UNITY PRECEDES REVIVALUnited We Stand. Divided We Fall

OUR FOCUS FOR REVIVAL!

Ourselves

Our marriages

Our families

Our church

We need unity to all this!

A BROKEN CIRCUIT BREAKS THE FLOW OF POWER

Unity is necessary for the Presence & power of God to flow among us.

POWER OF UNITY

Every group of people who has ever lived has sought unity

Businesses spend millions to unify its workers

Government spend billions to unify its citizens

Militaries cannot win wars without strict unity

More military people die in battle without unity

Every major religious spirit tries to unify its followers

POWER OF UNITY

Tower of Babel: Unified idolatry that God had to oppose

13 united Colonies defeated the strongest nation on earth

The United States: the richest and most powerful nation ever!

Unions protected American workers rights

Essential unity of Armed Forces, police, firemen, surgical team, football team, ants, bees, the functions of the human body.

UNITY ENABLES SYNERGY

Synergy:

The total effect of collaboration among people produces more than what each person could produce alone.

Eccles. 4:9-10: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

TWO HORSE SYNERGY1 Horse can pull 8000 LB. Two can pull 24,000 LB

Two well-trained horses who have worked together: 32,000 LB

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN UNITY?

Deliberate & constantly renewed commitment to love, serve and encourage other Christians who also are committed to the Person, purposes and values of God as revealed in the Bible.

It is: “being of the same mind, having the same love…” Phil. 2:2

It is an expression of loving one another as Jesus loves us

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” Rom. 12:10

Christian unity is good only when it unifies people to love and serve God according foundational biblical values and purposes.

FOUNDATIONS OF UNITY

The humble unity of One God in Three Persons:

Father loves to honor Jesus

Jesus says and does ONLY what the Father says and does

 “I and the Father are one!” ( John 10:20)

The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus, reminds us of Jesus

UNITY FOR CHRISTIANS

Huge biblical theme in entire Bible

God bestows blessings on unified believers: Ps. 133

 “That they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me…so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:21

Empowers corporate worship: “…so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus”  ( Rom. 15:5-6)

UNITY IS NOT

Total doctrinal agreement

Unity only with really holy people

Demanding that their style or culture be like ours

Only with Christians we like

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF UNITY

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.” ( Matthew 18:19)

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20)

“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” ( Rom. 12:5)

Jesus “began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.” Mark 6:7

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together…” Acts 2:1

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF DISUNITY

The Corinthian Church & Philippian Church

Rebellion against Moses by Jews in the Exodus

Achan’s theft of valuables in Jericho

THE CHURCH WAS BORN IN UNITY

“And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart…” Acts 2:44-46

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. ..For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalm 133

“But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” Is. 66:2

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10

KINGDOM OF GOD CULTURE

Be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Eph. 4:3-6

 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” Romans 12:16

KINGDOM CULTURE & COMMANDS

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Eph. 5:21

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Eph. 5:25

“Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Eph. 5:24

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.” Phil. 2:3

KINGDOM CULTURE & COMMANDS

“…every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” ~Jesus in Matthew 12:25

BIBLICAL WARNINGS ON DISUNITY

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7)

“…every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”~~Jesus in Matthew 12:25)

We must have disunity with Christians engaged in serious unrepentant sin, false teachers, false prophets and the like.

PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER

“Honest difference of views and honest debate are not disunity.

They are the vital process of policy among free men.”

HONEST CONFLICT IS ESSENTIAL

We must encourage open, honest, loving expression of disagreements— if there are any.

We must respect our non-essential differences without having to agree

If necessary, we must allow our leaders to decide the boundaries of unity with others after thorough discussion and prayerful reflection and align ourselves with our leaders’ decision before we can walk in unity.

The Founder of the world’s largest mission ministry

HOW GOD WILL REVIVE OUR CHURCH.

There must be a mutual oneness of determination to glorify God alone.

There must be a common, daily focus the Person and work of the Lord

A common willingness to set aside things which hinder those commitments

There must be a consistent unity of focus and persistence in desperate prayer and growing expectation by at least a small group of the church.

We all have to deal with public and private sins so that we can more fully be one.

We all must speak the truth in love to maintain heathy personal relationships

We all must forgive and seek reconciliation quickly

UNITY MUST PRECEDE REVIVAL

In ME!

In my marriage

In my family

In my church

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