by Glenice Mills
Why do we kill one another with our words of judgement?
Why do we cut one another down?
Why do we by our actions put yokes of bondage on one another?
Why do we use words to cut a person down?
Why do we betray one another, showing love then turning on the person we showed love to?
Why do we hold one another back?
Why do we not want the best for one another?
Why do we put each other down instead of standing with and encouraging them?
Why do we hold one another down?
Why do we hold one another down?
Why do we hold one another down?
Unity in the body of Christ is preached often. However, if we are truly honest, we need to ask ourselves some very serious questions. IF we have true unity we would be able to answer the above questions without doubt, with sureness of heart and being, knowing we have nothing, NO THING against a fellow brother and sister in Christ.
The truth is: we are far from showing true love, the love of Jesus Christ to one another. IF we are going to talk about unity, then we must ask the Lord to show us where we have sinned, spoken and passed judgement of a fellow follower of Jesus Christ. The reality is: it starts with me, it starts with you!!!
For too long we in the body of Christ have walked with a façade of ‘let’s all be friends’ when in fact we appear as ‘friends’ then go away and stab that person in the back by our critical words and ungodly actions. We take a perverse delight when a brother or sister falls and in our self righteousness think we are above that happening to us. We quickly fall in the trap of comparing ourselves, bowing to a competitive spirit, of who appears bigger and better than another.
We judge with natural eyes and not with eyes of the Spirit. Often we do not have the Lord’s heart, how He sees His beloved people, how each are His handiwork, His creation. If we did we would be much more careful how we speak about and judge another. It starts with me, it starts with you! Ask the Lord to convict us when we speak or think against another brother/sister in Christ. Be quick to repent when we have that horrible attitude of heart against another. Do not give ground for the enemy to come and bring division against each other. It is easy to be critical, to think the worst of a person. It is far more difficult to see the good in another, particularly in those that have hurt you. However, that is what it is to be a true follower of Jesus Christ. It takes courage to examine our hearts, but it is also the way to walk in true freedom knowing we are sinners requiring the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to get us through.
Perhaps one of the most abused Scripture is found in Psalm 133:1 & 3. It is often quoted as a cure for all the divisions among the body of Christ. When we want the blessings without looking at what is truly required we make a mockery of a very important Scripture. It is easy to place a demand upon God to give us the blessings but it takes a proactive part from each of us to choose to change from having a critical spirit to one of love, the love of Jesus Christ. Repentance will be involved as we honestly look at what is operating in our hearts against a fellow brother and sister in Christ.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
This is talking about you and I. We are the brethren!! It is a good thing for us to dwell together in unity. The reality is we can ‘appear’ to dwell in unity but that does not mean our hearts are knit together.
As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.
Blessing comes when we are united. So what is required for us to be in unity?
A key is: to be of one heart. Scripture shows us clearly what walking together in true unity looks like. We see a good example of this happening when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers when they gathered together in the early church.
Acts 4:32
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.
Remember each of those believers were individuals with their own unique aspects and expressions of God, yet they were able to be of one heart and one soul. They were diverse but had all things in common. We don’t have an understanding of what this looks like in these days and times. Sadly we are all very individual, we like to keep to ourselves, and most of our motivations are from a selfish want. The early church had nothing, they lived in times of persecution, and those who had something shared with those who did not. Can you imagine that happening in these days and times?
Perhaps this will happen one day when persecution and trials really come? Something for us to seriously consider!!!
Ephesians 4:1-3
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness, and gentleness, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
I am highlighting key words needed by each of us in order to bring unity. Each of these words is worthy of a study. It is on the Lord’s heart for us to look at how we can come together in the opposite spirit of separateness. Following are verses that help us to walk in true unity of one heart and one soul. It is impossible in and of ourselves, but with the Holy Spirit’s help we can choose to walk in righteousness if we walk with hearts open to convict of sin and give up claims to self, preferring to walk in God’s ways. It is up to me, it is up to you, to choose to walk together in unity.
Romans 12:9-13
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Can I encourage you to go back to the beginning of this word and ask the Holy Spirit to come and to show you where and how you have been against a fellow brother/sister in Christ, and repent of those things He is showing you. It us up to me, it is up to you!
I want to finish on a couple of Scriptures that teach us how to walk in truth.
Romans 14:13
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
Philippians 2:2-4
Fulfil my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Amen,
Let this be so Lord!!!
(Prophetic word given on the 28th June 2011)