In Genesis 1:1 it says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Did you ever really think about that verse? The Holy Spirit is telling us through Moses that there was nothing, absolutely nothing, no space, no time, no angels, nothing. Just the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit in complete perfect unity and fellowship. They were one within themselves, complete, whole, fully love, joy, peace, in need of nothing but their love was too big and they decided to share it. They created a playground, of sorts, built an entire environment that their creation might enjoy. Limited as we are, in nature God created a place where he could fellowship with us. He would meet Adam and Eve in the cool of the morning and fellowship with them. But then, rejection of God, sin, broke the intimacy of that relationship. Christ came, lived a sinless life, and shed his blood so that intimacy could be restored, We could enjoy the benefit of that unity…that is the Father’s heart’s desire and Jesus prayed that desire.
John 17:20,21
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
We are called to represent the Lord in every way, we are his ambassadors to a broken world. Through the Holy Spirit we have access to the power to transform lives. His desire for us is to recognize and grow in our unity with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit so the whole world might see really who Jesus is.
You see, when the Father looks at us, he wants to see a reflection of himself, He does when we choose to follow him.
Jesus said He was the light of the world. At the end of his earthly ministry, he shifted the focus and called us the light of the world. We are that light as a reflection of our unity with God.
Why is it so important to be in unity with God?
– We know his heart and know how to pray
– We know what he is doing and we can get right in the middle of that move of God
– We can live in the fruit of the Spirit having it evident in our lives in every way bringing us the love joy and peace we so need
– If we are filled with the Spirit and have the gifts in us, we understand how and when to use them.
I believe Jesus summed that up in these verses in John 13
John 13:34,35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Our unity shows a broken world what real love, real peace, and real hope are like. We do need to understand that this is a command from Jesus. Unity is not an option but a command and please understand unity is not uniformity. Paul explains that we are all given different gifts, skills talents, and abilities (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 -14) we can function in unity by valuing our differences and even promoting them. Bottom line….the world sees Jesus when they see us loving and encouraging one another!
We also know and understand our mission as a church as we walk in unity with Him!
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
All authority? What does that mean? Many have made assumptions but the Lord trusts us with His authority as we are willing to lay down our lives and become one with Him. We function in unity with the Lord, growing in his grace and knowing the authority we can walk in, so that not only will the world see Jesus in us as we read in John but so that new believer’s may grow and know that they are not alone but they too are one with the Lord!
So how do we get there….some can barely get along with themselves let alone others!
Here are some easy ways to get started
Fight to keep your mind and heart right
Philippians 4:6-8
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
We worry about so much but Paul is saying have that attitude of gratitude always. Do it by building that relationship with the Lord through communicating with him always then your peace will grow. You maintain that peace but choosing to think God’s way rather than the way of the world….keep hope, love and purity in your mind then you will be able to maintain that with others because that is the Father’s heart and your unity is growing in Him
Do you want to reflect what Jesus did the whole time he walked the earth? Paul summed it up here
Philippians 2:3,4
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
John tells us for God so loved the world. If we want to reflect His heart then selfishness and especially pride can not be part of who we are. When I do premarital or even marriage counseling I challenge people that they job is simply to enable their spouse to be the best they can be. This is what God does for us all the time and he expects the same from us toward others
There are too many walls in the church and God challenges us to build bridges not walls
Ephesians 4:3-5
Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
It is so easy to get hurt and build a wall protecting yourself from getting hurt again. But if you realize who you are, a child of the living God, an overcomer, full of power and life then you realize that you must fight for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Fight to see their wounds hurts and brokenness come to a place of healing and fight to not allow your own wounds hurts and brokenness wound the body of Christ. We don’t just lay down and become door mats to someone elses brokenness but instead with the wisdom and power the Holy Spirit gives us, we push through to bring healing and life to the relationship.
What really happens if we begin to believe that we are one with each other and the Lord?
We Grow
Ephesians 4:15,16
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Peace and love are flourishing as we realize we are in a safe place where everyone speaks and lives in the truth, nothing is hidden and love for each other grows. We also see the value in each others gifts, we are not threatened by them, but instead celebrate our difference. We can not all be who we are called to be, until everyone is growing and healthy
We look at one another in the eyes of love because as the Lord looks at us and sees a reflection of himself so we begin to look at each other and see a reflection of the Lord. A true heart of love!
We look for ways to keep building each other up and grow in that love
Hebrews 10:24,25
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Can we spend time encouraging and building each other once again recognizing that until we all are functioning in our gifts and callings the church is missing part of itself. We need to be in fellowship always and grow together as we see the value God has placed on each one. As we are one with the Lord, we are one with each other!
Paul stresses this idea again in Ephesians 4:15,16
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
We can’t make this happen and the church can never be all we are called to be until we recognize the value in each other and see the Lord in ourselves and others
Scripture does give us a warning about not valuing each other. We have to recognize our value and the value of others and we will as draw closer to the Lord by recognizing our unity in Him.
Galatians 5:13-15
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Our freedom can put ourselves and others in bondage or set them free. we must see one another through our unity with the Lord. We must walk humbly and build one another up!
I believe if we do we will enjoy the unity and fellowship of the Lord and fellow believers as they did at first
Acts 2: 44-47
And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
In the beginning God and he wants it to be AND ALL OF US
– believer’s building each other up
– valuing each other
– helping each other grow in the gifts and fruit of the Spirit
– we will feel we have found a place where we fit
– Body of Christ becomes who it is called to be and we change the world
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