I believe we all would concur with that statement.
The Psalmist must have also felt this way, because he said in Psalm 133:1, “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Unity is a very important part of our life. It is important-
• In the Home
• In the Work place
• In the church
Illus: Mark Twain used to say:
• He put a dog and a cat in a cage together as an experiment, to see if they could get along. They did!
• So he put in a bird, pig and goat. They, too, got along fine after a few adjustments.
• Then he put in a Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist; soon there was not a living thing left.
Illus: During a recent wedding, the bride and groom put the individual candles back into their holders with the flames burning. Then the bride, with a mischievous gleam in her eye, bent over and blew out her husband’s candle. The congregation burst into laughter. Later, one fellow commented: “During the marriage ceremony two become one - on the honeymoon they discover which one.” (from Parables, etc 5/83 pg. 5)
Unity is essential to the life of a Christian. But it is not only true in the Christian life….
(1) It is true in sports.
Illus: In 2002 when the San Francisco Giants starting line up was announced, during the World Series, each player would jog over to the first base line, and they would give five or shake hands with one another, then they’d get in line.
However, when their star player Barry Bonds, was introduced, he jogged to his spot in line, avoiding the other players.
When you think about a team, it takes all the players on a baseball team to win or lose. Bonds may be the best hitter in baseball, but he is not the only player on the Giants team.
Illus: On the other hand, the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots didn’t announce their star players before the game, so that the star could run onto the field to the cheering crowd, instead, the team was announced and they all ran onto the field together. You see, they were unified — Win as One or Lose as One.
As we can all remember, they didn’t have a player to win the Super Bowl, but they did have unity and the Patriots beat the Rams 20 to 17.
Possibly they won because, in part they were unified.
Unity is so important in all areas of our life.
But even though unity is important in our life, it seems to be something missing in many areas of our life.
Instead of seeing UNITY today, it seems in many areas of our life we see a lot of DISUNITY.
WHY DO WE HAVE DISUNITY? It is because of a number of reasons.
(1) SOMETIMES IT IS A CULTURE DIFFERENCE
Many times we who live in the South see things differently from those who live in the North.
I am not trying to start a civil war again, I am only pointing the fact there is a culture difference between the North and the South.
• In fact, we in the south think those who live in the North talk funny.
• And I guess those in the north think we people in the south talk funny.
• Every now and then we see the bumper stickers in the south that read, “We don’t care how you did things up North!
• And the people up north probably have their bumper stickers telling the people in the South they do not care how they do things in the south.
Culture differences sometime is a big problem in having unity.
But then there are other kinds of differences, such as the-
(2) GENDER DIFFERENCE
I believe the fact that God made men and women so different proves God has a sense of humor.
• Men are always trying to figure out women,
• Women are always trying to figure out men.
Illus: A man was walking along a beach when he stumbled across an old old bottle. He picked up the bottle took off the cap of the bottle, and out popped a genie.
The genie said: "OK, you only have one wish."
The man sat and thought about it for a while and said, "I've always wanted to go to Hawaii but I'm too scared to fly, and I cannot travel by boat because I get seasick. Could you build me a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive there?"
The genie laughed and replied, "That's impossible.”
• “Think of the logistics of that. How would the supports ever reach the bottom of the Pacific?”
• “Think of how much concrete.... how much steel !!!!” “No, think of another wish."
The man agreed and tried to think of a really good wish. He said, "All my life I have been trying to figure out women.”
• “I want to know what they are thinking when they give me the silent treatment.”
• “I want to know why they cry when they can not have it their way.I wish you would explain women to me!”
The genie replied: "You want that bridge two lanes or four?"
But another kind of difference we have today is the-
(3) COMMUNICATION DIFFERENCE
Sometimes men and women use the same words but they use them differently. A woman’s vocabulary is different than a man’s vocabulary.
For example:
• THE WORD “FINE” - This is the word that women use at the end of an argument when things are not fine. She closes the conversation with “Fine!” But that is not what she means.
• THE WORDS “FIVE MINUTES” - To a woman, this means a half hour.
• THE WORD “NOTHING” - This means something, and you men should be on your toes. "Nothing" is usually used to describe the feeling a woman has of wanting to turn you inside out, upside down, and backwards. "Nothing" usually signifies an argument that will last "Five Minutes", and will end with the word "Fine".
• THE WORDS “GO AHEAD” (with raised eyebrows) - This is a dare. She says, “Go ahead”, but she really means you better not! This argument generally ends with the word "Fine".
• THE WORDS “THAT'S OKAY” - This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can say to a man. "That's Okay" is often used with the word "Fine", and used in conjunction with a raised eyebrow, "Go Ahead". At some point in the near future, when she has plotted and planned, you are going to be in some mighty big trouble.
