Tuesday January 06, 2009
One People
I pray that we will soon discover that we are to work at being what God's WORD says we are.
<p><cite>"Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us" (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="1_Peter_5_10-12_30805000">1 Peter:5:10-12</span><span class=popup id="popup-1_Peter_5_10-12_30805000" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;"><font color=green>[10]</font>And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.<font color=green>[11]</font>To him [be] the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.<font color=green>[12]</font>By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account [him], I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand ye fast therein.</span>)</cite>.</p>
<p><b>When we finally embrace one another in the love of God the world will be touched by the life and power of God through the true Spirit of evangelism.</b></p>
<p>"Sanctify them by the truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world; and I sanctify myself for them, that they also may be sanctified by truth.<br />
</p>
<p>And I do not demand for these only, but also for those who believe on me through their word; that they may be all one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them, that they may be one, as we are one; I in them and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me" (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="John_17_21_31306000">John:17:21</span><span class=popup id="popup-John_17_21_31306000" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;">that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.</span>).</p>
<p>"<b>Which in time past</b> were <b>not a people</b>" This is a quotation from Ho 1:9, 10; 2:23, where the <b>calling of the</b> <b>Gentiles</b>, by the preaching of the Gospel, is foretold. From this it is evident, that the people to whom the apostle now addresses himself had been <b>Gentiles</b>, covered with ignorance and superstition, and now had obtained mercy by the preaching of the Gospel of Christ.</p>
<p>God called Abram out of a people (Shem) to make a new people in the earth, "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Genesis_12_1-3_31758900">Genesis:12:1-3</span><span class=popup id="popup-Genesis_12_1-3_31758900" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;"><font color=green>[1]</font>Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father`s house, unto the land that I will show thee:<font color=green>[2]</font>and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make they name great; and be thou a blessing;<font color=green>[3]</font>and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.</span>)." Abram obeyed God, and because of his faith and obedience to God's word, new nations were born into the earth. </p>
<p><b>Walking in the unity of the Spirit is prerequisite to walking in the unity of the faith</b>.</p>
<p><cite>"by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. this I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Galatians_5_13-16_32101100">Galatians:5:13-16</span><span class=popup id="popup-Galatians_5_13-16_32101100" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;"><font color=green>[13]</font>For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only [use] not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.<font color=green>[14]</font>For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.<font color=green>[15]</font>But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.<font color=green>[16]</font>But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.</span>).</cite></p>
<p><b>The unity of the faith is something that we grow into. The writer of the epistle to the Ephesians wrote:</b></p>
<p><cite>"one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: , "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)<em> It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, <strong>so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, </strong>attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.</em> Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Ephesians_4_5-16_32647300">Ephesians:4:5-16</span><span class=popup id="popup-Ephesians_4_5-16_32647300" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;"><font color=green>[5]</font>one Lord, one faith, one baptism,<font color=green>[6]</font>one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.<font color=green>[7]</font>But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.<font color=green>[8]</font>Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men.<font color=green>[9]</font>(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?<font color=green>[10]</font>He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)<font color=green>[11]</font>And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;<font color=green>[12]</font>for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:<font color=green>[13]</font>till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:<font color=green>[14]</font>that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;<font color=green>[15]</font>but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ;<font color=green>[16]</font>from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in [due] measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.</span>).</cite></p>
<p>Unity is not a new phenomena to be explored by the people of God. Unity is as antient as God, and indeed is one of His attributes. God does not disagree nor strive with the members of the Godhead. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are always in complete harmony.</p>
<h3>The Fruit of Unity </h3>
<p><u><b>Agreement</b></u> </p>
<p><cite>"Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on the earth concerning any matter, whatsoever it may be that they shall ask, it shall come to them from my Father who is in the heavens. For where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them"(<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Matthew_18_19_33011800">Matthew:18:19</span><span class=popup id="popup-Matthew_18_19_33011800" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;">Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.</span>, 20 Dby).</cite></p>
<p><cite>"And when the day of Pentecost was now accomplishing, they were all together in one place" (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Acts_2_1_33359300">Acts:2:1</span><span class=popup id="popup-Acts_2_1_33359300" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;">And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.</span> Dby).</cite></p>
