Introduction

Good morning, church family! We're diving into a message from Psalm 133 today - it's about unity, something that our world desperately needs more of. Unity among God's people - the blessing it brings, the necessity of it, and the joy it produces.

As Charles Spurgeon once said, "Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation."

Let's take a moment to read from Psalms 133:1,

"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"

Imagine that! Just picture how much more we could accomplish, the mountains we could move, if we were unified as God's people.

So, let's bow our heads and open our hearts for today's message.

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask for Your guidance today as we explore the beauty and necessity of unity among Your people. Open our hearts and minds to fully understand and embrace the joy that comes from living in unity with one another. Amen.

Let's dive in, shall we?

The Blessing

The blessing of unity among God's people is a theme that resonates from the Old Testament to the New, from the Psalms to the Epistles. The blessing of unity is not just an abstract concept, but a tangible reality that has the power to transform our lives and our communities.

The early church as depicted in the book of Acts: We see a vibrant community of believers who were deeply unified. They shared their possessions, broke bread together, prayed together, and were of one heart and soul. The result was a powerful outpouring of God's blessing. The church grew exponentially, miracles were commonplace, and there was great joy among the believers.

The ideal that we strive for as the body of Christ: Unity brings blessing because it reflects the very nature of God Himself. The triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – exists in perfect unity. When we live in unity with one another, we mirror this divine reality and God's blessing flows.

Enables us to function effectively as the body of Christ: Just as a human body relies on the harmonious interaction of its various parts, so the body of Christ needs the diverse gifts and abilities of its members to be used in concert. When we are unified, each person's strengths complement the others' weaknesses, and we are able to accomplish far more together than we could individually.

A powerful witness to the world: Jesus prayed in John 17:23 that we would be brought to complete unity, "so that the world may know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." Our unity validates our message and draws others to Christ. It is a beacon of light in a world that is often marked by division and strife.

Doesn’t come naturally: Our human tendency is to focus on our differences rather than our commonalities, to build walls rather than bridges. It requires intentionality, humility, and love to maintain unity. It requires us to put the interests of others above our own, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to bear with one another in love.

Fosters spiritual growth: When we are unified with other believers, we are better able to learn from each other, support each other, and hold each other accountable. We sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron, and we spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Not about uniformity, but about harmony: It is about diverse individuals coming together to form a beautiful symphony of praise to our Creator. It is about finding common ground in our shared faith, even as we celebrate our unique backgrounds, perspectives, and gifts.

Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about how you practice being unified with other believers.

The Necessity

The necessity of unity among God's people is a concept that is deeply woven into the fabric of our faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO