“Unity”

Having unity does not mean that we look the same way; that is uniformity.  Being unified is when individuals join together to work toward a common goal.

While working on a project at my previous company, I was one of four senior techs on an eight man crew.  The other four men were temporary workers.  Three of the temps quickly distinguished themselves as quality workers so we were able to determine that one of the guys didn’t measure up.  After counseling him a few times and giving him an opportunity to reform, we decided to replace him.  His replacement was a perfect fit for us. 

Once we observed the strengths and weaknesses of the temps, we placed them where they would be the most benefit to our eight man team.  This is an example of being unified because, even though we did not all perform the same task or dress the same, we all had the desire to bring our talents together for the purpose of completing the job efficiently.  That is unity. 

In order for individuals to become unified, each person has to develop a MIND to be unified.  A person with a unified mind is someone who focuses more on the success of the mission or the objective than they focus on themselves. 

Romans 12:1-8

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

³ For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. ⁴ For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. ⁶ However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; ⁷ if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; ⁸ or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

“Forgiveness”

One method used to catch monkeys is to place fruit in a container that has an opening large enough for the monkey to get its hand in, but too small for it to withdraw its clenched fist.  A hunter will bait the trap in full view of the monkey.  When a monkey comes along and attempts to grab an easy meal, it will become trapped because it refuses to release the fruit in order to escape.  The hunter can simply walk up and capture the monkey without a struggle. 

Unforgiveness works the same way.  When we hold on to offenses and refuse to forgive, we become trapped by the offense.  The devil does not have to work hard to take us captive; we are held captive by our refusal to forgive.  Our failure to forgive will ultimately hinder our prayers from being answered. 

Matthew 6:14-15

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.

 

“Faithfulness”

God requires our faithfulness regardless of the situation that we are facing.  He never adjusts his word to accommodate us; His expectation is for us to alter our behavior and actions to align with His will.  It is unacceptable for us to exchange God’s standard for society’s beliefs or practices.

In 2 Chronicles 28:22-24, King Ahaz believed that the gods of the kings of Aram had helped them to defeat him.  As a result, he decided to sacrifice to the gods of Damascus with the hope that they would bring him success in conquering the army of Aram.  Ahaz ignored God’s command to avoid serving or worshiping other gods and his lack of faithfulness to the one TRUE God lead to the disgrace of Israel.  True success comes from obedience to God’s Holy Word.

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
² But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,
And on His Law he meditates day and night.
³ He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.

 

“Unequal Terms”

God is not trading blows with the devil.  They are not on equal terms.  There is absolutely no competition from the devil.  The only reason that the devil has the ability to bother us at all is God has given him limited access to wreak havoc in order that God may teach us and transform us into the individuals that He desires us to be. 

God is Sovereign because He is not created.  Lucifer is a created being and is thereby subject to God’s authority. 

Isaiah 45:5-7

I am the Lord, and there is no one else;
There is no God except Me.
I will arm you, though you have not known Me,
⁶ So that people may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
That there is no one besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no one else,
⁷ The One forming light and creating darkness,
Causing well-being and creating disaster;
I am the Lord who does all these things.

 

“Truth”

No one wants to hear a doctor tell them that they have cancer.  However, a person would become extremely irate if they discovered that they had cancer and the doctor was aware of it and either did not tell them or simply told them to take a couple of Tylenol and get some rest if they didn’t feel well.  Doctors are required by law to disclose your health issues to you.  If they do not, they are held accountable and penalized for not doing so.  As ministers of the Gospel, we are also held accountable for not disclosing the truth to people when their view of God and His standards are flawed.

Proverbs 14:25

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
But one who declares lies is deceitful.