Presence & Power预览

UNITY

Why is unity important?

Ephesians 1 says,

The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honour of God’s glory.

The Holy Spirit is the foundation through which we can taste God’s presence in our lives, but just like after receiving a down payment, there is more of His presence we can discover. Psalm 133 tells us,

Where there is unity, God commands a blessing.

There is something about unity that not just ‘might’ but which ‘commands’ God’s blessing. It is an essential ingredient in our walk, we are to keep this unity. Ephesians 4 says,

have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost starts with ‘together’ and ends with the word ‘together.’ The people were together in one place and together in one heart. They were united in Christ’s mission to the world. Together, they were united in receiving power, a power that bypassed even the separation of language. In fact Acts 4:32 says,

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Peter adds the illustration of a spiritual building with the members as stones, each fitting perfectly. It is this bond and conviction of unity in a fractured and divided world, that was the powerful message of Christianity.

The Holy Spirit comes because we are a united people. It is necessary to the outpouring of the Spirit and to His power. Romans 16:17 warns us,

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions.

In other words, protect unity. Remember unity is not agreement but it is founded in a committed to one another in love. In fact unity embraces differences and conflict, why else would we need to choose unity and love for each other?

Today, think about unity and what it means. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where there might be any disunity and where you can act in unity. Pray into this area and thank God that He commands a blessing over our unity.