<p><u><b>Boldness</b></u> </p>
<p><cite>And having been let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. And they, having heard it, lifted up their voice with one accord to God, and said, Lord, *thou* art the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them; who hast said by the mouth of thy servant David, Why have the nations raged haughtily and the peoples meditated vain things? The kings of the earth were there, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.<br />
</cite></p>
<p><cite>For in truth against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou hadst anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the nations, and peoples of Israel, have been gathered together in this city to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel had determined before should come to pass.<br />
</cite></p>
<p><cite>And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings, and give to thy bondmen with all boldness to speak thy word,<br />
in that thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and that signs and wonders take place through the name of thy holy servant Jesus.<br />
</cite></p>
<p><cite>And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness" (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Acts_4_23-31_33653800">Acts:4:23-31</span><span class=popup id="popup-Acts_4_23-31_33653800" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;"><font color=green>[23]</font>And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them.<font color=green>[24]</font>And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:<font color=green>[25]</font>who by the Holy Spirit, [by] the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?<font color=green>[26]</font>The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:<font color=green>[27]</font>for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,<font color=green>[28]</font>to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass.<font color=green>[29]</font>And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,<font color=green>[30]</font>while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus.<font color=green>[31]</font>And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.</span>).</cite></p>
<p><u><b><cite>Sharing</cite></b></u></p>
<p>"And the heart and soul of the multitude of those that had believed were one, and not one said that anything of what he possessed was his own, but all things were common to them;<br />
and with great power did the apostles give witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.<br />
For neither was there any one in want among them; for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling them, brought the price of what was sold<br />
and laid it at the feet of the apostles; and distribution was made to each according as any one might have need" (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Acts_4_32-35_33935700">Acts:4:32-35</span><span class=popup id="popup-Acts_4_32-35_33935700" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;"><font color=green>[32]</font>And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one [of them] said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.<font color=green>[33]</font>And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.<font color=green>[34]</font>For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,<font color=green>[35]</font>and laid them at the apostles` feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.</span>).</p>
<p>"These <b>gave</b> themselves all with one accord to continual prayer, with several women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren" (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Acts_1_14_34183200">Acts:1:14</span><span class=popup id="popup-Acts_1_14_34183200" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;">These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.</span>).</p>
<p><b>We are to strive together to accomplish the same end. Why do we strive against one another? We are destroying ourselves by struggling against the will of God for our corporate lives. We are a called out people who should be joined together in singleness of heart doing battle against the wiles of the devil</b>. </p>
<p>"Only conduct yourselves worthily of the glad tidings of the Christ, in order that whether coming and seeing you, or absent, I may hear of what concerns you, that ye stand firm in one spirit, with one soul, labouring together in the same conflict with the faith of the glad tidings" (Philippians 1:27 Dby).</p>
<p>"To the end that their hearts may be encouraged, being united together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery of God" (<span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Colossians_2_2_34621000">Colossians:2:2</span><span class=popup id="popup-Colossians_2_2_34621000" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;">that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, [even] Christ,</span> Dby).</p>
<p>"Finally, be all of one mind, sympathizing, full of brotherly love, tender hearted, humble minded" (1Peter 3:8 Dby).</p>
<p><b>When we finally come together in love we will learn of God more perfectly. We as members of the same body are not to be self indulgent, but serving one another with gifts freely given to us by the Spirit of Holy God, for the very purpose of edifying one another (see 1Corinthians 12: 14-31).</b></p>
<p><b>Love causes us to be properly motivated, which is why we should SEEK THE GOOD OF OTHERS in the assemblies of God rather than SATISFY OUR OWN DESIRES. The church is edified when we prophesy, (see 1Corinthians 14.4). Love also causes us to want to do all things decently and in order (1Cor. 14:40). "Therefore let all things be done unto edification" (1Corinthians 14:26). "Build one another up with the gifts of love that God has given us (Php 2:4). And remember, if one member is out of harmony with the rest of the body, the body must minister to the week member to bring them back to strength (Ga 6:1).</b></p>
<p><b><span class="bls" style="background-color:#EEEEFF;" id="Amos_3_3_35311600">Amos:3:3</span><span class=popup id="popup-Amos_3_3_35311600" style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden;z-index:999;border-style:ridge;border-color:#00AAFF;border-width:1px;background-color:#EEEEEE;width:300px;height:200px;">Shall two walk together, except they have agreed?</span> asks, "Can two walk together except they be in agreement?</b></p>
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