Introduction
In Joh. 17:11 we discovered that the desire of \our Lord Jesus Christ is that we walk in unity as He walked with the father. He noticed that his disciples constantly had the challenge of walking in unity, each one competing for supremacy – Mark 9:34. God’s heart cry is that we all come in the unity of faith. Eph. 4:13
WHAT IS UNITY
It means to be one - Joh. 17:11
To speak one language – Gen. 11:6
To operate as one body in Christ –Ro. 12:5
To be in agreement with one another
Amos 3:3
To have one common goal or common vision
To be established means to be rooted and firmly fixed
To be established in unity means to be so much united that nothing can bring division.
God expects His children to be bonded into one body by the Holy Spirit, to have one hope, serve one God and finally live together with Jesus in the same house with many mansions (rooms) in Heaven. Joh 14:12
HOW CAN WE BE STABLISHED IN UNITY
e. Unity brings answers to our prayers Acts. 12:5-12
Peter was imprisoned but the church gathered to pray together and God delivered Peter. We should know that so many are in bondage of the devil and God want us to pray in unity for them to be delivered. Matt 18:19-20
We can be established in unity by showing love to one another Joh. 13:35.
When we go through 1Cor. 13:4-8 “love suffereth long and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophesies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away”
Conscious and determined effort is required to avoid those things which easily divide us, like
• unforgiveness
• hatred,
• strife
• pride Prov. 13:30
• offences,
• contention. Prov. 3:30
Live peaceably with others. Rom. 12:18, Philip 4:8, 1Pet. 3:8-11
Honour and appreciate people and correct in love
Investing in people’s lives – This has to do with helping others, by meeting some of their needs. We should be concerned about other people’s lives and wellbeing.
Encourage team work – God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit demonstrated team work as shown in the Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ on earth. Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus Christ of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and Power who went about doing good and healing those that are oppressed of the devil for God was with Him.
By this Jesus was able to receive strength and power to fulfil his ministry.
Humility. Philip 2:5-10, James 4:7
RESULT OF BEING ESTABLISHED IN UNITY