UNITY IN SPIRIT UNITY IN SPIRIT (EPHESIANS 4:1-6)(EPHESIANS 4:1-6)

By Ed MaquilingBy Ed Maquilinghttp://mountainviewcoc.wordpress.comhttp://mountainviewcoc.wordpress.com

http://edmaq.wordpress.comhttp://edmaq.wordpress.com

OUTLINEOUTLINE

HOW TO ACHIEVE UNITYHOW TO ACHIEVE UNITY WHAT IS THE BASIS OF WHAT IS THE BASIS OF

UNITYUNITY

What Ephesians 4:1-6 tells usWhat Ephesians 4:1-6 tells us

Verses 1-3. Ways to achieve Verses 1-3. Ways to achieve unity in the body of Christ.unity in the body of Christ.

Verses 3-6. On what should Verses 3-6. On what should unity be based:unity be based:

One body, One SpiritOne body, One Spirit One hope, One LordOne hope, One Lord One faith, One baptismOne faith, One baptism One God and Father of allOne God and Father of all

WHAT IS OUR TARGET?WHAT IS OUR TARGET?

You of De Castro and Pasig-You of De Castro and Pasig-Kapitolyo have become one.Kapitolyo have become one.

Keep that unity alive.Keep that unity alive.

PSALMS 133:1PSALMS 133:1

““Behold, how good and Behold, how good and pleasant it is for pleasant it is for brethren to dwell brethren to dwell together in unity!”together in unity!”

1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-121 CORINTHIANS 1:10-12

Church of Christ in Church of Christ in CorinthCorinth

““I am of Paul”I am of Paul”

““I am of Cephas”I am of Cephas”

“I am of ApollosI am of Apollos”

““I am of Christ”I am of Christ”

CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS DIVIDED!DIVIDED! 530: Roman Catholic Church530: Roman Catholic Church 1054: Greek Catholic Church – 1054: Greek Catholic Church –

“Filioque Controversy”“Filioque Controversy” 1517: German Catholics 1517: German Catholics

(Lutherans) (Lutherans) 1533: Anglo Catholics (Church of 1533: Anglo Catholics (Church of

England)England) 1870: Old Catholics – “Papal 1870: Old Catholics – “Papal

infallibility”infallibility” 1901: Philippine Catholics 1901: Philippine Catholics

(Aglipayans)(Aglipayans)

Fights in the familyFights in the family

Anger and wrath under no Anger and wrath under no controlcontrol

Wanton destructionWanton destruction

Too much tearsToo much tears

DivisionDivision

MonumentoMonumento

BaclaranBaclaran

If all members were If all members were tornadoes…tornadoes…

THINK AND PONDER!THINK AND PONDER!

Medicine for our spiritual Medicine for our spiritual illnessesillnesses

TO ARRIVE AT PAUL’S TO ARRIVE AT PAUL’S GOAL FOR CHRISTIANSGOAL FOR CHRISTIANS

What is needed is not a What is needed is not a program but an environment, program but an environment, or an atmosphere that or an atmosphere that promotes better attitudes in promotes better attitudes in the group.the group.

ACHIEVE UNITY BY WATCHING ACHIEVE UNITY BY WATCHING HOW WE WALKHOW WE WALK

(1) “Ye walk worthy of the (1) “Ye walk worthy of the vocation by which ye were vocation by which ye were called” (4:1)called” (4:1)

Walk worthy of your vocation.Walk worthy of your vocation. We were called to be God’s own We were called to be God’s own

Kingdom, people, church, nation.Kingdom, people, church, nation. Show by our lives what we truly Show by our lives what we truly

are.are.

Live as God’s true flock!Live as God’s true flock!

Not like the goats!Not like the goats!

Not like the dogs!Not like the dogs!

(2) Walk with “all lowliness and (2) Walk with “all lowliness and meeknessmeekness” ” (4:2a)(4:2a)

““In a voluntary humility" (Col. In a voluntary humility" (Col. 2:18).2:18).

Humility that is willed.Humility that is willed. With our minds controlledWith our minds controlled With our lips controlledWith our lips controlled

Humble enough to wash Humble enough to wash feet!feet!

““Except ye be converted and Except ye be converted and become as little children…” (Matt. become as little children…” (Matt. 18:2).18:2).

Serving as referee to these two boys Serving as referee to these two boys has been a tiresome job for me!has been a tiresome job for me!

I have discovered however that as long as I have discovered however that as long as they are engrossed in something they enjoy—they are engrossed in something they enjoy—feeding the cow– they forget fighting!feeding the cow– they forget fighting!

““Do nothing from selfishness or Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves” (Philippians better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).2:3).

