DATE: 24TH MAY, 2020
THEME: THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Acts 1:6-14;
1 Peter 4:12-16;
John 17: 1-11
Psalter: Psalm 68:1-10
INTRODUCTION
Many of us are familiar with the book by Alexander Dumas entitled “The Three Musketeers”. The heroes of that story had as their motto “All for one and one for all”. This meant that each member of that group of men would fight for the group or for any of the others. In other words, they were vowing to stand together in their common fight.
I believe one of the hardest concepts for us to grasp is the idea of unity or ONENESS. We live in a world that has so many different viewpoints and cultures and ever-changing characteristics, that it seems impossible to think that we would ever achieve or experience ONENESS.
As a minister I believe one of the most provocative questions asked during ordination or induction service is: “Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?” The question is:
▪How do we further the PEACE of the church when we are always debating and arguing about theological issues?
▪How do we further the UNITY of the church when we have such a diverse mix of backgrounds and viewpoints?
▪And what does it mean to further the PURITY of the church?
BACKGROUND
The night before the Lord Jesus was to be crucified was a night filled with much activity. After the Passover meal, Jesus led the disciples outside the city to a garden called Gethsemane. There, He took time to call on His Father.
John gives us a little insight into this prayer which Jesus prayed. He allows us to listen in on Jesus as He calls on the Father for us. Jesus took the time to pray for His people. He didn’t just pray for the 11 men there with Him in the garden that night, He prayed for everyone who would ever believe on Him as well. In fact, if you are saved, Jesus prayed for you!
BODY
- WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN ONENESS?
If we are to be one in the Lord, what is to be the basis for our oneness? I mean, we all come to church from different BACKGROUNDS, different CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS, different ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, different LIFESTYLES, etc. How can we possibly find any common ground?
This area provide us with the source of Christian Oneness.
A. We Share Common Ground – In John 17, one of the things He prayed for us that His people would be “one”. To ensure that we would have the foundation upon which build in oneness, the Lord provided us with 7 great possessions that every Christian shares in Him.
One BODY, one SPIRIT, one HOPE, one LORD, one FAITH, one BAPTISM, one GOD and FATHER. (EPH 4:4-7)
Did you notice that everything is about Him?
When our lives, our desires, our will, our interests, etc, stop being about Him and start to focus on us, we are headed for trouble! As believers, we may come from different places, but we stand on common ground!
- WHAT IS THE SECRET OF CHRISTIAN ONENESS
Now that we know where our oneness originates, how are we to go about the business of practicing, protecting and strengthening our unity?
A. We Must Exercise The Right Walk –
Oneness already exists in God’s church, our duty is to manifest it and maintain it! Notice how this is done.
- Humility- This word means, “an accurate understanding of your own moral smallness.” In essence, it means you realize your own insignificance while you see the worth of others, Phil. 2:4! It’s not “How great I am!” It’s “I am what I am by the grace of God!”
- Meekness – This word means “gentleness; power under control.” It refers to having the power to react against others, but refusing to for the sake of Christ!
- Forbearing in Love – The word “forbearing” means “to endure, or to put up with”. It means giving people space to be themselves.
B. We Must Embrace The Right Work – Maintaining Oneness in the church requires more than just a change in the way we walk. Oneness in the church requires hard work! In other words, we are to work hard to ensure that the unity the Spirit of God wants to produce within the church is unhindered and unbroken!
- WHY IS THIS ONENESS IMPORTANT?
“So that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (17:24).
It is through this oneness that belief is formed in God and in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
▪The importance of oneness among believers is that such oneness leads the world to believe (17:23).
The counterpoint of that truth is that the world does not believe in Jesus because the world sees divisions among the followers of Jesus . . . The ultimate oneness of the church is not in human maneuvering but in the oneness of God.
- WHAT HINDERS ONENESS
▪ The uncontrolled tongue – (James 1:26, 3:3-12)
• Gossip • Slander • Grumbling & Complaining
• Backbiting
▪ A Critical Spirit (One thing to disagree, another to constantly question decisions that people make)
▪ An unforgiving heart (Stores up a record of wrongs for future remembrance)
▪ Unifying around personalities rather than our purpose. - WHAT DOES ONENESS PRODUCE
a. Oneness in the church points people to the truth of God’s love and plan to redeem humanity.
b. Oneness enables the church to win the world to Christ because when we are unified in Christ…
▪We will be united in purpose
▪We will be united in prayer
▪We will be united in power
▪We will be united in proclamation
- WHEN THERE IS NO ONENESS WHAT HAPPENS ?
▪Lack of commitment to being part of a team
▪Competition, or considering ourselves better than others
▪Always Finding fault with others or looking for someone to blame
▪Always Focusing on other people’s weaknesses
▪Unwillingness to sacrifice or give a little extra for the sake of a common cause
▪Speaking poorly of other team players behind their backs
• And on it goes.
Habits like these within a church can be like a cancer in that Church: they Undermine trust within the church; they erode team morale; and they can have a Negative impact on the churches’ productivity.
CONCLUSION
“All for one and one for all!” Is that the motto of your heart this morning?
Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 that after his departure wolves would come, not sparing the flock. Wolves continue to attack the church today, but they cannot penetrate and destroy when the church stands together in unity. However, when believers break ranks with one another, they provide the enemy with easy prey! Let us stay together as one family.
See u in Church soon
HAPPY JOHN WESLEY DAY
Stay BLESSED
Stay PROTECTED
Stay SAFE
PREPARED BY
VERY REV. DR. SAMUEL YAW DUA DODD
CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH
ADABRAKA-ACCRA
