The Power Of Unity

THE POWER OF UNITY

Joshua 1:12-16 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying,” Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’ “Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your MIGHTY MEN of VALOR, and help them, “until the LORD has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise.” So they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. An essential element in possessing the land is for all Israel to fight together.

Joshua 4:12-13 And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over ARMED before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho.

These tribes had come into their inheritance, into their rest and their land. That means they could have enjoyed or stayed where they were but this isn’t covenant. Covenant is the realization that if one member suffers, all the members suffer with them; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. This is the power of unity, a power of agreement that God invokes through covenant principles, as God is ONE in purpose, God exists in THREE PERSONS, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, ALL working together to achieve the same purpose. That is the predetermined condition for the Body of Christ, different parts but ONE BODY.

1 Corinthians 12:26

1. It is a body ministry. Gaining our inheritance takes the help of others.

2. Ministry comes from personal victories. Look at the text in Joshua and look at these highlighted words:

a. Mighty men = to be strong; by implication to prevail, act insolently: - exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more [strength], strengthen, be stronger, be valiant.

b. Valor = wealth, virtue, valor, strength.

c. Armed =armed (men).

d. Submitted to Joshua and each other.

Note this that these are those who through victory over their own circumstances were armed and submitted.

Armed: Romans 13:11-14 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Submitted: James 4:7 therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Submission: What is it?

Submission is never being dominated by another.

Submission never diminishes true person hood.

Submission isn’t subjugation (being conquered, forced under control).

Submission is a choice.

Submission is a position (a surrender of will).

Submission is recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

UNITY COMES FROM BEARING ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS

THE ARMOUR BEARER

In Scripture there is an illustration of what it means to bear one another’s burdens. It is the role of an Armor Bearer in the Old Testament. The armor bearer is mentioned in Judges 9:54; 1 Samuel 16:21; I Samuel 31:16 and 2 Samuel 18:15 but we will look at his mention in 1 Samuel 14:6-7 - Jonathan’s armor bearer.

According to history the armor bearer:

Was a trustworthy and brave SERVANT.

SHARED in carrying additional weapons.

Would STRIKE the enemy dead that had been wounded by the commander’s arrow or javelin.

3. Ministry is helping others obtain their inheritance. V14 “pass or cross before” to go ahead of, in this case the first to confront the enemy.

Galatians 6:2-5 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.

The word for ’burden’ is ’baros’. This does not mean a niggling irritation or annoyance that we exaggerate to become burdensome (like arthritis in one finger) but it does mean ’to be overtaken in a trespass’ and is an old fashioned word meaning ’to misstep, trip down stairs’.