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Showing results for tags 'unity of the spirit'.
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When I was younger there was talk in the churches of two unities coming One of the World to form the one world religion of the Antichrist, and the true Unity of the Spirit, which Spoken of in Ephesians 4, and John 17. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:3) The Word endeavouring in this verse gives us in English the notion that we have to force this upon the church by the strength of our will, and work, But the Word endeavoring in Greek is more akin to hastening, Than striving for. Many a man has tried to Unify the church, and many a man has failed to do so, because they approach it the wrong way. They try to unify in doctrine, but no one agrees on all doctrine, and the problem with this is that this unity is mental, and not Spiritual. Everyone is different, and we think differently and no two minds are alike. We have also tried unity by compromise, such as Augustine did, saying in essentials unity in non-essentials Liberty, and though this seems to work to an extent at keeping the peace between varying opinions on doctrine it is not a complete Unity, but rather a partial unity by name. Paul even speaks of this unity in Eph 4;14, that this sort of unity is susceptible to the winds of man made doctrine: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Eph. 4:14) The Problem with this sort unity is that it is man centered, when a brighter and keener man with a better understanding or more eloquent speech comes along the tide turns in their favor. The problem is, sometimes the wisest man is also the most cunning man, for such is the nature of man. Paul then continues and tells us the key to hastening this unity... 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph. 4:15-16) Christ is the head, and this is the Key to the unity that Paul said that we ALL must come to. (verse 13) A.W. Tozer gave us an incredible analogy of how this would come to be. He wrote: Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. https://www.renewingworshipnc.org/quotes-by-tozer/ The Big hurdle to overcome for this sort of unity to happen is that we all need to change our focus from men, to Christ as the head. We need to "grow up into him in all things". When we are contending against others, our focus is on carnal things, whether that be power, and preeminence or denomination and doctrine. This sort of contention shows us our immaturity, But the good news is we can hasten this unity, not by our own efforts, but by changing our focus to Christ and the cross. When Our eyes are fixed on this most wonderful act of Love for us all of our cares and aspirations disappear. Paul writing to the Corinthians put it this way: For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 cor. 3;3) They were fighting amongst themselves saying, "I am of Apollos, And I am of Paul", There focus was on carnal things, their focus needed to be on the one who grants the growth by his grace. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Eph. 4;13) Is your focus on Christ and the cross, God's tuning fork, or is it on earthly things such as men you hold dear or doctrines that you hold as superior?