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In this blog, I share what the Lord shares with me. I reference scripture a lot in support of what is being said. I realize that what is in each entry is NOT a complete 'word' on what is being said, but is rather enough information to stimulate our spirits to dig deeper (remember the Bereans Acts 17:10-11) thereby gaining a fuller understanding for ourselves.

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Saturday, August 6, 2016


 8/7/2016   Unity




UNITY
Begins at Home


When we think about unity, we think about 'oneness', like mindedness coming together for a single goal.
The word 'unity' pops up twice in the bible, once in Psalms 133 and the other in Ephesians 4.  The Hebrew word is yachad (3162) which carries the connotation of together, likewise, all at once, unity.  The Greek word is  henotes (1775) with the meanings of oneness, unanimity (looked up this word and Webster's says unanimous), unity.

Webster defines unity as oneness, not divided, harmony, totality of related parts and solidarity, among some other similar meanings.

So we might say that unity is multiple single parts coming together for a single purpose or to function as a single unit.

When we talk about unity we have to start with God.
            Genesis 1:1              In the beginning God … (v1)
  Genesis 1:2              … and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (v2)
  John 1:1-3            In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (v1).  The same was in the beginning with God (v2).  All things were made by Him and there was nothing made that was made without Him (v3).
  Col. 2:9                For in Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily.

God is the ultimate of unity so we have to start with Him.  After all, I mean what was before God?  The first four words of the bible are "In the beginning God", a single unit.  Not Tom and Dick and Harry, but but God, one being.  A second part of God is introduced in verse 2 as the Spirit of God moved upon the waters.  In John chapter 1 we see "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was 'with' God and the Word 'was' God",  as a third part of God but Colossians 2:9 brings absolute unity to God in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

As we read the scriptures, we see the Greek word for 'spirit' is pneuma (Strong's 4151) or breath and indicates the spirit of God or the living spirit of man.  In the Old Testament the word used when indicating God's Spirit is ruwach (Strong's 7307) indicating a blast of air, breath.  

So we see that God (The Being) spoke Words (Jesus the Son) and the breath of God (The Holy Ghost) carried those words into action.  

One being but three components, being, force and physical form.

I'm using John 15:1-10 as the Key Scripture for unity.

Jesus explains, in part, how He and the Father are one, in John 15 and then draws the implication that we should be one with the Son as the Son is with the Father.  UNITY!

Our title says that unity begins at home.  If we are to attain unity with our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, we must first desire, seek and find unity with our heavenly Father through His Son Jesus Christ because the Holy Ghost is guiding and directing us to do so.

The first four sections give us indication of what we need to understand and do so we can attain a "Closer Walk With God", or that is to come into unity with our creator.

Unity begins at home, that is with the individual (John 15:1-6)
Jesus says that He is the true vine and the Father is the husbandman. 
… He purges the branches that bear fruit so they might bear even more.
            We are clean through the Word Jesus give us
Abide in Me as I abide in you for the branches cannot bear fruit unless they abide in the vine
… you can do nothing without Me
If a man doesn’t abide in Me he is cast out and burned

We need to realize that we truly can do nothing without Him (He is our strength) and yet we can do all things through Him (ask and you shall receive [Matt. 7:7] and I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me [Phil. 4:13]).  Grabbing hold to this concept is the beginning of understanding our unity with God.

We need to do the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21-25)
Not everyone who says to Me “Lord, Lord” shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of My Father which is in heaven.
And many will say “In Your name haven’t we prophesied in your name, cast out devils and did many wonderful works?”
But I will profess to them “I never knew you.  Depart from Me, you who work iniquity.”
I will liken the man who hears My saying to a man who builds his house upon a rock … and the house will stand against adversity because it is built upon a (the) Rock.

James 2:17-20 tells us that faith without works is dead, but as we see in Matthew seven, works without faith is also dead (useless). We need to be sincere about what we're doing because many will say they do things in Jesus' name, but like with the scribes and Pharisees, they never really took the time to get to know Him (Jesus) so all that they do is go through the motions  We need to desire to please God and pleasing God means doing the works of His kingdom.  Unity with God produces kingdom existence.

