Part 16 Unity of the Spirit

P.M. Sermon

Spring Hill, TN

5/27/07 p.m.

Series: “Discovering the Holy Spirit” (Pt. 16)

Text(s): Ephesians 4:1-3

Summary: In PART 16, we explore the need for Christians to be united together in the Spirit.

“Unity of the Spirit”

Introduction:

A. Seal of the Spirit

1. The mark of a true Christian is the presence of the Holy Spirit within his life.

2. The Apostle Paul makes this clear when he affirms, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13).

3. A person becomes a Christian by obeying the message of truth, the gospel, but upon obedience God marks his children with the “seal” of the Holy Spirit himself “who is given as a pledge of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14).

B. Filled with the Spirit

1. After receiving the Spirit’s presence within us upon becoming a Christian, we must encourage the Spirit’s vibrancy within us.

2. Paul continues writing to the same audience, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).

3. We receive the Holy Spirit at baptism, but as we continue to live the Christian life we can receive more the Holy Spirit.

4. We are to partake of his nature—the divine nature—and drink in the Spirit. Paul also writes, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13).

5. Christians need to “fill up” on the Spirit; we must be “Spirit-filled” people!

C. United in Spirit

1. In the middle of what we call Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he writes that Christians must “preserve the unity of the Spirit.”

2. There is much religious division within the world, and even within the brotherhood of churches of Christ.

3. In Paul’s instruction here, we learn that unity is possible only when Christians focus upon the Spirit.

4. Our lesson text: Ephesians 4:1-3.

I. A PLEA FOR UNITY

A. The early church enjoyed unity. The first converts to Christianity “were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44).

B. These first believers were united, all agreeing to stand together upon the “apostle’s doctrine” (Acts 2:42).

C. Jesus had promised to build a single church (Matt. 16:18), and he prayed that all his followers would be “one,” united together by the truth (John 17:22).

D. When Christians take their focus off of the mission of the church, take their eyes off of Christ, and are filled with worldly thinking rather than the Spirit, division is the result.

E. Christians at Corinth forgot to keep their focus on things of the Spirit and division was the result (1 Cor. 1:10; 12:13).

F. Here in our text, Paul begs his readers to be united. Paul did not command them to be united, as placing himself above them. Neither did he request they be united putting himself on their same level. Rather he begged them “I implore (beseech) you” (4:1).

G. Paul gets down on his knees and looks up at these brethren and says, “I implore you.”

H. This teaches us something valuable about unity.

I. Division often comes when people are prideful. “I’m right, and your wrong.” “My way or the highway.” “If you don’t agree with me, go somewhere else.”

J. Pride most often asserts itself in matters of opinion—matters of judgment. I usually think that my methods and ideas are the best, likely you do to. But when we begin to force our ideas, methods, and opinions upon others, division results.

K. A major key to maintaining unity is by keeping the “Spirit of humility.”

II. FALSE ATTEMPTS OF UNITY

A. Division within the LORD’s church is contrary to Scripture, hurtful to our Savior, and is crippling to the cause of the Kingdom.

B. When unbelievers see members of the church divided, it severely hinders evangelism.

C. The world is full of strife and conflict; the church should be a place of peace and harmony.

D. Just as the love between the brethren can be a major drawing force to bring the lost to Christ (John 13:35), division between brethren is a major deterrent.

E. Realizing how detrimental division is to the cause of Christ, some today are willing to do anything for the sake of “unity.” Some are compromising the truth of God in order to increase the circle of fellowship.

F. While Paul begs for unity among Christians in this passage, he does not argue for “unity” at all cost.

G. In fact, Paul states that the basis of unity is a willingness of individuals to collectively submit to God’s truth and “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (4:1).

H. We have been called by the gospel (2 Thes. 2:14); called that we might be people who are spiritually minded, not worldly minded (Rom. 8:5).

