Holy Spirit 1 Lesson 5
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The Holy Spirit Unifies
The Holy Spirit Unifies
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church at Pentecost, Peter proclaimed that the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 was fulfilled:
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
There is an emphasis on the HS coming on a community of believers - not just a one leader like Moses or Joshua, but on sons and daughters, old men and young men, menservants and maidservants - all will receive the outpouring of the HS.
The international community of Faith - In Christ there is neither east or west, south or north… We are living in a polarizing age - the works of the flesh can easily cause is to be bitter at foreign nationals in our country.
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
The community was marked by unprecedented unity:
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Paul blesses the Corinthian church with a blessing that seeks to unify the fellowship of the HS -
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
This is the TRINITARIAN work of the HS to unify the church.
This unifying function is seen also in Pauls words to the church
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Unity between nations - Jews and Gentiles - an international church
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Pauls discussion on the gifts show the power of unity - the unifying force of the gifts at work
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
One Spirit empowers
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
So that the church..
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
The idea that the HS unifies the church is also evident in the fact that the some of the works of the flesh are against this process..
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Love binds us all together....
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
When the HS is working strongly in a church to manifest God’s presence, one evidence will be the beautiful harmony in the church community and overflowing love for one another.
“Ideally the church itself is not made up of natural "friends." It is made up of natural enemies. What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything of the sort. Christians come together, not because they form a natural collocation, but because they have been saved by Jesus Christ and owe him a common allegiance. In the light of this common allegiance, in light of the fact that they have all been loved by Jesus himself, they commit themselves to doing what he says—and he commands them to love one another. In this light, they are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake.” - D.A. Carson
This hymn about ethnic diversity and unity was written by William A. Dunkerley (pseudonym John Oxenham, 1852-1941), for the Pageant of Darkness and Light at the London Missionary Society’s exhibition “The Orient in London". It was first published in 1908.
It is sometimes associated with Galatians 3:28 ("in Christ there is neither Gentile nor Jew").
29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
21 that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
https://youtu.be/RsEJOHXE8kg
In Christ there is no east or west
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.
In him shall true hearts everywhere
Their high communion find,
His service is the golden cord
Close-binding humankind.
Join hands, united in the faith,
Whate'er your race may be!
Who serves my Father as a son
Is surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west,
In him meet south and north,
All Christ-like souls are one in him,
Throughout the whole wide earth.
Holy Spirit, living breath of God
Holy Spirit, living breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Let the presence of the risen Lord,
Come renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see,
Give me passion for Your purity;
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within,
May Your joy be seen in all I do.
Love enough to cover every sin,
In each thought and deed and attitude.
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my strivings into works of grace;
Breath of God show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation’s birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once again on earth,
Cause Your church to hunger for your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise;
Lead us on the road of sacrifice,
That in unity the face of Christ
May be clear for all the world to see.