UNITY
Ephesians 4
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The Revolutionary War was brutal. America was attacked and many lost their
life as the British attack our shore Lines. It looked bleak and seemed as though the Tyranny of Britton would prevail. Militia groups were formed as farmers and tradesmen would gather and train for battle. Slaves were already here and were promised if they would fight that they would we given their freedom. Samuel Land was one of those slaves that joined, wanting his freedom. He was mocked and picked on…Called racial slurs and had to eat alone because they would have nothing to do with him.
There was a ferocious battle in Richmond Virginia and the Militia was ambushed and many were slaughtered…There was Samuel picking each man up and taking them to safety. From that day on he was excepted.
Unity made the difference.
If we are ever to survive as a church, the unity from God must be real.
Psalm 133
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
In Bible days, when the High Priest would come to anoint, they would bring 6 quarts or 1-½ gallons of oil and pour it over their head.
So literally it would run down from their face and down to the floor.
Our scripture says, Psalm 133
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
Unity must begin in the home.
If you kick the dog on the way to church…..and smile when you walk in the door..
You can’t buy it or bottle it up. You can’t sell it or find it on Ebay. It must be real.
Unity means more then one
Psalm 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Matthew 18
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
In Acts 2, 2 believers met in the upper room, to seek God’s power from heaven.
Ten days and nights they tarried….
Paul and Silas were thrown in prison. Beaten and bruised. Down and heart-broken. Instead of playing the blame game and accusing each other, they began to sing praises unto God and oh about the midnight hour the walls began to shake, the doors burst open and they were free.
If you need a miracle from God, there’s no need to set back and try to figure it out on your own. It’s time to rise as a church and proclaim the goodness of God.
Time to look Satan square in the eye and say, As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!!
We are not alone. We are one nation, under God, indivisible through liberty of Calvary.
2 Chronicles 7
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
