Only in agreement with God will there be unity, so consider this: the reason the Body of Christ is divided is not everyone is in full agreement with Him. Until everyone agrees, we will remain fractured as a whole. As long as some continue to build their little kingdoms, their agenda will be all that matters to them. A number of them have yet to heed the warning found in Matthew 7:21-23: Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Are works really good when their self-serving? If you are more concerned with self-fulfillment than the fulfillment of God’s will, your works may burn at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
To put things in perspective, Scripture says, “But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him” (1 Corinthians 8:3). That means love must be the underlying factor behind what we do. When love is absent, faith wanders from its source (see Galatians 5:6).
What do you suppose would happen if every believer came into agreement with the Father? If we make doctrine the main issue, we will never love one another as He intended. When we fight amongst ourselves over our little doctrines, we are no longer aligned with His. Even if we were to agree on everything, if we didn’t agree with Him, it would still be false doctrine. Love must thread the needle if the fabric is going to stay together. If each of us decides to let the Lord reveal His Word to us through the Holy Spirit, we will merge into the true doctrine of Christ.
We have to stop trying to impress each other with our knowledge. After all, “Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Finally, consider the prayer of Jesus found in John 17: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:16-26).
Special announcement: Mark March 11th, 2017 on your calendar. We will be hosting “The Unity of the Spirit Conference” which will be held at The Annex in Harrison, Ohio (135 Harrison Ave, Harrison, Ohio 45030). The doors will open at 4:00 PM. Conference will run from 5:00 to 9:00. On March 10th, Friday night, from 7:00 to 9:00 we will have a special time of praise and worship in preparation for the conference. This includes a time of prayer and soaking.