I. We are called to have an unwavering loyalty to God’s truth always “speaking the truth in love” (4:15).

J. The basis of unity is not a compromise of the truth, rather it is a collective submission to the truth—Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth, Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

K. Unity can only occur when individuals are united upon God’s truth—“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

L. Unity occurs when we focus upon the Spirit, upon the Spirit’s words. When we agree to obey the plain teaching of Scripture, unity is the result.

III. HINDRANCES TO UNITY

A. The greatest hindrance to unity is human pride.

B. Pride might be defined as “being filled with your self; filled with your spirit.”

C. The key to unity is to empty yourself of your spirit and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

D. Most religious division (if not all) is caused by pridefulness. Some attempt to force their opinions and judgments about Scripture upon others as though it were matters of doctrine. What caused this division? “I know more than you do!” or “my way is best!”

E. There are many people who appear to be sincerely religious individuals who are members of the divisions of denominationalism. Why keeps them there? What causes the division? Likely it is an unwillingness to examine their beliefs in light of clear Bible teaching; a loyalty to friends or family; a loyalty to tradition rather than Scripture; or an unwillingness to admit their doctrine might be wrong.

F. Ultimately it is pridefulness that will not let them honestly submit to the truth.

G. When we are filled with the Spirit rather than being filled with ourselves, we will be willing to humbly examine our beliefs, traditions, church practices and reject anything for which we do not have clear Bible instruction—for the sake of unity. When the specific instruction has been given from the Spirit, we must be collectively submissive to it for unity.

H. In addition, however, we will be willing to be tolerant toward others and allow them liberty when it comes to matters of expediency, methods of doing things, and opinions. We will not fabricate specific ways one must practice their faith when only generic instruction has been given from the Spirit.

I. Being filled with the Spirit forces worldly thinking out of our lives so that we can “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (4:2).

IV. PRESERVING UNITY

A. Unity does not just happen, it requires work.

B. Unity will deteriorate over time and division will result if we are not careful to maintain our focus on the Spirit.

C. Unity is found by focusing on the Spirit, by following the Spirit’s led.

D. Another reason division has ravaged the religious landscape of our world, is because so many people are following different standards to govern their actions and practices of religion.

E. Many within Protestantism claim to be following the “leadings of the Spirit.” One man takes off after some “feeling” another following some “hunch” and all claiming to be led by the Spirit.

F. Often contrary doctrines are maintained and advanced by two individuals who both claim to follow the leadings of the same Spirit.

G. The problem is that many today believe that the Spirit leads directly and gives messages to the hearts of people today.

H. One religious leader advances a doctrine under the claim that their teaching came directly from the Spirit, another teacher teaches directly the opposite and claims it came from the Spirit. Someone has lied! And it wasn’t the Spirit!

I. In our text, Paul says there is “one Spirit” (4:4) and the Spirit of God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33).

J. So if the key to unity is focusing on and obeying the Spirit, the real question is “how does the Spirit speak to us today?”

K. This is made clear in the last book of the Bible. We are instructed that we must “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 1:7).

L. In this context, how was the Spirit “speaking” to the churches? The Spirit was giving his directions through the letter written through the Apostle John.

M. When the seven churches of Asia read this letter, they were “hearing” what the Spirit says to the churches.

N. This is the way we follow the Spirit, by following his guidance through the written words of the Spirit through the inspired men of the Bible.

O. Division occurs when men follow superstition and the subjective “leadings” of their hearts that they attribute to the Spirit.

P. Unity occurs, however, when we collectively agree to follow the plain teaching of the Spirit found in the words of the Bible.

Conclusion:

A. Let us work hard as a congregation to “persevere the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

B. We can do this as long as each of us continues to empty ourselves of pride and fill ourselves with the Spirit.

C. Let us keep our focus on the Spirit and upon his instructions found in His inspired written message.

D. Let us renew our commitment to remain united in matters that are clearly taught by the Spirit, to tolerate and allow liberty in matters of opinion, methods, and judgment, and do all things from a motivation of love toward one another.