Unity of the Spirit is vital if we are to overcome during these perilous times. Why does Jesus tell his disciples to be of good cheer, when it is actually “he” that has overcome the world? If any one that is joined unto the Lord has become one spirit with him, then we can be assured of this. If Christ has overcome the world, then we also have overcome. Choose to keep the unity of the Spirit, binding the peace of God unto yourself. Perilous times cause every disciple of Christ to ponder such questions as, Am I personally in unity with Christ? Am I in unity with other members of the body of Christ? Am I allowing false unity of the anti-Christ spirit to increase in the earth unchallenged?
Thinking As An Individual Disciple...
Am I drawing near to God and allowing him to draw near to me, repenting of wrong attitudes and actions, and choosing to believe the word of God and the voice of the Holy Spirit, so that I will not be double-minded? Am I forbearing with others in the love of Christ? Is the Lord truly the Ruler of my life and do I believe God when he says in his word: “I will be with my people, while they are with me.” “If my people seek me, I will let them find me, but if they forsake me, then I also will forsake them.” Are you the kind of disciple that wants to know and practice the truth–no matter what the truth is?
Thinking As A Member of the Body of Christ...
Because God has set us in Christ’s body as it has pleased him, there is no need for schism in the body. We should seek to know how the Lord has gifted us in the spirit and we should value the function we serve in the body. In Christ’s church and in the kingdom of righteousness, every member of the body is needed and all of the members exist to serve one another. It doesn’t matter if one member functions as a hand, ear, eye or otherwise. All of the members fitly joined and compacted together increases to a whole body that grows up into the head, which is Christ. The Lord chooses disciple-makers whose followers also will become teachers, trainers, and influencers that equip others to go and establish righteous works for the kingdom of God. CAUTION #1: Leaders must guard their stewardship and example and not discourage but edify. All instruction, correction and reproof should be done through the leading of the Holy Spirit and not through our fleshly nature. CAUTION #2: Disciples in training keep the unity of the Spirit when they choose to accept and submit to the will of God. They, too, must be willing and obedient to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Christ is not divided. Whether one is a leader or a disciple , both must practice the word, the will, and the ways of the Lord. Only through the Holy Spirit, can hearts be knit together. This minimizes division in the body and helps us to fortify ourselves against false unity that opposes the righteousness of the Lord.
Thinking On False Unity of the Anti-Christ Spirit...
All who attempted to unify against the will of God have failed miserably in one way or another. From the fall of Lucifer’s rebellion and his angels to halting of building the Tower of Babel. From the plot to throw Joseph into a pit and sell him into slavery to Haman’s desire for genocide of Esther’s Jewish people. From the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ to the dismantling of a conspiracy of forty men who sought to ambush and murder the Apostle Paul. All of the enemy’s plans were foiled. Biblical history records how over and over the will of God triumphed gloriously over the enemy.
Conclusion…
Jesus expects to triumph in our times too. Do you believe Jesus when he says that the gates of hell shall not prevail against his Church? Our individual unity in Christ and the unity among the members of Christ’s body will produce the power and strength necessary to oppose the false unity of the anti-Christ spirit that is trying to pervade every government and institution worldwide. Through the unity of the Spirit, Christ’s disciples can stand and withstand all of the wiles of the devil. Yes, these perilous times will present tribulations and trials or testing of our faith, but Jesus already told us to “see to it that we be not troubled.” So, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and our ears attentive to the voice of the Holy Ghost and we will overcome. Godspeed!
Scripture References:
Matthew 16:33; I Corinthians 6:17; James 1:8, 4:8; II Chronicles 15:2; Ephesians 4:3; I Corinthians 12:18; Acts 23:12; Psalm 133; Matthew 24:6
