Unity in the Spirit
Unity in the SPirit • Sermon • Submitted
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Handout
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
Introduction
Introduction
Open with prayer
Loving Father, we come to you this afternoon with rendered hearts and an open mind. Please I beseech you that we enter into your presence with peace and harmony as you teach us the truths of unity in the spirit. May you open up our hearts and our ears to your truth, and bring us to a place where we can surrender our lives for this purpose, to reconcile your Saints to yourself and bring us nearer to you. Please teach us to get along with one another, to love one another and most important to love you with greater depth, with great expectancy and to know your word intimately without fear, holding onto the promise that you will enable us to run the race and to finish it. May we work out our salvation with fear and trembling totally dedicated to the cause of the Cross that your Bride Jesus would function together as one body, breaking down the walls of denomination and differences that we have. May the city of Albury-Wodonga bow the knee and proclaim that Jesus is LORD. Bring us revival and repentance to our city like nothing we have seen before, not just being fishers of men but also to bring life to discipleship and Pastoral care. Jesus you told Peter 3 times like you tell us that we ought to feed the flock. May we remember to acknowledge you in all of our endeavors with all that we are to totally bring Christ into our culture and community.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
It is indeed pleasant when we dwell in unity. I am sure that the Saints before us would be horrified to see the rebellion in the church regarding walls we have put up in the Church body today regarding doctrinal differences and denominations.
We need to know that Jesus is bringing forth His perfect Bride in the Earth today. How Jesus longs for intimacy with His Bride. We lift up your name Jesus and glorify your name. May we be peace makers, holding onto your WORD, that you have written through your servants. We know that you learnt obedience by the things that you suffered. Thank you that you became part of your own creation to show us how to live and to demonstrate your Kingship and authority over sickness and disease, ultimately authorizing your ministry by the thrust of your resurrection. You have done everything you need to do to bring us unto yourself. We lift our families and community to you that you would indeed bring them unto yourselves. We cannot do this in the flesh but if you give us the opportunity we will gratefully share your gospel with the lost, saving people from a multitude of sin, we will do your bidding and bring in the fish.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XII Unity in Christ (No. 668)
John 17:20, 21.
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XII Unity in Christ (No. 668)
John 17:20, 21.
The Father is in Christ and Christ is in us through His Helper and personage of the Holy Ghost. It is true that we need to be one with Christ and that we believe in the written WORD of God in all it says to us as believers. Without the scriptures and the Inerrant written word, we would lack depth and live our own way. However, the morality and ethics of a Christian life is laid up before us. We will have no excuse on the day of judgement. Jesus has done what He needs to do now it is up to us to respond by propelling the good news to everyone that the LORD leads us to, breaking down strongholds, healing the sick, casting out devils and demonstrating the power and authority of God. The simple truth is we need each other. Fellowship is vital to hear from God through His Holy Spirit in that we prophesy and assist each other through the Holy Spirit that lives in us.
John 17:20-21
John 17:20-21
Oneness
(NLT)
Oneness
Oneness
I and the Father are one.”
The Father
30 The Father and I are one.”
(NLT)
30 The Father and I are one.”
The Father
The Father
30 The Father and I are one.”
I and the Father are one.”
God demonstrates His unity in the Godhead between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If God can do it and we are in Christ, how much more unified should we be? This is one of the great mysteries that God is a trilogy of three in one. The Holy Ghost came to bring us into oneness with Himself and with others. We need to work with each other, build each other up to listen and minister to one another using His gifts. There is no mistake that Faith, Hope and Love are epitomized by love and the most important of these qualities is love. Without love we are just noise like a loud gong. Love is patient and kind, not rude, willing to yield to our fellowship. When reviled the Holy Spirit does not revile back. He is a gentle Spirit and desires unity and obedience. We cannot do things our own way any more, Jesus has bought us in Christ at a great price and ownership belongs to Him. By responding to the gospel, we are yielding ourselves to God’s will, bringing resurrected life, one that adheres to the cause of Christ.
Christ with Christians
Christ with Christians
For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
Fellowship is precious to God. Sanctification erodes the flesh and brings us greater into Union with Christ. Through fellowship, we have the ability to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us through other people. By working with each other, we develop in our gifting and learn what function we have in the body. Christians need to stir up the gift in them to edify and develop people, equipping the Saints for the work of ministry. Jesus is not ashamed of us and He calls us brothers and sisters. We all have the one source and that is Christ, incarnate, the author of eternal life. Praise be to God who has set up His Church for the body, His bride. May we await for that great day when He comes to collect His Bride. May we all be alert and ready for that moment when the Saints will be raised and the true Sons of God will be identified.
