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BUILDING UNITY AT TRINITY

Ephesians 4:11-16 (New International Version)

11  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

12  to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

13  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.

14  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

15  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

16  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn't.

"What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.

"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."

"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus.

Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"

Charles Schultz.

Let's remember that the most important number in the Bible is the number ONE!

Eph 4:1-6 "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; ONE God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." NIV

Unity is always in the mind of God! In fact, one of the last prayer requests Jesus uttered before his crucifixion was: John 17:22-23

"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. 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."

Jesus was praying for unity among His disciples. He prayed for unity in the church! Why? "To let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me". It is the most powerful testimony to unbelievers. Unity does not exist in this world. If we just could let ourselves be led by God's Spirit in staying united, our testimony would be thousands of times more powerful!

However, where unity lives, there is a special blessing from God. Ps 133:

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."

Read how God's presence was manifested among believers at Pentecost. Acts 2:1-3:  

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." NIV

When we are one, God manifests Himself. He strives for unity!

Now how can we become one?

1. You must be quick to forgive. Release forgiveness.

If I have a problem looking someone in the eye, or if I have a twinge in the stomach when I receive an email from a certain person, I have a problem with offence.

Matt 5:44-46

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." NIV

If you can't forgive a certain person, you declare to that person that he/she is lord over your life. Whenever you think of that person, you gave harsh feelings inside and your stomach churns. You are in bondage! Ask God for help in this and you will be victorious!

2. We have to understand who our enemy is.

Eph 6:10-13

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." NIV

Our enemies are not our brothers and sisters in church. Our enemies are not our partners in our ministry. Our enemies are not even our subscribers.  

The real enemy is the devil! He does not want us to be successful in spreading the Good News around the world.  

What’s worse than heresy--schism…disunity.

3. We need to be filled with God's Spirit! He is our guide. Without His guidance, we are nothing!

Acts 2:4 "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." NIV

Notice what happened after Peter and John were released in Acts 4:23-24

"On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God." NIV

Peter and John went back to the Christians, shared with them what had happened and in one accord they started to pray to God. What was the outcome?

Acts 4:31  

"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." NIV

Wow! All were filled by God's Spirit and they all spoke the Word with boldness. How powerful it is to be one in the Spirit and one with one another. Boldness takes hold of us and nothing can stop us from sharing God's gospel. Hallelujah!

As we approach this new year, may that Spirit of unity glue us together as one in love, one in Spirit, and one in purpose. Let us all pray for one another constantly. Let us also continue to pray for God to open us doors to spread the gospel message where no one has gone before. United we stand under God's Spirit. Nothing is impossible to us as God is our guide!

Phil. 4:13  

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." NIV Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!  

There are two ways of being united -- one is by being frozen together, and the other is by being melted together. What Christians need is to be united in brotherly love, and then they may expect to have power.  

Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.