Unity in the Body of Christ 1

By Evangelist Adekunbi Akin Taylor

This post is an edited version of a revival sermon delivered at CCC Elephant & Castle, London on September 5, 2007.

Father Lord God, I pray today that you give me utterance, that I may boldly open my mouth to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak (Amen).

INTRODUCTION
Greetings to all in the body of Christ, by this I mean the church and the Christian Home. May God bless all churches for which the gospel is given, for we are all seeking a harvest of Unity in Christ. May the Spirit of God guide us all into the truth (amen). The Body of Christ is still suffering, for disunity is still rampant and it is time for all Christians to come together and embrace Christ as one body.

IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST UNITED?
We say we follow Christ but His simple teachings on Humility, Simplicity, Love, Forgiveness, Unity and Godly Righteousness is still falling on dear ears.
Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
We say we are one body in Christ but allow divide, misunderstanding, accusations and snobbery within and amongst the churches. How can this be right?

The Palmwine drinkers club in Nigeria are famed for their controversial sayings e.g. “Things fall apart the centre will hold”, “ Unity in Diversity”, “ A house divided against itself shall stand”.
Understandable, for that could be the Palmwine talking. Unfortunately within the Christian Body we preach the same things though we say we are not filled with wine –Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, wherein in excess; but be filled with the Spirit,- So if we are not suffering from alcohol intoxication, what are we suffering from? Power Drunkenness? Are we dwelling together in love, harmony and peace? Do we tolerate one another? Remember Jesus confirmed to his disciples that a house divided against itself CANNOT stand.

Psalm 133:1 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity

Let us pray for one voice, one love, one church. Let us pray that God removes from our midst the spirit of confusion & pride. Let us pray for the descent of the Holy Spirit and God’s spiritual powers to regenerate us all in Jesus. AMEN

We must be warned, we cannot mock or fool God. Acts 17:30 “it was in time of ignorance that God winked. Now He has had enough of our foolish ways and wants us to repent. May we not fall into the hands of God. We can’t continue preaching Christ and fail to Practice Christ. The church of God is fashioned after the Last Man – Jesus, and not Adam the first man.

THE GREATEST IN HEAVEN
Talking of ignorance, the disciples tried it with Jesus. “Master” they asked, “who is the greatest in heaven”? We in the body of Christ should know better than copy this but we still seek after human recognition and throw mud at one another in justifying different practices in different churches.
Paul’s has an answer for us all in the Body of Christ: –
1Cor. 3:3-7 “3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollo,” are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollo watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

Paul continued vs. 11-13:
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

Do not be deceived by worldly wisdom which is foolishness unto God:
Vs 18 -23 “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;… “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile. Therefore let no one boast in men…22 whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas,… you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s”.

So Jesus answers his disciples on who is greatest in heaven:
Matthew 18:3 – 4 ““Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven; and concludes with powerful words ; v6-7
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offences! For offences must come, but woe to that man by whom the offence comes!

Let us pray for Forgiveness & Mercy, Godly Wisdom, Spirit of Humility & Meekness

Agape

To be continued…