GET TOGETHER- Unity Brings Revival

Ps 133:1-3 A Song of Ascents. Of David.>> Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing-Life forevermore.(NKJV)
I just finished reading a good book by Brother R.T. Kendall. The name of that book is You Might Be A Pharisee If. It was a good read. It challenged me in some good ways, and it was also affirming in some other ways. One of the ways that the book was affirming to me was stressing the importance of unity in the Body of Christ. It was affirming in that there are certainly essentials to the faith that we as Christians agree on while there may be non-essentials that we do not. I am not saying that some of the non-essentials are not important. But we don’t need to let those stop us from loving, praying for, and at times serving together. We need to look at the big picture. Unity also does not mean accepting things that the culture tells us to celebrate that are called sin throughout the Bible consistently. From the first page to the last.
One of the points that Kendall brought out was that you might be a Pharisee if you are envious and not affirming when God really begins to move in another church, or another group of believers. The Lord has dealt with me about that in the past. If God begins to bring revival to another congregation, or group of Christians would you, or me celebrate it, or blow it off?
I remember at the first church that I pastored we were doing a prayer plan to see neighbors get saved from hell and brought into the Kingdom. Guess what happened when we did this? People started getting saved all right, but at another church nearby. The Lord then examined my heart. What was my motive? Then I want to see people get saved so that I could look good in the denomination that I was serving in, or did I really love and care about the people that we were praying for. The Lord also showed me that if they were being saved in another congregation that they were being saved in my church. Which is His church. After all, we are told in Eph 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Now guess what happened after the Holy Spirit checked the motives of my heart? People started getting saved in our congregation.
J.J. and I are so thankful for the many brothers and sisters that God has allowed us to serve the Lord with in different parts of the Body of Christ. For us it has been such a great blessing on several occasions to serve with brothers and sisters in Christ in other countries. Several of them are in different parts of the Body of Christ than us. I pray for all of us in the Body of Christ in His Holy Church that are serving in His Kingdom that we will encourage others who are serving in other parts of the Body of Christ than we are.
In closing in Psalm 133 we get a picture of the blessing of unity. Oil often symbolizes the anointing of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Where there is true Biblical unity in a church and among God’s people, the anointing of the Holy Spirit will be there to change lives, to bring healings, and deliverances, to help people to know the blessing of marriage between a man and a woman. For those that God has chosen to be single the anointing will be there to help them to fulfill the destiny and purpose that God has created them to fulfill. It may not always be perfect. It will always have challenges, but it will be good and pleasant as we are told in this Psalm.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus today we thank You that You loved us so much that You prayed that we would all be one. We pray today for unity in the Body of Christ. We pray for us as Your servants that we will honor Your Word and honor and love one another. Remove the things in all of our lives that are not in Your will and in accordance with your Word. We pray your Kingdom come your will be done in the lives of every true follower of Yours and in Your church.
In Jesus Name
Amen

Love you all!
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston