Church on Unity
Church. On Purpose! • Sermon • Submitted
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1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Introduction
Introduction
Herding cats.
What is in the way of unity?
What is in the way of unity?
There is often so much in the way of getting things accomplished. In our garage, if I go to do anything, I have to move what seems like a thousand bikes, boxes, toys and various sundry of items . . . They are all in the way of getting accomplished what I need to do. Last week I the privilege of changing the oil in the car. before I could, I had to pick up toys and move Rodney’s little tractor. When I finally was able to get all the stuff out of the way, I could quickly complete the task at hand.
If we are going to adequately do our purpose of Connecting people to God, Growing together in Christ and Serving all there are things we need to get out of the way. These may be things corporately but more often than not, these are things that must be cared for individually.
14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
We should eliminate doctrinal instability. Many times when we are unstable on what the Bible actually says, it is easy for someone with passions and craftiness to move us from the truth.
Eliminate spiritual immaturity, which leads to a proper love for each other, which is in direct opposition to division.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Rightly dividing the Word has, at its core, the ability to focus on the important thing and leave the other stuff behind.
2 tim 4:
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word of God is the source of all we do and say. We must not deviate from Word! Unity in the church, is found when we are all focused on the Word.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Avoid thinking in these fashions, they create division:
Vanity of Mind—is where we create ourselves to be something more in our mind than what we really are. This causes ignorance and blindness in your heart. The mind and hearts of these gentile people were overrun with filthiness in order to just get more.
The idea that each church member would desire more and more, means that they are so entrenched in selfishness that they cannot see nor care about the well being of anyone else in the ministry.
What is the way of unity?
What is the way of unity?
Learn Christ.
Learn Christ.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:
To know Him and be known by Him. It causes us to be a new man. To be converted, but also to have a daily desire to closer and closer to Christ, creates a unity that is unbreakable.
Put Off
Put Off
22 that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Put Away
Put Away
Eph
Eph 4:45
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph. 4:
Put this behaviour back in the drawer of, never to be reconsidered.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Put this behaviour back in the drawer of, never to be reconsidered.
Eliminate the holding places for the Devil
Eliminate the holding places for the Devil
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph. 4:26-
Listen to the Spirit of God
Listen to the Spirit of God
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 and be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Eph. 4:30-
Allow the spirit that seals you also convict you.
In being convicted take the bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour and evil speaking and put it away from you with all malice.
MALICE—desire to cause pain, injury or distress to another. It is the opposite of holding something in virtue.
On the contrary we are to be a people who are kind, tender hearted and forgiving. The qualifier here is, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What is in the way of your unity with Christ? Do you know Him as savior?
Christian, what is in the way of your unity with the church?
Christian are you on the road to unity with God’s people or are constantly distracted by that which the Lord asks us to avoid, put off or put away? Would you deal with that today?