EDUCATION - THE LORD'S CONCERN

UNITY OF THE SPIRIT

(July 98)

Eph 4:1-3
1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation
    wherewith ye are called,
2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

WHY CAN’T PEOPLE HAVE UNITY?

In one of the Peanuts cartoons, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then
threatens him with her fist if he doesn'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?"

THE EFFECTS OF SIN

SIN has not only made man hostile to God, but has made men hostile to each other. Not long after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, their first-born murdered his own brother. From then on, hatred, bloodshed, strife, war, and revenge have cast  a deep shadow over the history of mankind. Yes it is the effects of sin that is the reason people cannot be in unity.

SIN BRINGS DISCORD

Just as the fist is made with the five fingers, so there are also five things that we as people do that brings discord.

1. Sin is discord with God.
2. Sin is rebellion against the almighty.
3. Sin separates us from God.
4. It also separates from our fellow man.
5. It divides, separates, confuses, and distresses.

YES, EVEN CHRISTIANS SIN
Just because you are a Christian, it doesn’t mean you are free from a carnal mind. There are roots of bitterness which distract even the most sincere Christians. Even Paul and Barnabus had their weak moments. These men were filled with the Holy Ghost, and they still had a problem.

EFFORTS TO PREVENT DIVISION

Ever since the early church, there have been schemes and promotions to produce unity in the church. In Acts 6, the first deacons were elected to maintain unity in the early church. But, divisions continue. The only medicine to heal these wounds is found in our text. "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." Our text refers to the true basis of unity, and to the proper method of maintaining it.

THE BASIS OF UNITY

UNITY OF THE SPIRIT
It is NOT denominational unity. It is NOT unity of the name over the door. It is NOT unity of the form of worship (hymns -vs- choruses) It is NOT one sect swallowing up the hundreds of other sects.
I once heard someone preach that a certain denomination was like Aaron's rod, and it was going to swallow up all the other rods (denominations). This is not the unity of the Spirit which is referred to in the Scriptures. It’s not going to happen.

IF EVERYONE WAS ALIKE, IT WOULD BE A PECULIARITY
It would be a deviation from the norm in the universe. There is difference and divergence throughout the universe. If everyone dressed the same, spoke the same, thought the same, acted exactly the same, SOMETHING WOULD BE WRONG.
Can you imagine everyone thinking the same thing about when to get a drink of water and when to go to the bathroom? Thank God we are not all exactly alike and thinking exactly alike. That is not the unity which is referred to here.

UNITY IS NOT ACCOMPLISHED BY LIBERAL CONCESSIONS
Some are willing to sacrifice the truth for the sake of visible harmony. Unity, even of the right kind, is too dearly paid for if purchased by forsaking even one grain of truth.

UNITY BY CONCESSION IS LIKE TWO ON A BIKE
Two men were riding a bicycle built for two when they came to a big steep hill. It took a great deal of struggle for the men to complete what proved to be a very stiff climb. When they got to the top the man in front turned to the other and said, "Boy, that sure was a hard climb." The fellow in back replied, "Yes, and if I hadn't kept the brakes on all the way we would certainly have rolled down
backwards."
Attempting to obtain unity by concession is like trying to climb a hill with someone who is holding the brakes on. They are fighting against you and must be lugged along. It is not true unity.

IN OUR TEXT IS THE KEY:

THE BASIS FOR UNITY IS: UNITY OF SPIRIT
And this spirit is the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom 8:9 "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." If all Christians have this same Spirit, then there must be unity of Spirit.

THE WORLD SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IT
Color of skin should not be able to stop it. Type of language… Preferred styles of music should not be able to stop it.

THE INGREDIENTS OF UNITY

SPIRITUAL UNITY REQUIRES LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER
Love to all saints--love unfeigned. Love that produces sympathy and care. Love that produces benevolence, tenderness, pity, and mutual prayer. Love in deed, and not merely in word.

SPIRITUAL UNITY REQUIRES TRUE HUMILITY
Pride causes contention. Men never can be united, while they stand on stilts They stand on the stilts of their own preconceived superiority. The man who says, "I am more righteous than thou," will also say "Stand off!" But if we think of ourselves in the spirit of Christian humility, we shall be prostrated together at the foot of the cross. While receiving the Spirit’s mercy, the spirit of unity will be felt, and cherished.

SPIRITUAL UNITY REQUIRES FORBEARANCE
This is often urged in the Scriptures. Col 3:13 "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." The word means to "bear with" or to "endure."

THE METHODS OF UNITY

THE METHOD IS PERSONAL
We as individuals are TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT. Every man is to do this for himself. It doesn't come by legislation or coercion. The Christian is to keep his own spirit.

THE METHOD IS A DECIDED EFFORT
The word "ENDEAVORING" is used in the KJV. This word means to try diligently. Unity is not something that just happens. You have to work at it. You don't have to work at getting mad, it comes naturally. But, it takes labor to get along with people. It takes work to get over things when you are mistreated. It is an ENDEAVOR!

THE METHOD REQUIRES A BOND (a glue)
In the "BOND OF PEACE." We are to bind ourselves together with peace. Our motto should be, "I am for peace." We are to pray for peace. We are to make peace with one another.