WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.000 Good to be here today. Good to see each one. I'm thankful for this opportunity to share from the word of God with you this morning. 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:17.000 Of course, Brother Jeff is in Choctaw this morning at the church plant preaching there. So pray for him. 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:21.000 Well, you all stocked up on bread and milk, right? 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:28.000 You never drink milk. You never eat bread, but now you have it. Right? 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:38.000 Amen. We'll see what the Lord has in store for us this afternoon and through the evening about this snow business. Amen. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:42.000 How many of you love the snow and want it to snow? 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:44.000 Wow. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:47.000 How many of you know we do not want it to snow? 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:51.000 Okay. Well, you lost. 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:54.000 Amen. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:55.000 Amen. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:01:09.000 I desire to preach this morning on the topic, the place of commanded blessing. 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:15.000 The place of commanded blessing. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:30.000 There is a place where the Lord will command a blessing. He will command that there be a blessing on that place or in that place. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:38.000 We're all trekking on our way to glory. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:55.000 And in that place, when we get there, it will be the true place of continual blessing and life forevermore. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:58.000 What a day. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:11.000 But on our way, there's a place that we can abide. There's a place that we can dwell that the Lord will pour out blessing. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:19.000 Yea, he will command that there be a blessing in that place. Now, I want to live there. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:39.000 This place is a place of love, peace, harmony, joy, exceeding gladness, even when we're surrounded by that which is the opposite. 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:51.000 Now, Pastor Danny last week preached to us about things we need to do in twenty twenty four. What a message it was. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:57.000 He told us from Psalm thirty seven that we must not fret. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:08.000 He told us to trust in the Lord this drawing from the passage there to delight in the Lord to commit our ways unto the Lord. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:17.000 He showed us from the text that we are to rest in the Lord in twenty twenty four. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:23.000 We receive some great encouragement and promises that he relayed to us from the Psalm. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:34.000 And if you remember, it was in the context of evil men seeming to be winning the day that evil men were triumphing. 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:45.000 Evil men were plotting their schemes against the Lord. And it seems like that, hey, they're going to take advantage. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:53.000 They're going to win. But in the text there, remember what it said? It said, the Lord laughed at their schemes. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:04.000 And in fact, the Lord is even using all of that which they're doing to work out his great purposes for all of the ages. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:14.000 So while they think they're working against, they're actually doing all that needs to be done for God's plans to come to pass. 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:23.000 So as we encounter this, as it's going on all around us, is there a place of solace? 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:30.000 Is there a place of retreat? 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:47.000 That will bring us needed fever, needed zeal, needed energy to keep us keeping on in our walk as children of the Most High God. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:05:02.000 I want to take you to this place or at least describe it so that we can cause this place to be in our midst. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:19.000 In fact, it can only be in our midst as by His grace and blessing, He brings it about. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:36.000 I believe to a great extent we have this, but we can increase it. We can advance it. We can endeavor to keep it. 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:48.000 So, okay, that which I'm speaking of is what we're going to see in from the text in Psalm 133. It is a place of unity. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:55.000 The place of unity. Do you see it there? 00:05:56.000 --> 00:06:14.000 It is behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together where? 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:34.000 In unity, it's like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments. 00:06:37.000 --> 00:07:03.000 As the dew of Herman and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion, and here it is, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life, forevermore. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:12.000 We really don't know the context from which David is writing this particular song. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:28.000 There is some speculation. Some believe that it was after he had become king, after a time when things were at peace and things were at ease, that he looked and he saw that this is something remarkable. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:39.000 That there's no strife. There's no turmoil that we can see. There's no activity of war. There's no unrest. 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:54.000 This is unity. But from the Scripture, God has given us something. He's telling us about this place called unity. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:08:05.000 I know some churches that their name is unity. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:10.000 Bab this church unity blank church unity this and so in their name is unity. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:16.000 But I've discovered that a lot of times there are a split out of another church. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:27.000 I tried to find the author of this quote. I think I've probably used it before. I couldn't find out who it is attributed to. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:37.000 So we'll just say it's attributed to Mr. Unknown. And he said this to dwell above with those we love. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:40.000 Well, that will be a glory. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:47.000 But to dwell below with those we know. Well, that's a different story. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:54.000 There seems to be a hindrance down here to unity. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:09:04.000 And the reason for that rub for that disunity is opinions right preferences. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:12.000 As long as we're in this flash, we're going to encounter differences. We're going to have disagreements. 