Maintaining Unity In The Bond Of Peace

Ephesians 4:1-2

Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Native American warriors on horses, dressed

for battle. The Lone Rangers asks,

"What are we going to do

Tonto?"

What do you mean we, white

man!

A Little History

2. Sabbatical – Resting and seeking

3. Affirmation – Fountain of Grace

1. A spirit of offense – disunity – April, 2003

4. Re-affirmation – Confirmation

1Co 1:8 He shall also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Co

1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of His Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Co 1:10 But I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the

same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the

same mind and in the same judgment.

Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees; of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it

is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

5. What God is doing – Opportunity for unity

To get us all to have the same heart and mind

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling with which you are called, Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, Eph

4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

God’s Call To Unity

Sin Is Hostile To Unity

1Co 5:6 … Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole

lump?

SIN IS DISCORD 1.  Sin separates us from God. 2.  It also separates from our fellow man.

a. Sin also made man hostile to one another – (i.e. Cain and Abel – All Human History)

Rom 3:13 "Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they have used deceit, the poison of asps is under their lips;14

whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness;"15 "their feet are swift to shed

blood; 16 destruction and misery are in their way, 17 and the way of peace they did

not know."

Disunity Causes Collapse

Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their

thoughts and said to them, Every

kingdom divided against itself is

brought to desolation. And

every city or house divided against itself

shall not stand.

Disunity Can Come Into Christians

1Co 1:11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my

brothers, by those of Chloe, that there are contentions among you

Phi 4:2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the

Lord.

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall

see the Lord;15 looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God, or lest any root of bitterness springing up disturb

you, and by it many are defiled,

Peace – ierene – (Eye – Ray – Nay)

Bitterness is what happens when feelings go underground are hidden.

Once this happens, the infection can contaminate spouses, friends, children.

(Bitterness is also translated poison)

Bitterness can manifest itself through un-forgiveness, a spirit of criticism, anger,

gossip and back biting.

The Fruit From The Root

God Has Called Us To Unity

I. The Basis Of Unity

A. The Spirit of God

1Co 12:13 For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body…

1. Not denominational unity2. Not naming our church “Unity”3. Not unity over worship styles4. Not uniformity

God has not called us to create unity

5. Not by liberal concessions

II. The Ingredients of True Unity

Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,

A. Lowliness – Humility in thought

B. Meekness – Humility in action

C. Long-suffering – Patience

D. Forbearing Love – Marathon charity

Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed until the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and tumult and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

All Our Attitudes Are To Be Based In Christ’s Humility

III. The Maintenance Of Unity

A. The Maintenance is personal

1. It can’t be legislated or coerced2. Each person must decide

B. The Maintenance calls for effort

Eph 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit…

1. It calls for diligence2. It doesn’t happen on its own3. All relationships require work

IV. The Glue of Unity

Eph 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

A. Peace is the result of all the above: (Lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, love, endeavor)

The Produce of Unity

Joh 17:20 And I do not pray for these who shall believe on Me through their word, 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You

have sent Me.Harmony – Peace – Communication – Pleasantness – Security - Confirmation

Making A Decision for Unity

Mat 12:30 The one who is not with Me is against Me, and the one who does

not gather with Me scatters.

Amo 3:3 Can two walk together unless they are agreed?

1Pe 3:8 And finally, all be of one mind, having compassion on one

another, loving the brothers, tenderhearted, friendly.

The Member in the church that would seek to cause

disunity and split our church.

The Tongue A Great enemy of unity

Jam 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

Behold how little a fire kindles how large a forest!

Jam 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. So the tongue is set among our members, spotting all the

body and inflaming the course of nature, and being inflamed by hell.

Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

Jam 3:9 By this we bless God, even the Father. And by this we curse men, who have come into being according to the image of

God. Jam 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers,

these things ought not to be so.

Eph 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of

the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you

walk worthy of the calling with which you are called, Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one

another in love, Eph 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.