Walking in Unity
Notes
Transcript
Prayer
You know what I miss? I miss the America of almost 23 years ago. I know today is only the 28th of July and we are still a month and a half from 9-11 but I’ve been thinking this week about how divided our nation truly is and it breaks my heart.
Because the America of 23 years ago, was different. I remember it so clearly. We were a nation that was proud to be American. And a lot of it was reflected in our music, which ranged from Toby Keith’s Angry American to Alan Jackson’s “Where were You When the World Stopped Turning”
Lyrics
Where were you when the world stopped turnin'
That September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or workin' on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
Did you weep for the children, they lost their dear loved ones
Pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white, and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I'm not sure I can tell you
The diff'rence in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
It makes me emotional thinking back on that time. Reflecting upon where we were, what we were doing and how united we were…WHAT HAPPENED?
But there was a reason we were United. There was something bigger that we all could focus on than ourselves and our differences. We were united because we had all been through the same tragedy, and we had a love for our neighbor and our fellow countrymen.
But as upset I am about the state of our nation today and how divided we are, what bothers me more is how divided the church is.
If there were any banner to be able to unite under it is the banner of Christ. And I hear more and more followers of Christ today that are willing to bash other believers, because of something that they said, something that they did, or someone else that they follow.
There is division and unrest within the church and though I know that God isn’t surprised by it, it makes me wonder if it breaks his heart.
Because we are supposed to be known by our love for one another. Jesus said it on the night he was betrayed. On the night he sat down with his followers to share in the last supper and on the same night that he was arrested…
John 13:34-35, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
So hopefully you’ve been able to turn to Ephesians 4 today. Because I believe the Lord has a word for us in this chapter for us today.
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us, but the greatest is love.
Today we are looking at 3 gifts of the Spirit that endure forever. Faith Hope and Love…
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Faith- Ephesians 4:1
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
God has called us into a living faith.
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
It reminds me of a song “Glorious Day”..
Then You called my name, and I ran out of that grave, out of the darkeness, into your glorious day.”
Because we have been called into faith, let us now live a life that is worthy of that calling.
Lead a life worth of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Our faith is not in ourselves or our own righteousness, but in Jesus and His righteousness
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Our Faith has One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
Faith is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. It is action behind belief. It is substantive. It is made of something. substance of things hoped for and the evidence of what we cannot see. Though we cannot see God, we believe and we act on that belief. We take steps of faith, like getting baptized, or serving in a ministry, or starting a ministry. Or teaching a bible study, or talking about your relationship with Jesus with someone.
Faith is a beautiful gift from the father and it comes from his Spirit.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Hope- Ephesians 4:4
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
This life: Romans 5:3-5
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
The life to come: Future glory…looking unto heaven.
Our Hope of Heaven:
Heaven as Our Eternal Home
John 14:2
In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God."
The Beauty and Perfection of Heaven
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Revelation 21:21
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
The Joy and Celebration in Heaven
Luke 15:10
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Revelation 19:6-7
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready."
Revelation 7:9-10
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Psalm 84:10
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Hebrews 12:22-23
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.
The Worship in Heaven
Revelation 4:8-11
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 5:11-13
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"
Revelation 7:11-12
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
Love- Ephesians 4:2-3
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Bond of peace-
This is how they will know you are my disciples. By your love for one another.
This is my opinion…you must study this for yourself and we can have a difference of opinion but this all makes me wonder. As divided as we are…how are we ever as a church going to be that glorious, spotless bride that Jesus is coming back for?
Revelation 19:6-7
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready."
Jesus is coming and when he comes he asked us to be ready. To have our wicks trimmed and our lamps filled with oil. He is coming back for his bride, but a bride that is holy, spotless and without wrinkle and I believe that
Maybe, just maybe that is what the tribulation will bring. It will bring trials and persecution that will unite the body of Christ, much like our country during 9/11