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:22.000 But can something be done down here that can bring about an atmosphere like up there? 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:29.000 I believe Psalm 133 holds the key for us. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:46.000 Notice again that last part for is there the Lord commanded the blessing even life forevermore. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:48.000 Where is there? 00:09:50.000 --> 00:10:01.000 There is in this place called unity. That's the context of which he's speaking and talking about. 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:13.000 It is a place to dwell where brothers dwell together. Then following there are the descriptions of what unity is like. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:26.000 So let's take and break this up and look at a few things. First of all, unity is a place to dwell. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:38.000 Unity is something to behold and unity is like and we'll see that and then we'll follow up with one of the signs of unity. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:47.000 What hinders unity and then what advances unity. So unity is a place to dwell. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:56.000 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:12.000 Well a place to dwell dwell. What is that? It means to inhabit. It means to sit. It means to abide. It means to remain. 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:27.000 To tarry. It's a place where we can be. It's a place where we can be. It's a place to dwell. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:34.000 But see how it started out. I like he says. Behold. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:54.000 What's that mean? Take a look at this. Right. Look. Look at this. This is something to gaze upon. This is this is something to take a minute. 00:11:55.000 --> 00:12:17.000 Take a few minutes. Take an hour. Meditate upon this. It's good. And it's pleasant. It's not just good. And it's not just pleasant but it's good and pleasant. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:26.000 He uses these two words to emphasize that this is a place. Look. Look. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:44.000 How good. And how pleasant. It is. For us to dwell together in unity. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:56.000 That he describes what it's like in two illustrations. And it's like precious ointment. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:04.000 Now it's not just the ointment but it's the ointment that is on the head. 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:16.000 And not just on the head but running down the head. Even down the beard. Aaron's beard. Even to his garments. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:28.000 So this anointing this this ointment where we see in the Bible so many times is described as where the spirit is. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:39.000 The anointing of the spirit where the spirit comes down. It's where the spirit of the Lord is. 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:45.000 It's a beautiful thought to think of the spirit that flows upon us. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:14:00.000 As we dwell together in unity. Another thing that the ointment would render would be a fragrance. An aroma. A smell that would fill the air. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:14.000 What a sweet aroma. When we are together in unity. When we are abiding resting sitting in unity together. 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:21.000 It's a aroma that we sense but there's also an aroma that arises to the father. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:25.000 And he smells the unity. 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:29.000 And he commands the blessing. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:45.000 As mentioned Aaron as when he was anointed as priest the oil was poured on his head and it ran down the beard to the garment. 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:56.000 It is a full and true anointing to have the full and true presence of the spirit. There must be unity. 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:05.000 And there is the illustration in a similar way of the do. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:20.000 The do that comes upon the mountains of Israel is a picture of the grace of God flowing down upon the people unified in the spirit of God. 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:29.000 Notice that both the pouring of the oil and the falling of the do come from above. Right. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:32.000 Unity. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:37.000 Is a heaven wrought commodity. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:49.000 It is the do of the mountains that water and nourish the ground on and around the mountains that cause what. 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:59.000 Fruit to bear much fruit can be produced in the dwelling place of unity. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:14.000 Oh my family in this place. Right. Oh my children. Oh my grandchildren in this place. Hey let's invite our neighbors to this place called unity. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:18.000 May it be here in greater depths. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:33.000 At grace Bible Church. Amen. Let it ever so be more. So let us now look at what are the signs of spirit raw unity. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:43.000 What are some signs. We'll we'll see what hinders it and then what advances it. What are the signs. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:50.000 And he looked at first and foremost love. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:54.000 Love. Love. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:17:07.000 Is this not the greatest commandment that we should love the Lord our God with all our hearts all our soul with all our strength all of our mind. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:10.000 It is. 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:19.000 Love. That was the second. Love your neighbor as yourself to love one another. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:23.000 We could have a lot of good things. 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:33.000 We could do a lot of good things. But without love undergirding and carrying it along what is it. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:37.000 What is it. It's nothing. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:42.000 It's a sounding brass and a tingling symbol. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:48.000 Love must be the force that's pushing us. It is the love of God. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:51.000 That abides within us. 00:17:51.000 --> 00:18:00.000 John Owen says I do barely believe that God shall accomplish unity. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:06.000 It will be the effect of love and not the cause of it. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:13.000 It will proceed from love before it brings forth love. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:18.000 He's saying that love causes unity not the opposite. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:26.000 Unity doesn't cause love. Love causes unity. Do you see that. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:28.000 Love. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:33.000 It's where unity is. 