The Unity Of The Brethren – Part Two

True Biblical unity is NOT found in everyone believing the same thing or even agreeing to “disagree.” Truth is not found in doctrine as important as sound Biblical doctrine may be. No movement or denomination has a corner on the truth. Any such movement that boasts that is both deluded and arrogant. TRUE UNITY IS FOUND WHEN WE ALL BEHOLD ONE PERSON – THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. ALL Truth is in HIM and HE IS the Truth by which we must measure both our lives and our doctrinal beliefs. In these last days as great deception becomes more and more pronounced, we should take heed to what we believe and where our faith is placed.

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Ps 133:1-3 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 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; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore

As we pick up part two of our journal on unity I want to make a few very important statements to again lay a foundation for what I hope the Lord will help me bring concerning the unity of the brethren.

There is a great clamor today about world peace. As our country prepares for a possible conflict with Iraq this clamor is getting louder and louder – not only abroad but even among many in America. Over the centuries and especially over the past three decades, we have witnessed the Gentile world's attempt to produce world peace through counterfeit means. The Bible tells us that through Israel the only true and everlasting peace mankind will ever know will be established on Earth one day when Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the Messiah of Israel and the Saviour of the World returns to rule and reign for 1,000 years in Jerusalem.

We also know that in the very near future there will arise a man who will unite many diverse groups of people under his ruler ship and actually bring a temporary, howbeit false, peace to the world and seem to be Israel’s salvation and protector as well. His ability to produce this will be one of his greatest weapons in deceiving the Jewish people into signing a godless seven-year peace covenant that he will ultimately break in the middle of the “week (7 years)” and declare himself to be God.

Dan 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Thus we see that the Gentile effort to create a lasting peace and false prosperity will end in the greatest time of trouble this world has ever known – the Great Tribulation.

Matthew 24:21 - For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

On the surface pursuing peace is a noble and honorable thing. War destroys, peace builds. Countries at war rarely experience prosperity and in contrast countries that never spend any money on weapons, etc. are usually countries that bask in GREAT prosperity and wealth. The total shredding of our nation’s military to the point where no government funds were spent on any type of defense brought about part of the prosperity under Mr. Clinton and Mr. Gore’s administration in the 1990s. Mr. Clinton of course took credit for the eight years of prosperity but he was NOT the reason America was prosperous.

God is the blesser and ALL GOOD GIFTS come from ABOVE! HE IS OUR SOURCE of living today! And God is the source of America’s prosperity no matter WHO the president is. But a selfish society, which cares only for itself, usually only cares about things that are temporal and not eternal. That is why we boasted of great prosperity while the morality barometer of this nation plunged like a weight in the ocean and no one cared during the 8 years of Mr. Clinton. We would elect Satan himself if Satan helped our pocketbook and put food on our table without sacrifice.

Not to get too far off the subject but I would like to state here that I believe the trouble our economy is going through now is an attack by Satan on America. Yes, God is allowing him to do that granted. But I believe there is war going on right now for the future of the United States of America in the heavenlies. Our status as the world’s superpower may very well be in its declining days as the world gets ready to embrace the last superpower before Messiah returns – the kingdom of Antichrist.

I know President Bush is not perfect and at times I have disagreed with his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian issue and believe this madness the U.S. is behind of a Palestinian state is part of the reason America has been laid wide open to her enemies. We are about to learn what Israel has lived with since her inception in 1948.

Despite that, I do believe in Mr. Bush's heart he is really trying to do what pleases God while in office. Some of the people around him may not have the same passion for righteousness that he seems to have on the surface, but I feel He has at least tried to raise himself above the politics of Washington, which is virtually impossible to do at times. Since his policies are a slap in the face of this liberal, anti-God bias America has sunk to during the past three decades, it goes without saying that a majority of people will not like him personally – and they don’t.

But one thing I admire in him – he really doesn’t care about “PUBLIC” opinion! He is not one who cares about the United States shaking hands with evil in the name of world peace and compromising our national identity just to appease our enemies – which is something Mr. Clinton and Gore did for eight straight years. God help us if we ever go to war with China. They already know everything they need to know about our intelligence and most sensitive areas of defense.

Don’t be fooled by what you read in the media about our country. They will not tell you the spiritual issues at stake. When Satan sees a ruler trying to live for God believe me he is not going to “sit this one out” and wait for the next president to come along. He will fight tooth and toenail to destroy that nation. America is under suck attack I believe. Many may disagree with that but that’s ok. During the time we had an ungodly duo in the White House from 1992-2000, very little really happened directly to us as a nation.

