THE POWER OF UNITY 2-24-23 VIDEO THE POWER OF UNITY BILL JOHNSON 2
Unity transcends mere agreement; it is being an enduring oneness, rooted deeply in it’s meaning. It is not conformity it is seeing our differences and loving anyway. It intertwines minds and hearts, tightly knit without separation—a unity with Christ and eachother. Marriage serves as a illustration of this profound unity
1 COR 12:12 What I was told is that you are divided into groups, where some side with Paul, others with Apollos, still others with Cephas, and even some who say, “we are the Messianic group”!
13 This is really ridiculous: can Christ be cut up into little relics? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into Paul’s name? MIRROR
1 COR 12:19 Our individual significance only finds context in relationship to others!
20 The sum total of the members equals one body.
21 The eye perceives and the hand touches; they do not compete for importance. The head will never make the feet feel inferior! In the body there is no sense of, “I am positioned higher than you and therefore I do not need you!”
22 The members are not rated in importance with how visible and prominent they seem to be. The less visible parts are indispensable; it is impossible for the body to function without them.
23 Those members that seem to be of lesser visible value deserve the greater and more personal care. There is so much more to a person than a pretty face!
24 God so structured the body that every single part is equally valued; the less visible parts are often treated with even greater honor and more specific care.
25 Because of the delicate interdependence of the various parts of the body it is natural that no schism can be tolerated; instead every member considers the other with affectionate care.
26 It is impossible for one part of the body to suffer injury without the rest of the body being immediately alerted to it; the pain of the one is the pain of all. In the same way the complete person is honored, not just the fingers that skillfully play the harp. Everyone is equally included in the same joy.
27 You are the body of Christ; individually as much as you are his body corporately. Everyone of you mirrors him. He defines your form. The individual member does not give context to the body; the body gives context to the member.
28 Wherever God places you in the body is to co-compliment the full function of the ekklesia. The seemingly most prominent and visible gifts are the apostolic, then the prophetic, the teachers, the workers of miracles, those gifted with healing various diseases. Then there are those who can fulfill any role required of them for the moment; they are the ones who can stand in full support to assist any of the other gifts! The administrators are gifted to manage the various functions of the ekklesia with great skill. Then there are those gifted in languages. MIRROR
Psalms 133:1 How truly wonderful and delightful it is to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity!
2It’s as precious as the sacred scented oil flowing from the head of the high priest Aaron, dripping down upon his beard and running all the way down to the hem of his priestly robes.
3This harmony can be compared to the dew dripping from Mount Hermon, which flows down upon the hills of Zion. Indeed, that is where Yahweh has decreed his blessings will be found, the promise of life forevermore! TPT
Ephesians 2:14 Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus! He has made Jew and non-Jew one in Christ. By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall of prejudice that separated us and has now made us equal through our union with Christ.
15Ethnic hatred has been dissolved by the crucifixion of his precious body on the cross. The legal code that stood condemning every one of us has now been repealed by his command. His triune essence has made peace between us by starting over—forming one new race of humanity, Jews and non-Jews fused together in himself! TPT
Gal 3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.
27 For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ.
28 There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise. AMP
Phil 2:2 Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention.
3 Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].
4 Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others. AMP
JN 17:21 That they all may be one, exactly as you Father are mirrored in me and I in you, that they also will be exactly mirrored to be one in us – then the entire world will believe and be persuaded about your mission upon my life!
22 And I, [the Incarnate word] have endued them with the same glorious esteem that you have given me so that their oneness may mirror ours.
23 I am in them as you are in me, and on this basis their seamless oneness may be entirely concluded. Thus the world will acknowledge your commission upon my life and know that my love for them mirrors your love for me. MIRROR
1 COR 1:10 Friends, because we are surnamed and identified in the name of our master Jesus Christ, I urge you to speak with one voice; we share the same source as our reference; the idea of division is an illusion. We are a perfect match; accurately joined in the same thought and communicating the same resolve. MIRROR
Acts 2:42 And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.
43 And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).
44 And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common;
45 And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.
46 And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,
47 Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death]. AMP
▼▼▼
Acts 2:42 They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
43 Everyone around was in awe — all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!
44 And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.
45 They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.
46 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful,
47 as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved. MSG
Eccl 4:12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. MSG
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble). AMP
ROM 15:6 The opinion of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, speaks one global language in us inspired by the same passion.
7 This gives us all the more reason to embrace one another in friendship with the same warmth wherewith Christ embraced us into the welcome of God. MIRROR
RO 6:5 We were like seeds planted together in the same soil, to be co-quickened to life. If we were included in his death we are equally included in his resurrection. MIRROR
JOHN 15:4 Our seamless union, you in me and I in you, is pictured in the vine: the shoot cannot bear fruit outside of this union. In its abiding in the vine, fruit happens naturally – as with your abiding in me.
5 I am the vine and you are the branches; it is the one who understands this mutual union that naturally bears much fruit – which is impossible to happen apart from me. MIRROR
1 Cor 6:17 But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. AMP
Eph 2:16 Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. MSG
Mark 10:9 So there you have it. What God has joined together, no one has the right to split apart.” TPT
Phil 1:27 Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel). AMP
Eph 4:1 In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk — better yet, run! — on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere.
2 And mark that you do this with humility and discipline — not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love,
3 alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
4 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.
5 You have one Master, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. MSG
Col 3:14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]. AMP