Are we seeing the unity of oneness in our walk with the Lord and walk with one another? Since long ago Jesus has been calling forth our oneness, our unity, in the body of Christ.
Paul is speaking to the Ephesians on unity and he begins, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4: 1)
- Paul was a prisoner and under house arrest when he wrote this.
- From our homes we can share, we can use social media or our phones.
Here’s how he begins his unity and oneness message, “Be completely (not just once in awhile) humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with ONE another in love.” (Ephesians 4: 2, Emphasis added)
- Put up with one another even if folks are different.
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)
- Dealing with some folks will take much effort.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit to help.
- Keep and guard the unity.
How? Seek peace even if your opinion on a matter isn’t released. If an opinion or statement will divide, it may be wise to hold it. Always ask for wisdom and pursue peace.
For, “There is ONE body and ONE Spirit–just as you were called to ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4: 4-6)
Did you see all the “ones” in there? Let’s review:
- We are one body.
- There is one Spirit.
- There is one Lord.
- We are called to one faith.
- We are called to one baptism.
- There is one God and father of everyone.
We should have no business to even try to separate ourselves. Why? “To EACH ONE of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” (Ephesians 4: 7)
- Each and every one of us has been given God’s grace.
- We are no better than anyone else.
“He who descended is the very ONE who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.” (Ephesians 4: 10)
God is the One who called and gifted each one of us. There is no calling or position that is higher.
The whole reason he gifted and positioned us is, “To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith.” (Ephesians 4: 12-13)
There’s more. “And in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4: 13)
- Those who desire fullness will desire oneness.
- The fullness is in the trinity, in the unity, in the “as one.”
(Shared from Ephesians 4: 1-16, Modified)
The Glory Moves
Ezekiel sees “The glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 10: 4)
Ezekiel sees the glory of God moving. He now sees “The glory of the Lord departed from above the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.” (Ezekiel 10: 18)
The angels now move, spread their wings with those wheels we read about earlier. This time they stopped at the entrance of the Eastgate of the Lord’s house.
Why is the Eastgate so significant? The Eastgate is also called the Golden Gate or the Beautiful Gate. The wall around the Old City of Jerusalem contained eight major gates.
This Eastern Gate, faces the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley. Now, this gate is completely sealed shut. This gate is the oldest gate in the Old City. It was the easiest access to the temple and the gate that Jesus entered through from the Mount of Olives. Jewish tradition believes that the Messiah will pass through the Eastern gate when He comes to rule.
The gate was sealed up in an attempt to thwart the Messiah’s plan with 16 feet of cement. He broke out of the grave, do they think He’ll be stopped by this cemented door? For 500 years the gate has been sealed off.
Back to Ezekiel; he saw now, the final eastward of the glory of God moving which stopped right above the Mount of Olives. “The glory of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountains east of it.” (Ezekiel 11: 23)
Yet, the oneness of the Godhead, the Trinity, can never be sealed off, nor can His glory!
The Oneness Of The Servant
“I am the Lord, that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42: 8)
- Yet, our God chooses us, a believer, to carry His glory.
“And the glory will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40: 5)
- Ultimately, the glory of the redeeming God is seen in Jesus Christ and in us, His redeemed.
- We are glory carriers.
- God has called the church to an extraordinary position and vocation.
- God has called us to all this, and the oneness of the servant.
(Shared from Ezekiel 10-11, Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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