Church United (John 17:20-26; Psalm 133; Matt 18:20)

Introduction:

The nation we live in is called the United States of America and since its inception, the name has been contrary to its existence. We are supposed to be indivisible but we have been divided at various points in time. The United States is not the Church and so disunity is essential to anything and anyone outside of Christ. But the place that bears the mark of Unity is the Church. In Christ there is Unity, and by Christ, there can be Unity.

People flourish in the by-product of UNITY. People in togetherness and harmony flourish.

Chaos always breeds contempt!

Think of those things we share in common as a church:

FAITH

EVANGELISM

CHRISTLIKENESS

HOPE

FELLOWSHIP

TEACHING

COMMUNION

PRAYER

These are things that unify us but greater than all of these is the person of JESUS CHRIST.

We need UNITY in our world today!

Humans divide the Block, City, County, State, Nation, and World. We are divided to the greatest degree!

Not the UNITY desired by the World (example: Tower of Babel= Unified in the Wrong Direction=Destruction)

We need a UNITY as prescribed by God and only found in God.

The Place where UNITY can be found and where UNITY can be demonstrated is at the Church.

Honestly, the Church has often not done well as it pertains to demonstrating, or communicating we are the Place for UNITY.

Just a small reminder the Church possesses the remedy for the Worlds problem. (Not politics/World Leaders/Resources)

Psalm 20:7 CSB

Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God.

A unified Church in the name of Jesus can accomplish the will of God. (“For Nothing is impossible with God”- Luke 1:37; Elizabeth to her cousin Mary)

Jesus Prays for Our Unity (

Jesus’ prayer is a missional mandate for the Church in its Gospel advancement

Jesus prays specifically (Not for the World (v. 9) but for the Disciples (v. 9), but then for the Believers today (v.20)

The disciples did not take part in disunity and were able to fill the mission of Jesus

Because of the disciple's unity, we would come to Christ (“who believe in me through their word” v.20)

Jesus Prayer for us was that we be “ONE”

Numerically not many but one!

The Greek word “heis”= One/One and the same

Jesus illustrates through the disciples what godly UNITY can do. (People came to faith by the acts of their UNITY)

God knows the power of UNITY both godly and ungodly UNITY.

READ: Genesis 11:1-9 (Negative UNITY)

The Anti-Christ will build his government on a UNITY of all being Anti-Christ

There are results in UNITY

Christ’s Caveat

Christ prays for oneness and UNITY but He is specific.

Christ Prays that we are “one” like the interrelationship He and the Father have! (Inseparable UNITY!!!)

One of the grave problems the “Church” has had has been mixed messages. Our stances on pivotal issues.

The world can’t differentiate the distinctness that we should have (We look like them!)

My buddy Larry gave me a great illustration as it pertains to distinction. He said if you mix flour and sugar together what is the probability of extracting the sugar from the Flour?! The answer is you cant seperate the sugar from the flour. They are inextricably intertwined.

Our relationship as believers is inextricably inseparable.

we can’t have behavior, philosophies, ideology that is contrary to Christ!

Colossians 2:8 CSB

Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.

1 Peter 3:16 CSB

Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.

Unity and Christ’s Reputation (v.21)

Peace, harmony, unity, division was as important two thousand years as they are today.

I can’t think of a New Testament book that doesn’t deal, in some fashion, with either our relationship with God or each other.

Because of the power of UNITY Christ understood that DISUNITY hindered the belief of the Gospel

“May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.”

The UNITY of God’s people brings legitimacy in the eyes of men.

UNITY is a mark/identifier and revealer of the TRUTH of GOD.

If people can see it, they can believe it!

I have met a few atheists and many of them point not to the sayings of the Bible, but by what they see in Believers.

During the early days of the Salvation Army, William Booth and his associates were bitterly attacked in the press by religious leaders and government leaders alike. Whenever his son, Bramwell, showed Booth a newspaper attack, the General would reply, "Bramwell, fifty years hence it will matter very little indeed how these people treated us; it will matter a great deal how we dealt with the work of God."

The question we need to ask is “Can others SEE what we SAY?”

Unity represents Christ and His saving work.

Conclusion

A hostile and divided world needs the UNITY of the Gospel!

Jesus modeled for us UNITY in the relationship of He and the Father

A disciple of Christ first has a relationship with God, and that relationship is demonstrated on your block, grocery store, freeway, school, job, county, state, nation, and worldwide.

A HOSTILE world needs a HOLY GOD!

The world is still unified in its hate for Jesus and we must be unified in sharing the Love of God.

But unity is not of ourselves nor their ultimate goal.

Oneness is a means to enable the world to recognize what God has been doing.

The marvelous message is that God sent Jesus on an important mission to the world and that he not only loved his beloved Son but that he also loved the train of disciples who are fulfilling that continuing mission to the world.