8 May 2011
Brent Brading
John 17:20-26 Brought to complete unity. Unity is a funny word you hear about a lot but see it so little. What is complete unity? Unity is togetherness? It is a whole lot more than that. Is it the absence of conflict? Eph 4:3 keep the unity of the Spirit, vs13 unity of the faith. Eph 1: live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
It speaks into our relationships. Keep completely humble and gentle. Unity is simply corporate humility. Be patient. Jam1:19-20 man’s anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. Deal with conflict by being quick to listen slow to speak and slow to become angry. Reconciliation – bear with one another in love. Deal with broken relationships; make every effort to restore those relationships. Mat18:32-35 Jesus has cancelled our sins so what we need to do is have mercy on those who have offended us and forgive. Mat6:14-15 If we forgive men the Father will also forgive us. Forgiveness is a debt we need to cancel those debts. This is about heart unity.
It speaks about a unity of Faith. Faith is how we act because of what we believe. E.g. Ants all working together, with a common goal and purpose. Eph4:11-16 God has given us gifts for works of service. Each part must do its work. This is about hand unity. We all have our parts to play. What is it that God has called you to do? Start doing it. Then the body of Christ will arise. Find you grace and YOU WILL FIND your place.
Complete unity is peace + purpose, heart + hands. It is synergy tow or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently possible. 1Cor 12:11-14 The body and its part, each part given by Christ.
Why is it so important? To let the world know that we love Jesus and that he loves us. We are to be God’s advert to the world. We are to let the world know we are on a God mission. This is done through complete unity. Psalm133:3.
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