Since the elections of 2000 we have had two earth shattering and gut-wrenching tragedies ravish this precious land – the 9-11-2001 tragedy and just a few days ago the crash and explosion of the space shuttle Columbia. These both happened under the watch of President George W. Bush. We need to pray for our nation AND our president! We need to be GODLY citizens, not just “good” citizens,” but obey the word of God and PRAY for those in authority over us. (Romans 13)

God has promised peace to the believer who knows Jesus Christ. To be quite frank that is the ONLY peace one has anyway. No government in this world can bring peace on earth. But Jesus Christ can give peace to a troubled, fearful heart. One day soon Jesus will return to Earth and WILL bring LASTING peace to this troubled world. Before that time however we must not look for peace of any substance to take place among nations. Jesus warned us that in the last days, “wars and rumors of war,” would be an earmark that His coming was near. Things are not going to get better on Planet Earth. I don’t care what the liberal news media predicts nor the politicians who sit around in their think tanks and make decisions hoping to bring that peace about. All the United Nation “goals” and “mandates” will not bring world peace. I don’t care how many resolutions they pass and try to enforce - this world sits in darkness and is under a curse of sin. The only redemption it moans for is the soon return of its CREATOR – the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God!

Romans 8:21-25 - Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the Firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Why so many in this nation scream for “unity” and “peace” and want our country to “negotiate” with a mad dictator in Iraq is beyond me, but it is the spirit of the age. People want peace and unity AT ALL COSTS. They are willing to negotiate and shake hands with evil to keep free from conflict.

And that spirit has seeped into the modern church in a subtle yet demonic way. We are preaching the same type “unity” in many circles just for the sake of “peace.” As a result of seeking unity at all costs we have destroyed the foundation of the gospel and stopped preaching the power of God that sets men free because we are afraid that message will offend others and cause “division.” That is demonic deception!

We want little conflict with the world as well so we as the church seek to partner with the “world” to win the world. It won’t work! We are IN THIS WORLD but NEVER OF IT! The greatest tragedy the church ever experienced took place under the Roman Emperor Constantine in A.D. 312 when he placed the church under the care of the state and the state under the care of the church. The church no longer was separate from the world any longer but became the world’s friend instead of the world’s light of redemption. We exchanged the CROSS OF CHRIST for the SWORD of the state. It didn’t mix then and it doesn’t mix NOW. As a result of this idolatrous union many false doctrines and heathen practices take place in the church today.

When the church was persecuted it was more of what the TRUE CHURCH really is – the bastion of freedom for all humanity because it preached CHRIST CRUCIFIED! Now our greatest enemy has not been persecution – it’s been acceptance. And that acceptance is what has drained us of our influence on society. Society mocks us and laughs at us and shakes hands with us and even attends some of our functions – but our message or our ministries do not threaten SOCIETY’S SINFUL ways. WHY? Because we have exchanged true biblical unity for a false unity that has embraced error and evil instead of standing firm in Jesus Christ at ALL COSTS – even the cost of banishment from the established hierarchy of religion.

TRUE UNITY never compromises the TRUTH and true unity sometimes brings conflict INSTEAD of peace! Let that sink in!

I want to share a prophetic word I recently received from Pam Clark Ministries by Sam Burns concerning the coming “civil war” in the church: (I pray it will minister to you as it did me)

“Over the past few years several prophetic words have come forth regarding the civil war that is about to be fought in the Church. The historical Civil War that was fought in America was about slavery. This is the same issue that will perpetuate the civil war within the Church. The slavery, spiritually speaking, is the bondage that false doctrine holds God's people in.

Those who are held by the false doctrine that they have embraced are limited in their faith by that which they believe. These deceptions can also lead one into presumption, which is sin, and motivate believers to promote wrong concepts within the Body of Christ.

The Lord intends for His people to have the opportunity to be set free from the bondage of doctrinal error. A pure doctrine will then become the basis for strong faith, and this faith will produce great power in the Church. This is why the Lord is at this time establishing the five-fold ministry in His kingdom. He is now raising up true five-fold ministers and giving them as gifts to the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-15 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ.

