The blessedness of Love and Unity in the Church

The blessedness of Love and Unity in the Church

Rom.12. 9-10, 1 Cor. 12. 14 – 31, Ps. 133.1-3

The Church is a collection of people redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and purchased by the precarious sacrifice of Jesus at the Cross of Calvary. The basis of Church unity is the salvation experience. When everyone in the local church is born again, then they would have all things common and will form a formidable army fully prepared to wage war against the onslaught of Satan and fulfill God’s purpose on earth. The unity of such a glorious church will command great power and authority both on earth and in heaven. Many souls would be won to the Lord and many captives of Satan will be set free through such body. However, many conflicts are being propagated by the Devil today to keep the church separated and divided, but an awakened church will never give any room to Satan and his devices. Love and unity will always bring tremendous blessings to any church as it happened in the early church. This is what we expect in our local churches, and God will give us this experience in Jesus name.

Causes of Conflicts and Divisions amongst church membership. 1 Cor 12. 25, Acts 6.1, Rom. 14.13, 1.10-12, Gal. 5.15, 2 Thess. 3.11, Gal. 2.4, I Cor. 5. 6-7).

Many habits of some members today are being used by Satan to cause conflicts in the church and threaten its unity in many areas. The goal of Satan and his agents is to divide the church and bring disharmony, distrust and disloyalty among the church members. Satan’s tools include (i) murmuring (Acts 6.1), (ii) contentions and divisions (1 Cor, 1.10-12), (iii) Prejudice and judgmental spirit (Rom. 14.13), (iv) back-biting Gal. 5.15, (v) mix-multitude having disorderliness and worldly behaviors (2 Thess. 3.11), (vi)  false prophets and their false doctrines if allowed (Gal. 2.4), (vii) Pride, “holier than thou” attitude and other secret sins (I Cor. 5. 6-7). (viii)Disobedience to leadership. (ix) Partiality and nepotism in decisions, (x) carnality and worliness, selfisheness and lack of consideration for others etc. believers must eschew these vices and allow God’s love to rule our hearts so that God’s purpose for our church will be fulfilled.

 Commitment to Charity and Unity in the Church. 1 John 1. 6-9, 1 Cor. 1.10-12, 12: 12-27, Heb 13.1, Deut. 30.6-7, Eph. 4. 2-6, Acts 1.14, Col.3.1-2, Acts 2.46, Heb. 10.25, Acts 4.24, Php 2:3; 1 Pe 1:22; 2:17; 3:8; 5:5; 2 Peter 1:7

Every member of the church must ensure that he confessed his/her sins and be forgiven before the church can pursue unity. Where some members are still living in secret sins, there will hindrances to prayer and limitations of our potentials. The basis of our Christian love and unity is our love for God through genuine salvation. Every member must therefore strive to grow to spiritual maturity through constant prayer and regular study of God’s words. Holiness of lives and sanctification experience of members are essential experience that can bind us together in love and godly unity that no satanic onslaught can divide.  We must therefore be tirelessly committed to giving, sharing and loving one another (even) above personal gain or personal achievements and benefits. The church is called to maintain unity   (i) in purpose Acts 1.14, Col.3.1-2 ii) unity in place of worship and fellowship (in the temple) Acts 2.46, Heb. 10.25, iii) unity through our Praises (Acts 4.24), iv) unity through possessions sharing and giving- Acts 4.32 v) in prayer Acts 2.1, vi) unity in power and possibilities as each member contributes his potentials to the growth and furtherance of the church making the church strengthened and more powerful Acts 5.12-14 vii) united in proclaiming the gospel truth Acts 8.6. Every member must endeavor to be united in faith – Believing God as the Sovereign creator and worthy of all worship and adoration. Believing Christ as the Head of the church, whose atoning blood paid the full and acceptable sacrifice for our sins and believing the blessed Holy Spirit who leads us into all truths. Also be united in faithfulness to God and His precepts (doctrines) always. Be united together in the fervency of our service to the Lord as our master and ‘rewarder’ of our obedience. To do these faithfully, we must lead a modest, meek and lowly life of gentleness with all other members; We must be crucified to the flesh- seeing ourselves as less important to others but choose the position of servants to serve others in love, and ensure that we speak the truth in love with all men.

Consequence of Christians love and Unity in the Church. Ps 133.1, Acts 2. 1-4, 41-42, Acts 4.31-37; 12.5-10, 21-23, Acts 7.17, 9.31, 12.24,  Acts 8. 5-8, Acts 15.3

There are great blessings in the unity of the church. When believers of like-minded faith dwell together with one purpose in love, heaven always give attention to their requests and there is no limit to what they can achieve. God’s awesome power comes into manifestation through our prayer of faith and preaching of the gospel. When a united church, comes together and pray with single mind and heart, the mountains must definitely move and the shackles of inglorious oppositions shall be totally broken into pieces. The yoke of sin in even hardened sinners shall be broken through the power of the gospel (Rom. 1.16). We have awesome power through the name of Jesus that can neither be denied in heaven nor resisted by Satan. We possess authority and power of Jesus (Luke 10.19). We also have the dynamite and the power of the Holy Ghost. Demonic manipulations are shattered and destroyed. Kingdoms and dominion of the powers of darkness are dethroned while the gospel of Christ continues to grow sporadically. The possibilities include total freedom and salvation for sinners, numerical growth and multiplication of the local churches, power to proclaim and spread the gospel and the word of God shall grow exceedingly. The Lord’s name shall be established and glorified everywhere. Problems of sicknesses and afflictions are removed through prayers and the brethren shall be highly edified. Miracles, signs and wonders will be done more frequently. There will be great joy in our homes and cities. There will be speedy answer to our prayers. This will definitely give us steady numerical growth. Members of the church will always be happy to gladly identify with the church. Visitation of new converts will become more interesting as the unbelievers will surely know that God is in our midst.