Unstoppable Unity

Introduction

The last assembly of 2020.

We are looking at 2021 as a year of restoration. Where we are seeking to restore a number of things to their biblical glory. Challenging ourselves.

We want to be the people of God that we see Biblically. We want to invite God to work within us as we see Him working within His people scripturally.

We have a mighty audacious vision and we need Him with us every step of the way.

We need to be unified with Him, but we also need to be unified together as His people.

When we are with Him and we are one with another, there is nothing on earth that can stop us.

There is to vision that we can’t accomplish; no river we can’t cross; no mountain we can’t climb; no valley we can’t crawl out of.

The one thing I want you to know for this lesson.

God + one another = unstoppable unity. A unified front like is is unstoppable.

Let’s call this last sermon of 2020: Unstoppable Unity.

We are going to talk about restoring the unity of God and His people.

The people of ancient Judah are in a time when restoration sounds attractive, for as a people they are exiled from their land and without a vaccine of hope.

But, there is a prophet of God among them, by the name of Ezekiel. His name means, “God strengthens.” And, he strengthens the hearts of the hopeless.

Part of Ezekiel’s message was to strengthen the people of God to look forward to abundant restoration as one unified people. Unified with God; unified with each other. That combination would make them unstoppable. It always did.

Red Sea

Jericho

If we are going to be a spark, we have to be one unified people; unified with God, under King Jesus. Unified like never before.

That makes the church unstoppable.

In the text for today, you are going to experience a prophetic vision that has to do with a broken people being restored to a unified body under God.

Pointing them to a time when unity with each other and with God would be a mark of their identity. Unstoppable Unity is with God and with one another.

Unity with Each Other

v.15-17

This vision of Ezekiel involves two sticks.

On one stick, Ezekiel was to write the following phrase: “For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him.” This stick, in other words, was to represent the people of ancient Judah. These are the people who were currently in exile by the Babylonians, Ezekiel being one of them.

On the other stick, he was to write the following phrase: “For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.” This stick, represented what was called the Northern Kingdom, which consisted mainly of the Israelite territories of Ephraim and Manasseh. The name “Ephraim” became a popular designation for the Northern Kingdom in the days of King Jeroboam I.

To understand what is about to take place, allow me to explain what has taken place up to this point in time.

The nation of ancient Israel was a grouping of thirteen tribes, who were descendants of a man named Jacob (whose name God changed to Israel). Though 13 distinct, 12 of them occupied their own specific territory of land, the remaining one (Levites) occupied cities within the territories.

These tribes were, during this time, the distinct people of God.

From 1050 to 920 bc the tribes of Israel were united under one king: first Saul, then David, and lastly Solomon.

After the death of Solomon, the tribes split into two rival kingdoms, one to the north and one to the south. The south was called the Kingdom of Judah. The northern Kingdom was referred to as the Kingdom of Israel or Ephraim.

Understand, God’s people are always better together and it is never His will that there be disunity. They are always better together. They are unstoppable together.

Eventually the northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians and the southern to the Babylonians.

But now, Ezekiel is looking at a time when something better was going to be restored.

For he was to take the two sicks and hold them as one stick.

What Better Looks Like

God, understanding His creation, knows how they would react to such a gesture.

v.18-20

I am going to make them one stick.It is my will that they operate together.

When they do that they operate at full strength.

They were used to being separate, but when they were they weren’t operating at full strength.

They were so used to weakness, they couldn’t see true power.

Unstoppable unity is found when everyone pulls together.

Whether you are a farmer or a businessperson, you understand that concept…you are better when everyone pulls together.

Let me talk to some relationships; some ministries.

That’s God’s intent for His people, but boy do His people get in the way. Its almost as if we have a spirit of disunity at times.

God is unifying, but man can be divisive.

We live in an age of outrage. An age of division. In an age, where you don’t work things out, you just take your ball and go home.

This happens in our lives everyday. Employees, businesses, sports teams (Harden), even in the church.

