Community

“Transformation is not instantaneous.” 

Isaiah 61:3 [ESV], …that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.  

2 Corinthians 2:11 [NIV], in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes.

John 1:12 [NLT], But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.

Psalm 133:1-3 [AMP], Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil [of consecration] poured on the head, coming down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron, coming down upon the edge of his [priestly] robes [consecrating the whole body]. 3 It is like the dew of [Mount] Hermon coming down on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing:  life forevermore. 

The idea of God’s family living in unity runs throughout the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

Examples of this truth…

-if one can put a 1,000 to flight, then two can put 10,000 to flight. [Deut. 32:30]

-two are better than one.  [Eccles. 4:9] 

-how can two walk together unless they are in agreement.  [Amos 3:3]

-and the two shall become one, and let no man split what God has put together.  [Mk. 10:9]

-if two of you agree on anything in prayer, the Father will do it.  [Mt. 18:19]

-where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there.  [Mt. 18:20]

-the were all together in the upper room in one accord.  [Acts. 2:1]

-for as the body is one and has many members, we are one body.  [1 Cor. 12:12]

-till we all come to the unity of the faith [Eph. 4:13]

-let us become one, just as He and the Father are one. [Jn. 17:22]

“God values unity, and so should we.”

• Unity does not mean conformity.

• Unity does not mean all-embracing.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 [NIV], I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters.  In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler.  Do not even eat with such people.

What is biblical unity?

“Biblical unity occurs when we lay aside all of the areas that are up for interpretation in the Bible and we come together around the common faith, hope and love that’s anchored into the death, burial, resurrection and return of Jesus Christ.”

Biblical unity…

-loves one another

-encourages one another

-serves one another 

-gives to one another 

-honors one another

-is kind to one another

-forgives one another

-bears one another’s burdens

-confesses sins to one another

-prays for one another

What causes us to lose biblical unity?

Luke 17:1 [NKJV], Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” 

A brother or sister in the faith…

-disappoints us 

-breaks a promise

-lies about us

-does something we don’t agree with

-says something to us without love

-betrays us

-gossips about us

-rejects us

-uses us for their own benefit

-hurts someone we love

The Greek word for offense means; “a trigger or bait for a trap.”

The enemy does this…

-to destroy godly relationships.

-because he knows the power of unity.

-to destroy the move of God.

Four keys to maintaining unity:

Ephesians 4:3 [AMP], Make every effort to keep the oneness [“unity”] of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. 

1.  Value relationships more

Ephesians 4:31 [TPT], Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. 

2.  Stop talking about it

Ephesians 4:32 [TPT/AMP], But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another.  Has God graciously forgiven you?  Then graciously forgive one another just as God in Christ also forgave you.

3.  Choose to forgive

“We love forgiveness until we have something to forgive.” [Mt. 18:21-35]

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 [NLT], This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ.  And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.  And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us.  We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 

4.  Choose to reconcile [Rom. 12:18]

Colossians 3:14 [ESV], And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony [unity].