• THE WORDS “PLEASE DO” - This is not a statement, it is an offer. A woman is giving you the chance to come up with whatever excuse or reason you have for doing whatever it is that you have done.
• THE WORDS “THANKS A LOT” - This is much different than "Thanks". A woman will say, "Thanks A Lot" when she is really angry at you. It signifies that you have hurt her in some callous way, and will be followed by the "Loud Sigh". Be careful not to ask what is wrong after the "Loud Sigh", as she will only tell you "Nothing”, everything is “Fine”.
There are many things in life that cause disunity. Such as: Culture differences, Gender differences and communication differences.
But when it comes to the body of Christ we MUST NOT HAVE DISUNITY.
The Bible says we are-
I. ONE IN BODY
Look at Eph. 4:4, we read, “THERE IS ONE BODY, and ONE SPIRIT, even as ye are called in ONE HOPE of your calling.”
When people are born again, WE BECOME THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST! There is not one body for the Methodists and one for the Baptists. We all belong to the same body if we are all born-again believers.
Illus: This unity in the body of Christ makes us think of a baby when they are first born. The little baby lies on its back and all of a sudden the arm of the child pops up in eye sight and they baby think…WHAT IS THAT?
The baby is laying there the next day and the other arms pops up in eye sight and the baby think...WHAT IS THAT?
The baby is laying there the next day and the baby’s foot pop up and the baby think…WHAT IS THAT?
Now we all know something about bodies, because we all have one, and we live in them each day.
And the same thing happens with the other leg.
But one day the baby realize that these members of their body is attached to their body for a purpose and they have to learn how to make all these members function so that the baby can learn to walk.
Humor: Now I am not sure but I was told that a fellow that attends this church __________________was nine years old before he realize how to get all the members of his body to function so that he could learn to walk.
And when we become members in the body of Christ, when ONE MEMBER SUFFERS, ALL THE MEMBERS SUFFER!
Illus: We can walk through a door, but we are careful before we close it that all of our fingers are out of the way. We know that we can slam a door on our little finger, and every member of our body hurts with it.
This is what the Bible is teaching about the BODY of Christ. The fact is, all of us who are blood-washed saints feel each others pain.
If you can hurt a child of God and not feel the pain, it is probably because you are not a part of the body of Christ.
Unity in the Body of Christ does not just happen, we have to make it happen!
Notice, when it comes to unity the Bible teaches we all are to STRIVE FOR THE UNITY OF THE FAITH.
Rom. 12:5 “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
HOW CAN WE FUNCTION AS ONE BODY THAT BRINGS GLORY TO THE LORD?
It is going to involve some things, such as:
A. THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH
1 Cor 1:10, “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.”
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Speech can divide a church. God’s Word teaches speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.
This does not mean that we all think the same thing a 100% of the time. We Christians can disagree over non-essential matters.
• For example, in some churches you find that someone mike like one college football team while someone else might like another team. That’s ok!!!
• You can hear some folks expressing a certain kind of car they like. We do not all have to drive black fords. That’s ok!!!
We all have difference of opinion about things…That’ ok!!!
But we do not have to have a nasty attitude about these differences.
We are all members of the body of Christ and must learn to function as a body.
Division comes when people have this attitude IF I CAN NOT HAVE IT MY WAY AND THEY BECOME LIKE A LITTLE CHILD WHOSE ATTITUDE IS IF I CAN NOT HAVE IT MY WAY I AM GOING TO TAKE MY MARBLES AND GO ELSE WHERE.
Illus: People like this reminds me of the Baptist church when the POP-BELLY STOVE CAME OUT. Half of the congregation said we need to get one of these POP-BELLY stoves because when we come to church we can hardly worship God because we are so cold.
The other half said we do not need one of those POP-BELLY stoves because we did not come to church to be comfortable.
They took a vote on buying one and the folks who wanted the POP-BELLY stove won. They bought one and had one installed.
This POP-BELLY stove was place in the center of the church and on the first Sunday:
(1) The folks who did not want the stove set on one said they were about to burn up!
(2) The other folks who set on the other side said put more wood in the stove because they were still cold.
It was such a ruckus in the church that finally the preacher said, “I can not preach with this fussing!” He ordered the deacons to haul he stove out of the building. They preceded to do so and when they opened it up to put the fire out they saw that they had forgotten to even light the fire.
Listen, we the body of Christ can have our differences about many thing and there will be no division if we are mature Christians. But when it comes to the things this Bible teaches we must be unified.
Illus: The New Testament church had a disagreement about eating meat offered up to idols.