Churches split because one or more folks get upset over something and instead of everyone sitting down and working it out, or instead of mutually decided to part ways , they get mad take their ball, go off and try to start another church, dragging members with them.

Both of those groups are now weaker. That’s never God’s plan. God wants a unified people who are unified with Him.

v.21

Behold (the exclamation!!!)

Gather them back from where they have been spread out because of exile.

I promise to bring them back to the land that I promised them.

God is a promise keeping God.

Unity with God

v.22

Prior to the formation as a physical kingdom, these tribes, existed as a spiritual kingdom, with God ruling them as their king.

But in 1 Samuel 8, we see that the people demanded a human king. They wanted to become a physical kingdom like everyone else. They already had best, but they wanted worse.

Whenever we choose our will over God’s, we are moving from best to worst.

Unstoppable unity involves choosing God’s will over our own.

God is now saying, I am bringing things back to the way they were supposed to be. I am about to restore things. I’m restoring unity. I am about to make my people, unstoppable.

No longer multiple kingdoms, just one. Unstoppable unity is on the way.

v.23

Unstoppable unity, begins right here....

My people would separate themselves from the things that separate them from me.

Get this for 2021. We want unity with God.

Unstoppable unity involves moving away from anything that has your heart, other than God.

Unity is not just being one with another, but one with God. Your heart in His hands. What’s better than that?

What things have your heart? People, things, plans?

I will save them.

Unstoppable unity involves your salvation.

Doesn’t it blow your mind that God has always wanted that type of relationship with His people? With you?

God gives us everything we need to be unstoppable. To be united with Him and with each other.

The Messiah, the Church

But let me show you why our unity is so unstoppable.

Ezekiel is about to explain something to the people that they likely can’t fully comprehend. But, looking back upon it, we can see what is taking place.

This is the power behind our unity with God and with each other. It is the power that makes us unstoppable together.

Our unity with God and with each other, makes us an unstoppable force because of the one who makes it all possible.

v.24-25

My servant David shall be king over them.

David has already lived and died, so he isn’t speaking of David himself, he is speaking of a descendant of King David. Another King who would also be a shepherd.

Ezekiel 34:23-24

Who would be the King that would make two, one? Who was the king that would bring about unstoppable unity between God and His people??

This ruler would usher in a new covenant…an everlasting covenant.

v.26

A covenant of peace. An everlasting covenant.

Who could help usher in an eternal covenant of peace between God and man? Who could bring unstoppable unity?

]As a result of the covenant, there will be multiplication.

Multiplication due to their proximity to Him.

Who has enough power to multiply the people of God into a force of unstoppable unity?

My sanctuary; dwelling place will be with them.

Who was an eternal ruler, who established an eternal covenant, who multiplied the people of God to the extent where He would dwell with them forever?

That’s none other than Jesus!

Jesus generates unstoppable unity!

For Jesus is that One shepherd who brings people together.

John 10:16 -And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Jesus would usher in an eternal covenant.

Hebrews 9:15 -Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. -

Hebrews 13:20 -Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant.

That covenant was a symbol of the unity between God and man. I want unity so much, that I am giving you something that binds us together always, by someone who lives forever. And He enacted it through His death on a cross and fortified it, when He rose from the dead, proving He was the Son of God.

It is this Jesus who multiplied the people of God. When He brought together all people groups. Both Jew and Gentiles.

Ephesians 2:11-17

And it is this Jesus who makes the Spirit of God dwell with us. He makes the sanctuary, the dwelling place of God possible.

Ephesians 2: 18-22

My sanctuary; dwelling place will be with them.

I will be in the midst forevermore

And lo I will be with you always, until the end of the age.

You need Him, for He makes it possible to be unified with the Father and unified with His people.

Are you ready to walk with Him this morning. What a way to end 2020.

Conclusion

Challenge:

1. Give your heart completely to God beginning today. Move away from those things that have your heart.

2. Find your spot to pull as we seek to make disciples.