The Most Important Number of All
On this, the first day of 2005, let's remember that the most important
number in the Bible is the number ONE!
Eph 4:1-6 "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life
worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be
patient, bearing with one another in love. 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." NIV
Unity is always in the mind of God! In fact, one of the last prayer requests
Jesus uttered before his crucifixion was: John 17:22-23 "I have given them
the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them
and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know
that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
Jesus was praying for unity among His disciples. He prayed for unity in the
church! Why? "To let the world know that you sent me and have loved them
even as you have loved me". It is the most powerful testimony to
unbelievers. Unity does not exist in this world. If we just could let
ourselves be led by God's Spirit in staying united, our testimony would be
thousands of times more powerful!
What is the opposite of one? It's two. Isa 14:12-14 "How you have fallen
from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the
earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will
ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit
enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred
mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself
like the Most High.'" NIV
The devil here never attempted to be God. That would be impossible! He
wanted to be "like" God. His attempt is to have TWO gods. Pride is
disastrous and it's consequences are horrible!
However, where unity lives, there is a special blessing from God. Ps 133:
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is
like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running
down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the
dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his
blessing, even life forevermore."
Read how God's presence was manifested among believers at Pentecost. Acts
2:1-3: "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and
filled the whole house where they were sitting." NIV
When we are one, God manifests Himself. He strives for unity!
Now how can we become one?
1. You are to be quick to forgive. Release forgiveness. If I have a problem
looking someone in the eye, or if I have a twinge in the stomach when I
receive an email from a certain person, I have a problem with offence.
Matt 5:44-46 "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, that you may be sons 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." NIV
If you can't forgive a certain person, you declare to that person that
he/she is lord over your life. Whenever you think of that person, you gave
harsh feelings inside and your stomach churns. You are in bondage! Ask God
for help in this and you will be victorious!
P. S. Sending a gift to that person from the heart can help with
forgiveness. Try it. It's worth it.
Notice the reason to be quick to forgive in our text: "that you may be sons
of your Father in heaven". Like Father, like son.
2. We have to understand who our enemy is.
Eph 6:10-13 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on
the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's
schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." NIV
Our enemies are not our brothers and sisters in church. Our enemies are not
our partners in our ministry. Our enemies are not even our subscribers. The
real enemy is the devil! He does not want us to be successful in spreading
the Good News around the world.
3. We need to be filled with God's Spirit! He is our guide. Without His
guidance, we are nothing!
There is a truly amazing story recorded in Genesis, the story of the Tower
of Babel. The people at Babel were one and had one language in common. God
says that when people are united, nothing they plan to do will be impossible
for them. Nothing is impossible to those who are united! God had to
intervene as a united, ungodfearing civilization would be disastrous. He
confused their language so that they had no unity of language any longer.
Notice that at Pentecost, just the opposite occurred. When God's Spirit fell
on all the disciples, they all received a new tongue. They were united in
purpose. They were united in love and they were united in language. Nothing
to them was impossible!
Acts 2:4 "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." NIV
Notice what happened after Peter and John were released in Acts 4:23-24
"On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported
all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard
this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God." NIV
Peter and John went back to the Christians, shared with them what had
happened and in one accord they started to pray to God. What was the
outcome?
Acts 4:31 "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God
boldly." NIV
Wow! All were filled by God's Spirit and they all spoke the Word with
boldness. How powerful it is to be one in the Spirit and one with one
another. Boldness takes hold of us and nothing can stop us from sharing
God's gospel. Hallelujah!
As we approach this new year, 2005, may that Spirit of unity glue us
together as one in love, one in Spirit, and one in purpose. Let us all pray for
one another constantly. Let us also continue to pray for God to open us doors to
spread the gospel message where no one has gone before. United we stand under
God's Spirit. Nothing is impossible to us as God is our guide! Phil 4:13 "I can
do everything through him who gives me strength." NIV Hallelujah! Thank you
Jesus!
In His love,
Rob Chaffart
Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org