Sunday, May 05, 2013

Oness and the Power of God

There is One God yet He refers to Himself as "Us"  in Gen. 1:26. We presume this reference to mean the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In Isaiah 9:6-7, Christ is called the Everlasting Father. Though we can hardly fathom the mysteries of God, we observe that  He operates in perfect unison. In John 8:19 Christ says: ‘If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’ In other words He and the Father are one. The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of Christ in places such as 1 Peter 1:11 and Romans 8:9. Indeed the last scripture calls Him the Spirit of God and then the Spirit of Christ.

Jesus talked about the power of unity when He taught saying: If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Nehemia led a group of people who were of singular mind: Totally engrossed in the work of repairing the walls and gates of Jerusalem. They were truly a people of one mind and one heart.

In another vivid picture of unity and utter commitment to a mission, Joel paints an awesome image of the army of locusts; God's army. This army is accompanied by fire leaving nothing in its path. The members of this fearsome army are like soldiers. They never waver the slightest amount from their path. If they encounter an obstacle, they climb over it.  They never jostle each other. Each stays in their space, in their line.

In Ezekiel 1:4-21, the prophet witnesses the appearance of four creatures that emerge out of an awesome storm cloud that was filled with fire and lightning. Each was accompanied by wheels that moved in perfect unison to the four creatures because "the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels." Amazing. 

It seems that unity emerges from obedience to the Spirit of God. If His Spirit is in you and you are in perfect obedience to His voice, then you are enjoined in a covenant of obedience. You become one with Him. You become a member of His body.

Having been enjoined, now there is great power. After Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4, they met with the saints and prayed. All the believers were one in heart and mind. The power of God shook the place where they were meeting and the Holy Spirit filled each one.

It emerges from these scriptures that this oneness, this unity, this agreement with the Spirit of God is not optional. In Philippians 2:2 Paul the apostle appeals to the Philippians to "make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." In Ephesians 4: 3-4 he again lays great emphasis to oneness and unity saying:
 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

The Lord is our life, our existence, our substrate, our everything. He breathed in us the breath of life. Take away that breath and you are left with a clay shell. 

Your Heart

What is the conclusion of this matter?  Are you one with God? One in spirit? Is your heart and mind led by the Spirit of Christ? Do you take instructions only from the God of Heaven? Are you tuned to His frequency? Do you consult Him on everything? Do you hear from Him? Does He speak to you? 

If he is your Father, He can not be silent. Fathers seek out their sons and daughters. They mentor them. But they hate rebellion. Esau was rebellious. He brought anguish to his parents and broke God's law. No wonder the Lord said: Esau I hated but Jacob I loved. What does He say about you? About the son of Jesse he said:  ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’[Acts 13:22]

Your House

And what about your house? Jacob established an altar at Bethel when he realised God was in that place. Is there a Bethel in your home? Is there a holy altar of the Lord in our houses? Is this house united in worshiping Him; in praying to Him; and in fasting and honoring Him? Can it be said of this household that they are of one heart and one mind? Are you one in spirit?

God's House

Finally, we arrive at the Lord's house. Who are these in the Lord's house? Are they His people or are they strangers? Are they true worshipers or are they noise makers who come to bring disturbance in the courts of the Lord? Can those not at peace with God as individuals or as families be authentic members of the body of Christ? 

If you have followed this story this far, then you deserve to understand the message of the Lord: That only those who are one with Him are united with Him and therefore, joined and prepared for eternity. Psalms 133:1-3 lists the effects and benefits of being united in Him. You receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit that flows down the Head of the church, the High Priest in the heavenly temple. It is the oil of gladness, the oil of Truth. The dew of Hermon will come bringing blessings and life eternal. He is the Rapture. He is the Glory. He is our eternity.

Therefore, be purified and separated from sin. Be set apart from this world. Stand close to the Lord of glory. The Messiah is coming very soon. Prepare in absolute holiness. He has zero tolerance for sin.The Lord bless you.