The Key to God’s Blessing

The Key to God’s Blessing

Focus word: ‘Unity in the Spirit.’
Focus verse: Ephesians 4.3: ‘Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.’
Declaration: I walk in unity and peace; the Spirit joins our hearts for Kingdom power and purpose.
The Holy Spirit brings unity.
Points to ponder:

1.  Unity is a treasure that must be protected.

Paul does not ask us to create a spirit of unity, rather keep the unity of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit creates the unity among the believers through our life in Christ. The Church comprises of people from varied backgrounds and beliefs – a representation of the audience in heaven as described in the Book of Revelation; Father God’s children washed in the blood of the lamb, redeemed by the Saviour, and united by the Holy Spirit in the church of Christ and our responsibility is to protect it.
Psalm 133.1 says, ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!’
A prayer meeting, a fellowship in Christ would be the apt example.
John 17.21 – ‘That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.’
High priest Jesus prayed these words to the Father before He was led to crucifixion.
Colossians 3.14 – ‘And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.’
Love is the glue, the chord that unites everyone together. Unity is easier to destroy than to build. A family, a fellowship can be easily destroyed by just one voice of discontent. That’s why unity has to be protected like a treasure.

2.  Unity requires maturity, not uniformity

Unity is not uniformity of thought rather it is the maturity of thought in each individual. The early church included tax collectors, fishermen, zealots, Jews, Gentiles, rich, poor, educated, uneducated etc. etc. Their strength was not sameness but shared devotion to God.
Romans 12. 4 – 5, “For just as each of us have one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function; so in Christ, we though many, form one body and each member belongs to all the others.”
1 Corinthians 12. 12 – ‘Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.’
Philippians 2.2 – “……. being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Maturity celebrates diversity and have a common person to worship, the one and true God – the Father; the Lord – Our Saviour who redeemed us by His precious blood. Under differently coloured skin, we carry different blood groups but the same colour of blood, the blood of Jesus which supplies life to all. Similarly, in Matthew 13, the Church is compared to a net that catches all kinds of fish.
So how is maturity fostered?
Through acceptance of differences and celebrating them is the quality of maturity nurtured. Through it, unity is maintained in the bonds/chords of peace.

3.  Unity releases Spiritual Power

God often moved powerfully when his people were united. The powerful release at Pentecost changed history, when the 120 assembled in the upper room, united in thought and spirit, (in one accord) prayed together. One accord is actually an orchestra of musical instruments creating a symphony. 120 hearts and minds came together in unison waiting for the promise of God, for the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2.1: ‘……. they were all together in one place.’
Acts 4.32: ‘All the believers were one in heart and mind….’
Matthew. 18.19: ‘…………if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for it will be done for them….’
Division drains strength while unity multiplies impact. The more the horses – the more the power!

4.  Peace is the bond that preserves unity

Unity survives where humility, forgiveness and grace are practiced. Nothing can destroy it. Every relationship can face misunderstanding. Even in our relationship with God, we often misunderstand His ways. Unity is preserved when believers chose reconciliation over offense. An example would be a cloud cast sky that could envelope people and they couldn’t see each other. Similarly, cloudy atmospheres envelope relationships. How to resolve them? Have open talks and reconcile. Problem solved. Otherwise, friends become enemies.
Romans 12.18 ‘….. live at peace with everyone’ for it depends on you.
Colossians 3.13 – ‘forgive as the Lord forgave you.’
Hebrews 12. 14 – ‘Make every effort to live in peace.’
The enemy often attacks relationships because He understands the power of unity in families, churches. So he attempts to scatter seeds of discord in the ‘Koinonia.’ We have to discern these and gain maturity. A crack in a dam needs to be fixed before it crumbles and causes a flood.
Unity of the Spirit needs to be fostered through the bonds of peace.
Let’s pray!