(3) Walk with “longsuffering”(3) Walk with “longsuffering” (4:2b) (4:2b)

Bearing patiently with the faults Bearing patiently with the faults and infirmities of others.and infirmities of others.

““Love is patient” (1 Cor. 13:4).Love is patient” (1 Cor. 13:4).

There is wisdom in being There is wisdom in being patient.patient.

The wisdom of waiting for the The wisdom of waiting for the right time, not pushing a brother right time, not pushing a brother to change but to wait for God to to change but to wait for God to do it in His own good time.do it in His own good time.

God has his own time frame. He God has his own time frame. He is not governed by our own is not governed by our own schedules.schedules.

Wisdom of waiting for God to Wisdom of waiting for God to touch and change things and touch and change things and people, not in ways we think He people, not in ways we think He should.should.

He works in ways that He works in ways that oftentimes baffle us.oftentimes baffle us.

Isaiah 55:8-9 – His thoughts and Isaiah 55:8-9 – His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.ways are higher than ours.

The wisdom of waiting for one to The wisdom of waiting for one to be given the opportunity to be given the opportunity to suffer the consequences of suffer the consequences of one’s actions.one’s actions.

We reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7).We reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7).

The wisdom of patiently teaching. If this The wisdom of patiently teaching. If this guy were enrolled in your English Class, guy were enrolled in your English Class, what would you have done?what would you have done?

(4) Walk with “forbearance of (4) Walk with “forbearance of one another in loveone another in love”” (4:2c) (4:2c)

This virtue is to be This virtue is to be manifested in our manner of manifested in our manner of receiving the provocations receiving the provocations we meet from our brethren: we meet from our brethren: In a loving way.In a loving way.

““Father, forgive them for they Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).23:34).

Abraham Lincoln & Edwin Abraham Lincoln & Edwin M. Stanton: An AnecdoteM. Stanton: An Anecdote

During the start of the Civil War, During the start of the Civil War, Stanton called Lincoln the “original Stanton called Lincoln the “original gorilla” (1862).gorilla” (1862).

Yet, Lincoln appointed him Secretary Yet, Lincoln appointed him Secretary of War! of War!

And as Lincoln’s Secretary of War, And as Lincoln’s Secretary of War, Stanton always worked against the Stanton always worked against the president’s interests and called him a president’s interests and called him a “damned fool”!“damned fool”!

However, when Lincoln was shot, However, when Lincoln was shot, guess who cried a lot?guess who cried a lot?

Seeing his president’s body in Seeing his president’s body in the coffin, he said: “Now he the coffin, he said: “Now he belongs to the ages!”belongs to the ages!”

Stanton organized the response Stanton organized the response to Lincoln's assassination, the to Lincoln's assassination, the pursuit of assassin John Wilkes pursuit of assassin John Wilkes Booth, and the prosecution of Booth, and the prosecution of those who conspired to murder those who conspired to murder the president!the president!

Throw it into the waste Throw it into the waste basket!basket! On one occasion, Secretary Stanton On one occasion, Secretary Stanton

was particularly angry with one of was particularly angry with one of Lincoln’s generals. “I would like to Lincoln’s generals. “I would like to tell that man what I think of him!” he tell that man what I think of him!” he stormed.stormed.

““Why don't you?” Mr. Lincoln said. Why don't you?” Mr. Lincoln said. “Write it all down. Do it.”“Write it all down. Do it.”

Stanton wrote his letter. When it was Stanton wrote his letter. When it was finished he took it to the President. finished he took it to the President. The President listened to it all. The President listened to it all. 

““All right, Stanton,” Lincoln nodded. All right, Stanton,” Lincoln nodded. “What are you going to do with it?”“What are you going to do with it?”

““Do with it? Why, send it to him, of Do with it? Why, send it to him, of course!” course!” 

““I wouldn't,” said the President. “Throw it I wouldn't,” said the President. “Throw it in the waste-paper basket.”in the waste-paper basket.”

““But it took me two days to write it!” But it took me two days to write it!”  ““Yes, yes, and it did you so much good. Yes, yes, and it did you so much good.

You feel better now. That is all that is You feel better now. That is all that is necessary. Just throw it in the waste necessary. Just throw it in the waste basket.”basket.”

So, into the basket Stanton’s letter went! So, into the basket Stanton’s letter went!

You may try writing your You may try writing your brother’s sins on the water…brother’s sins on the water…

Or you may try writing it on Or you may try writing it on the sands of the desert!the sands of the desert!

(5) Walk “(5) Walk “endeavoring to keep endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.bond of peace. ” (4:3). ” (4:3).

Earnestly, zealously give diligence Earnestly, zealously give diligence to maintain that unity.to maintain that unity.

