Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The Power of UNITY

(Genesis 11:5-6/ KJV) says, “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”


Looking at (Genesis 11:5-6) we can see exactly how much really hinges, Spiritually speaking, on a word we usually take for granted—UNITY!”


(Genesis 11:5-6/ KJV) says, “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is ONE, and they have all ONE language; and this they begin to do: and NOW NOTHING will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”


The New Ungers Dictionary says “UNITY” is used to signify oneness of sentiment, affection, or behavior, such as should exist among the people of God.


The Nelson Bible Dictionary says “UNITY” is Oneness, harmony, or agreement.


Websters Dictionary defines “UNITY” as the state of being ONE; singleness. The state, quality, or condition of accord or agreement; The combination or arrangement of parts into a whole, unification. Singleness or constancy of purpose or action, continuity. (In most contexts it implies fundamental agreement or interdependent and usually varied components, which in turn produces harmony, as a thought or purpose. In its most common application, solidarity is an intensification of unity, for it refers to the identity of likeness of interests, objectives, and responsibilities that enables a group of persons to think and act as ONE!


The definition of “ONE” is being a single entity, unit, object, or being; characterized by UNITY; UNDIVIDED: with one accord. Of equal importance; all the same!


Now looking back at our text we can say: And the Lord said, Behold, the people is ONEa single entity, unit, object or being; characterized by UNITY; UNDIVIDED; with one accord. Of equal importance; all the same!and now NOTHING will limit or restrict from them, which they have imagined to do.”


From the original church in the Book of Acts to present day Apostolic Revival Churches, one word stands out to describe how these churches have had such GREAT REVIVAL—UNITY!


The Revival Church in the Book of Acts and every Revival Church afterwards were churches that acted as ONE! They were ONE in purpose and action and their UNITY enabled them to think and act as ONE!


The principle of UNITY being a catalyst of Revival is found throughout the Word of God including scriptures like:


(Psalms 133:1-2/ KJV) says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;”


Unity is compared here to the Anointing so that there is an Anointing that flows in and through a church that operates in UNITY! And as long as there is UNITY in the House of God, there is NO way that REVIVAL can be RESTRAINED!


Paul wrote about UNITY in (1 Corinthians 1:10/KJV) where it says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”


(Romans 15:5-6/ KJV) says, “be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God.


(Philippians 1:27/KJV) says, “stand fast in ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”


(Philippians 2:2/ KJV) says, “be likeminded, having the same love, being of ONE accord, of ONE mind.”


We are MANY members but ONE BODY! We are MANY members but we’re in ONE ACCORD! We may use different methods but we ALL have the SAME PURPOSE! We think as ONE—we speak as ONEwe move TOGETHER in UNITY!


My last example will take us back to the Book of Acts after Jesus had spoken to His followers. He promised them an outpouring of His Spirit which would empower them to be witnesses but they would have to tarry in Jerusalem until it came. Out of the 500 people who heard the promise, we find in (Acts 1) where only 120 actually gathered in the “upper room.”


The difference between the 120 who made the journey of Promise and the 380 who declined was the 120 caught hold of the “VISION” and “PURPOSE” of the Promise!


(Acts 1:14/KJV) describes the posture of those who were willing to catch the “VISION and PURPOSE” of the Promise when it says, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.”


When they came together in UNITY for ONE PURPOSE; when the Lord looked down in that room like he did in (Genesis 11:5-6) and saw that the “people is ONE, and they have all ONE language;” NOTHING could be restrained from them! And (Acts 2:1-4/KJV) says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with ONE accord in one place.


2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”


Their minds, their affections, and their desires were all concentrated on ONE PURPOSE. They had ONE DESIRE and ONE PRAYER that every mouth uttered in desperation. There was NOT one person present who was uninterested—unconcerned—or lukewarm! But they were all in UNITY and the power of God came down to meet their UNITED FAITH!


When we come together with ONE ACCORD in ONE PLACE with ONE VISION and ONE PURPOSE—NOTHING can be RESTRAINED from us and what we’ve imagined to do!