Vol. 16.1.10
 |
| credit:google.com |
Unity
shows the nature of God and the Church. It means oneness; something whole that is composed of separate parts.
Reflecting back to the early church, God
performed miracles through the
Apostles, partly because they were in one accord (unity). As seen in Act
of Apostle chapter 1:14, the early church/believers continued
in one accord in prayer and supplication, irrespective of their background. Chapter 2 talks about them worshiping together, daily in the
temple and eating their meals with
gladness and singleness of heart, while in chapter 3, Peter and John healed a crippled man at the
beautiful gate, making the people to
rejoice.
In chapter 4:13, the same Peter and John
were arrested by the religious leaders,
but the church in one accord prayed and they were released (Acts
4:23-31).
Unity in the body of Christ brings about the miraculous act of God. Until the body of Christ is one, united in the power of the word of God, we may not see ‘places shaken’ as it was during the time of the early church. One of the reasons God's power is not fully felt in the body of Christ today as in time past, is because believers are not united. We see in our churches, when programs are held and people come together in unity of faith, praising, worshiping and praying, tremendous signs and wonders do happen. Dearly beloved, these signs and wonders can happen in every services held, if we are of one mind, united as one in Christ Jesus.
Although we are individuals, from different backgrounds and ministries, we must come into this kind of unity and harmony. As long as our basic doctrines are based on God's word, not man-made doctrines that do not have roots in the word of God and is definitely not the passport to heaven, we need to forget these things and unite ourselves in the word of God to kick against Satan and to bring down God's glory. It is high time the body of Christ to let go of their doctrines and come together as one. It is important we don’t discriminate based on doctrines (except in cases of biblically proven false doctrines) and no denomination should see its own as superior because God is not coming for any denomination but for the believers [body of Christ]. In heaven there's no denomination, no discrimination, as the scriptures says, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile…Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11NLT).
In 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, Apostle Paul was telling the church to speak the same thing and that there should be no division or factions or dissensions among them but that they be perfectly united in their understanding, opinions and judgment. No matter where we are coming from, Paul made us to understand that Christ is not divided.
For you are still of the flesh: while there is jealousy and strife among you,
Unity in the body of Christ brings about the miraculous act of God. Until the body of Christ is one, united in the power of the word of God, we may not see ‘places shaken’ as it was during the time of the early church. One of the reasons God's power is not fully felt in the body of Christ today as in time past, is because believers are not united. We see in our churches, when programs are held and people come together in unity of faith, praising, worshiping and praying, tremendous signs and wonders do happen. Dearly beloved, these signs and wonders can happen in every services held, if we are of one mind, united as one in Christ Jesus.
Although we are individuals, from different backgrounds and ministries, we must come into this kind of unity and harmony. As long as our basic doctrines are based on God's word, not man-made doctrines that do not have roots in the word of God and is definitely not the passport to heaven, we need to forget these things and unite ourselves in the word of God to kick against Satan and to bring down God's glory. It is high time the body of Christ to let go of their doctrines and come together as one. It is important we don’t discriminate based on doctrines (except in cases of biblically proven false doctrines) and no denomination should see its own as superior because God is not coming for any denomination but for the believers [body of Christ]. In heaven there's no denomination, no discrimination, as the scriptures says, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile…Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11NLT).
In 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, Apostle Paul was telling the church to speak the same thing and that there should be no division or factions or dissensions among them but that they be perfectly united in their understanding, opinions and judgment. No matter where we are coming from, Paul made us to understand that Christ is not divided.
For you are still of the flesh: while there is jealousy and strife among you,
are you not of the flesh and behaving only in
a human way?
For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I
follow Apollos,
are you not being merely
human?
What then is Apollos? What is Paul?
Servants through whom you believed, as
the Lord assigned to each (1 Corinthians 3:3-5 ESV).
Paul is saying that it doesn't matter from whom
you received the gospel from, as long as it’s the genuine
gospel and you were saved by the blood and Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are not to follow man's doctrine but
you are to follow God's word, the
doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ. We
should forget about human personalities and lift up God's word (John 12:32). If I be lifted up from the earth I'll draw all men
unto me, and
not if any pastor or you are lifted up but Jesus Christ is lifted. This is part of the unity we must come to. We
must forget about our own
ministries and fellowship. We must forget about who we are and what we want to be, but becoming united with
the word of God.
Unity is very important as it edifies the church. When there is unity in the body of Christ, every gift and fruit of the spirit manifests (Galatians 5:22-23) easily. When there is unity the power of God moves among the body of Christ even as of old (John 14:12). Unity also brings about salvation of souls and depopulation of the kingdom of darkness. Division will only take us from these benefits.
Unity is very important as it edifies the church. When there is unity in the body of Christ, every gift and fruit of the spirit manifests (Galatians 5:22-23) easily. When there is unity the power of God moves among the body of Christ even as of old (John 14:12). Unity also brings about salvation of souls and depopulation of the kingdom of darkness. Division will only take us from these benefits.
Philippians
2:1-5 says it all;
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any
participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my
joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full
accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in
humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of
you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of
others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Jesus {ESV}.
Dearly beloved, knowing fully well that Christ is coming for a united and perfect Church that has grown to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, we need to love and understand ourselves, walk in love, one mind, pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:13, Philippians 3:14).
Finally, I beseech you brethren to come together as one in unity of faith in God's word.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any
participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my
joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full
accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in
humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of
you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of
others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Jesus {ESV}.
Dearly beloved, knowing fully well that Christ is coming for a united and perfect Church that has grown to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, we need to love and understand ourselves, walk in love, one mind, pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:13, Philippians 3:14).
Finally, I beseech you brethren to come together as one in unity of faith in God's word.
Author
information: Opomulo
Abimbola (abimbolaopomulo@gmail.com)
If you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to reach out and affect
many souls through writing, send your articles to thequiver4changeoftaste@gmail.com
and we will help you spread it across the world audience. God bless you as you
choose to impact lives.
The Quiver is the Official
Bulletin of The Change of Taste Group (a non-denominational mission intercessory
and support group) ©2016