(NLT)
Baptism
Baptism
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
(NLT)
This union between Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, rich and poor is amazing - we are all one in Christ Jesus. This is one of the great mysteries that Christ has revealed to His Saints. This Union through baptism, allows us to drink from the source of eternal life, through the Spirit of God. In the Old Covenant, God chose a special people, the Jews. However, through God’s redemptive plan, the life of God has become eternally available to every person in all cultures and stages of history. What a God we serve that gives life and life abundantly, who sets captivity to freedom and liberty, that brings joy to His Saints through the biggest event of history in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Union
Union
“Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, then say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
“My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes.
(NLT)
Believer’s Bible Commentary F. The Reunification of Israel and Judah (37:15–28)
Ezekiel was next commanded to take two sticks, one representing Judah and the other Israel (Joseph or Ephraim). By holding them end to end, he joined them … into one stick. This meant that the two kingdoms, torn apart in the days of Rehoboam, would be reunited. One king (the Messiah) would reign over them, and they would be saved, cleansed, and restored.
16 “Son of man, take a piece of wood and carve on it these words: ‘This represents Judah and its allied tribes.’ Then take another piece and carve these words on it: ‘This represents Ephraim and the northern tribes of Israel.’ 17 Now hold them together in your hand as if they were one piece of wood. 18 When your people ask you what your actions mean, 19 say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take Ephraim and the northern tribes and join them to Judah. I will make them one piece of wood in my hand.’
Believer’s Bible Commentary F. The Reunification of Israel and Judah (37:15–28)
David (here the Lord Jesus) would be the king, and the people would obey Him implicitly. God would make an everlasting covenant … of peace with them, and the temple would be set in their midst. This is still future.
This is a classic demonstration of bringing unity where there was once disunity. Jesus wants this for His Church. That the Church will become one - all denominations with people from distinct variations in character, under the one umbrella, worshiping the one true God in all three essences - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus will reign in His Church that He is coming for, therefore they will have the one true Shepherd. Kingdom people will obey all of Christ’s instruction on how to live, honoring their King forever and forever under the banner of Jehovah.
20 “Then hold out the pieces of wood you have inscribed, so the people can see them. 21 And give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered. 22 I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms. 23 They will never again pollute themselves with their idols and vile images and rebellion, for I will save them from their sinful apostasy. I will cleanse them. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.
Headship
Headship
24 “My servant David will be their king, and they will have only one shepherd. They will obey my regulations and be careful to keep my decrees.
And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.
(NLT)
Jesus always will go after the lost sheep.
23 And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them.
Faith
Faith
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
(NLT)
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we lived like their was only one Father and one Lord, treating each other, despite our differences, with diligence and respect.
This is clear - there can only be one body, there is only one God and this God can only be accessed through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father. He is the way the truth and the life. How glorious our day will be when we unite with the true sons and daughters in the heavenly kingdom. We await the revelation of the true Saints of God. For those who are led by God’s Spirit are indeed Children of God. Everything else will be as chaff and rubbish, counting for nothing. We ought to continue to set our hearts in Heaven, earning our treasure there, not for the here and now.
4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
Mind
Mind
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
(NLT)
Heart
Heart
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
We need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We need to have a healthy fear of the LORD. Regardless of what we go through, if we stand firm in one spirit, having the mind of Christ to strive side by side for the cause of the gospel our LORD Jesus Christ has given for us, we will reap treasure in Heaven and look forward to His glorious appearing to take us home in the twinkle of an eye. We are assured that He will appear like a thief in the night so how much more we need to prepare for the 2nd Advent of Christ where there will be no more tears no more pain and we will be in our glorified state. How glorious that day will be.
Heart
Heart
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
In ACTS, believers acted in one accord, giving everything they had to look after all believers and to propel the message of the gospel. Everything they had collectively were shared by the group. Isn’t it great to be able to share and be generous to those that do not have what we do. The LORD loves a cheerful giver and delights in a good steward of wealth.
