Issue #6 August 23, 2000
Always remember: Commitment to Unity equals Community.
Honoring God in Community
August 23, 2000
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In this Issue
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*A Heart For Unity #4 by John Bartlett
*Honoring God with Clean Humor
*Ephesians 2:11-22 -- Unity in Yeshua
*Prayer Requests
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***A Heart for Unity #4***
"Be kindly affectionate to one another with
brotherly love, in honor giving preference to
one another" (Romans 12:10)
In his book, The Bait of Satan, John Bevere
tells a story about a wise man who used to
stand outside a small town in the western
United States. When groups of settlers appeared
they would always ask the wise man what the town
was like.
"What was the town like that you just came from?",
the wise man would respond.
If they said, "It was terrible. There were gossips
and slanderers and criminals. No one helped anyone,
but everyone kept to themselves, each one suspicious
of their neighbour", the wise man would reply, "This
town is just like the one you left".
To which the settlers would thank him and move on.
If, on the other hand, they would reply, "The town
we have come from was lovely! Everyone was friendly,
they looked out for each other, they pulled together
in times of adversity and rejoiced together when
something good befell one of them", the wise man
would still reply, "This town is just like the one
you left".
One of the most common reasons non-believers give
for avoiding Christianity is the way that Christians
treat one another. The plain truth is that we are too
quick to take offence. Having taken offence, very
often we immediately dissociate ourselves from the
church or person who offended us. Let us not kid
ourselves into thinking that non-Christians don't
notice this.
Very often we are offended through no fault of our
own. And very often God calls us out of situations
because of sin. But to leave there with unresolved
issues usually insures that we will face the same
problem again.
Statistics show that 65 percent of people who divorce
and re-marry will divorce again. Why? Because they
married on the rebound without having resolved the
issues that led to the first divorce. It is the same
with Christians who leave churches or other
organisations without working through the difficulties
they face there.
We see more and more Christians carrying on arguments
in public, even Christians taking each other to court.
They are convinced that they have a 'righteous cause'
and that it is necessary to do this to protect people
from some monster who is masquerading as a Christian.
Would people do that, do you think, if it meant others
would spend eternity in hell because of it (because it
frequently does)? Or are they in reality not interested
in the welfare of others?
To be fair, sometimes we do our best to resolve a
situation and the other party is determined to be
unreasonable. There is not much you can do about that,
but still it is wrong to retaliate in kind. It is also
right to leave situations where there is sin, but when
and only when God calls you out. Let me be very clear
about this, you need to be absolutely certain that you
are hearing God calling you out of any situation before
you depart. Otherwise, you set yourself up for heartache
upon heartache.
I know people who have been Christians for twenty or
thirty years and they go from church to church falling
out with people, fighting and being hurt over and over
again. The sad thing is, they are completely convinced
it is always someone else's fault. I am sure that each
of us knows at least one person like that.
Having a heart for unity often means to be willing to
swallow your pride and make peace with someone who has
caused you a lot of pain. I am not talking about
excusing sin, but about giving up on your desire to
be seen to be in the right (Romans 12:19). This is
not an easy thing to do. I confess to having
disappointed God myself in this area.
But if we truly have a heart for unity, let's pray
and ask God how many of our burned bridges He wants
us to rebuild.
Thanks for your time.
John Bartlett
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Discuss "A Heart for Unity" articles in Honoring
God in Community Message Board under the topic
Honoring God in Community.
http://jtimgray.tripod.com/id50.htm
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*** Honoring God with Clean Humor ***
A father was approached by his small son, who
told him proudly.
"I know what the Bible means!"
His father smiled and replied.....
"What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible
means?"
The son replied, "I do know!"
"Okay," said his father. "So, Son, what does
the Bible mean?"
"That's easy, Daddy.......
It stands for "Basic Information Before Leaving
Earth."
