The Bride of Christ & Koinonia Cohesion

Maintain Body Cohesiveness

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NLT) Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 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.

For the past several Sundays, both leading up to and since Pentecost Sunday we have continue to think about the active, participatory ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Bride of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the One who glues the Body of Christ together in Koinonia Cohesion.

He’s is the One who makes sure the Bride is ready for the wedding Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-10).

The Body, the Bride of Christ, we who deny ourselves, who take up OUR cross daily and strive to follow every moment of every day. in the footsteps of Jesus.

An absolutely critical sign of the fitness and readiness of the Bride is its unity.

And the Holy Spirit is the author of that unity.

The unity the Bridegroom desires of His Bride is impossible through any other means.

If you think about it, it is amazing how the Holy Spirit knits us together.

We come from many, many different backgrounds, cultures, experiences — and yet the Holy Spirit, responding to the prayer of the Bridegroom is able to take all that variety and make us one.

The Bridegroom, Jesus, when He was praying just before His crucifixion prayed:

John 17:19–23 (LSB) “[Father,] For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me. 22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Our readiness for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, our testimony before the world is conditioned on supernatural unity brought about through the Holy Spirit.

John 17 Vs.23: … that [the Bride] may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You, [Father] sent Me…

One with each other.

One with Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 (NLT) The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

To give us that Koinonia Cohesion, the Holy Spirit has given us Fruit and Gifts

Fruits and gifts that enable us to be that One Body, joined together by the One Spirit — the Holy Spirit.

There are so many ways the Fruit and the Gifts help us be One.

Bring Glory to Jesus

And as one, to be the one Bride that brings glory to Jesus, the Bridegroom.

John 16:13–15 (LSB) “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Once we repent of our sins and ask Jesus to be Lord of our life we are, as Jesus said in John 3, born again.

And if there is one thing that Born again people want to do, it is to bring glory to Jesus.

We love the One who died to give us salvation from our sins and eternal life.

We can’t say enough about Jesus.

We can’t thank Him enough.

We can’t praise Him enough.

16. So, the Holy Spirit, working through supernatural unity of the Bride brings Glory to Jesus

So unity in the Bride is absolutely essential.

And the Holy Spirit accomplishes that.

He does it in so many ways.

Fruit of the Spirit

As I mentioned last week, the Holy Spirit brings us together in unity by producing fruit in us.

In John 15, Jesus tells us that as we abide in Him, the Holy Spirit flows into us and spiritually nourishes us so that we will produce MUCH fruit.

And certainly, as we think about the fruit we can see how it is so important in allowing us to be together in unity.

The Holy Spirit, through the Fruit of the Spirit, imparts qualities thatt are critical for Koinonia Cohesion.

Most of us are familiar with

Galatians 5:22–26 (LSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control [self under the control of the Holy Spirit]. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.

Consider some other translations of this same passage to receive deeper insight:

Galatians 5:22–24 (MSG) But what happens when we live God’s way? He [the Holy Spirit] brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like

affection for others,

exuberance about life,

serenity.

We develop a willingness to stick with things,

a sense of compassion in the heart,

and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.

We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments,

23 not needing to force our way in life,

able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. 24 Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

And then consider The Passion Translation of Galatians 5:22–26 (TPT) But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is

divine love in all its varied expressions:

joy that overflows,

peace that subdues,

patience that endures,

kindness in action,

a life full of virtue,

faith that prevails,

gentleness of heart,

and strength of spirit.

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. 24 Keep in mind that we who belong to Jesus, the Anointed One, have already experienced crucifixion. For everything connected with our self-life was put to death on the cross and crucified with Messiah. 25 We must live in the Holy Spirit and follow after him. 26 So may we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original. We must forsake all jealousy that diminishes the value of others.

