U is for Unity

What is Unity?

Part 1- United with God

God is Unified – John 1

With Himself – Trinity – ONE God in THREE persons – total agreement

John 1:1 (NLT): 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

God wants Man Unified – with Him

1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT):

1 Timothy 2:5 NLT

For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

5 For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

We must first be united in God

We are the body of Christ - 1 Cor 12

1 Corinthians 12:4–5 (NLT):

1 Corinthians 12:4–5 NLT

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

Head must be United with body - or a neurological disorder- signals not getting through - causing chaos

1 Corinthians 12:13 (NLT):

1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT

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.

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.

Mind of Christ- think His thoughts

Eyes - United on vision

See the same thing- see His plan -

Have His vision - kingdom minded

see things from His perspective

Mouth - United in speech -

say the same thing - profession of faith - man lives by every word from His mouth - what are YOU saying?

Hand- United in purpose -

doing the same work - do His will. Thy will be done

What is God’s will for you- are you doing it?

sin = not united to God’s will - in thought and deed- to miss God’s mark

What are you doing?

Feet- United in Direction -

going the same way – Amos 3:3 – walk in agreement

Where are you going?

Part 2- unity with each other

Marriage - unity in the HOME

represent Christ and Church – stresses the importance of agreement

Church - unity in WORLD

1 Corinthians 12:12 (NLT):

1 Corinthians 12:12 NLT

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.

12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.

Notice the word “THE”

Eph 4 – Unity in the Body

Unity requires HUMILITY

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NLT):

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. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

1 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.

Unity requires ministry

Eph 4:11 – 5-fold ministry

Ephesians 4:11–12 (NLT):

Ephesians 4:11–12 NLT

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Too many people out of church!

Unity requires maturity

Eph 4 - grow up

Ephesians 4:13 (NLT):

Ephesians 4:13 NLT

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Prayed for Church Unity in Him

John 17:20–23 (NLT):

John 17:20–23 NLT

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.

21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.

23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Jesus’ priestly prayer for unity is His only prayer still unfulfilled!

Church WAS One – Acts 2-4

How the church was “ONE” – through LOVE

Considered nothing their own

Submitted to the apostles teaching

Broke bread daily in each other’s homes

Met daily for teachings in the Temple

Great grace was upon them all

What does unity look like?

No distinction-

Race- neither Jew Greek

Gender - neither male or female

Class - rich poor upper lower

What does unity do?

Blesses the Lord – Psalm 133:1 - how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Efficiency –

Power – strength in numbers – 2 puts 10,000 to flight

How do we get unity?

Pursue it – Rom 14:19

Love – Col 3:14 -

Humility- prefer one another – Phil 2:3

Peace – Eph 4:3 - Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Restoration, comfort, agree, live in peace – 2 Cor 13:11

Work together for the Gospel – Phil 1:27 – kingdom vs castle mindset

Protect from division – 1 Cor 1:10

Encouragement – Rom 15:5

End Time Warning – Divided We Fall

Is Christ Divided? – NO – but His BODY is

United we stand, divided we fall – divided house cannot stand -

Division – doctrine – although we claim to believe one Word

Di- vision = 2 visions – man vs God’s vision

I follow Paul = denominations come from divided doctrine – 1 Cor 1:12

yet all claim THE truth

- could lead to heresy - hyper grace

Divided feet - Going different directions - dis-organized religion - parallel effort = waste by redundancy and leaving many areas untouched

Divided mouth - Saying different things - all claiming “thus saith the Lord “

Mark of Beast – forced global unity

The enemy tries to counterfeit God

ONE world religion, government, currency (mark of the Beast)

End Time Hope: Revival restores Unity

through hunger and desperation – puts aside all differences

National Unity –

United States is to be One nation under God

Revival- unity through relation, revelation or desperation- in Northern Ireland, Catholics and Protestants are United - against immigration

Revival brings reunion

Desperate times will bring the body of Christ together once again - “re-unite”

drive the divided prodigals home with a family re-union

Desperation will Drive the divided body of Christ to her collective knees and pray for one another instead of against

Desperation will Drive the church back to the Cross

- By way of wars, economy, lawlessness, addiction, plagues

The church will be One army - under one command let on chief

The church- will be one body under one Head

Going in the same direction, saying the same Gospel message

The church will be one family under one grace

The world will see many hearts beating as one- and will want God

1 Peter 3:8 (NLT):

1 Peter 3:8 NLT

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

CFAN – unanimous RESPONSE in Congo – August 2024

The attendance has been extraordinary. Crowds began gathering hours before the meetings even began, a testament to the deep spiritual hunger present in these regions. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation, and it was clear that the people were eager to encounter the power of God. When it came time for the altar call, the response to the gospel was virtually unanimous. Our army of counselors was overwhelmed with the demand. I wish you could see the openness to the gospel here. It is really something remarkable and moving. We are now working hard to connect these new converts with local churches for further growth and discipleship.