Leave it to a child to figure it out
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***Unity in Yeshua***
Ephesians 2:11-22 NIV "Therefore, remember that
formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called
"uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the
circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands
of men) -- {12} remember that at that time you were
separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in
Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise,
without hope and without God in the world. {13} But
now in Christ Yeshua you who once were far away have
been brought near through the blood of Christ. {14}
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one
and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of
hostility, {15} by abolishing in his flesh the law
with its commandments and regulations. His purpose
was to create in himself one new man out of the two,
thus making peace, {16} and in this one body to
reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by
which he put to death their hostility. {17} He came
and preached peace to you who were far away and peace
to those who were near. {18} For through him we both
have access to the Father by one Spirit. {19}
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens,
but fellow citizens with God's people and members of
God's household, {20} built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, with Christ Yeshua himself as
the chief cornerstone. {21} In him the whole building
is joined together and rises to become a holy temple
in the Lord. {22} And in him you too are being built
together to become a dwelling in which God lives by
his Spirit."
This passage has two primary messages:
1. Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ.
2. We are all part of the church of God with Yeshua
as the cornerstone and the teachings of the apostles
and prophets as the foundation. Each of us is the
temple of the Holy Spirit and as the temple we are
called to be Holy.
*Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ*
As Gentiles we had no place in a relationship with
God (verse 12). We were not included in the covenant
with God. Without God we were without hope. Now,
through the blood of Yeshua we have been included in
God's blessings (verse 13). Praise the Lord. I am
eternally grateful that God chose to allow Gentiles
to have a relationship with Him through Yeshua.
Let’s look at another passage that brings this point
home. "As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him
will never be put to shame." {12} For there is no
difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is
Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, {13} for,
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved." Romans 10:11-13
There is one God and that same God is God for the Jews
and the Gentiles. In fact, as believers we are now one
in Yeshua. We are not two different groups, but, one.
Now, we have been speaking about unity and spiritual
warfare so far in Ephesians. So, what is the significance
of Gentiles and Jews being joined together in Yeshua. 1)
Paul wanted the Gentiles to know that they are not second
class citizens in the Kingdom of Heaven. In Yeshua, they
have the same rights and priveliges as the Jews we are
considered as one in Yeshua. This is especially important
for the Gentiles since Paul wants them to know who they
are in Yeshua. 2) This is true unity God is reconciling
all people to himself and bringing them together in Yeshua.
3) As part of the one Body of Yeshua in the world we are
called to warfare. 4) In warfare, it is vital that we
know who we are and how we fit into the army. We are
sons and daughters of the General.
We have the same rights and priveliges as the Jews and
as a result we have the same responsibilities. We are
called to be a light shining in the darkness of this
world. We are called to share with all we know the hope
that we have in Yeshua.
So, how did God take away the things that divide? Verse
14 gives us the answer. "For he himself is our peace..."
Breaking down the dividing barriers was done through the
work of Yeshua. This verse speaks of things in the past
tense and that is what we all need to do. Yeshua has
already done what needed to be done to break down the
barriers. Now, we have to do our part. We have to catch
the vision for unity. We have to learn to accept all
people regardless of the differences we have with each
other. In Yeshua, we can love and care for our brothers
and sisters even when we don’t agree. In Yeshua, we can
get along as brothers and sisters rather than fighting
and hurting each other. This is another form of spiritual
warfare. Satan wants more than anything to take away the
glory from God and to divide us. He has found many subtle
ways to keep us separated but, in recent years he has been
getting bolder. We must stand against him and this means
standing together with brothers and sisters who have
different beliefs than we do. We must resist his tricks
and efforts to divide us. We must join together and kick
satan out of our churches and groups.
God’s purpose was to create one complete body in Yeshua.
He doesn’t want this group and that group all doing
different things. He wants us all focused on Yeshua and
fulfilling our individual purposes in the Body of Yeshua.