• Some firmly believed it was wrong and they would not touch it.
• Paul’s attitude just because you put a good pot roast in front of some stupid statue it is not going to affect that pot roast.
Once it was put before an idol it was then carried to the market place where it was put there for sale and Paul saw no problem eating that meat.
However, Paul was a mature Christian, he said if my eating meat offends my brother, I WILL GIVE IT UP!!!
Paul recognized all of us believers are part of the body of Christ and when we hurt one part of the body the whole body suffers.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger was preaching in North Carolina. The church was a large church and the church just had a split...around two hundred left.
It was in the Mid-week service, and prayer requests were being taken from the congregation. A man said, with a very sad heart, that a neighboring church was having some relationship problems within the church, and he said, “Let’s pray for our friends!”
THIS IS THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE!
But what immature Christians do not recognize is when they can not have it their way and they want to hurt other members of the body of Christ they are HURTING THE LORD JESUS WHO IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY.
When it comes to our differences mature Christians can work out their differences.
But there is one thing we all must all agree on and that is the DOCTRINE THAT THIS BIBLE TEACHES there can not be any differences.
Illus: C.H. Spurgeon had this to say about Unity. “A chorus of ecumenical voices keep harping the unity tune. What they are saying is, "Christians of all doctrinal shades and beliefs must come together in one visible organization, regardless... Unite, unite!" Such teaching is false, reckless and dangerous. Truth alone must determine our alignments. Truth comes before unity. Unity without truth is hazardous.”
We have looked at THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH, but also let’s look at-
B.THE ACTIONS OF THE CHURCH
Phil 1:27, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”
The devil knows that the best way to destroy a church is to get the people in the church to have the WRONG ATTITUDE, because he knows this leads to the WRONG ACTIONS!
HOW DOES HE DO THIS?
The devil has had thousands of years to study human behavior, and he knows that if he does certain things he will get certain reactions.
For example, the devil has convinced some people that the only way they can get attention is through WRONG ACTIONS!
It is the responsibility of every believer who belongs to the BODY OF CHRIST TO UNIFY THE CHURCH, NOT DIVIDE God’s church.
Look at Eph. 4:3, we read, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Illus: We are not to be like Lone Ranger and Tonto. Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Native American warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, "What are we going to do?" Tonto replied, "What you mean 'we,' Whiteman?"
We have looked at:
A. THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH
B. THE ACTION OF THE CHURCH.
We are to be ONE IN BODY
But also we are -
II. ONE IN SPIRIT
It is astounding what professing Christians blame on the Holy Spirit. Absolutely ASTOUNDING!!!
Listen, none of us like to be blamed for something even though sometime we deserve to be blamed!!!
But none of us enjoy being blamed for something we did not do.
Illus: For example, one lady in Florida who claimed to be Spirit filled said that the Holy Spirit led her to divorce her husband and marry a man that was young enough to be her son.
Many folks are going to be in trouble when they stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because He is going to say, “I never led you to do such a thing, NEVER! Why did you tell a lie like that and make me look bad?”
We live in a world that is looking for a way to blame someone else, they are not willing to take personal responsibility.
Illus: Let's see if I understand how the world works lately...
• If a man cuts his finger off while slicing salami at work, he blames the restaurant
• If you smoke three packs a day for 40 years and die of lung cancer, your family blames the tobacco company
• If your neighbor crashes into a tree while driving home drunk, he blames the bartender
• If your grandchildren are brats without manners, you blame television
• If your friend is shot by a deranged madman, you blame the gun manufacturer
• And if a crazed person breaks into the cockpit and tries to kill the pilot at 35,000 feet, and the passengers kill him instead, the mother of the deceased blames the airline
Illus: I must have lived too long to understand the world as it is anymore. So, if I die while I am seated in front of my computer working on a sermon, I want my wife to sue the pants off of Bill Gates...BECAUSE IT IS HIS FAULT!
We live in a “BLAMING SOCIETY”, but some folks ought to feel embarrassed to blame the Holy Spirit of God for some of the foolish things
they do.
As Christians, we are ONE BODY and we are also ONE SPIRIT heading in the same direction.
Illus: Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.
Conclusion:
But listen, one day when lost mankind stand before almighty God who know everything, will not be able to blame the Lord Jesus that they are lost because of Him. He has done everything that He can do to keep you from being lost.
You are lost because you would not come to Him for salvation. It is entirely your fault!
We are:
ONE IN BODY,
ONE SPIRIT
We are to endeavor to walk in unity
• A divided home is a bad home
• A divided nation is a bad nation
• A divided church is a bad church
We to are to endeavor to keep unity in the church.
I. ONE IN BODY
II. ONE IN SPIRIT