This passage of scripture establishes the purpose of the five-fold ministry. This purpose is for God's ministers to establish the truth so that His people are no longer deceived by false doctrine. This will produce a unity of faith that will bring the Church into the maturity of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Many of the so-called five-fold ministers of today do not believe in the importance of establishing a pure doctrine. These people would rather not upset the proverbial apple cart. They would rather compromise this purpose of the five-fold for the sake of a pseudo-unity. They don't want to create controversy because their platforms, ministry opportunities, and followers might diminish.

This is why the civil war in the Church must and will take place. The true five-fold ministers of God will not be men pleasers. They will not compromise the truth in order to avoid controversy.”

May the Lord bless His prophetic word!! I know that some may take issue with Rev. Burns’ assessment of the conditions in the church but I could not agree more! The issue is not really even unity. It goes without saying that the church of the Lord Jesus needs to come together in unity! There is no argument on that. But the unity that is needed in these last days will not be a superficial unity based upon us all saying the same thing and outwardly saying we are one with our brethren when those we seek to unify with may sit in SERIOUS error and even be in deep delusion.

To restate what we said in part one of this journal – true unity will never be found beholding and comparing doctrines or comparing ourselves with each other. That is carnality. It may give our egos a good rubbing but it opens the door for deception! Paul labels this as very foolish! We must always compare SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL THINGS. But to do that we ourselves MUST BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED!

1 Cor 2:13 - Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2 Cor 10:12 - For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

True unity will always be found when we BEHOLD CHRIST and rejoin ourselves to the HEAD of the CHURCH! HE IS THE UNITY OF THE BRETHREN! When we are truly seeing JESUS believe me His entire CHURCH will then believe the SAME THINGS! It is impossible for them NOT TO! It doesn’t remove our own identities and personalities but it will remove these awful divisions over so many doctrinal issues that even the most intelligent of men can’t understand what we believe.

We covered two points in journal one and I want to pick up with the final three points here. Number 3:

3. True Bible Unity Always Produces An Atmosphere Of Heavenly Holy Ghost Unction!

Ps 133:1-3 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 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; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore

The Psalmist declares that it is a GOOD and PLEASANT event when the brethren dwell together in unity. Not to sound redundant but again we read that and think “well we all need to get in a room and lay our differences aside so we can have unity in the room.” That plays a small part in this but this verse speaks of something much higher and much more powerful! David likens unity to two things:

The oil and precious ointment running down Aaron’s beard
The dew of Hermon

David then lists two blessings of unity:

Pleasant
Very Pleasant

The precious ointment upon the head of Aaron is a type of the Holy Ghost. David said TRUE UNITY is not just the ointment but the effect of the ointment and oil running down Aaron’s beard all the way down to the skirts of his garments. It was a custom when anointing the high priest under Levitical law to pour oil on his head:

Exodus 29:7

Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Leviticus 8:12

And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.

Leviticus 21:10

And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

The world is waiting for the church to become unified for when we do we will walk in such an anointing that the Holy Ghost will literally DRIP from us! The Holy Ghost does not just want to be a name on our doctrinal statements that say we believe in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit does not want to just be mentioned in our sermons for namesake so people will think we believe in the Trinity. He is offended by the unbelief and outright resistance to His moving in many parts of the Body of Christ today. The denominational world is preaching the cross without the Holy Ghost while the Pentecostal world continues to preach the Holy Ghost without the cross. Neither will bring life!

The Holy Spirit has come to point us to the very truth that will unify the brethren!

John 16:13

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

God wants to pour oil on our heads once again in His church. Why? Because the Holy Ghost is the agent that is working the plan of God right now on the earth. Everything we receive and get from God today comes to us through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

1 Cor 2:10-12 - But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man, which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit, which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

The Holy Spirit does not come to glorify HIMSELF but He comes to GLORIFY CHRIST! He is NOT DIVIDED! CHRIST IS NOT DIVIDED EITHER! (1 Cor. 1:3) The Holy Spirit is GOD just as Jesus Christ is God and God the Father is God.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just want to be part of our lives when we go to church. He wants to be part of our lives in the grocery store, at the restaurant, at the daycare we work at, at the family reunions we attend. He wants to saturate us with the OIL of gladness and the DEW of Hermon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When I lived in Dayton, Ohio with my brother several years back I remember he and I always had our best times of fellowship at a local Waffle House late at night. We had some awesome times together at 1 or 2 AM in the morning sharing what the Lord was doing. Not too terribly long ago I had a dream where Todd and I were eating at that same Waffle House and the glory of God fell. Two people in biker’s outfits were sitting beside us listening to us as we talked about the Lord. I remember in the dream I began to weep as we were talking and without knowing we were being watched I just let the tears flow and started praising God. When I did the two people in bikers’ outfits got up and knelt down beside our table and asked us how they could be saved. Neighbor, that’s what the HOLY GHOST wants to do today. And when the church becomes unified again in JESUS that’s what will happen!!!!!!