Thank God for the Holy Spirit who enables us to do what says:

Philippians 2:2–4 (NASB95) … being of the same mind [as Jesus], maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do[ing] nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard[ing] [others] as more important than ourselves; 4 … not merely looking out for our own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Yes, the Fruit of the Spirit stands in stark contrast to the works of the flesh listed just above the fruit in:

Galatians 5:16–21 (NASB95) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Do you hear it? The fleshly, carnal nature breeds:

Enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying

NONE of which leads to unity but rather to division.

The Fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us DOES lead to unity.

Gifts of the Spirit

Along with the Fruit of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit gives us gifts that will enable us to be One as Jesus prayed:

Ministry Gifts such as those listed in:

Romans 12:4–8 (LSB) For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another, 6 but having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: whether prophecy, in agreement with the faith; 7 or service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:5–8 (MSG) The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, 6 let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; 7 if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; 8 if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

These ministry gifts are critical to the functioning of the Body, the Bride of Christ.

Do we see how CRITICAL they are?

So that we are praying that the Holy Spirit will activate THESE gifts in the Bride?

In US?

Let me illustrate:

Warren Myers, in his book Pray: How to Be Effective in Prayer, tells of two remarkable people:

William Carey, missionary to India, and Carey’s bedridden, almost totally paralyzed sister.

William Carey accomplished a Bible translation work unequaled in missionary history and, as we saw in the previous chapter, he has been called “the father of modern missions.”

We don’t even know his sister’s name. She is mentioned only as Carey’s sister.

But while Carey labored in India translating and printing parts or all of the Bible into forty languages, his sister lay on her back in London and prayed hour after hour, month after month, for all the details, problems, and struggles of her brother’s work.

In telling this story of Carey and his sister, Myers asks, “To whose account will God credit the victories won through this remarkable man?” We all know that Carey’s sister shared in his ministry. In fact, she was a very vital part. Without her ministry of intercession on her brother’s behalf, the work would not have gone forward.

SO, THESE ministry gifts and many others not listed here, given by the Holy Spirit, are just as necessary as the Fruit or the better known gifts (especially amongst Pentecostals!) we see in 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12:4–12 (LSB) Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 And there are varieties of workings, but the same God who works everything in everyone. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for what is profitable. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to someone else faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to someone else various kinds of tongues, and to another the translation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Oh how we need the Fruit and Gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we can be One in Unity.

Bringing glory to Jesus.

Being a GODLY witness to a lost and dying world.

How the Glue Works

Again, the Holy Spirit is the glue who holds the Bride together in the ESSENTIAL quality of supernatural unity.

As we yield to the Holy Spirit operating in us, as individuals and as a Body, we see

(1) The grace (i.e., undeserved favor, love, help, spiritual enablement) and power of the Spirit among his people in their public gatherings, homes, families and individual lives

(2) The preaching of the good news about Jesus effective by confirming the message with supernatural signs and miracles (Mk 16:15–20; Ac 14:8–18; 16:16–18; 19:11–20; 28:1–10);

(3) Human needs met - people saved, healed, delivered, walking in victory

(4) The church and individual Christians strengthened and build up spiritually

developing in them that “love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” described in 1 Timothy 1:5.

(5) The Bride EFFECTIVELY waging spiritual war against Satan and the forces of evil (Isa 61:1; Ac 8:5–7; 26:18; Eph 6:11–12).

There is a REAL war raging — the eternal souls of our family, our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers hang in the balance

As the Bride goes forth in supernatural unity brought about by the Holy Spirit, we see the fulfillment of what we sang a couple of weeks ago:

Romans 16:19–20 (LSB)

… wise, excellent, skillful in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. …

Generous Use of the Gifts

So, what is the take away?

1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

As the worship team comes, could we please stand?

The Holy Spirit is binding the Bride of Christ together with Koinonia Cohesion.

So that we might be victorious.

That we might be like the Bridegroom described the Bride in

Song of Solomon 6:10 (LSB) … As majestic as an army with banners?’

Could we come together at the front of the sanctuary?

Could we pray together for the unity of the Holy Spirit?