We have to solidify our walk with Christ Jesus in order to have unity with anyone else (John 15:7-13)
            If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, ask what you will and it shall be done
            My Father is glorified when you bear much fruit and so shall you be My disciples
            As the Father has love Me, I have loved you.  Continue in My love.
If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love even as I have kept the Father’s commandments and abided in His love.
I have told you these things so that My joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full
My commandment is that you love one another as I have loved you
There is no greater love that a man can express, that that he lay his life down for his friends.

Jesus defines what it takes to be His disciple and how that equates to unity with Him. (be bold, read all of chapter 15 and don't just 'skim' it.  Read it!)  Once we have come to unity i Jesus, the door is open to come into unity with those around us.

We strive to become a friend of Jesus (John 15:14-18)
             You are My friends when you do what I command you
             I don't call you servants, a servant doesn't know what his Lord does
             but I call you friends 
             because I've shown you everything that I've heard from My Father 

We tell our 'best friend' everything that goes on in our life. We hold little, if anything back.
But, those who are just casual acquaintances we share only what we want them to know and at that only 'surface' information. We don't 'bare' our souls to them as we would our best friend. When we become best friends with Jesus, we develop a unity, a bond, that cannot be broken. This all becomes a two way street. We keep his commandment (to love) and indeed we learn to love Him. As we learn to love Him, we desire to keep His commandment. That my brothers and sisters is UNITY.

Now we need to learn how to translate all this to those around us remembering that as we do to those in the body we do to who?  Jesus!  (Matt. 25:32-40 - because you've done it to the least ... ykou've done it to Me)

We band together with those who are like-minded for there is no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Corinth. 6:14-18)

How do we develop unity with others?
            Hebrews 10:25            Don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together

                                                  If we don't come together (gather) how can we develop unity when no                                                   one else is around us?

John 15:14-27              You are My friends so I share all that I have with you … (v14,15)  … love one another (v17) … remember what I’ve told you, you are not greater than I … (v20) … I will send the Comforter (HG) … (v26) and you shall also bear witness because you have been with Me from the beginning (v27).

How can we develop unity if we have no friends?  We develop friendships as we share ourselves with others and the Holy Ghost will help us to do that.

Romans 14:17-19        Kingdom of God … righteousness, joy & peace in HG (v17).  Doing so is acceptable to God and approved of men (v18).  Follow things that make peace so we can edify one another (v19).
                                    As we follow the lifestyle Father intends for us and become peacemakers (Blessed are the peacemakers Matt. 5:9) we attain favor with God and God will give us favor with man which will lead to having friends which will lead to unity.

1 Thess. 5:8-24           Be sober, put on breastplate of faith & love and as a helmet hope in salvation (v8).  Christ is our salvation, live together with Him (v9,10).  Comfort and edify one another (v11),
Be aware of those who work among and have charge over us v12),
 esteem them in love and be at peace among yourselves (v13),
 Correct those who need help, support the weak and be patient towards all (v14),
Do that which is good to each other and everyone (v15),
Rejoice evermore (v16)
Pray without ceasing (v17)
Give thanks in all things (v18)
Don’t quench the Spirit (v19)
Don’t despise prophesying (v20)
Prove all things, hanging on to that which is good (v21)
Abstain from the appearance of evil (v22)
May the God of peace sanctify us wholly, and keep our spirit, soul and body blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (v23)
He who calls you is faithful and He will do it (v24) 

Read this list and read again, and again until it starts to sink in then add Gal. 5:22-24 for the fruit of the Spirit plus verses 25 & 26.  The list here is allowing the Holy Ghost to operate in us and through us and is an expression of the fruit of the Spirit being alive and well within us.  When these elements operate in our lives, and those with whom we associate with, we develop unity because we find that we are likeminded. 

Rev. 12:10-11     
And I hear aloud voice from heaven proclaim ‘Now has strength, Salvation,the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ is come for the one who accused of brothers day and night before God is cast down (v10)

And they (believers) overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony and that they didn’t love their lives, even unto death (v11)

The enemy spends his time accusing us but we have overcome all things of the enemy through the blood of Jesus Christ so we are able to apply all those things written in this list. Do some research for there is more in scripture which reveals how we should live which solidifies unity with our Lord and our brothers and sisters.

But we first have to come into unity with the Father through the Son then the Holy Ghost helps us develop unity in the body (especially of Christ).

Father wants us to walk in unity with Him and our brothers and sisters in Chris Jesus so we can be "ONE" with them as Father and Son already are one.

And one means unity.

In Jesus name, amen (let it be so)

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