart, because he led, he was a catalyst in that situation, and he brought great joy in that city, that even, even Simon followed him. Even Simon who bewitched the city and had control over that city, even he believed, even he saw the truth of the word, because it’s light and light dispels darkness. And that’s what he brought in this situation. Light cuts through darkness, truth cuts through darkness.

And how was it done? Well, first he preached Christ, and then God inspired Philip in the situation about the specifics, the details, who to talk to, who to touch, where to go, you know, what to do. And if you’ve been a situation, situations like that where you’ve done things for God, God will show you. He will show you where to go.

Moses Carried God’s Words to the Children of Israel

Let’s go to Exodus chapter 19, please. Exodus 19. So all the things that Philip just did brought one accord in that city. The people were together. They didn’t follow Philip the man necessarily, but they were led to Christ. They were led to the word that set them free, the redemption that God put in Christ.

Moses. Exodus 19:3. And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called him out of the mountain, saying, Thou shalt, thou say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel, You’ve seen what I did to the, unto the Egyptians, how I bare you on eagles’ wings and brought you unto myself. Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then shall you be a peculiar people? Or a peculiar treasure unto me above all people, for all the earth is mine. And you shall be unto the kingdom of priests. You shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Now Israel hadn’t exactly had the best track record of following Moses or God. You know, they, they, they stumble that time. So I’m not being critical or making something like I’m better than they are. I’m just making a point that there was a lot of times they were challenged with doing the word. There’s a lot of times they, they went back doing other things that were not, that God didn’t want them to do. So this wasn’t like a slam dunk. It wasn’t like he was taking it to his all-star team and they’re gonna buy into it right away. It wasn’t that case at all.

Verse 7, and Moses came and called for the elders of people and laid before their faces all these words, all these words which the Lord commanded him. Verse 8, and all the people answered, what? That’s right, and said, All that the Lord has spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. They responded together.

Moses had the courage to bring these words to them and give God’s message to these people. He wanted a nation of priests. He wanted a nation that was going to be examined, an example to the entire world of what it was like with the goodness of God in situations. And it took Moses. Moses, it took guts for Moses to do this. It took courage. It took love and it took humility. All of you probably have had the same characteristics at different points in your life.

One Accord Is Not a Room or a Church, It Is Christ in Your Hearts

And but now we all have the Spirit of God. We can, we can be those catalysts in situations. You can lead others, and, and not that you get the glory, but you lead people to God. And today Christ is everything. So who do you want to follow? Who do you want to stand for? That’s a question you can ask yourself.

One accord isn’t being in the same room or the same church. It’s the word. It’s Christ in your hearts. It’s being unified on everything that God has done for you and me. It’s that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We all have the same measure. There’s nobody that has more and nobody has less. It’s the realization of the spiritual reality of power that is love and is light, are alive and real in a situation.

It’s not about quoting jargon. You know, we don’t walk around, go, Yeah, one accord, one accord, one accord. You know, or even, even saying Christ, you have to understand that the meaning by it, Jesus plus Christ. You have to understand the meaning behind that. It’s important that we get it in the depths of our hearts, and then you can share it with others. I do it all the time. I do it at business meetings, I do it in sales presentations, I do it all the time, and I just look for opportunities to bring it up, and it’s pretty exciting, and you can do the same.

It’s about adding your part and doing your part in that use, uniquely yours, in the body of Christ. Giving that part where you can help others in a unique way that’s unique to you, is to recognize Christ in others.

Jesus Christ was a tremendous example about bringing one accord. He was also a bit confrontational too. He also was, was perfect. But everything he did was to bring glory to God. Everything he did, every step he took, every breath he took magnified and glorified God. He was an incredible example for us. And I think it was said last night, a sinless man dying for us and all of our sins. That’s, that’s pretty amazing.

Three Records, Three Catalysts: Peter, Philip and Moses

So Peter. Peter healed many people, brought the sick near him so that his shadow could pass over them, and yet after being incarcerated they still spoke the words of life in the temple. And when confronted again, they didn’t do the fundraiser. They, he said, We ought to obey God rather than men. I just, I just think that’s so powerful. And then the end result together, they, the people, because of Peter’s lead, did not cease to preach Jesus Christ.

Philip, one guy, went down to Samaria and he preached Christ unto them. With one accord the people gave heed to the word he taught and seeing the miracles which he did.

Moses. Moses delivered some specific instruction for the children of Israel that was God’s will at their time. He brought it to them, and, and, and, and now he had to do with some, it was some conviction too. He didn’t go, hey, you know, you know, this is probably good idea here. You know this, this God’s burning bush, or God said this to me and call me up the mountain. He says, Do this thing. He said that with conviction. He said it like it was the word.

And when we declare the word to people, when you quote the word to people, it is the same as God saying it himself. Because God wrote his word. You know that God loves you because he says in the word. He doesn’t need to give you revelation or tell you specifically. He’s already told you in the word. He sent Jesus Christ for you personally, and you have the opportunity to live and to give this way personally.

So at the end, the end result of Moses sharing the word and carrying out what God said, is that the people with one accord, or the people said together, All that thou hast spoken we will do.

God Cares About the Spirit in You, Not What You Accomplish

So each of these records show one man as a leader and catalyst in a situation to bring God’s will into life, into a specific state, a specific situation. That’s how we live for him. You don’t need a title or position. God cares about the spirit in you. That’s what he looks at in you. He cares about your love and your humility, not what you accomplish or what you’ve done.

He gave you the perfect measure, and you have something perfect inside you. So when you go to Walmart or Home Depot or wherever you hang out, or Caddyshack, wherever you go, you have, you’re bringing something perfect into that environment, and you have the opportunity to live for him. So we don’t need a title or position. Why? Because each of us have that measure, and God can work in each one of you, just like he did with these people in this records and these records. So I love you. You’re the best.

Key Takeaways

• You don’t need a position or title to lead for God and to be a catalyst, because your value is never associated with a title or position, but what God has done for you in Christ.
• The gift of holy spirit is custom: if God can figure out how to give you two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and one mouth and fingernails, he could certainly figure out how to give you a custom holy spirit designed specifically for you.
• In Acts 5 the believers were with one accord because they were experiencing the oneness that they had in Christ, and Peter was the catalyst, the one leading the charge who had the guts to lead and to be the example.
• Confronted by the Sadducees, Peter did not answer their question or get into their box: he injected the word into the situation with We ought to obey God rather than men.
• Philip went down to Samaria by himself and one man turned that city upside down, first preaching Christ, then being inspired by God about the specifics, who to talk to, who to touch, where to go.
• One accord isn’t being in the same room or the same church. It’s the word, it’s Christ in your hearts, and it’s the realization that we all have the same measure, nobody with more and nobody with less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a title or position to lead others for God?

No. Todd Cencich says your value is never associated with a title or position, but what God has done for you in Christ. Titles are reflective of accomplishment, of things that you’ve done or a level that you have achieved. Every believer has the same spirit of God as Peter did, as Philip did, so you already have the full measure of what God gave you and you can be a catalyst in a situation wherever you go.

What does one accord actually mean?

One accord isn’t being in the same room or the same church. It’s the word. It’s Christ in your hearts. It’s being unified on everything that God has done for you and me. It’s that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We all have the same measure. There’s nobody that has more and nobody has less. In Acts 5 the believers were with one accord because they were experiencing the oneness that they had in Christ.

How were Peter, Philip and Moses each a catalyst for God’s will?

Peter led the way in Acts 5, and when the Sadducees confronted the apostles he answered, We ought to obey God rather than men, after which the people did not cease to preach Jesus Christ. Philip went down to Samaria by himself, preached Christ, and the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake. Moses brought God’s words to the elders, and all the people answered, All that the Lord has spoken we will do.

Scripture References

2 Corinthians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Ephesians 3:16; Acts 5:12; Acts 5:13; Acts 5:14; Acts 5:15; Acts 5:16; Acts 5:17; Acts 5:18; Acts 5:19; Acts 5:20; Acts 5:28; Acts 5:29; Acts 5:42; Romans 15:6; Acts 8:4; Acts 8:5; Acts 8:6; Acts 8:7; Acts 8:8; Acts 8:9; Acts 8:10; Acts 8:11; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:13; Exodus 19:3; Exodus 19:4; Exodus 19:5; Exodus 19:6; Exodus 19:7; Exodus 19:8

This text was prepared from the teaching audio. Please verify scripture references against your own Bible.