Sticking Together
(Unity)
9-30-01 Sunday Morning
Illustration
There was a Christian man who knew his time was near. So he sent word to his family to come home so he could see them all one last time. Even though his children (7) had already had families of there own, they all set out on the trips back home. After they had been home awhile visiting, the father called all of them into his room for he had been bed fast for weeks.
When they had all entered and formed a line around his bed so he could see all, he then told them to all go outside and brings back a nice size stick apiece. Now this sounded strange but seeing the shape their father was in they went out in the yard and brought back a big stick. After everyone got their stick they all gathered around the man. He then told them to start braking the sticks one by one. After everyone broke their stick he then told them to go back outside and get another stick.
Now this had seem very odd for his children but they did what they were told because after all their father was about to be with the Lord. After they had got a stick and gathered around his bed, he told them this time to pass the sticks around in one stack and bring them to him. When they had done this he pulled out some fishing line and told them to tie the bundle at each end tight. Then he told his children to try and brake the sticks.
One by one they all tried to brake the bundle of sticks but could not do it. The father responded by saying, ‘I just want you to know if you stick together it will be harder to brake you.’
Definition:
Unity-the state of being one, or united, oneness, singleness. Harmony, agreement.
Greek word: “henotes” hen-ot-ace
Question:
Why is unity so important?
Unity provides the harmony, the oneness that Jesus Christ wants us to have. When we give our lives to God we become one with him. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:”. Also in 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (rejected).”
Example:
Jesus when he prayed for all believers in John 17:20-23 said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 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. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
Transition:
How do we express the oneness of unity?
1. Having one mind: 1 Peter 3:8, “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”
2. Unity of Spirit: Psalms 133:1, “behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”
3. Our faith: Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
4. Fellowship: Acts 2:42-47, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things in common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they continuing daily with one accord, in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
5. Concern: 1Corinthians 12:25,26, “ That there should be no division in the body; but that the members should have the same care for one another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
Transition:
Does unity mean there is never a disagreement?
The disagreement within the unity helps it grow stronger. Let us look at some.
1. Physical: 1 Peter 3:1-7, the unity of marriage.
2. Social: Ephesians 6:5-9, respecting other people
3. Mental: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, glorifying the Lord not ourselves in what we accomplish.
Conclusion:
So let’s review what we have learned, unity is a oneness, united, harmony, everyone is in an agreement. Jesus Christ wants us to have this oneness; we get it when we accept Jesus in our lives.
To express our oneness we do it through actions, unity of Spirit, faith, fellowship and our concerns of others.
That disagreement in unity helps us grow stronger with our Christian walk.
So we need to listen to what Paul told the Corinthians when he closed his second letter to them, 2 Corinthians 13:11, “ Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
Jesus said in John 10:30, “I and my father are one.”
