"ENDEAVORING TO KEEP THE UNITY"

May 27   “Endeavoring to Keep the Unity”   Ephesians 4:1-4

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;” (Ephesians 4:1-4)

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And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.  (Mark 2:1-5)     Paul, in our scripture for today, uses the words, “Endeavoring to keep the unity…” The word endeavor means: “To try hard; exert effort; make an earnest attempt; strive, to try to achieve.”  So, this word has a lot to say to us, as Christians.  We are to try hard to have unity.  We are to exert effort to have unity.  We are to make an earnest attempt to have unity.  We are to strive to keep the unity and we are to achieve unity!  One of the most difficult things to “keep,” is unity among all those that attend church.  Spurgeon said; “It is a very difficult thing to maintain and that for several reasons.  Our sins would, very naturally, break it.  If we were all angels, we should keep the unity of the Spirit, and not need even the exhortation to do so!”  Guess what?  WE are not angels, are we?  The command is in place, that we are to continue to “Endeavor to Keep the Unity!”  Like anything else, you have to have it, in order to keep it.  What causes disunity?  Pride?  Jealousy?  Anger?  Gossip?  There are many more situations that can cause “Disunity.”  Wonder why God has commanded us to have unity?  I fully believe that with “Unity,” we can accomplish so much in building God’s kingdom.  God knows what a unified church, and His people moving in the same direction, and attempting to accomplish the same goals, can achieve!  The men mentioned in our scripture today, were determined to get the sick man to Jesus because they knew that He would help him.  They were unified in this goal.  They went around the crowd.  They worked on the roof until they were able to gain entrance so that they could lower the sick man down onto his bed.  They cooperated in carrying the bed, or they would never have gotten him to Jesus.  So, how can we keep unity?  Since we are all different and we have different likes and dislikes, how can we unify?  We can respect each other’s rights and likes, but when we come together in God’s House and we all agree with God’s Word, then we have something in common.  If we all love Jesus more than anything else, we have something in common and we can unify around the shed blood of Jesus and His selfless act at Calvary!  How can we unify?  When we keep our hearts and minds on the goal that Christ has set before us, to love each other, and to win the lost to Christ and forget who gets credit, as long as God’s name is glorified and that souls are brought into the kingdom.  I truly believe that unity is possible!  It will occur when people, who are “called by HIS Name, will HUMBLE themselves, and PRAY, and SEEK HIS face, and TURN from their wicked (Selfish) ways; THEN HE will HEAR from Heaven, and will FORGIVE their SIN, and will HEAL their land!” (2 Chronicles 7:14)  The Bottom Line: Unity will occur when we have “UNITY” with God, ourselves!  Our relationship has to be growing and vital and all-consuming, if we are to see each other through the eyes of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”  (Philippians 4:8-9)  Stay Strong, Stay Focused… Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!