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Love Shows Through Unity

John 17:23 (AMP)  I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me.

How does the world know what real love is? Jesus tells us right here. Division in the church is not a sign to the world of what real love is. Social media, the news, even in our thoughts we are consumed with what divides us. Do you think the Father is pleased?

Galatians 5:14-15 (AMP) For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another.

Unity is a sign of His love flowing through His body (the church). Where there is strife, discord and resentment love cannot do its work in us. The early church was so mighty because of their love for each other, their reverence for God and their unity.

Acts 2:1 (NKJV) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

It is not enough to be in the same physical place; it is about our thoughts as well. I remember when our pastors decided to move our church from a small rural county road to a place within a larger city. The cost of the property and the amount of the property was quite large. Some men came against them and said that we did not need to purchase it and left. Some men left years later saying, we should never have moved there (after we could not afford it any longer). Were they right? Let’s look at an example in the Bible for the answer.

Before the day of Pentecost, Peter had come before the people saying they needed to pick a new apostle to replace Judas. What does he do? He says to pick out all of the men that had been with them since the beginning and they will cast lots. You can find this account in Acts 1. Two men were identified and Matthias gets chosen via casting a lot to be the new apostle. That’s the last we heard about that and him. Was that God’s chosen way of doing things? No. What happened though? They were unified, and after the Holy Spirit was received and because of their unification thousands were added to the church. What would have happened if there were some in the group who spoke up against casting lots? Unity was their expression of love. Eventually, we see that God picked Paul to be the next apostle.

Why are churches so divided over methods? The enemy likes an ineffective church. We become stagnant in our love for each other, seeking the best for each other, because we are too consumed with our methods being the best way. We say things like, “why are they having church at that time?” Or “I do not like the way they do things.” The only time we should speak up about something is if sin is permitted. Methods are not what should divide us. What happens if I do not agree with why we are doing something? I say get to know the heart of those leading (especially your pastor) and trust that they are hearing God. Another thing do not compare your church’s methods with the another’s. Do you want your church to make an impact? Unity draws blessings.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (AMP) Finally, believers, rejoice! Be made complete [be what you should be], be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace [enjoy the spiritual well-being experienced by believers who walk closely with God]; and the God of love and peace [the source of lovingkindness] will be with you.

Philippians 1:27 (AMP) Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.

We are to be unified under the authority of the Word of God. Is it more important to be right than to be united? What could our church had done if those who were called to be with us did not leave just because they did not understand. What would have it cost the early church to be in disunity of the decision of Peter to cast lots? What would have happened if they demanded they use a different method? What if they would have done like Christ and fasted and prayed under their request? That method would have been correct; however, it would have come with a cost. It would have come with the cost of disunity; the outpouring of what God could do through the early church would have been minimal.

Look all through the books of Acts and it talks about decisions being made, the excitement and the unity, then the exponential growth. It takes a deep love to allow this to happen. Everyone would take ownership of the methods and there would not be an undertow of discontent.

I want to see lives impacted for eternity rather me having to be right all the time. I do not want my discontent to be a reason that we are not effective. I had asked God a couple of years ago how Connect Church can walk and live in a manner worthing of His calling. This is the verse that He gave me and I have been standing on it ever since.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (AMP) So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. 

If there is no unity there is no love abounding. God is love. He desires a unified church.

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Tennis Balls and the Holy Spirit

As I was reading Undistracted by Bob Goff, Saturday, I came across him talking about having to decide about whether he would have a heart procedure done because his heart was beating too fast. His resting heart rate was in the two hundreds. A normal resting heart rate is between seventy and one hundred beats per minute. He had to decide to have a procedure that would stop his heart and then send a shock to restart it (all done while medicated sleep). He posed the question: “Would you be willing to risk dying in order for your life to be more lasting? Would you risk everything for the chance to live your life more fully?”

Jesus did just that when He went to the cross for us. He did that, then how is my life better?

John 16:5-7 (AMP) But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [and taken complete possession of them]. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

My mind went directly to the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the reason my life is so much better! Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday. If the Holy Spirit was not here, and within me, then the church would not be able to reach her fullest potential.

Acts 1:8 (AMP) But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.

I fully believe that I would not be able to fulfill the commandment Jesus gave me without the Holy Spirit.

John 15:12 (AMP) This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.

Not many of us can say that being unselfish is easy. I am one that likes to have my time. I plan out what I am cooking and how left overs are going to be used when I am doing my weekly shopping. I am at the gym every day at the same time. I plan what errands that I will do each day and will try to be home at a certain time. This is so that I can have time to read and take a nap before we have evening sports. I can say that I have gotten better at letting go of the routine. How do you think those like me would have handled the changes when the Holy Spirit took root in the early church?

Acts 2:41-47 (AMP) So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers]. They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers. A sense of awe was felt by everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Your possessions are anything that you get to decide how they are used. Would I give up my time so that others can receive Christ? Would I give up my Saturday so that I can meet the need of someone else?

Bob Goff compared the amount of effort it takes for you heart to beat is like you and I taking a tennis ball in our hand and trying to squeeze it. Try it, it’s not easy. That to me is what it is like to do this love walk (unselfishly seeking the best for others) without the Holy Spirit. I need the Holy Spirit in my time. I need the Holy Spirit in my coming and going. I need the Holy Spirit in my self talk. I need the Holy Spirit in getting to know the heart of the Father. I need the Holy Spirit to become more and more like Jesus. To try to do this without the Holy Spirit is like squeezing a tennis ball. You might get one or two squeezes before you hand cramps, but not enough to sustain a steady heart beat.

If you have not done so invite the Holy Spirit into your life. If you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit I would love to talk with you more about that. The benefits of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gave us is so much more than just a Comforter. We also get the benefit of a heavenly prayer language. We get the benefit of not going at this love walk alone. We get the benefit of having God within us. I am so grateful for Pentecost (the gift of the Holy Spirit) and my church. I am so happy that Jesus risked everything so that I could live a life more fully!