Unity
Unity
Intro
The idea of unity and being purpose driven is central to the theme of the Bible…
If there is one thing that the church today struggles most with it is unity.
God loves unity Psalm 133:1 (NKJV) " Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! "
it is one thing that we have been blessed with here in Forerunner. Not perfectly of course, but an overall unity that has carried us. One of the things I am so proud of you all for is the fact that when people come here they leave with the impression that everyone was friendly and warm towards them. I commend you for that!
Unity with God
John 15:1-11
The measure of God’s love…
Perfect unity in the Godhead
Bearing fruit…
Parable of the Talents…
Matthew 25:14-30
Superabundance vs. Total Loss
Faithful over little = ruler over much.
Matthew 13:12 (NKJV) "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."
*There are seasons of fruit.
*To bear fruit you only have to “abide.” The branch doesn’t do anything but sit grafted to the tree, and let the “fruit-producing” sap flow through it.
Not Bearing Fruit
*Dead branches are cut off and cast out. (could bring disease)
*Dead branches have no life in them anyway…so they are removed.
Unity with believers
John 15:12-17
This unity has purpose:
*A Light
John 13:35 (NLT) "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”"
That statement between the lines says that the Lord wants the world to look upon us and see Him and be drawn to it.
It is one thing that God desires from all Christians.
What “Unity” does not mean:
It does not mean that no one will ever disagree!
God is not a cookie-cutter God. He loves diversity…think about it every person throughout history unique…even every snow flake. We have different colors of people, different cultures, different personalities…God created and loves each and every one.
Not one gift is better than another, not one person is better. In Christ we are the same. We are all just a bunch of people who were rotting in sin, and God rescued…all of us have the same creed “I once was lost, but now I am found, was blind but now I see.”
He has given different people different types of gifts, not just the spiritual gifts that he offers from scripture, but unique talents and ministries that are lying in seed form in many people.
There are many ministries we have yet to see around here, that God is developing and cultivating in people. And not just for around here, but throughout the rest of your life wherever you will be.
Forerunner is not meant for us to look and act exactly alike. In fact Forerunner needs to be more than just a Wednesday night service. Wed night needs to be where we all come together in unity to worship and receive His Word…but I want ministry teams going on all throughout the week! People are going to rise up with vision for a new ministry, and draw others to them and we will see awesome things.
*A Conduit
Acts 2:1 All with one accord
God flows through unity…and is blocked by disunity.
Matthew 5:23 (NKJV) "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,"
Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV) "Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."
Forerunner is not a place to assert individual agendas, it is a place to worship and give glory to the Lord.
**Enemies of unity
Backbiting, slander…which will lead to my foot up your rear!
Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV) "These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren."
When someone begins to think that they are better than others for whatever reason, they lose the favor of God.
If you have a problem with someone here in Forerunner don’t you think that you can come to me and talk about one of my sheep behind their backs…unless it is a serious problem and you have tried talking to them and resolving it several times according to Matthew 18. If they just get on your nerves a lot…suck it up, and get over it!
As we continue to grow here in Forerunner we will have more people with more issues, different personalities, different cultures, and we will be able to give God more and more glory…as long as we protect overall unity!
Healthy disunity
John 15:18-25 (NKJV) "“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’"
If you fit perfectly into the world and no one notices…then you are a camouflaged Christian, and you have a problem!
1 Peter 4:14 (NKJV) "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified."
James 4:4 (The Message) "You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way."
We are called to live separate! “Sanctification”
Friendship with the world will destroy unity with God and choke out the life giving “sap” in our branches.
What we are NOT saying:
*We are not going to be some exclusive Christian bubble…a fortress against outsiders. We are committed to reaching the world as Jesus has called us to. But we will do it His way, with no compromise.
*Never hang with unsaved people…first that would be impossible. Second you would be disobedient to God like monks and stuff. God has called each of us to reach a world that is on it’s way to Hell. Many will reject what we stand for and are offering…but many will embrace it. It is for those that we strive.
We don’t want all non-christians to Hate us..that’s not what it is saying.
What it is saying is that when we choose to live a life based on truth and the standards of God’s Word, it is going to cause some division. All the people who place such high value on peace.
We live in a world where we must fight to live in peace.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, said “I came not to bring peace but a sword…” then spoke of families being divided.
Many of you saw the Passion. That is what can happen to those who follow Christ. According to Church tradition all the disciples were martyred except John..though they tried but God delivered him.
The ones who hate right now are just those who are asserting agendas that we stand against. We stand against abortion, we stand against the homosexual agenda, we stand against secularizing our nation.
Globally we are hated by radical Muslims who believe that we stand in the way of global domination, and we stand as protectors of Israel.
(Remember to separate Christians from U.S.)
The ultimate example of this is of course Jesus:
Left Heaven to live among us to reach out.
He was in our world, but was never truly of it.
He lived on a mission
He loved, reached out, embraced, but never sacrificed who He was or compromised His mission simply for the sake of not hurting someone’s feelings or fear of rejection.
Sometimes when we go out to eat together I hope you take note that as I am spending some time with you guys I am also trying to influence the waiters, waitresses, people taking orders, etc.
As they open up and talk to me about their lifestyles, whether it be living with someone, drinking up a storm, or whatever…I don’t
*Go join them or completely fit in
*Condemn them
I do:
*look for little opportunities to share hope
*give what invitations are appropriate
*cultivate the relationship