February 2013 - Unity

As I was pondering about my pondering … that is what I do when I work on these :) … I couldn’t get my mind off of the informational meeting we had on January 20th to discuss the finances.  I must admit that what you (this church, this body) displayed at the meeting was amazing and inspiring.  More was accomplished in that meeting than is represented by the offering from that morning and the Sunday following.  You showed such great unity of faith and purpose—more than I have ever seen here in the more than thirteen years that I have been part of this body.  True unity as a body a significant key to seeing God’s blessing, provision, power and glory at the Freedom Centre.  Look at some Scriptures: (all from the NKJV with my underlining)

• Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
  For brethren to dwell together in unity!
  …
  For there the Lord commanded the blessing—
  Life forevermore.  (Psalm 133)
  
• Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.  (Acts 4:32-35)
  
• I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  (John 17:20-23 — Jesus praying)

It is vital as we move forward that we keep this unity.  I know that God this is important to God and that He is watching over it.  Much of Paul’s motivation in writing his first letter to the Corinthians is rooted in dealing with dishonour and disunity.  Following close after the quote above from the end of Acts 4, we read at the beginning of Acts 5 how God dealt with those who would bring dishonour and disunity at the crucial moment where His blessing, provision, power and glory were being released in the church.

God is doing a great work here.  We are moving into more things that have never fully come to pass at the Freedom Centre.  As we advance, let us be careful about unity, just as Paul wrote:

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3, NLT)

Journeying with you,    Pastor Merril