United In Christ Series

### **Introduction**

Video Ill.: May We Be One — Floodgate Productions

David wrote in Psalm 133:

1 How good and pleasant it is

when brothers live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,

running down on the beard,

running down on Aaron’s beard,

down upon the collar of his robes.

|| 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon

were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the Lord bestows His blessing,

even life forevermore. (Psalm 133, NIV1984)

Unity.

Thoughts from

The Speaker’s Bible

Baker Book House

Reprinted 1987

Volume 4 — Psalms 104-150; Isaiah 1-39

PP 146-148

David said it is as desirable as expensive oil. It’s as soothing as the dew falling from the mountain. It’s as refreshing as dew on the grass each morning.

Yet our world does not seem to want, desire, or strive for unity.

Hours before Jesus was crucified, He prayed for us.

He prayed that we would be ONE—unified in such a way that the world would know He was sent by the Father. But how often do we find ourselves divided across political lines, letting our strongest opinions blind us to love?

Unity is not about having the same opinions.

Unity does not come by coercion or compromise.

Conferences, leagues and treaties, however valuable in their own way, have no power to confirm a union of hearts, and nothing less will suffice.

Only by the gift and grace of God can unity be obtained. The brotherhood of man ultimately depends on the Fatherhood of God, and without that foundation unity will not stand. Brothers are not made by treaty, but are of one blood and one heart.

Unity is about Jesus.

Unity is about elevating Jesus above all other things.

Today, we are going to explore what it means to be united in Christ, why unity is essential, and how we can pursue it in a divided world.

### **I. Jesus prayed that we would be united through Him. **

Hours before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed for His followers, including those who would believe in Him in the future. He prayed that we would be one, just as He and the Father are one.

Listen to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. 22 I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one: 23 I in them and You in Me. || May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” (John 17, NIV1984)

There is a reason that Jesus prayed for our unity.  This unity has a purpose: "so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

**Key Point**:  You see, our unity is a testimony to the world. When we are united in Christ, we reflect the relationship of Jesus and the Father and point others to God.

Largest Lego Model Took Vision and Teamwork

Source: Angela Watercutter, "This 23-Ton, 5.3-Million-Brick X-Wing Is the Biggest Lego Model Ever," Wired Magazine (5-16-12)

https://www.wired.com/2013/05/largest-lego-x-wing/

https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2016/july/6070416.html

Copied from Preaching Today

The grand list of Coolest Things Ever had an amazing addition in 2013 in New York City: the Lego X-Wing, the largest Lego model ever built. The model of the classic Star Wars fighter has a wingspan of 44 feet and comes complete with R2-D2 and a full range of sound effects. It's a super-duper-sized version of Star Wars Lego starfighter set #9493 and was made with 5,335,200 Lego bricks. That, according to Lego, makes it the largest model ever built, eclipsing the Lego robot at the Mall of America by some 2 million bricks.

The X-Wing was built at the Lego Model Shop at the company's facility in Kladno, Czech Republic. It took 32 "master builders" and 17,336 man-hours to construct the X-Wing. Plans for the model were created using Lego's proprietary 3-D design software, and the construction team had to work with a team of structural engineers to ensure that the model was safe, master builder Erik Varszegi told Wired magazine. Once completed, the model—which weighs 45,980 pounds—was eventually shipped to Legoland California.

They had a vision — they had a mission — they had teamwork — and they had unity.

If half of the builders decided to argue with the other half of the builders about the design plan and instructions for building this tremendous model, it would have either caused the project to take longer, to be built wrong, or to not be finished at all.