The second thing David compared unity to is “the dew of Hermon.” As the ointment poured upon the one anointed was a picture of unity, so was the dew of Hermon and Zion. The dew of Hermon was so plentiful even in dry weather that in the morning everything was as wet as if it had rained. Again, that is what the Lord wants to do in the church today. David said the LORD COMMANDED the blessing HERE! And not just a temporary blessing, but also a blessing FOREVERMORE!

In Zion God commanded unity and life eternal. It is from here that people will be blessed forever (Psalm 125:1-2; Psalm 132:13-14; Psalm 134:3; Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 59:20-21; Romans 11:25-29). This also speaks to us in part of the healing between the Jewish and non-Jewish parts of the church. NOW is the set time to favor ZION – forevermore!

We must have this type of outpouring on planet Earth before Jesus returns. The harvest is ripe and the Lord continues to raise up workers and laborers in these monumental days ahead. But without the anointing of the Holy Ghost the harvest will be lost through our lifeless machinery and dead works of religion. We need the rain from heaven to see souls saved in this hour! We need to become ONE again in JESUS! When we have true unity believe me there won’t be any preachers (at least true ministers of the gospel of Jesus) saying anything negative about the workings of the HOLY GHOST.

Rev. Ron Phillips of Chattanooga First Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN. Is a former Southern Baptist minister who recently received the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. I heard him recently say that the Lord has made him do EVERYTHING that he once fought! He said he didn’t believe in being slain in the Spirit and now just about every other day he finds himself on his back praising God in tongues! He said he thought the laughter movement was of the devil – now he finds himself under the anointing so much he can’t stop laughing at times.

Preacher – the Lord has got your number. He may have to get your attention like He did Saul but your attention HE will get one day. Some of you reading this right now are biting your lip so hard it’s bleeding. Some of you don’t have any belief whatsoever in the supernatural of God or in the ministry of the Holy Ghost in these last days. I’m not just talking to non-Pentecostal preachers. The Pentecostal world has exchanged the power of the Holy Ghost for the power of the psychologist couch. And it’s a POOOOOOR EXCHANGE!

Neighbor, it’s HARD TO KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS! It’s HARD to resist the Holy Ghost. Stephen said it so eloquently, well actually he probably wasn’t that eloquent about it - when he screamed at the religious crowd: “YE STIFF-NECKED AND HARD HEARTED – HOW LONG DO YE RESIST THE HOLY GHOST??????????” (Acts 7:51) I ASK YOU TODAY oh Man of God – how long are you going to resist the Holy Ghost????

I’m sure some deluded and pitiful weak-kneed preacher would have called Stephen’s comments “unnecessary and unbeneficial to the cause of unity and peace among the churches in Jerusalem.” And yes they got Stephen stoned. But I’d rather be stoned in these last days than to give into the spirit of this age and seek peace at all costs with the devil. Friend, God as my witness and my helper. By HIS GRACE there will be no PEACE TREATIES signed with Satan and my house! GLORY TO GOD. We are no match for him, but as a dear ministry friend in Dayton puts it on her website, “the ONE LIVING INSIDE OF US BEAT THE DEVIL WITH HIS HANDS TIED BEHIND HIS BACK!” Oh Glory to God. I’m not sending Chris McDonald to the door to answer the attack. I’m just poor pitiful flesh and flawed poor pitiful flesh at that.

But thank God by the BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT I have with my Heavenly Redeemer, I have been given POWER over ALL the power of the enemy IN THE NAME OF JESUS. The power is not in ME but in THE NAME of the Lord Jesus. And when we say the name, we are actually invoking the BLOOD – they are one and the same. When we say “in the name of Jesus,” we are actually saying “in the name of the BLOOD OF JESUS.” Satan that blood is against you today. Devil that blood has destroyed your power over humanity. Devil, your time is short on this planet and it will eventually seem in the near future like you’re winning for a short time on planet Earth with your schemes and deception during the Tribulation, but the day is approaching rapidly when the Lord Himself will come from Glory with 10,000 upon 10,000 of the saints along with the angels and they are coming to bind you and cast you into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years! Cheer up saints of God, we win! Cheer up woman of God, we win! Cheer up those that are weary, worn and sad, JESUS IS COMING, JESUS IS COMING, JESUS IS COMING! And if you belong to Him, YOU’RE COMING WITH HIM! Pardon me for preaching but I feel the anointing of the Holy Ghost so strong I could run a mile right now. GLORY!

