Scripture
John 17:13-26 NIV [13] “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. [14] I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. [15] My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. [17] Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. [18] As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. [19] For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. [20] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] 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. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— [23] I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. [24] “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. [25] “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. [26] I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Introduction
This the third sermon of a series leading up to election day which is Tuesday November 5th, addressing five themes that will help us in the church navigate all the anxiety and negativity surrounding this election. If you remember the themes are
The Kingdom of God
Unity
Humility
Kindness
Love
In the first sermon we talked about love which helps us obey what it says in
Romans 12:17-18 NIV [17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. [18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
And the definition of that love is in
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV says [4] Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [5] It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [6] Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Last week we said that we have a duel citizenship. We are citizens of the United States and we should be good citizens, which means that we should vote our consciences and obey the law and the authorities.
Romans 13:1 NIV [1] Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
We are also citizens of the kingdom of heaven were our ultimate loyalty lies and we should obey the laws and the authority of that kingdom.
Paul in writing to the church, to Christians in Philippi said;
Philippians 3:20-21 NIV [20] But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Remember that our true home is not here on earth, but in the Kingdom of Heaven, where peace and joy reign eternal.
The title of this sermon today is “A Tapestry of Unity”.
I want to paint a picture of a complex and beautiful pattern woven together in the context of the body of Christ, the church, the citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, who work together despite their differences to create something beautiful and meaningful.
What is “unity” exactly? It is certainly not uniformity.
In the context of the church, the distinction between unity and uniformity is crucial.
Unity emphasizes the shared bond among believers, rooted in their common faith in Jesus Christ. It's a sense of belonging and connection, despite differences in background, culture, or personal experiences. Unity is about working together towards a common goal, even when there are disagreements or diverse perspectives.
Uniformity, on the other hand, suggests a forced sameness, It can stifle diversity, creativity, and individual expression. In the church, uniformity can lead to a superficial sense of unity, where people may outwardly appear to be alike but inwardly harbor resentment or disunity.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of unity among believers. For example, John 17:21 says, "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, that they may also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
This unity I am talking about is not about uniformity but about a deep spiritual connection. In essence, the church should strive for unity in diversity. This means embracing the richness and diversity of God's people while maintaining a shared commitment to the core tenets of the Christian faith. God created and is pleased in numerous forms of diversity in the body of Christ, including maleness and femaleness, race, ethnicity, spiritual gifts, nationality, and more
We can define unity in the church “many diverse parts interconnected to form one body.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 NIV [12] Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. [14] Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. [15] Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. [16] And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? [18] But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. [19] If they were all one part, where would the body be? [20] As it is, there are many parts, but one body. [21] The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” [22] On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, [23] and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, [24] while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, [25] so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. [26] If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. [27] Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Unity is nourished and maintained through connection to Jesus.
John 15:1-5 NIV [1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. [3] You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. [4] Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. [5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
As Jesus explains, he is the vine, and we are the branches. Our life and fruitfulness depend on our connection to him. But this connection is not merely individualistic; it is also communal. Just as branches are interconnected on a vine, we are interconnected as members of the body of Christ.
This unity is what Jesus prayed for so passionately for in His priestly prayer that is recorded in John 17. James read part of tha prayer earlier. I want to direct your attention to
John 17:20-21 NIV [20] “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] 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.
Jesus’ prayer reveals several key aspects of the unity that Christ desires:
Unity with God: The first level of unity is with God himself. We are called to be one with God, just as Jesus is one with the Father. This unity is achieved through faith in Christ.
Unity with One Another: The second level of unity is with one another. Christ prays that all believers would be one, just as he and the Father are one. This unity is essential for the witness of the church to the world.
Unity as a Witness: The third aspect of unity is its role as a witness to the world. When the world sees us united, they will believe that God has sent Jesus.
So today, I want us to explore the profound beauty and power of unity.
Our text for today is Psalm 133, a short but impactful passage, that paints a vivid picture of what it means to dwell together in unity.
Text:
Psalms 133:1-3 NIV[1] How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! [2] It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. [3] It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Unity as a Precious Oil
David the psalmist compares unity to precious oil poured on a priest's head. This imagery evokes the idea of consecration, sanctification, and divine favor. When we are united, we become vessels of God's grace, and we have been anointed for a sacred purpose. Unity is not merely a social goal; it is a spiritual necessity.
Unity as Dew from Hermon
The dew of Hermon, a mountain range in the Middle East, is known for its abundant rainfall. This imagery symbolizes the life-giving qualities of unity. Just as dew refreshes and sustains vegetation, unity nourishes our souls and communities. When we are united, we create a fertile environment where love, compassion, and hope can flourish.
Unity as a Divine Command
Unity is not merely a desirable aspiration; it is a divine mandate, a commandment. The last sentence of the Psalm in the NIV is "For there the LORD commanded the blessing, life forevermore."
God wants His people, His family, to live in harmony with one another, not out of obligation but out of love and obedience.
John 13:34-35 NIV [34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Unity has obvious benefits;
When we are united, we are stronger. We can overcome challenges and obstacles that would be insurmountable if we were divided.
Unity is a powerful witness to the world. When the world sees us loving one another, they see the love of Christ.
Unity enables us to bear more fruit. When we work together, we can accomplish more for the kingdom of God.
Obstacles to Unity
Despite the benefits of unity, we often face obstacles to that unity. These obstacles can include:
Pride which can lead to division, as people compete for recognition or power.
Prejudice which can create barriers between people based on race, ethnicity, political ideologies, or other differences.
Misunderstandings which can lead to conflict and division.
But we can Overcome these Obstacles with
Humility: We must humble ourselves and recognize that we are all equal in the sight of God.
Romans 2:9-11 NIV 9] There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; [10] but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. [11] For God does not show favoritism.
Galatians 3:26-29 NIV [26] So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, [27] for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
We can overcome these obstacles with Love: We must love one another unconditionally, even when it is difficult.
Matthew 5:43-48 NIV [43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [46] If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? [47] And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? [48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 John 4:7-12 NIV [7] Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. [11] Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We can overcome these obstacles to Unity With Forgiveness: We must be willing to forgive those who have wronged us.
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV [12] Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, unity is not merely a desirable goal; it is a command from our Lord and Savior. It is essential for the health and growth of the church and our witness.
I've said this before but it's worth saying again; this election season is an opportunity for the church and Christians.
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV [14] “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
People who haven’t yet come to Christ look to believers for their cues. If they see Christians at odds with one another, treating one another worse than unbelievers do, they’ll question Jesus’ impact on our lives.
As we strive to live out the principles of unity, we become more like Christ, who is the embodiment of love and harmony. May we be a beacon of unity in a world that often feels divided. May our lives reflect the beauty and power of dwelling together in peace.
Let’s Pray:
Almighty Father, we are so thankful that we live in a country that allows us the ability to choose our political leaders. As we head into another presidential election, and we sense the tension, we ask that You put a hedge of protection around each candidate, as well as their families. Please guard their hearts and grant them wisdom as they develop plans and policies for our beloved nation. O God, we also recognize that we need Your mercy and grace. We come before You heartbroken and concerned for the fate of our nation. We desperately need You.
Please forgive us where we have failed and help us turn from our selfish ways. Give us a bold faith to live in a way that honors and glorifies You. We trust in Your plan, Lord, and know that it holds a greater purpose. So, with that, we find comfort in You alone, no matter the outcome of this election. We will continue to walk in humility and grace as we remain faithful, seek Your wisdom, and promote peace. We love our nation and trust that You will offer a pathway forward that embraces hope and peace. Amen.