Let me share an example that I read this week in my
devotional time. An orchestra is made up of many
different musicians. Some play similar instruments
but still look different. Some play different
instruments than others, in fact, there are a few
that play the only one of their kind, such as, piano
and tuba, timpani, etc. When they are doing their own
thing--warming up and tuning then it is easy to see
that there are many differences. But, when they are
all focused on the Conductor and playing according to
the music in front of them, beautiful music is the
result. Music that could not be produced without
everyone doing their part.
On a much larger scale, the same is true for the Body
of Yeshua -- the church. When we are all doing our own
thing the result is sometimes dissonance and division.
When we are all focused on the GREAT CONDUCTOR (Yeshua
the Messiah) then unity happens in a supernatural way
that has nothing to do with mankind's efforts but has
everything to do with God working through us. As in an
orchestra it is not important if the trumpet players
like the violin players or if they agree about
everythying. It is ultimately important that they
focus their attention on the Conductor and are obedient
to His direction. When we focus our attention on Yeshua
and don't worry about the differences we have with
others then God will work in our lives to bring unity--
supernatural unity.
God’s ultimate plan was to bring all people into His
church since Yeshua' gospel is for all--Jews and
Gentiles--far and near (verse 17). God wants us all
united in Yeshua. This is what he prayed for in John 17.
"My prayer is not for them [disciples] alone. I pray
also for those who will believe in me through their
message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as
you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us
so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that
they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in
me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the
world know that you sent me and have loved them even
as you have loved me." (John 17:20-23 NIV)
Did you notice what Yeshua prayed? The reason He wants
us to be one is so the world may believe that God sent
Him into the world. So, the question is this, how well
do you and your church display tot he world that Yeshua
came, that Yeshua is in us and that we are in Yeshua? Or,
do you give the world reason to doubt the existence of
Yeshua since you are all about division and yourself or
your church?
It is only through Yeshua that we have access to the
Father and this relationship with the Father is made
real through the Spirit dwelling in us (verse 18). Paul
makes the point that Jews and Gentiles alike have
access to the Father through Yeshua.
Paul addresses verse 19 to those of us who are Gentiles
and states through Yeshua we are now part of God's
children and members of His household. Before Yeshua we
had no place but now we have a place through Yeshua. We
are one with Yeshua. Through Yeshua, we are one with the
Father. Are we one with each other?
The household of God is built on Yeshua as cornerstone
and the faithful witness of the apostles and prophets
(verse 20). With Yeshua as it's head the children of God
join together to be the temple of God (verse 21). God
gave us a glimpse of this in Exodus 25:8, "Then have
them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among
them." God has built His temple in us and through us.
We are the temple of God (verse 22). As the temple of
God we are to be Sacred.
A couple of related passages are:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "Don't you know that you
yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit
lives in you? {17} If anyone destroys God's temple,
God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and
you are that temple."
2 Corinthians 6:16 "What agreement is there between the
temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the
living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and
walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will
be my people."
Through Yeshua we have gone from no relationship to a
very intimate relationship in which the Holy Spirit
dwells in us. Yeshua wants us to be one in Him and one
with each other. Unity is part of our spiritual warfare.
I have a few questions for you to think about. How
seriously do you take that relationship? (See Romans
2:17-23.) How do you demonstrate that relationship to
the world? Is God glorified when people see you and
your actions?
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Tim Gray
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Discuss "A Study in Ephesians" articles in Honoring
God in Community Message Board under the topic
Honoring God in Community.
http://jtimgray.tripod.com/id50.htm
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*Prayer Requests*
-I would ask you to help us pray for this ministry --
that we would follow God's guidance at all times.
-Help us pray for the funding to come through quickly
so we can move faster with the ministries God has laid
on our hearts.
-Continue to pray for Ireland and for peace there. I
am convinced we need to be doing major spiritual
warfare for Ireland. Satan doesn't want to let go.
We rebuke you satan in the name of Yeshua.
-Please pray for peace in Israel.
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