The Power of Unity

by Os Hillman
“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” John 17:21

What is the greatest power that allows the unsaved to make a decision for Jesus Christ?
A It isn’t prayer, though this is important.
*It isn’t good deeds, though deeds indicate a fruitful relationship with God. *It isn’t good behavior, though Christ commands us to be obedient as sons.

**The greatest power God’s children have over darkness is UNITY.

Jesus talked a great deal about His oneness with the Father and the importance of unity in the Body of Christ. It is the most difficult command Jesus gave to the Church, because it wars against the most evil aspect of our sin nature-independence.

In the last days we are seeing God’s Spirit convict His children of the lack of unity among His Church. We are seeing God move between blacks and whites, ethnic groups, denominations, and parachurch groups. There is much work to be done.

The walls of division and competition among His Body are a stench in God’s nostrils. He sees the competition and the pride of ownership and weeps for the lost who cannot come to Him because they cannot see Him in His Body.
** When His Body is ONE, the unbelieving see that Jesus was sent by God.

It is like a supernatural key that unlocks Heaven for the heathen soul. The key is in the hand of Christ’s Church.
When there is unity, there is power.
Scripture tells us five will chase 100, but 100 will chase 10,000 (see Lev. 26:8). There is a dynamic multiplication factor in unity of numbers. We are a hundred times more effective when we are a unified group. Imagine what God could do with a unified Church.
Jesus prayed that we all might be one, as the Father and He are one. He wanted the same love God has for Jesus to be in each of us.

When this love is in us, we are drawn to each other with a common mission.
* The walls fall down.
* The independent spirit is broken. Competition is destroyed. Satan’s accusations are thwarted.
** Our love for each other is manifest to the world around us.
** Lost souls begin to seek this love that is so foreign to them.

Have you contributed to an independent spirit within His Body? Are you seeking to break down walls of competition among Christians, churches, denominations, and ethnic groups?

Until we walk in the spirit of unity, we will hinder those in whom God has reserved a place in Heaven. Pray for His Church to be unified.  End Os.

Here are a couple more verses to remind us of what Unity looks like. May the Lord lay upon our hearts and minds the need of Unity in these times we live in. The World Needs the entire Body now. There is power in Unity, using ALL the gifts for the ALL the Body.
Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
Eph. 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call– 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Eph. 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.(Other version of 8: Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble). 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
I think verse eight sums it up nicely for us as Christ followers. It says to this you “were called” so that you may inherit a blessing. Did you get that? Our future blessing is tied directly to our ability to live in harmony with one another!! I must do everything through the power of Christ in me to make sure I live life in harmony with others. If I can do this I am fulfilling my calling and I will inherit a blessing. A blessing that will allow me to love life and see good day.

How will I do it? Verse ten( 10 For Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;)  says that I do it by keeping my tongue from evil and my lips from deceitful speech, turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it!
My Prayer: Father help me to live out this scripture in my life. Teach me to live in harmony with others and then instruct me how to model it for people that they too may fulfill their calling and receive their full blessing in this life. Lord teach me your ways that I may walk in them! Amen