Unity
- Jerry Witham
- May 12, 2008
- Series: The Church
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Lately, I have been reading passages in the Scripture that deals with words such as, likeminded, one, one mind, together and common. In fact, Acts 2.44-47 is one of those passages. Look at what it says:
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
What do we see in Acts 2 and what is the focus of the words above? I would say, unity. Unity is defined as the state of being one, having a oneness of mind, being in accord or in harmony. This is important for families and the church. God desires marriages to be one and also the church. The oneness of marriages, families and the church is a testimony of hope to a lost and dying world.
I love what Francis Chan has said, You do not develop unity by trying to develop unity. You cannot force unity. You must have a common goal and focus. That goal is the obsession of your life. It is the most important thing in your life. Our focus at the The Ridge is to glorify Jesus, loving Jesus, loving people and seeing lives transformed to live for Jesus. This is the common focus of the community. They believe they are to live it out day by day in the world. Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17.18: As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. This is what the community is to have one mind concerning.
When is there division?
When is there division? When the focus is no longer the goal in one’s life. When one quits living on mission, as Jesus sent them to do. When Christians wake up and do not believe God has something for them to do today. Instead they wake up thinking I have some things to do today. So, God is no longer the end, but the means to do what I want to. This is tough. How many times do we wake up and pray, God be with me, today as I do this and I do that? When we should pray, God what do you have for me today, whatever it is know that my heart is yours and I need you to work in and through me. The difference might seem slight, but it is huge. One your plans our at the center and the other has God’s plans central.
How the world will know and see God
Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17.20-21, I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The community is to be in common with the purposes of the Triune God. If we are not there is division. There is division between us and God and each other. Unity is huge to the mission. In fact, according to Jesus it is how the world will know Jesus is God, who came from the Father in Heaven. We must Him and His mission in and through our lives as a likeminded people.
Jesus also prayed to the Father in John 17.22-23, The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. I love this part of Jesus’ prayer. We have been given glory, the glory of the Father through Jesus. It means we have been given worth and value not of ourselves, but from God, in that He has set us apart to live a missional life to display His glory. What is the goal of this given glory? That they would be one. That followers of Jesus would be harmoniously aligned with the purposes of God. What is the goal of them being in unity? To tell the world that Jesus is God, sent from Heaven, to love the world with the love shared between Him and the Father.
The beloved John says in 1 John 4.12, No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. No one has even seen God. But wait. In this passage it seems that God can be seen, but how? Through love shared among the community of saints. In this, God is seen and viewed by all who look on. Then His love is made complete in us. I take this as meaning the fullness and purposes of His love is being completed in us both for our joy and for others. I pray that we would be a loving, likeminded community on display for the glory of God, so that we could pray one day what Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17.4-5, I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself. Don’t you want to be able to say this?
Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be likeminded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13.11