Preachers hear me; the Lord is about to get our attention! What is about to happen is about to shake our theologies to the core so bad is isn’t funny. I mean just the other day a dear old Methodist lady received the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. She was so excited about what happened the first person she told was her pastor who just looked at her and said “you really don’t believe what happened to you was from God do you?”

The pastor of the church was so adamantly opposed to the baptism in the Holy Ghost that when he heard what happened to the dear lady he was planning on asking her to leave the church.

The following Sunday the pastor gets up, gives his typical 30-minute deader than dead sermon to his normal dead congregation. At the end of the service he felt like it was a good idea to do something a little different this week so he thought he’d have a testimony service. He didn’t see the dear lady in the congregation so he felt it safe to have it without the risk of her getting up and telling everyone what happened to her. To his horror she was sitting at the back of the church and started running down the aisle to be the first to testify about what the Lord had done for her the week before. She had worn a beautiful hat this Sunday full of daisy’s and other gorgeous flowers on top.

The pastor started to walk towards her with his finger moving on his mouth to signal her to be quiet and stop talking when he noticed that the unusual hat she was wearing had bumble bees in the flowers!!

As she started talking the pastor grabbed her by the arm and was about to lean over and rebuke her from testifying when one of those bees in her hat flew off the hat and went right up the preacher’s nose. The bee stung the preacher several times making him fall literally on his back with tears in his eyes because of the pain. This precious saint of God newly filled with the Holy Ghost looks down at her pastor and leans over the pray for him and minister to him and immediately began speaking in other tongues as the spirit of God gave her the utterance! As she kneels down to pray for her pastor and others gather around her, she lays her hand on her poor pastor who is lying flat on his back looking up to heaven. As she starts to pray in tongues, he begins to feel something come all over him and he begins to realize that he can’t move off the floor and begins to weep too – but this time the weeping is not about pain – the Lord supernaturally touches his heart while lying on the floor and before he knows it he is speaking in tongues too! He tries to talk in English to dismiss the church and can’t. To say the least that Methodist preacher and that church was NEVER the same again!!!!!!

Some of you reading this right now are so stiff-necked and hard hearted against the moving of God’s spirit in your church. Neighbor, you are headed for a Damascus road experience! The Lord used a bumblebee from a lady’s hat to get the attention of this Methodist minister. He may not use a bumblebee in your case, but He will do what it takes if you continue to walk in arrogance and pride against His anointing and Holy Spirit!

Friend, it’s hard to kick against the PRICKS of the HOLY GHOST! Before these last days are over there is going to be a remnant of people who are in TRUE unity together. WHY? Because we all speak in tongues??? NO! Because we all attend the same church and believe the same things?? NO! Because we all believe in prophecy and the prophetic gifts? NO! Because we all don’t go the honky tonks on Saturday night and never smoked a cigarette?? NO!

No, this unity will not be based upon something that man can take credit for. It will be a supernatural outpouring of Grace on the church that causes us to BEHOLD THE BEAUTY of our King and worship our HEAD – The LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!

And when true unity comes to the Body – believe me, it will be PLEASANT AND GOOD not only for us – but also for the entire world because the power of Christ will then FLOW like the oil FLOWED down the beard of Aaron. It will FLOW like the dew of Hermon to the hurting, the dying, the oppressed, the sick, the demonically possessed, the lost, the rejected, the wounded, the backslider, the sinner, the drug addict, and the whoremongers. Neighbor it’s coming and it’s coming SOON!

4. True Biblical Unity Is Unity That Is Centered Upon The Reconciliatory Ministry Of Cross Of Christ

Eph 2:16

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

I have touched on this in principle already but I want to deal with it a bit more here. Paul said that the Lord Jesus died that He might reconcile BOTH unto God in ONE BODY BY THE CROSS. What exactly does that mean?

Very simply it speaks to us of the coming together of the Jewish and non-Jewish parts of the church. The word “BOTH” there literally means “the two” in the NIV and NKJV. The “two” mean the Jew and the Gentile.

That is the unity the Lord purchased with His BLOOD through His death. When Jesus prayed for unity in the church while He was here on earth there were no such things as denominations! He was not praying that the Assemblies of God get its act together with the Church of God. He was not praying the Baptists get their act together with the Methodists. NO! He was praying that through His death that the Father would reconcile BOTH JEW AND GENTILE to Himself! That’s the true definition of biblical unity.

John 17:16-26

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. [18] As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. [19] And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. [20] Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; [21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. [22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: [23] I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

There is a great move of God on right now in Planet Earth and the end result will be the world BELIEVING that Jesus was sent from God. This move of God’s Spirit is not about meetings where an evangelist runs up and down the aisle spitting and screaming. It’s not about a huge conference where they charge you hundreds of dollars to have someone lay hands on you and zap the demons out of you. It’s not about some major television network making so-called Christian movies to change the entertainment industry. It’s not about the latest winner of the dove awards (buzzard more like it) or whose the contemporary Christian artist of the year.

No, this revival has to do with a great number of people who are waking up to the realization that our roots as Christians are NOT GENTILE ROOTS but JEWISH! We serve a JEWISH Messiah. The Bible was written by 98% of Jewish writers! The covenants in which we rejoice in for salvation were given to the JEWISH NATION. The prophets were Jewish. Even though ALL scripture is given for inspiration for the church including all prophetic verses, the very scope of those prophetic passages deals mainly with Israel.

And when the Jewish people see the Gentile world embracing THEM and THEIR MESSIAH – they will BELIEVE that Yeshua IS the one He said He was – SENT FROM THE FATHER TO SAVE ALL OF ISRAEL! That’s the unity that is soon to spring forth upon Planet Earth.

5. True Biblical Unity Is A Unity Of The Faith In The Bond Of Peace

Paul urges us to “keep the unity of the faith in the bond of peace.” He said we are called in ONE HOPE of our CALLING. We are to ENDEAVOR to walk in this. The word endeavor here means “earnestly and without delay.” In other words – do what we have to do to “CONTEND” for the faith. STRIVE for peace and unity but never compromise neither your calling NOR the TRUTH upon which that calling rests.

He also reiterated this to the Colossians stating that when the peace of God rules in our hearts first – then we will be “called” into ONE BODY. That’s BIBLICAL UNITY!

Ephes. 4:3-7 - Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. [7] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Col 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Col 1:20-23

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature, which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

That may sound like a contradiction of terms to “strive” and “contend” for the faith while maintaining the body of peace. It is not. What it means is that we seek the PRINCE OF PEACE at all costs. We are not to allow ANYTHING or ANYONE keep us from that pursuit!

If there are those among us who are rebellious and do not want to seek after JESUS FIRST then let them leave and fall away. Pray for them, love them, seek to bring reconciliation and restoration if possible, but don’t lose out with God and fall away ourselves because of their rebellion! Don’t compromise the faith just for the sake of peace. The unity of the SPIRIT is one that will produce the bond of peace only if we will submit ourselves to the Lord Jesus. When we seek to create this unity at the sake of compromising our faith in the cross, then we may have a false peace, but it will only lead to death.

The Holy Ghost is NOT divided. He does not do for one and not do for another. He never contradicts the word of God nor does He bring glory to anything or anyone other than CHRIST. The key to walking in His overcoming power is FAITH. Paul used the term in verse 4 – “one faith.” When he says one faith we must ask “faith in what?” Our faith must REST in the finished work of Christ. If we placing our faith in works then our lives will be out of unity with the Spirit.

When it relates to the Body of Christ, whenever we cease as a WHOLE CHURCH to believe in the Cross-, then we see the fractions and divisions we see in the modern day church. I know what I am about to say my ruffle a few feathers but they need to be ruffled – but there is a right interpretation of the word of God that will lead to life and a wrong one that will lead us to death. It DOES matter where you attend church and whom you are listening to. It DOES matter what you believe. It DOES matter where your faith and confidence lies.

In a perfect world and one where we are walking in true Biblical unity today the body of Christ would be functioning UNTO HIM. But we are not and thus it matters a great deal that YOU and I as individuals are in UNION WITH HIM! I believe before the rapture of the church many within the Body of Christ will care for nothing else but the GLORY of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. They will have their hearts stamped with His passion and Spirit and not care whether they belong to any denomination or group. They will just love JESUS and care about nothing else.

