AUGUST 1, 2024
Topic: “Defining Unity: Understanding the concept”
Text: Ephesians 4:1-4
Memory Verse: Eph 4:3 – “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace“.
The word, unity sounds very familiar to the ears but the depth and power of it, is yet to be understood by many. First, unity is not living together; it is not holding hands together; it is not praying together; it is not singing together; it is not worshipping together; it is not greeting one another. People can live together, hold hands together, pray together, sing together, worship together and greet one another, yet they are not united.
Unity is derived from a Latin word that means “one”. The dictionary defines it as “The state of being united or joined as a whole”. Unity in literature is understood as “The quality of oneness in a paragraph or essay that results when all the words and sentences contribute to a single main idea.” From the mathematical perspective, “unity means the number 1.” From the biblical point of view, unity is derived from the Greek, “henotes” and refers to a condition of harmony or oneness that can only be experienced among members of Christ’s body – the church.”
While we try to have a general look at the term “unity” as we begin the discourse on it, our goal is to limit ourselves to the unity that results from the Holy Spirit of God. Our text today says “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (V.3). Verse 16 declares, “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
The church is not united because it is of the same tribe, or speaks one tribal language, or wears one identical uniform, etc. It is united in spirit by the Spirit of God.
PRAYER: pray that the church of God be united in spirit by the Spirit of God