Unity of Believers
Unity of Believers
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
(NLT)
Nelson’s Topical Bible Index Unity of Believers
1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 1 Cor. 6:19
Nelson’s Topical Bible Index Unity of Believers
1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 1 Cor. 6:19
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
(NLT)
16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
(NLT)
17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
(NLT)
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,
Faith
Faith
This confirms the unity of the Spirit. We are a container for God’s precious Holy Spirit and this makes us heirs of the Kingdom of God and the Bible actually says that we are Royalty! Vengeance is the LORDS and if anyone does you harm, they are doing it unto the LORD. That is why we are to rejoice when we go through unfavorable trials because it is GOD who is at work. When people persecute us or martyr us, they are entering into very dangerous grounds. They did not reject us, they reject Christ in us. We have been brought at a very high price so therefore God owns us and confides in us. We are ambassadors of Christ. Let us rejoice that we are counted worthy to partake of Kingdom principles and authority, having full charge of destroying the work of the enemy who comes to kill, steal and destroy.
Fellowship
Fellowship
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Fellowship
Fellowship
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
We are in a community of believers. We have communion together, we demonstrate the power and authority of God in each believer. Has God changed? Can God still heal? You bet He can and we will see devils cast out, laying on of hands to heal the Saints and we will experience great exploits for GOD. Each week, we have an opportunity to reel more people into our community of believers. The message is to repent, be baptized and proclaim the gospel. What a wonderful privilege to be counted worthy to be in Christ, to be a witness and to laugh at the World with all its schemes, making a public spectacle of the devil and his demons. Revival is coming!
Concern
Concern
that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
(NLT)
Nelson’s Topical Bible Index Unity of Believers
1 Cor. 12:25, 26
25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.
(NLT)
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
Physical Differences
Physical Differences
Physical Differences
Physical Differences
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
God loves man and women equal. Men need to love their wife as Christ loves the Church, with both husband and wife yielding to Christ in their marriage. It is so important, in the act of being unified in marriage, that both men and women be respectful of each other and pure in their motives. God loves a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious to God. We have two ears and one mouth so why not behave as such and create the art of listening. It is written that wives be respectful to their husbands and husbands need to love their wife like Christ loves the Church. Differences can be amended as surely we are Kings and Priests under God, with His wisdom is at our disposal.
Social Differences
Social Differences
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
We are bond-servants or slaves of Christ and this can apply to being servants or employees. We need to be sincere, no matter what we do. We are not to be men pleases but we do conduct ourselves in the realm of Christ’s Kingdom as His advocates and workers, performing service unto the LORD whether slave or free. When we are threatened or provoked, we must not revile back and certainly we are to be with no partiality.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Our bosses are masters in the flesh only in the work they provide but they do not dictate in spiritual matters. We should avoid offending people and most of all GOD. We should work every hour unto the LORD and earn every hour of our pay, with a healthy mind that God is watching over us and we should work out our walk with the fear of the LORD at hand.
Mental Differences
Mental Differences
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Many of Christ’s Apostles were not of the academic sort, especially when you consider worldly standards. However in God’s Kingdom, things are often upside down. People in great authority are often Christless in their living standards. Do we really want to be Chief Executive Officers or political leaders? Imagine the stress and the long hours and responsibility. That is not to say that such people are Christ-less but we are not to envy Worldly leadership as often God uses the weak to to shame the wise and the strong. At the end of the day no-one can boast in themselves in the presence of God.
Let us pray
Let us pray
Loving Father and King of all, we beseech you to promote unity in your Holy Spirit. We have explored many themes this evening and I pray that this word will equip us in the many facets of Christ’s Kingdom that brings us together and not what drives us apart. We thank you that your Kingdom has room for even the most vehement sinner and we do not need to envy or to boast in ourselves. For it is your riches that you distribute to all your Saints and we are one in Christ Jesus, the one who rules Heaven’s estate. We need to strive to be peace makers and get along in this World, understanding that we are all part of your Heavenly Royal priesthood and we have a King that we can confide in whenever conflict may come. Besides, you have suffered the most atrocious death on the Cross and you came to give direction to your Saints so that we may too walk in your Heavenly light, shining a path to those who are lost, to destroy Satan’s schemes of gravitating us to the World on the wide highway to Hell. May we cherish you in all your fullness, together with fellowship in the unity of the Spirit of Christ who is our helper and the lover of our soul. In this we pray that we walk in liberty in that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us now and forever more. AMEN!