Lie: Unity is Not Important

Where were you September 11th?

That was the question everyone was asking this week as we honored and reflected on the horror that happened in our country 18 years ago. But what I found interesting, is though a lot of people were talking about the event, a lot more people were talking about what happened after the event.

And that I will never forget.

Flags were a waving, people came out of their homes, they met their neighbors, were nicer to their families, teachers cared about their students. I remember we did water bottle outreaches in neighborhoods because so many people were outside, and everyone let you pray with them.

The greatest thing that happened was Unity.

And today I want to expose the lie: Unity is Not Important

Psalm 133 When Brothers Dwell in Unity

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

133 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity![a]

Maybe David wrote this to his sons. They had different moms.

Maybe he wrote this to the nation of Israel, coming underneath the governorship of one king.

What it is that is commended—brethren’s dwelling together in unity,

Unity: not only not quarrelling, and devouring one another, but delighting in each other with mutual endearments, and promoting each other’s welfare with mutual services.

Sometimes it is chosen, as the best expedient for preserving peace, that brethren should live asunder and at a distance from each other; that indeed may prevent enmity and strife (Gen. 13:9 ), but the goodness and pleasantness are for brethren to dwell together and so to dwell in unity, to dwell even as one (so some read it), as having one heart, one soul, one interest.

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!

It is fragrant as the holy anointing oil, which was strongly perfumed, and diffused its odors, to the great delight of all the bystanders, when it was poured upon the head of Aaron, or his successor the high priest, so plentifully that it ran down the face, even to the collar or binding of the garment

It was holy.

Unity is holy unto God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus could do nothing without His Father so much so that John 10:30 says “I and my Father are One.

John 17:20-21 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message. 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.

It came at a cost.

The anointing had a great cost.

So does unity. Sometimes you have to lay down your pride, your right to be right, your needs, all so that you can be unified.

Example of Ted and I’s life and counters at home

It allowed you to walk into your calling.

The anointing oil allowed for your calling and purposes to be fulfilled.

So does unity. Unity propels us into what God wants to do in and through the church.

UNITY.

3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!

It produces Beauty. https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/like-dew-of-hermon-ward-thurman.jpg

Dew produces Beauty. It is the things to grow and strengthen every morning. So, does unity.

Ted and I were attending a funeral and the pastors of Christ Baptist right up the road were there, eighty years old, and we just had the best of time talking about Jesus and advancing the kingdom. Not comparing our differences or the size of the congregation, just walking in our union to see the gospel of Jesus Christ being proclaimed boldly here in east Houma. There is great beauty in that.

The devil is working overtime to make the capital C Church disunified.

Honing in on our differences instead of celebrating our Savior.

Fractions and infighting and disruption.

But when the world sees a church united, what a beautiful thing

Causes great beauty.

God’s presence is there.

UNITY

For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

You want the commanded blessings of the Lord? Dwell in unity.

You want anointing in your life, you want purpose and value?

You want to make Jesus look beautiful to others?

You want the God of the angel armies to fight with you?

Seek unity.

Pursue unity.

Strive for it at all cost.

Altar Call

You may have disunity with a different color skin then yours, Seek Unity.

(purpose in your heart to become friends with someone different looking, not just attend church, have them over, cook a meal, find community, understand their stories, learn their culture and hurts and pains, not just make fun of it, but asking to help you delight in them)

You may have disunity with a different social class than yours, Seek Unity.

(find good qualities in the difference, embrace the good things about it)

You may have disunity with a different sex than yours, Seek Unity.

(ask the lord to heal your heart, and to not make you bitter or angry)

You may have disunity in your friendship, if they are Godly, don’t cause you harm, and led you closer to Christ, Seek Unity.

You may have disunity in your marriage, Seek Unity.

(let petty things go, find the good, think on those things about your spouse)

You may have disunity in your family, Seek Unity.

You may have disunity in your job, Seek Unity.

(The bible says blessed are the peacemakers….)

Revelation 7:9

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”