THE POWER OF UNITY

Scottie Sellers

Jefferson Church of God

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THE POWER OF UNITY

Genesis 11:5–6 KJV 1900

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Unity is something that you know when it’s present...and you know when it’s absent.

2. When there is unity...everything runs smoothly & more gets accomplished...but when there is division & lack of unity...all you have is chaos & confusion.

3. In , we have the story of the Tower of Babel...

God had commanded Noah & his sons to disperse & repopulate the earth...but rather than be obedient to God, they decided to settle down & build themselves a city...and build a tower that would reach into the heavens.

4. In the two verses we read, God says they would have accomplished what they set out to do b/c they were one people & had the same language.

NLT says the people were “united”

NLT said they were “united...”

Even though they were being disobedient & rebellious to God...these verses demonstrate the power of unity.

These verses tell us that we can accomplish much more when we work together...rather than we’re divided.

5. So this morning, I want to share with you several thoughts about unity.

1) THE BLESSINGS OF UNITY ()

Psalm 133 NKJV

A Song of Ascents. Of David. 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

A. UNITY ATTRACTS GOD’S FAVOR & ANOINTING (GETS GOD’S ATTENTION)

1. There are several blessings/benefits to having unity.

A. UNITY ATTRACTS GOD’S FAVOR & ANOINTING

(GETS GOD’S ATTENTION)

tells us that unity is like the anointing oil that runs down the beard of Aaron.

Oil is symbolic of the HS.

I believe where there is unity…the presence/power of the HS will be present & operating.

It also says that God commands His blessing where there is unity.

Think about this - the HS came down on the day of Pentecost when the believers were in one mind & accord.

Acts 2:1–4 KJV 1900

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

In our passage, while they were building the Tower of Babel…God came down to see what they were doing.

Acts 2”1-4

NOTE: If we want God to empower us & bless us…there has to be unity in the church.

God can’t bless & favor division.

God isn’t attracted to disunity when He is a God of unity.

There is unity in the godhead...and He expects there to be unity among His people.

In , Jesus prayed that His people would experience unity.

John 17:20–23 NKJV

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

John 17:

It also says that God commands His blessing where there is unity.

God will place His favor on a church when there is unity.

He will open doors & opportunities for a church that walks in unity.

B. UNITY LEADS TO GREATER PRODUCTIVITY

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 KJV 1900

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

) (V 9)

Ecclesiastes 4:9 KJV 1900

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

More can be accomplished when we work together than working separately.

When Jesus sent out the disciples, He sent them out two by two.

Why - I believe it’s b/c there is strength in numbers...2 is better than 1...3 is better 2…and so on.

Leviticus 26:7–8 KJV 1900

7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

Lev. 26:7-8

NOTE: We can achieve more together than we can separately.

The people working together at the Tower of Babel would have accomplished their task had God not intervened...that’s the power of unity.

C. UNITY LEADS TO SUSTAINABILITY

Matthew 12:25–26 KJV 1900

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

)

A house divided cannot stand...it cannot last.

The same is true for a church.

If a church is divided it will not accomplish what it’s supposed to accomplish…It will not be everything that God wants it to be.

A church that is divided will eventually implode from within...It will destroy itself.

NOTE: If we are to last & be sustainable…there must be unity.

And if you’re thinking - Jesus said He would build His church & the gates of hell wouldn’t prevail against it…that’s correct - He said that.

But it’s His church that He’s building…not OUR church.

His church will have unity…not division.

His church will have order…not chaos & confusion.

2) THE HINDRANCES TO UNITY

A. UNFORGIVENESS

The unwillingness to forgive someone who has wronged you hinders unity.

And many times those that have wronged you may not have realized that they even hurt you

B. BITTERNESS

Unforgiveness turns to bitterness & resentment.

When we fail to forgive others, we hold on to our hurts…and we hold grudges against those that hurt us…and perhaps even have anger towards them.

C. JEALOUSY

1 Corinthians 3:1–4 HCSB

1 Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, 3 because you are still fleshly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers? 4 For whenever someone says, “I’m with Paul,” and another, “I’m with Apollos,” are you not unspiritual people?

When we are jealous of others & what God does in their lives…and how God uses them…it creates division rather unity.

They were full of jealousy, envy, & strife…and it had divided them.

