March 20th, 2017

STRIVING TOGETHER IN UNITY AND HARMONY (Matthew 18.20)
Matthew 18:20, For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Jesus is powerfully attracted by the love and unity of His disciples. It is here where the presence of Jesus, alive in the fellowship of His loving, praying disciples, gives united prayer its power. The context surrounding this verse is dealing with conflict between the brethren. Jesus taught when brethren are in unity and harmony, there His presence is. Nothing will remove the power and presence of the Lord more quickly than Christian brethren who are at odds one with another, having hardened hearts toward each other. As God’s people are in harmony, the presence of Christ is there in power. Here our Lord teaches that His name must be the center and the bond of the union that makes them one, just as a home contains and unites all who are in it. We should ask ourselves if our actions are contributing to the unity within our church.

John describes how walking in the light produces the source for fellowship with God. I John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.. Notice: Not only His truth, but also His righteousness and purity of life. This is made possible in the first place because “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Both our relationship as well as our fellowship are based upon the fact that Jesus Christ has cleansed us from all sin. Notice: It is the blood of Christ which cleanses from sin (Hebrews 9:13-14; Titus 2:14; Revelation 1:5; 7:14). The confirmation for fellowship with a holy God is having been cleansed through the precious blood of Christ. It is not baptism which cleanses from sin, only the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

On the sixth day of creation, The Bible teaches us that God created both man and woman in His image (Genesis 1:27). The Bible teaches us that God then blessed Adam and Eve and gave them dominion over the whole earth (Genesis 1:28). From the very beginning, it was God’s intention for couples to be completely committed to each other and to Him. Whether in the home, church, or place or employment, God promises to bless us as we strive to come as one into His presence. He is eager to give us the wisdom and understanding we need to live together in harmony. Each day, allow Him to place you and to use you in whatever fashion He needs to carry out what He needs to in the body. We need to ask ourselves how is my fellowship in the Spirit today affecting the way I see and relate to other believers? What am I doing intentionally to maintain this unity? Keep in mind that God intentionally created all of us to be different, yet sometimes we don’t know how to interact with one another and end up creating divisions. Please help us get this right!

Prayer, Lord, I know that unity is so important within Your church. You ask so earnestly for the unity of Your people. Teach me how to encourage unity with Your precious promise. Point out anything in me that disrupts or blocks the unity that Your Spirit is going for in my church. Show me what it looks like to join with other believers in love and desire, so that Your presence is felt among us as we give You our requests. Amen.