Unity

Introduction

Acts 4:29–33 KJV 1900

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Pray - Be Seated

Body

PRESENT SLIDESHOW

Genesis 11:1–9 KJV 1900

1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

In our world today there is a lot of shouting about “inclusion”, “diversity”, “tolerance”, and “unity”, but it represents a unification of forces against godliness. Against holiness.

We see a fierce oneness in the ranks of the enemy today.

I. Introduction

A. Church Aflame

1. From 120 members to ten million in one century

2. Had few of the things we think necessary today

a. No printing presses or media ministries

b. Not even any church buildings

3. Those early believers outdid us

B. What Did That Church Have That We Need?

II. Body

A. It Was a Praying Church (v. 31)

1. Born in a ten-day prayer meeting

2. Both men and women prayed in one accord (1:14)

3. They prayed and were filled with the Spirit (v. 31)

4. When Peter was jailed, they prayed (Acts 12)

5. Prayed with such faith that it made them bold

6. They prayed so fervently the building was shaken

7. Prayer is vital if the church is to move ahead

a. The church that is not praying is playing

b. The church is powerless without prayer

B. It Was a Loving Church (v. 32)

1. Love caused them to share with others

2. Love enabled them to give to those in need

3. Love enabled them to put away their differences

4. Love united them

5. This kind of love brings revival

a. They began to love things above

b. They lost their love of earthly possessions

C. It Was a Witnessing Church (v. 33)

1. “They all spake the word of God with boldness”

2. “With great power gave the apostles witness”

3. David Dawson: “The silent pew is the curse and blight of Christianity”

4. The great commission fresh on their minds (Matt. 28:18–20)

5. The call to witness sounding in their hearts (Acts 1:8)

6. All were reaching out with the gospel

III. Conclusion

A. Praying, Loving, Witnessing They Marched Ahead

1. We have the gospel because they were unstoppable

2. We have the same marching orders

B. They Changed the World (Acts. 17:6)

C. So Can We

1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV 1900

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Acts 2:1–2 KJV 1900

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Galatians 3:26–28 KJV 1900

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:1–4 KJV 1900

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

John 17:18–22 KJV 1900

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: