Unity of the People
Acts 1:4-6 NKJV
[4] And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; [5] for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” [6] Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
This would be the last time they would see Jesus in His physical body.
Was it a tragedy or a blessing?
The Lord does something here I think we miss, but we must definitely see.
We read this passage of God Word and we are quick to look for the coming of the Promise of the Holy Spirit.
We too want to know when the Lord will establish His Kingdom!
We all want the Gifts from the Lord.
We all strive to see His Kingdom come.
Jesus tells them that they must stay in Jerusalem and wait for this incredible Promise.
The Glorious unexplainable Baptism of the Holy Spirit!
But even this truly remarkable event needs to be preceded by something.
They assembled.
They came together as a Church, as a family for one reason and one purpose, to wait on the Lord.
We have to remember that these people were from different towns.
These Disciples of Jesus were of different backgrounds.
They all had different levels of faith and understanding.
But the Lord was able to bring them together for something greater.
What are we waiting for?
As Followers of Jesus Christ we should be awaiting His Glorious arrival.
We should be looking into the clouds waiting for our King to establish His Kingdom.
But how should we be doing it?
Acts 1:9-11 NKJV
[9] Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. [10] And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, [11] who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
There is so much we can glean from the early church. There has been something that has been lost.
Something that leaves us exposed to the dangers of this world.
Something that is destroying the very fabric of our faith. Definitely something we lack,
Unity.
We have gotten so far away from the early church’s example.
These were men and women in it for one reason, Jesus.
They assembled and they waited, together as one Body under the banner of Jesus Christ.
Where did we fall off?
Imagine if there was an actual unity in the Body of Christ today how different our world and lives would be!
I’m not talking about being a Baptist or Pentacostal or anything in-between.
I’m not talking about how we practice but Who we worship.
We will always have our disagreements on certain things.
“Do we sing Hymns or contemporary songs”.
We have reduced the worship of God to silly little arguments like this.
Does it bring Glory and Honor to the Son of Man that sits at the Right Hand of the Father!
Does it magnify the love, grace and mercy that pours from His Heart to hurt and lost souls!
Do you believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God the maker of Heaven and Earth!
Born of a Virgin. Betrayed, suffered nailed to the Cross. Took the cup of Wrath and atones for all of our sins.
His last words from the old rugged Cross “ it is finished “ Pierced in His side to allow the Blood to flow to cover the very sins He dies for. Put in a borrowed Grave. Was lifeless, dead! On the third day He rose again in the victory of sin and death!
Do you believe this?
If so, then what keeps us so separated.
I’ll give you the answer.
Pride.
We all want to be right in how we pray, worship, believe and follow. And if there’s any that doesn’t do it the way we do them they are wrong!
If they believe in the same Gospel as you, what makes them wrong?
Instead of being right we should be obedient!
Obedience to Jesus Christ is the only thing we need to worry about doing.
Obedient to His Word, His Commands.
Waiting in joyful hope for His return, just as He has promised. He will take care of the rest. Don’t miss out on what He has planned for you because you decided to go your own way. That way has consequences, and unfortunately many of us have paid the price for not following what Jesus says.
So they return and wait.
They wait in the Upper room. In that upper room was about 120 people. All together in unity as one!
This is very important especially for today when there is so much division in the Church. We could learn a lesson from these men and women. When we start to put Jesus first all the little disagreements and selfish concerns start to fade away. The early Church was united under the Banner of Jesus and through the Power of His Spirit for one reason and purpose, To go out to all the world and make Disciples of Jesus Christ. Build the Kingdom of God, to share the redemptive work.of the Cross.To share the Salvation, Grace, mercy and Love NOT a denomination!
The True Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Unity brings peace with and to each other.
Unity brings strength.
And what did these followers of Christ do, they prayed together in supplication.
Supplication means to plead humbly. It was a prayer of urgency. They were in fellowship with each other and they were in prayer with each other.
Unity brings comfort to the lesser one of faith and it builds greater faith in the tattered heart.
It will comfort us knowing that we don’t go in it alone, this is one reason Jesus sent them out by twos.
People need people. But followers of Christ need to be around and with other followers of Christ.
If the one’s around you aren’t, then make them understand what you know and believe. When we have one common goal all selfishness and disunity gets put aside.
There’s coming a time that all we will have is each other.
There are not many people that actually believe that the Bible is true, even among the Church.
Satan comes to divide.
He comes to kill and destroy.
In the last days there will be Deceivers.
The world will fade away but the Words of God are eternal!
STICK TO THE WORD OF GOD!
When the actual persecution of the Church truly starts here in the West what will we do?
Will we still argue about kneeling at the altar of God versus standing?
Or will we be looking for that Brother or Sister in Christ for prayer and comfort. Reminding each other about the promises of God. Building rather than destroying.
We may all have our differences.
We may not see things exactly the same way.
We may even come at odds with each other.
But can we worship the God of the Bible together?
Can we accept Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. That through Him and Him alone are we saved!
Can we at least agree and be united in that?
Acts 2:44-47 NKJV
[44] Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, [45] and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. [46] So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Can we start to work to be like this?
Pastor Ed