Father God, we honor your holy name and are thankful for your presence in our life. Please help us wait patiently and follow your lead as your plan for spiritual unity unfolds. Lord, we pray for the strength to forgive, the patience to be understanding, and the courage to be steadfast in your truth. Lord grant us peace of mind and help us find balance in these chaotic times. Lord may those reading or hearing this message surrender their heart, mind, and soul to you, trusting that you will renew spirits and heal bodies. May the words of my mouth contribute to building up your kingdom and training your people in righteousness. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen!
Spiritual unity is an attitude, but unity in Spirit is not just for the Church. It may start in the Church, but the Church has an obligation to export it to everyone else. Remember, the disciples' commission was to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. Consequently, it is logical to believe that this message of unity is for the benefit of everyone, to bring those who are far off into the fold. First the Jews, then the Gentiles. First the Christians, then the Unbelievers. However, too many are willing to sacrifice spiritual unity for power and personal gain in this current generation. It seems like yesterday that we were openly speaking as if we were one nation under God, indivisible. Then came today, where we find too many people, even Christians, are ignoring the instructions in Ephesians 4:3, which says you need to "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace" (Ephesians 4:3, NLT). Make every effort! We cannot be one nation and indivisible if we do not stay united in the Spirit.
Spiritual Unity and the Gospel of Jesus Christ bind us together, putting the burden on us to hold the bond together even when someone gets on our nerves. We cannot overlook that when someone gets on our nerves, it could be because of us and not them. We can quickly think that doing things our way is the only way and right. Some of us go out of our way to control how other people think and thus what they believe. This thinking and belief eventually influence how others behave, whether good or bad. If we allow others to think for us, we need to make sure what they say is truthful and honorable. Yes, preserving the unity of the body has to do with thinking as one. This thinking does not mean we all like the same things or speak the same way; we are joined together for the same purpose. We press on in this life toward the same goal, ministering in the Spirit united by faith in the one Lord. And with one voice, we glorify God. We fight our enemy, not ourselves. We do not challenge each other to arguments or spread gossip about the body. We cooperate to accomplish God's will. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2, ESV).
If each of us will "live a life worthy" of our calling, then this world will look increasingly like the kingdom of God. We need to work with godly love and try to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that is Christ, then divisions in the Church and the community will disappear. We must play our part in a very divided world by projecting a picture of unity with family, friends, and community. When people think of January 6, 2021, what will they remember? When the world examines us, what will they find? At some point, we must take the time to consider how much we have in common with every other human being. Unfortunately, the Church is known for its disunity rather than its unity too many times. This disunity was a problem in Ephesus, Corinth, and other places that Paul and the disciples visited, and it is still true today. There is information that estimates at least 33,000 different denominations form over disagreements in the Church. All claim their foundation in biblical truth but fail to come to the knowledge of God's truth. John said: "God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him" (1 John 4:16, ESV). Let us walk in love and put every effort into remaining in the body.
Christians may not belong to the same denomination, but we need to understand that every follower of Jesus Christ belongs to the One body. We also need to consider that, good or bad, every part of the body serves every other part, for better or worse. "My prayer is that light will flood your hearts, and you will understand the hope given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all God's people" (Ephesians 1:18, CEV).
By our actions and our claim to be one body and serving one Lord, we have the power to either enhance or damage God's reputation in the world. Accept the fact that "All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God's people" (Ephesians 4:4, CEV). Accept that God made one man and one woman; therefore, we have the same DNA. Let no one deceive you, one family survived the flood, and no one is expendable. "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you" (1 Corinthians 12:21). Therefore, Anglo-Saxons cannot say to African Americans, "I don't need you!" And Republicans cannot say to Democrats, "I don't need you," at least not in good faith. "So, there are many parts, but one body" (1 Corinthians 12:20, ISV). Since the beginning, we connect so that what one does or does not do affects others; Eve affected Adam. What Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar did is still affecting us today and will influence the world for generations to come. When parts of the body decide to do their own thing and fight against the other parts, we become divided in Spirit and truth. Look at how many churches are dividing today over issues such as same-sex activity and women preachers.
Redeemed believers are knit together as one body, all reconciled in Christ and to one another by the Word of God. As one body, do not be like those who are “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7, NIV). We must function together in harmony for the good of the whole. The call is for you and me to go into the world and influence unbelievers to come to Christ. Following God's plan for us, we are to show the world who Christ is. We do it through the ministries of the local Church. We do it when we go to Walmart, Target, Kroger, and the Mall. We do it by grounding ourselves in faith, and whether we are having a momentous or miserable day, we find ways to exalt Christ as our Redeemer.
We remain filled with the Spirit of God as we move about in the Church and the community. We do what is necessary to “avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless” (2 Titus 3:9). We work to ensure that the Church stays in unity under one Lord. We need to realize and never forget that all of us are essential parts of the body of Christ, and He is committed to everyone in the body. That is why Paul says we need to be diligent and make every effort to preserve unity. The Bible clearly states that we must work hard to get along and act like God's chosen people. "For we were all baptized by one Spirit to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink" (1 Corinthians 12:13, NIV). Remember, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, CSB). We must carefully and diligently follow the Word of God as we stay united in spirit, walk worthy of our calling, and guard what has been entrusted to us.
Closing: Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant us the privilege to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice!
