Christ Calls us to unity

What does the bible say about Unity:

A: It is GOOD.

English Standard Version Psalm 133

Behold, how good and pleasant it is

when brothers dwell in unity!

Not many things called good in the bible, Barnabas (Acts 11:24 , Creation (Genesis 1:2)

BUT Unity was good.

B: Pleasant

Ever come to serve, and couldn't put your finger but you know there was something there!

How else is it describe?

English Standard Version Psalm 133

It is like the precious oil on the head,

running down on the beard,

C: Precious (Anointing)

They Anointed Aaron with oil and it was precious. It is pure and of great value.

D: Its a Blessing

English Standard Version Psalm 133

It is like the dew of Hermon,

which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,

life forevermore.

E:It is Eternal- “Life Forevermore”

John 17:20-23- Christ Calls us to unity

Jesus Prays for All Believers

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jesus prays for all believers. It is thus a prayer for us as for those of previous generations. The dominant concern is for unity and for the divine glory.

Leon Morris, The Gospel according to John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 648.

What biblical unity is “Oneness of Purpose not sameness of persons”

22- “we are one”- The Father isn’t the same as the Son. Spirit isn’t the same as the Father. Co-Equal. Personalities are different.

Think of a pretzel, while there are three holes they are formed out of the same dough. Every single hole is a different size. Share divine essence.

***Unity isn’t getting everyone to be the same,

it is to get everyone on the same goal. ***

Whenever we have competing goals, there will be conflict.

Unity has to be in line with God’s goal for us!

We need God’s will and His work.

Not just his endorsement.

Philippians 2:13

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

PJP Translation:

What has God said on the subject, and what does He want us to do!?

How do we bring in Unity?

John 17:23

23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

God is after agape: (God’s Love) 551 Times in the Bible!

Definition: The decision to compassionately, righteously, and responsibly seek the well-being of another.

-The decision, not emotion (Romans 12) Don’t have butterflies about the people who hate you, make the decision.

-Compassion- Bring Empathy. Understand backgrounds, past experiences

-Righteously- Love always has a standard. and is connected to truth. God never tells us to love a lie. We don’t love something that is outside the will of God. “We can love people who are outside the will of God but its not Biblical love” that’s Emotional Like.

-Responsibly-Love doesn’t replace responsibility. the Bible says if a man doesn’t work he should not eat.

-Well-being: to seek their well-being. Pray for each other and build each other up! Challenge each other.

What would happen if our team had this love?

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see the glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Here is what He will do! MIRACLES, POWER, and Authority

We will get to see Him accelerate our ministry!

People need to see God move!

HE is essentially saying” You will see ME, once biblical unity comes!”

We have been praying for Revival, to see His power, growth, and everything else.

…. We need to continue to pray for unity!

Psalms 133- The only time He commands a blessing!

Behold, how good and pleasant it is     when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head,     running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron,     running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon,     which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

We need him to command the blessing for our team, to our volunteers, to our members, to our campuses, and our country, and the world!

Biblical Unity and our Definition of Unity: Oneness of Purpose that is fulfilling God’s will, and doing the work to achieve what He is calling us to!

WK2- God’s Calling - Reach God’s World! Help our people Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Calling, Make a Difference.

Ever had a boss that would “practice what they preach”

You didn’t want to listen to them as they lacked integrity.

Integrity

What does it mean to live with integrity? Stephen L. Carter defines integrity as having three essential elements: “(1) discerning what is right and what is wrong; (2) acting on what you have discerned, even at personal cost; and (3) saying openly that you are

Scripture warns against being a double-minded man who is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8)

Godly ministers must have well-grounded confidence in God, never wavering in faith!

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

James 1:6–7.

Prophetic Ministry ( Word and Prayer)- We should carry out a prophetic ministry by proclaiming the Word of the Lord faithfully.

They should handle the Word of God with integrity - 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

We handle the Word of God with integrity (2 Cor. 4:2). But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth, we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

Prayer- Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Priestly Ministry- should carry out a priestly ministry by shepherding the flock of God. We should nourish and care for God’s flock (1 Pet. 5:2).

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

We will identify with our people, weeping with them when they weep and rejoicing with them when they rejoice. A good team identifies with his people and lovingly cares for them.

Stable Ministry- We will provide leadership so we don’t perish.

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)

18  Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Effective leaders know that leadership style has much to do with accomplishing positive results in any organization, but it is important for us to look up for vision!

Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV)

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.