Pastor David Cooper

Jesus said, “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand” (Matt 12:26). A nation divided cannot stand. A heart divided cannot stand. A marriage divided cannot stand. A home divided cannot stand. A church divided cannot stand. When we as the church of the living God stand together in the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace then the very gates of hell cannot prevail against us!

Our unity is based on one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. In this first sermon of the series ONE: Discover the Power of Unity, Dr. Cooper explores the priority of unity taught in the Bible and encourages us to ask the Lord to lead us in a greater sense of unity in our marriages, our relationships, in ministry and most importantly in our relationship to the Lord.

We may be disappointed, discouraged and depressed about things we’ve done or failed to do. Or, we may be carrying baggage because of what others have done. We need to leave it in last year! If God can create a new heaven and a new earth he can do a new work in us. There is nothing or no one who is beyond redemption, repair, restoration, recovery, reformation for with God all things are possible.

Who is Jesus Christ? Isaiah tells us he is wonderful! The names are titles of great honor that tell us how wonderful he is. The word wonderful in this passage literally means “incomprehensible.” The Messiah will cause us to be “full of wonder.”

Who is Jesus? What makes him unique? Why is he so special? Why should I believe in him and follow him as Lord of my life? Isaiah tells us of the Messiah that to us a child is born, a son is given. Jesus is the son of God. Jesus is God’s gift to us. He gave himself for us (Gal 2:20). Salvation is a gift that we receive (Eph 2:8-9).

In this inspiring message, Dr. Cooper answers these questions and shares with us the good news of Jesus Christ.

A child is a sign of hope, the beginning of new life, the start of a new generation and the promise that our legacy lives on. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the hope that came to the world through the birth of a child – the greatest child to have ever been born – Jesus.

Into that world came the promise of hope – “for to us a child is born.” And what is that light that dispels our moral and spiritual darkness? “For to us a child is born.”

One of the most important principles for living a full life is living in the moment. Some of us live in the future with our plans and anxieties. Others of us live in the past with memories, traditions or even regrets. The psalmist had the right attitude toward life when he says this is the day! He embraces today with faith, hope and love. He lives the day with gratitude and praise. How can we live fully in the moment?

The apostle Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Rom 1:16).

The word gospel means good news! The gospel teaches us how to live the good life. The way of Jesus Christ is the more excellent way to live. The fruit of the gospel is new life for those who believe it. What a privilege it is for us to be able to share the good news of Jesus with others so they too can live the good life!

Life is often measured by our achievements. Major achievements are like milestones that tell the story of our lives. The difference between fulfillment and frustration is often whether or not we achieve what we set to achieve. After all success is simply reaching our goals. How do we set and reach our goals?

Let's learn an important principle taught in Scripture. Moses instructed the people of Israel as they prepared to possess the Promised Land: “The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you” (Deut 7:22).

You can accomplish your goals little by little. If you try to do too much too fast you will create other problems, disrupt your life and quit. But you can do it little by little.

The most destructive negative emotion we feel is hopelessness. When you are facing challenges in life you need to keep hope alive. That’s what Abraham did: “Against all hope Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations.” We too become what we hope for and what we believe because with our God all things are possible!