Do you find it is usually easy or difficult for you to cooperate with
others? Is teamwork something that you enjoy or are you typically a lone
ranger? What about your church family - what would you say was the general
attitude toward cooperation amongst themselves? If there is no unity,
do you know the reason why?? I ask you these questions because in Christ's
prayer to the Father in John 17, the Son prays for the church as a whole.
Not only did Jesus name the disciples individually in prayer, He also
prayed for them collectively. Christ demonstrates to us that people need
prayer when it comes to working effectively together. For example - as
a mother, I pray for each of my children individually. Yet I also pray
for how they get along with one another and work together as a team on
a daily basis. It warms my heart when my children treat each other properly…
I'm sure most of you mothers would agree with me on this point, but it
only takes one to disrupt the unity and hinder the whole family!! So too,
Jesus greatest desire for believers was their ability to unite together
as a body and get a job done for God…
John 17:20-23 (KJV)
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art
in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world
may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me
I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them,
and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world
may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved
me.
How does the Bible describe the unity that should exist between Christians
in the above text? "That they all may be one" - with no division whatsoever!
As children of God, we are united with Christ in two ways. We are united
when the blood of Christ is applied to our sins, and secondly, by our
obedience to the Word of God. Incidentally, as you'll see in the text
below, it's even possible for people to be unified in their rebellion,
so make sure your union with individuals is born of the right heart!
John 18:1-3 (KJV)
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over
the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his
disciples. [2] And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for
Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. [3] Judas then, having
received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees,
cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Ladies, Jesus wanted His followers to be unified as a powerful witness
to the reality of God's love. Are you helping to unify the body of Christ
in your church? As a member, are you contributing suitably to the testimony
of your church? There are many ways we can do that. We can pray for other
Christians, avoid gossip, build one another up, work together in humility,
give our time and money, exalt Christ, and refuse to get sidetracked over
issues! You see, God did not intend for His children to live out their
faith in isolation. That's so easy to do, isn't it? Rather than try and
learn to subsist with folks we just pull back and work on our own (as
did Judas!). Yet we are told by our heavenly Father to get along side
of one another and get along WITH one another! God wants us to understand
that cooperation is essential to success. Teamwork is a vital part of
the home and the body of Christ and it requires everyone's involvement.
It sustains us in times of weakness, it aids us in battle, it gives us
nerve for the conflicts we face, it inspires us to reform, it boosts us
to carry through great undertakings, it supplies added power in prayer,
and it ultimately brings men to Christ. No wonder the devil works so hard
to tear down harmony among believers! Satan is slick, ladies, so you better
be wise to his tricks! Personal worldliness is a hindrance to Christian
unity. Yes, the devil encourages us to make us friends with the world
so that we can't be friends with God - or God's people!! No wonder Jesus
prayed that we all might be one with the Father…
James 4:4 (KJV)
....know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Ladies, in watching out for others, we must faithfully pray for the rooting
of this important element in the lives of God's people - and our own lives
as well! We need to set a watch over and protect the atmosphere of harmony
in our homes and churches! Unity ought to be a distinctive mark among
all Christians. Is your family bonded by peace or divided in strife? Understand
that our sanctified and unified lives are an aid to the faith of this
blinded world. The more we dispute about minor things, the more we throw
doubts upon Christianity and God's character. Let's endeavor to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, praying that we may be united
in one mind and one judgment - centered on truth, of course!
Romans 15:5-6 (KJV)
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one
toward another according to Christ Jesus: [6] That ye may with one mind
and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Realize too, that sweet communion among the believers is based on the
believers' sweet communion with Christ and the Father! Unity is the product
of devotion to God and then to one another. Christians can know harmony
among themselves only if they are living in harmony with God. If you want
to strengthen your bond with other Christians, strengthen your bond with
the Lord! The sanctification we talked about in our last lesson is a perfect
example of living in union with God - lining up our views with the Father
and living a life that is pure and pleasing to Him. Now you can see today
how important it is! Sanctification is the key ingredient and secret to
our unity with other believers. How would you assess your relationship
with the Lord today? How do you interact with other believers? Ladies,
if we are not one with the Father, we are not going to be one with each
other. Sin in our hearts becomes sin in the camp - it's evil and it's
a divider!
James 3:16-4:1 (KJV)
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality,
and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
of them that make peace. From whence come wars and fightings among you?
come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Oh, how we all need the wisdom that is from above! True wisdom may be
known by the meekness of our spirit and temper. Those who live in malice,
envy, and contention, live in confusion. They are liable to be easily
provoked and hurried to any evil work - the devil's work of division and
strife! Such wisdom, the Bible says, does not come down from above - it's
not from God, but springs up from earthly principles, acts on earthly
motives, and is intent on serving earthly purposes - it is purely of the
world and is against God. Nevertheless, we have the Word of God - true
wisdom from above which purifies our lives and makes a huge difference
in the way we get along with others! Will you let the scriptures do a
work on you today, dear lady? Will you let it cut away those lusts that
war in your members and bring forth holy fruits in your life - the fruit
of peaceableness - bringing the ability to get along with others and to
work as a team member? When God calls you to a task, remember that He
is also calling others to work with you! There are no celebrities in the
service of the Lord. With the right spirit in control - the Holy Spirit
- together our individual efforts can be multiplied and God glorified!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