When we covet other people’s gifts rather than celebrate their gifts…there will always be division.

But let me say this - instead of being envious of someone else’s gift…discover your gift & use your gift.

Some were saying they were with Paul…others were saying they were with Apollos.

NOTE: God has a purpose for everyone in the church…and everyone is needed in the church.

D. SELF-FOCUS/SELF-ABSORPTION

Philippians 2:3–4 NKJV

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

)

When you believe in Jesus you become a part of God’s family…therefore, you have to lose the “me” mentality.

It’s no longer just about you…but when we focus only on ourselves, there will be a lack of unity.

When the focus is on “me, myself, & I” unity will be missing in the church.

Paul says, don’t just look out for your own interests…but look out for the interests of others as well.

Consider others as more important than yourself.

Think about this - If everyone took care of the needs of someone else…everyone’s needs would be met.

But if we come to church thinking - “what can the church do for me” - no one gets helped…and the unity of the church will never be developed.

3) KEYS TO RESTORING UNITY

1. Having unity is all about

A. PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER

It’s difficult to be mad, angry, & hold grudges with others when you’re praying for them.

Prayer changes things but most of all it changes us.

B. LOVING ONE ANOTHER

The world will know that we belong to JC when we love one another.

True love for one another will lead to real unity...and it takes the HS to produce real love.

Love is a work of the HS...It is a fruit of the Spirit.

Love should flow from our lives naturally as believers...and if we find that we aren’t that loving - then maybe we need to examine our lives to see if have really been saved.

We may not always love perfectly but if we’re more hateful than loving...there’s a problem in our heart.

1 Corinthians 13:1–7 NLT

1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

:1-

C. LETTING GO OF THE PAST

Philippians 3:13 KJV 1900

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

This may be one of the hardest things to do but letting go of what is behind us will go a long way in helping us to build unity.

Too many people can’t move on b/c they are stuck in the past.

Whether it’s reliving the good times of the past...or reopening the wounds of the past...the past keeps a lot of people & a lot of churches stuck.

But the past is over - We can’t change it...We can’t relive it.

We can learn from it...but we can’t let it hold us hostage.

We can’t let it divide us.

We have to let go of the past so that we can move forward.

D. BEARING ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS

Galatians 6:2 KJV 1900

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

This should be a place where we lift one another up & help each other through life.

The church should be a place where we lift one another up & help each other through life.

We are to rejoice with those who rejoice...and weep with those who weep.

NOTE: We aren’t in this Christian life alone.

No one here today should feel like they have to face what they are going through by themselves.

The family of God should be a support system for each other.

We should encourage one another...and we should be able to share what is going on in our lives w/o fear of judgment.

Our brothers & sisters in Christ should be able to count on us.

CONCLUSION:

Several centuries ago, ancient China wanted to secure its borders from its northern invaders.

So, they built the Great Wall of China to protect the border...The massive wall stretched for 1,500 miles...It was 12 to 40 feet wide and 20 to 50 feet high.

The wall was too high for the enemy to scale, too thick to tear down, and too long to go around...They also posted soldiers at different places.

They also posted soldiers at different places. It was built wide enough on the top for chariots to patrol. If they heard of an attack at distant location, they could easily get to it. They were up high giving them a superior advantage over their enemies. They knew that they had protected their borders sufficiently against all enemies.

It was built wide enough on the top for chariots to patrol. If they heard of an attack at distant location, they could easily get to it. They were up high giving them a superior advantage over their enemies. They knew that they had protected their borders sufficiently against all enemies.

But, in the first 100 years of the Great Wall of China, the nation was invaded three times.

How? An enemy bribed the gatekeepers and entered into the land undetected.

1. When we diminish the importance of unity in the body of Christ, we risk being invaded by the enemy.

2. God has called us to divine fellowship…and that fellowship is one of the most powerful tools of witness to a lost and dying world.

If we don't protect it, strive for it, and do everything we can to promote it, we open the gate to the enemy.

The enemy will attack & cause ineffectiveness and destruction.

NOTE: Everyone has a part to play in promoting & protecting the unity of the church.

It takes the effort of everyone.

So, today it is my prayer & desire that God would make us one…

It is my prayer that any issues we may have with one another would be dealt with & laid aside that we might go forward & do all that God has called us to do.