Some soul may read that and say, “well you’re promoting rebellion and telling people they don’t need to submit to their church.” Uh, no, what I AM telling people is that to walk in the unity of the bond of peace in the Holy Ghost their faith cannot lie in their denomination or church. It must be placed in CHRIST JESUS and His finished work on the cross. The only people who worry about people being “lone rangers” and not being “submissive to authority,” are those demanding submission to an organization and not to God. When submission is demanded or required through intimidation and threats it ceases to be submission. True godly submission is done out of a heart of LOVE. As Rick Joyner so beautifully put it recently, “The first Adam sinned in a perfect environment and brought hell itself to earth. The second Adam is carving out a body of people who live in hell itself on earth but with a willing heart refuse to sin and OBEY HIM to bring heaven back to earth.” In other words, the Lord wants us to obey Him because we LOVE Him, not because we have to obey Him. That is Greek to many people because we love legalism. We want God to make us robots and program us to serve Him but friend that just will not happen.

The redeemed of the ages will be a people who WANTED to serve God no matter the circumstances.

Protestants love to slam Catholics for their liturgy and rules over their people. We are no different! Some of the worst abuses of power come from denominations that make their tenants of faith more important than God’s word. Some even go as far as to say you can’t be saved unless you belong to their group or movement. I got news for them and you - people were getting saved and filled with the Holy Ghost LONG before there were Baptists, long before the Assemblies of God, long before the establishment of the Church of God and long before the establishment of any other denomination or movement. The early church never held any title or name but they HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON! We want title after title today and have NOTHING in COMMON with each other.

Others may say “yea but we all believe in the same God and are seeking to go to the same heaven.” That sounds very pious and holy but the sad truth is that the world does NOT believe in the same God and the world does not believe in the same heaven!

Entire denominations are apostatizing because they have taken the CROSS OF CHRIST out of the foundation of their message and ministry. Methodist leaders tearing pages out of song books because they have references to the blood of Jesus tell me that we are living in the last days when hearing the TRUE GOSPEL message will be at great cost. No, we’re not all believing in the same thing to get us to heaven and NO we are not all going to the same place. If you have taken your faith out of the blood of Jesus you’re not going where I’m going! If you have taken your faith off the finished work of Christ and are depending on works to get you to heaven – neighbor, you’re not going where I’m going! I’m not that important, those statements are not meant to sound arrogant or rude, but there is only ONE WAY TO GOD! ONE FAITH, as Paul said, is the foundation of the entire gospel. There are not two, three, four, five, six, eight, ten different ways to God. There is only ONE – the LORD JESUS CHRIST!

6. True Biblical Unity Places Christ As The Head, Not Man.

In several passages the apostle Paul uses the human body to illustrate the biblical unity of the spiritual BODY of Christ with one underlying theme – one body ,many members:

Rom 12:4-5 - For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Cor 10:17 0 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

1 Cor 12:12 - For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Cor 12:20 - But now are they many members, yet but one body.

Eph 4:4 - There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Many people who preach unity use these passages as the backdrop to say we must function as a Body – and that is absolutely RIGHT. We MUST without question function as a Body. The problem with us today though is that we try to function as a BODY without being CONNECTED TO THE HEAD!

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul addressed a serious issue concerning the Body of Christ, which is JUST as important as the Body functioning as ONE. In this statement he said that many were only having an “outward show of religious works,” while “not holding to the head.”

Col 2:16-20 - Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God.

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

Paul states, “The body is OF CHRIST.” He then says, “don’t let men beguile you in a ‘voluntary humility’ and ‘worshipping on angels,’ intruding into things the person has not seen but is ‘vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.’

Does that not sound like the attitude and arrogance of the modern church today? How many preachers out there and denominational leaders are using a show of false humility to beguile people into submitting to their authority. Submission is a godly trait. We are to submit to one another in the fear of God. In the church we are commanded and encouraged to submit to those over us in authority as long as those in authority are FOLLOWING CHRIST.

In this same vein I believe that is the test of TRUE UNITY. I’m not trying to state we don’t need unity among us. That is the very subject of these two journals – THE UNITY OF THE BRETHREN! But no matter how well the hand may be; no matter how well the leg may be; no matter how well the ear functions; no matter how well the eye functions; no matter how well the nose works – NONE OF THOSE BODY PARTS FUNCTION WITHOUT BEING CONNECTED TO THE HEAD!!!! WITHOUT THE HEAD NOTHING WORKS - NOTHING.

Paul warned the Colossians that those who are disjoined at the HEAD (CHRIST) are those who chase “after the commandments and doctrines of MEN.” Most unity being pushed today in the church is unity based on those doctrines instead of unity based on us being JOINED AT THE HEAD.

