PODCAST – Unity of The Spirit
Part Two
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep (maintain Greek) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Ephesians 4:1-3
Unity and the Mutual Faith
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all,
who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Ephesians 4:4-6
The Unity of the Spirit is a divine, eternal reality. It is not man-made or dependent on uniformity of doctrine or organizational structures. The Unity of the Spirit exists inherently in God and can only be experienced individually as we grow in our relationship with Him by abiding in the Holy Spirit. It is not the unity of a church, it is not a unity achieved by everyone believing the same doctrine; it is the Unity of the SPIRIT, an eternal reality into which we enter and abide (it is His Unity).
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3
Each of our access to the Unity of the Spirit is by coming into unity with Him. Abiding in humility, gentleness, and love, reveals our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, causing us to maintain His eternal wonder.
“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”
Romans 1:11-12
The MUTUAL FAITH that Paul is referring to here is the result of people who live in the Unity of the Spirit. It is the atmosphere of those who live in submission to the Spirit of God culminating in the dynamic of spiritual IMPARTATIONS of God Himself. The depth of the power of God moving in our midst reveals the verity of our relationship with Him and with one another.
The greatest hindrance to the precious atmosphere of MUTUAL FAITH is often in our understanding of what Faith is. Much of today’s perception of faith has been erroneously relegated to what we believe, rather than how God moves through us. It is heartbreaking to see faith considered as a statement we hang on the walls of our institutions rather than a LIFE through which God unveils His Glory!
Doctrines, teachings, and our various statements of faith will never bring us to the pinnacle of mutual faith. The living faith that characterized the early church impacted the known world because God manifested Himself through it.
“For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere…”
1 Thessalonians 1:8 (ESV)
Human institutions and efforts to create a false unity are the antithesis of the true unity of the Spirit which is purely spiritual and zealously governed by God. While unity starts with a diligent, personal pursuit of God, it manifests collectively as believers align with the Spirit’s truth and governance through our MUTUAL FAITH. The release of God in our midst is dependent upon our abiding in His Spirit, not in carefully crafted statements concerning our beliefs.
My entrance into this Unity begins when my own heart is in concert with His. Regardless of whom I meet with, if I am not abiding in Him, I will have no share or part of this Divine wonder. David in his pursuit of God declared earnestly:
“…unite my heart to fear Thy Name”
Psalm 86:11
A united heart is in subjection to His Lordship.
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord,
and do not the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46
Related Posts: This Podcast is Part Two of the Mutual Faith Series (a great burden of my heart)
PODCAST – Vision and the Mutual Faith
“For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself; and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience, they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their being, their spirit.”
―
God Himself
I seek no other
If I abide not in Him,
I know not my brother.
BT
Brian Troxel
Good word, my brother.