Perfect Harmony

PERFECT HARMONY

ROMANS 12:16

Introduction: In music harmony is the blending of simultaneous sounds of different pitch or quality, making chords pleasing to the ear. Harmony is a pleasing or congruent combination of elements in a whole. Harmony is not the playing of a singular note but of different notes blending together to convey the beautiful music of the composer. The church is called by God as a body of different members of every size, shade, shape, and temperament to blend together in perfect harmony to deliver the beautiful music of the Divine Composer.

I. Harmony in our Devotion (our Love for Christ)

A. Colossians 3:14 “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

B. The one beat of the church’s heart should be the Lord Jesus Christ. The heart of the church is Christ.

C. Ephesians 4:4-5a “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord…”

D. The church needs to love Christ unconditionally resulting in worship that never ends, and an intimate prayer life; making Him a part everything in our lives.

E. 1 John 4:17-21 “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

F. To love God is to delight in God and demonstrated by two things – obedience to His commands and love for the Body of Christ – the church.

G. Romans 15:5-6 “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

H. The expressions of the church’s love can be and are as diversified as the members of the church. As such there must be the harmonious recognition and acceptance of these differences as being equally valid expressions of love and worship.

II. Harmony in our Direction (our commitment to Christ)

A. Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

B. The heart of the church is Christ and the focus of the church is the building of the kingdom.

C. One thousand church attendees were asked the question, "Why does the church exist?" Eighty-nine percent said that the church’s purpose was “to take care of MY family’s and MY spiritual needs.” Only eleven percent said that the purpose of the church was “to win the world for Jesus Christ.” - Spirit of Revival & Awakening, June 1999, p. 27-28.

D. Jesus commissioned his followers to carry on the same mission to which his life was dedicated. The church’s purpose is to express and carry out the will of Jesus Christ, the Head of the body.

E. Romans 12:4-9a “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy.”

F. God made each of us different for a reason. Just as an orchestra is enhanced by the various instruments, so the body of Christ forms a melodious whole when it works together as God intended. God made you unique. He will use that uniqueness to reveal himself to others if you let him.

G. Diversity is necessary to the functioning of the church and its work in the world. Each of us is given unique gifts by the Holy Spirit, and we should desire that each of us utilize our gifts.

III. Harmony in our Desire (our prayer to Christ)