I’ve got a prediction that I’m sure many will challenge. But I firmly believe that if we ALL were joined to the HEAD – guess what – we’d ALL THINK THE SAME THING!! WHY?? Because the MIND that we think with would no longer be our own – BUT CHRIST!

Col 1:18-19

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;

Col 2:10

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

I want to say this again and shout it from the rooftop – HE IS THE HEAD, WE ARE THE BODY. HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, WE ARE HIS BODY. We cannot have TRUE BIBLICAL UNITY until we ALL are joined to HIM! Does that mean the church will be perfect and never have division? NO! But friend when we have unity – true unity – the anointing of the Holy Ghost will be released upon the earth in unprecedented manner that will shake hell and destroy the powers of darkness for many.

The Ministry And Unity

Eph. 4:4-15 - There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. [7] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. [8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. [9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? [10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) [11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: [14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: [16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes in

increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

In closing, I want to discuss Paul’s admonishment to the Ephesians. He told them that HE (JESUS) has given HIS BODY evangelists, pastors, teachers, prophets and apostles “for the work of the ministry,” the “perfecting of the saints,” and for the “edifying of the body of Christ.” This will happen UNTIL WE COME TOGETHER IN THE UNITY OF THE FAITH.

That unity will help us measure into the stature of the FULNESS of CHRIST. That is spiritual maturity and discernment that we have no choice but to walk in the days ahead. We have no choice church but to GROW UP unto HIM. Every wind of doctrine is coming down the pipe right now. Men are getting behind pulpits and with “cunning” craftiness leading millions away from the living God and from the finished work of Christ. It’s very subtle and in many cases sounds “oh so good.” But neighbor I say this in tears that we must, we must, we must SPEAK THE TRUTH in LOVE so that the body may grow up into HIM IN ALL THINGS, even the HEAD – WHICH IS CHRIST. That’s the word! That’s UNITY! That’s the UNITY OF THE BRETHREN.

I’m not advocating that we make no effort to come together or to intercede in one for our cities and nations. It just seems that the only time we come together in that manner is when we suffer a national tragedy and after the tragedy we go back to our own little corners.

When we find true unity in Jesus, the body will be fitly formed together ALL THE TIME and then we will be like the glorious church without spot or wrinkle the Lord Jesus came to this earth to call out before the times of judgment and tribulation.

Eph 5:27

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph. 4:16 - From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes in increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

In HIM we will be edified in LOVE. In HIM we won’t have to put on a front of superficial piety and showmanship to try and convince everyone we are in unity. When the BODY gets connected to HIM once again, we will literally see the effectual WORKING IN THE MEASURE OF EVERY PART.

What is the key to all of this? One word –JESUS. He is the Head. When we are in right relationship with the Head, ALL LIFE FLOWS from HIM and all the body will then function properly. I feel the anointing of the Holy Spirit right now. The Body of Christ is about to come back to its power of the early church and we’re about to see a move of God unparalleled in human history.

As I close I want to quote a passage in Acts 2 that described the early church. The way the church came in is the way it must go out – AS ONE.

Acts 2:42-47

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and the apostles did many wonders and signs.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

I pray this journal has encouraged you. It’s not been our intention to draw a sword but I know the Lord is calling us to a better understanding of HIS ways, not man’s. It’s getting late neighbor. It’s getting late.

Pray with me please:

Heavenly Father, in Jesus name, we come before You today asking for Your forgiveness for the disharmony and division in Your church. Lord our problem is not too many denominations, our problem is that we have forsaken our HEAD and stopped worshipping HIM. We have taken the ways of man and the world and brought them into the Church. We have become disjoined at the head and tried to beguile the world by our craftiness and dishonesty. Lord, we are NOT walking in the unity of the faith. We are NOT operating in the UNITY of the brethren. We are NOT experiencing revival because revival must come from heaven and we have forsook the ways of heaven. Bring us back to the Cross of Your precious Son and renew a right spirit in us all. Renew our minds and understanding and reveal the power and glory of the finished work of His redemption He purchased with His own precious blood. That blood makes us ONE IN HIM. Help us Lord to see that with our hearts, not just with our eyes. Forgive us for the blindness of our minds and souls. We are lacking so much but Lord all that we lack is found in the HEAD OF THE CHURCH – The Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to walk in biblical unity together in these last days. Amen.