Unity – A Work in Progress

Unity – A Work in Progress

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: Psalms 133:1-3

Last week at the community prayer time at MBF, the topic for the prayer session was “unity.”
Sence that time of prayer, this theme has been playing over and over in my heart.
Unity doesn't just happen; it is fought for.
Unity requires active effort and intentionality, rather than being a passive outcome.
It must be pursued and protected, maintained with a conscious effort to overcome obstacles and challenges that are intended to divide instead of unify.

Ver.3 it is in places of unity that the Lord commands a blessing.

At CFO, I was the leader of a small prayer group of 5 men.
A scripture that seemed to be a point of reference for our group has typically been used for men’s groups for what I think is obvious reasons.
Pr 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

A major emphasis here is that men need men. As we interact together, we sharpen each other, making each other stronger.
But think for a moment about the process of iron sharpening iron.
It is a process of a piece of iron rubbing another piece of iron the wrong way.
In that process, the rough places are exposed and worked over until they become smooth and sharp.

I think it is human nature, but it is especially true of men - In the process of trying to get to know someone else, if they rub me the wrong way, exposing a rough edge, what is my typical knee-jerk reaction to that encounter? Not unity.
And yet that process of being sharpened is VERY necessary in order for my rough edges to become worked out.

What does my immaturity say about people that rub me the wrong way? I don’t need to be around them. They are the problem – things were fine before ….
Instead of going to them and working things out, I avoid them & talk about them.

It’s FRUSTRATING and somewhat amusing how God places these kinds of people in the church body.
And then God has the nerve to ask me to work towards unity.
What’s my response? I DON’T L I K E I T!!!

Paul pinpoints divisions in the church.
1Co 3:3 for you are still carnal. (how does Paul know?) For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

If you to put into one sentence, or one word the reason for division in a church, I think it would be the “flesh.” It goes back to the carnal nature.

Paul is saying that strife and divisions had reduced them back to the natural, or carnal, state that they were in before they were born again.
It had so stunted their spiritual growth that they couldn't understand the things the Apostle Paul wanted to teach them.

Satan sends that same spirit of division among churches today. He knows that a house divided against itself will fall. He also knows if we all come together in the unity of our faith, we'll arrive at the full stature of Christ Jesus (Eph. 4:13). So, he has assigned a spirit of division to operate in our personal lives, our church lives, our social lives and our family lives. His goal is the same as it was in Corinth: to bring envy, strife and division; and to stunt our spiritual growth.

Unity needs to be maintained and sometimes fought for. Fighting for this is HARD!

1Co.1:10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. NLT

Eph 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. NIV

Scripture tells us to think of others better than yourself.
Php 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Mt 20:26 "… but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
1Co 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well -being.

Scripture says if you know someone has a problem with you, go to them work towards unity.
If someone comes to me in this situation, my nerd knee-jerk reaction is to respond as one being attacked. How should I respond? With humility, searching my heart andf asking God for revelation. This is hard to do - very hard!

Mat 5:23-24 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. NKJV
Colossians 3:13-15 Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.