CHAPTER 18: THE POWER OF TWO 2025

The reason we all start out as lone wolves is pretty simple. Nobody else can do the job. And when I try and give others the opportunity they fail and get mad at me. An entrepreneur learns rather quickly that God has given to you a special something that nobody else seems to be able to do. Then, that same entrepreneur learns that others are jealous and hope for failure. Very few, if any, including family, are happy, supportive or hopeful for the success of a new company owner, existing or seasoned. Today’s lesson is the power of two. I noticed a long time ago that walking the road with a like minded God fearing individual is not only good, but powerful. I’m not talking about a partnership in business necessarily although it could be. I’m simply highlighting a single fellowship on the hunt. Someone, maybe even for a moment, to converse with regarding current events and God. A true believer walking the path, like I said, even for a few minutes or if, God willing, more time. Over the years I see many partnerships that don’t work and cause great agony in business and personally. Inexperience chooses incorrectly, both in business and unfortunately in marriages as well. Thusly, it’s easy to understand “the lone wolf syndrome.” However, set that to the side. Deciding to walk alone is dangerous. Walking with the wrong people is dangerous.

Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character. ‘”

The world can be a difficult place. Isaiah 8:22 says, “Look to the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, and the gloom of anguish.” We understand that. On a more personal level, Solomon, writing in Ecclesiastes chapter 2 said, “I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind. Because all of a man’s days his task is painful and grievous; even at night, his mind does not rest.” “Now that’s a man with no media.” That’s a man just saying, “Life is vain just in my own circle of experience.” Jesus said in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation, you’ll have trouble.” The word in the Greek is actually “pressure.”  The Bible, however, always tells us this, that God is in the trouble, God is in the trouble. He’s not just looking at the trouble, He’s not just allowing the trouble, He is in the trouble.

This chapter is about strength when trouble comes and it will come. We have discussed in the previous chapter of back-up systems against complacency and today, we talk about fighting the fight against dumb, stupid, ridiculous, anti-intelligent behavior.

It’s impossible to have meaning conversation, personal conversation, awkward conversation, vulnerable conversation with more than one person. Two people is the key here. Two people who want desperately to understand and do the will of God. We know bad company is not good. Why not have God as the other one of two? Good question. Here’s the answer and it’s a sobering one for sure. With God as one of my two, I’ll easily make up my own God to co-sign my stupid decisions, and the devil will gladly help me.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 New American Standard Bible
14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

I need a person. Sometimes just a conversation after church, or with a trusted friend in Christ. In a marriage, the power of two is very real, with God, of course. To add God is to invite the Divine into all of everything.

Matthew 18:20 New International Version (NIV)
20 For where two or three gather in my name, there Am I with them.”

There’s also other power of two things in the world. Gun powder and fire, chocolate and milk, air and water, politics and money, greed and satan. It’s evident that the power of two can be very good or not very good. A horse and buggy, good idea. A gun and a robber, not a good idea. The power of two is the study for this morning, remembering that my relationships need to be based in God and I shouldn’t be alone, out in this twisted world. However I know why sometimes I choose to be alone because it seems like there’s no one to trust, I’m not safe anywhere. I get that. So I pray for correct people in my life, correct conversations, guided by the Holy Spirit. Hard to do. This adulterous world is filled with terrible things, fraud, murder, theft and incompetence. Even people I trust let me down, hurt me, discredit me.., it’s painful, scornful, dismissive, just plain awful. I take a break, get some distance, remember the Spirit and the mission. Re-group, try again.

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

 

1 Corinthians 3:23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

There is power in two of things. Two horses, two dogs, both are better than one. Two rockets, or two rifles, well, two rockets is more fire power than two rifles. I had to get it in my head a long time ago that God is the quintessential power of two, not one of the two, but the actual high octane fuel behind the two, not actually one of the two, but the engine of two. Without God the power of two is not good power. Without God it is petty, dangerous and the mother of sin and debauchery. Fellowship is only blessed in authentic. Again, hard to find. Always look for it, anyway. Good conversation is very helpful with two people. More than two people discussions can easily become confusing, confounding, argumentative and generally unfruitful. In fellowship of two true Believers in God and wrapped in the Spirit of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, something wonderful, not of this earth, will happen. It is not only possible but absolute. The spiritual battle that the Bible talks about is a fight for your soul, won and lost in your mind. So God invented “fellowship” to help clarify God’s position. I can’t understand God if I can’t talk to a person about it, a teacher, a true ally, friend, trusted. Talking with the Lord about His word requires practice and training.

Acts 8:26-40 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”

Know the difference between a Philip and a fraud.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

I realized that I needed to pray about my challenges, my thoughts my actions, especially my actions, before I did them. Discernment is the prayer; asking The Holy Spirit to bring people into my life that are relevant in Christ, adding additional testimony and gospel, Godly experience. Someone, who quite frankly, will set me straight, keep me safe and in order so that I may truly be able to lead, teach and inspire as God set forth in my career. To remind me, that there is a God and I’m not Him. I must believe God is on the throne.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Two cops are better than one, but not if one is drunk. Two Believers are better than one, but not if one doesn’t go to church anymore. Two scientists are better than one, but not if one doesn’t believe in God. Adding God — the power of God — against chaos, death and destruction, is the only Hope for me. Fellowship, the power of two, found only in strong believers.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Who is the third strand? God, of course. The quintessential, unbeatable element, wrapped around two, in the wisdom, knowledge, grace and mercy of the Almighty. God, the invisible power of two, when coming against spiritual warfare, physical warfare, mental, financial, emotional and He is the full armor of God against temptation and confrontation in the plans of a sinful nature and the war against the flesh. Know the time to resist the enemy and the world, and do not go it alone.

Proverbs 20:18 Plans are established by counsel;
By wise counsel wage war.

War? Yes, war against yourself and the devil who will surely destroy all of us given the opportunity, by my own free-will. Two authentic believers are strong in spiritual warfare to guard against my will when it is not God’s will. What is spiritual warfare?

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

War, an undeniable, unquenchable, unbelievable and unbeatable without severe spiritual preparation and strength.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.

“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.
Helen Keller”

“Common sense is not so common and stupid is very expensive.”

Counsel with the right people so the Lord can use you. Trust in God and he will prepare you. In the following passage there are two, walking along the road to Emmaus after the death of Jesus. They are discussing the unfortunate end of Christ on the cross. Their spirits are low and disappointed. Christ, suddenly is there, a perfect example of the power of two and cord of three strands, the spiritual nature of God.

Luke 24:13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem.  14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked.“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? ”Verse 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

Luke 24:31 (con’t) 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying,
“It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Two men, struck by the Lord, witnessed the Risen King. We start out as lone wolves, understandable. The world hurts us for what we do, how hard we try, how much we sacrifice. Even in our selfish nature we are trying to be better and we get batted down. When we do well, we are ostracized. When we fail, there is no support and when we help, there is little or no gratitude, whatever is given is expected. I understand, I get it, I see it, I live it and that doesn’t change the power of two. It makes it even more important.

Pray, pray, pray for the correct alliance to be brought into your life at exactly the time you need it. Pray your eyes are open to see such a person.

Isaiah 53:7-8
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
He was taken from [a]prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

Jesus, the original lone wolf. He is God and it was hard on the cross, still hard for Him today. I wouldn’t try Lone Wolf without Him and good fellowship. Chapter 18, The Power of Two 2025.

Amen