I've spoken over the past few days about being unified in Christ. The closer we get to the return of the Lord the more we are going to see the church waxing cold. An increase of iniquity in the world will cause many to fall away. Widespread deception, apathy, and those who love pleasure will effect not only the world but also churches and pastors that are failing to preach the never changing message of the gospel; substituting it for topics and entertainment more suitable to the pallet and basically what itching ears want to hear.
Unity (a joining together) is something that we truly desire in the body of Christ because God works and moves where there is unity. We need the flow of God to be uninterrupted. Unity creates a clean connection between a body of believers and God. If you do not have unity, then we are limiting God's power, blessings, demonstrations of the Spirit (even the fruits of the Spirit) in our midst. Sure, God can speak and move in the individual regardless of what kind of unity is in the fellowship, but what God DESIRES is unity.
The perfect picture in my mind is the old fashioned party line - or in today's terms a 3-way call. Now place that picture in the context of your church service. (I'm using our individual churches - but realize that this is magnified in the entire body of Christ). Think of several people (the church members) being on the line at the same time as well as the operator (God). The operator (God) is speaking, but there are things getting in the way of the conversation. Some people start talking about their day or what's going on in their lives, not focusing on God. You may be hearing bits and pieces of what God is saying, but that's not the flow of agreement or unity. If one realizes the importance of what the operator is trying to convey, they quiet down and listen. Still others will be on the line grumbling and gossiping - this is undermining what God is trying to convey. Others fight and argue between themselves and totally disregard that others are listening. They become distractions, taking away from the connection to God. Then there are those who don't want to be on the phone at all. They may be silent, but they cause that feeling of "tension". Still others come into the "conversation" with sin and baggage - and that's like static on the line. They need to free up their own personal connection, not only for themselves, but in order to flow in unity with the rest of the "callers".
This analogy could go on and on, but the bottom line is... God is speaking and we are missing out on so much in our churches because we lack the unity God desires. Unity becomes a pivotal principle in the end-times church (by which I mean all true believers).
What does the Word say about unity?
Ephesians 4:13 tells us the fullness of Christ dwells in unity: "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
Romans 15:5-6 says, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
When Jesus prayed for all believers he said, "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 17:23)
Psalm 133:1 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"
You may be saying, "We know that unity is important, but how do we achieve it?"
It all starts with the right focus. Unity is a factor pulling the world in many different directions. People are uniting in all kinds of things, but all of these are fleeting. Unity even for the sake of unity is not enough. There has to be a direction. That direction must be God and His will.
The world unites in war efforts, political conquests, book clubs, causes (like change), charity organizations, you name it... and eventually they will try to unite in a false leader called the anti-Christ. The anti-Christ spirit is alive and well today and is drawing people into its agenda. Even some church organizations (that are actually false doctrines) preach about unity or coming together for a greater cause to unify the world (like dominion or Kingdom Now teachings). Choosing to be in unity with someone or something is not really unity at all.
I see it like this (this is an analogy and not intended to be disrespectful at all- only like a parable for clarity): God is like the fridge that refrigerator magnets (Christians) were supposed to be stuck to. Can magnets stick to other things? Sure they can! The magnets may even feel like they are serving a purpose for some time - even if they are stuck to a metal trash can! Can magnets come together and stick to one another (like unifying in causes or purposes of their own design)? Sure! But that wasn't the purpose they were intended for! Refrigerator magnets were meant to be stuck to the fridge and it's only when they are stuck to the fridge that they really are refrigerator magnets.
I know that is a little silly, but it does bring about the point I was trying to make.
Listen, now is the time and now is the hour to realize that the body of Christ must rise up in unity and it all begins with focusing on God. Nothing more, nothing less.
Unity depends on agreement and working toward a common goal. When you are a church who stands in agreement, then you are a woven cord of countless strands. The Word declares that a cord of 3 is not easily broken... and the church joining together in this last hour will stand in spite of all adversity.
United we stand, divided we fall.
More on this topic later!
United We Stand, Divided We Fall - Part 1
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