Unity is the Foundation

Unity is a Key Pillar in the Foundation of Christianity

If you think of all the biblical martyrs and our social justice martyrs typically the unification of people is a key denominator. When you think of Stephen in the book of Acts who preached his last sermon while being stoned to death, apostles facing persecution and horrendous manners of death, and Jesus being nailed to a cross, beaten and treated worse than an animal typically did these things to unify people. We even see Paul write in the third chapter of Colossians, “where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all”. Jesus died to break down the barriers of social differences, racial differences, his death should promote the church to be a vehicle of refuge for those in search of salvation.

There is peculiar theme in the book of Acts, and that theme is unity or like-mindedness. So much so the phrase one accord or homothymadon (homo-thee-my-don) appears 12 times in new testament with all of those except one appearing in the book of Acts. There were key contributors to their unity, they were unified in purpose, they were unified in effort, and most of all they were unified in living and treating each other like Jesus would want.

A church’s health is dependent upon unity, fellowship, purpose and mission. The more clarity added to the bowl of these attributes of the church, the healthier we will become. Our goal is growth, but our goal is health, we can grow in number and be unhealthy spiritually. On the other hand, God expects us to mature, or grow up in Christ Jesus. Perfect attendance does not guarantee salvation, God is expecting a healthy church. He’s added us, and expects us to be good stewards of what he has provided for us.

The New King James Version Chapter 2

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Sometimes we all end up in the same place for one reason but God is bringing us together for another reason. We understand through scripture that this is the Day of Pentecost or Feast of Weeks, this is when the wheat harvest was celebrated by a 1 day festival in which special sacrifices were offered.

God did not delay the Gospel because they were not there for church. Sometimes you just have to seize and opportunity, God breathed on an opportunity that presented itself in an ironic manner. These people were already in sacrifice mode, they were already in a mindset of giving, and now they are in a position to respond to the calling of Jesus Christ by giving their life for the service of the kingdom.

They were in “one accord” in one place.

As the spirit moves through this story we see that “one-accord” is the overarching theme. We must know that we cannot have unity unless we teach Jesus, and the same we cannot have Jesus unless we teach unity. There is One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism, and this foundation should encourage us to endeavor or fight for unity at all cost.

Unity is peaceful, when we are all in the same mind, working in the same purpose, God can do great things for his children.

The New King James Version. (1982). (Ac 2:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Come for One Reason, Leave with Another

They came for religious observances, but they left baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. The came from all over, many different types of backgrounds, geographical locations and languages, despite the language barriers God made a way, “because everyone heard them speak in their own language”.

This morning you might be here because it Sunday and that’s when you heard folks go to church.

You might be here because you just want someone to quit asking you when you are going to come.

We all have various backgrounds, we all come from various struggles, and a myriad of places.

But do not allow your differences in purposes for being here make you miss the blessing that Jesus can be in your life.

You may come together for one reason, but you may leave changed because of something else. The purpose upon exiting the city was different from when they entered, but God knew they were purposed and he can work with a collective group of different people but similar in mind as it pertains to being purposed.

Came for the feast of weeks. (The bible already states that they were all with ONE ACCORD)

They came in one accord according to the religious observances as prescribed by .

We know that at this time the people of God had been scattered abroad nonetheless their purpose remained the same.

There are a number of reasons you might be here today. Trying to find some sort of peace in life, you might looking to rededicate your life to Christ, no matter why you are here understand there is a blessing in being here.

Do allow the newness of the gospel to be a hindrance, and do not allow the unknown to discourage you. “And when the sound occured, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language”

Our Mindset Should be Similar

The purpose driven mindset amongst these people who had traveled far and wide was an offering. This was the day of the 1st fruits.

This should be our mindset every Sunday. Not just to give God our best, but to prioritize him to the place that He deserves to be.

Fear not, O land;

Be glad and rejoice,

For the LORD has done marvelous things!

We have to understand that the birth of the church as mentioned in was the product of a unified spirit. We cannot expect to begin in Unity and end in dissension and believe that God will bless us.

This mindset is prescribed in that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heard, praising God and having favor with all people. and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people, and they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch.

Jesus, was one man, hung on one cross, died one dead, so that we could all be one. Jesus died to unify us, he died so there would be no more divisions. Eternity is one place with One and One Savior! Unity brings peace, peace allows us to work! Work allows us to spread the gospel, spreading the gospel allows us to change the world!