What is unity in the Spirit?What is unity in the Spirit?

It is the unity between men of It is the unity between men of different tempers, which flows different tempers, which flows from the presence of the Spirit in from the presence of the Spirit in their lives.their lives.

ACHIEVE UNITY THROUGH ACHIEVE UNITY THROUGH THE SEVEN ONESTHE SEVEN ONES

(1) There is one body (4:4a).(1) There is one body (4:4a). Since there is but one Since there is but one

church on earth, there ought church on earth, there ought to be unity in the body.to be unity in the body.

(2) There is one Spirit (4:4b)(2) There is one Spirit (4:4b) One and self-same Spirit dwells in One and self-same Spirit dwells in

the church. the church. The same Spirit has awakened all; The same Spirit has awakened all;

enlightened all; convicted all; enlightened all; convicted all; converted all. converted all.

(3) There is one hope of your (3) There is one hope of your calling (4:4c) calling (4:4c)

One hope resulting from your One hope resulting from your being called into his kingdom, the being called into his kingdom, the hope of heavenly salvation (Eph. hope of heavenly salvation (Eph. 2:12). 2:12).

(4) There is one Lord (4:5a).(4) There is one Lord (4:5a). There ought to be unity among There ought to be unity among

Christians, because they have one Christians, because they have one Lord. Lord.

Not one Savior for the Jew, and Not one Savior for the Jew, and another for the Greek;another for the Greek;

Not one Savior for the rich, and another Not one Savior for the rich, and another for the poor; for the poor;

Not one Savior for the bond, and Not one Savior for the bond, and another for the free. another for the free.

When jealousies arise among When jealousies arise among them…them…

When they argue about trivial When they argue about trivial things…things…

When they magnify unimportant When they magnify unimportant matters until they are in danger matters until they are in danger of dividing the church…of dividing the church…

Let them remember … Let them remember …

The one Lord who died for all The one Lord who died for all of them!of them!

(5) There is one faith (4:5b).(5) There is one faith (4:5b). Christians should be united Christians should be united

because they have the same because they have the same trust in the same Christ as a trust in the same Christ as a living principle.living principle.

(6) There is one baptism (4:5c) (6) There is one baptism (4:5c) That baptism puts us into the one That baptism puts us into the one

kingdom (John 3:5).kingdom (John 3:5). Made us Christians (Gal. 3:27).Made us Christians (Gal. 3:27).

(7) (7) There is “one God and There is “one God and Father of all, who is above all, Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you and through all, and in you all” (4:6).all” (4:6).

One God and Father of all, whether One God and Father of all, whether everyone recognizes Him as such or everyone recognizes Him as such or not.not.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Diligently keep, preserve, Diligently keep, preserve, maintain that unity in Spirit.maintain that unity in Spirit.

If we cannot agree on a thing, If we cannot agree on a thing, let us work out a way and let us work out a way and employ what Ephesians 4:1-6 employ what Ephesians 4:1-6 suggests, before that suggests, before that disagreement gets out of hand disagreement gets out of hand and divides us.and divides us.

Persuade everyone who calls Persuade everyone who calls himself a Christian to walk himself a Christian to walk equivalent to how we were equivalent to how we were called (4:1b). called (4:1b).

Try humility and meekness Try humility and meekness (4:2a). (4:2a).

Try to be longsuffering to the Try to be longsuffering to the faults of everyone, including faults of everyone, including your own (4:2b).your own (4:2b).

Try to be forbearing to one Try to be forbearing to one another, in the spirit of love another, in the spirit of love (4:2c).(4:2c).

Never seek to untie that bond of Never seek to untie that bond of unity by disturbing the peace in unity by disturbing the peace in the brotherhood…the brotherhood…

By devilish, malevolent thoughtsBy devilish, malevolent thoughts By impetuous, impulsive, violent By impetuous, impulsive, violent

spiritspirit By harsh, severe, unkind wordsBy harsh, severe, unkind words By hasty, reckless, rash actionsBy hasty, reckless, rash actions

And when lives are And when lives are scattered…scattered…

And dreams are shattered…And dreams are shattered…

Start repairing damaged Start repairing damaged relationships among the flock.relationships among the flock.

Keep on working while the Keep on working while the storms are raging around us.storms are raging around us.

And…And…

With the mediating power of the With the mediating power of the Christ…Christ…

And the sanctifying might of the And the sanctifying might of the Holy Ghost…Holy Ghost…

And the peace afforded us by And the peace afforded us by the Father…the Father…

We all can maintain the unity of We all can maintain the unity of the Spirit in the church.the Spirit in the church.

FINISHEDFINISHED

God bless you all!God bless you all!