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:36.000 What else do we see in this place called unity. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:39.000 Follow and listen. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.000 Joy. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:45.000 Joy. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:51.000 Peace. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:19:01.000 Don't you like peace? 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:07.000 When things are peaceful. When things are at rest. 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:12.000 Long suffering. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:18.000 Kindness. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:21.000 Kindness. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:25.000 Faithfulness. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:31.000 Gentleness. 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.000 Peace. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:38.000 Self-control. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:44.000 What did I just give you. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:49.000 What's there. The fruit of the spirit. 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:53.000 It's the fruit of the spirit. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:57.000 These are the signs of unity. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:17.000 They are vibrant and growing in the place of unity because there the Lord commands the blessing for there the spirit of the Lord is being poured out for there the spirit of the Lord is active within us and we're bearing these fruit brotherly love communion. 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:35.000 Point an E.I. fellowship forgiveness and so much more that we can see surrounds abides is in this place called unity. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:41.000 And all these things as well advance unity. 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:48.000 But before we look at what advances it let's see what hinders it. Now this is kind of easy here right. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:51.000 We know what we know what hinders unity. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:54.000 But bitterness. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:21:01.000 In bitter is it better. That's the poison that we drink hoping to affect others something like that. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:08.000 Gossip. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.000 We don't we don't know what that is doing. 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:21.000 Gossip unforgiveness. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:23.000 Being disgruntled. 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:26.000 Contankerous. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:30.000 That hinders unity. 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:41.000 Some people thrive on being cantankerous. Now there's a cantankerous that's fun and joy. You know jolly contain you know people can be cantankerous and be fun. 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:45.000 But some people are cantankerous just because they're meaning right. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:22:01.000 Always negative. Always disgruntled. Always finding the worst in everything. 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:08.000 My question to that person would be. Are you even Christian. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:11.000 Right. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:19.000 Where's the joy of the Lord. Where's the fruit of the spirit in your life. You're so negative. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:32.000 Fault finding elevating my desires and secondary issues and making them primary always speaking negative about whatever is happening. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:37.000 Or about so and so or about this and about that. Just. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:40.000 Stop. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:48.000 We can all be tempted. At times to. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.000 All right. 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:55.000 The inner in some of this sometimes. 00:22:55.000 --> 00:23:00.000 Let it not be so. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:02.000 Brothers and sisters. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:05.000 We must be village and. 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.000 Endeavoring to keep. 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:09.000 The unity. 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:11.000 Of the spirit. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.000 In the bond. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.000 Peace. 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:19.000 So what that says. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:23.000 Now this is where we want to get what what advances spirit raw unity. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:27.000 What can press it on what can cause it to happen. 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:31.000 What are the things that advance spirit raw unity. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:33.000 Let's turn a few. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:35.000 Let's let's chase some scripture OK. 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:38.000 Turn with me first to Ephesians chapter. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:40.000 For. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:43.000 Ephesians four. 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:44.000 For. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:55.000 What advances spirit raw unity. 00:23:55.000 --> 00:24:00.000 Ephesians four verses one through three. 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:09.000 I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called. 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:12.000 Walk worthy. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.000 To your calling. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:16.000 With all. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:18.000 Lowliness and meekness. 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:20.000 With long suffering. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:23.000 Forbearing one another. 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:25.000 And love. 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:29.000 That will advance unity. 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:31.000 Endeavoring. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:33.000 It's. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:35.000 Endeavoring to keep the unity. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.000 Of the spirit. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:39.000 In the bond of peace. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:42.000 So what worthy of your calling. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:46.000 With lowliness humility. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:48.000 Meekness. 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:51.000 With long suffering. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:58.000 Long suffering and forbearing one another in love. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:02.000 What is what is forbearing one another. 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:06.000 It's like this been. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:10.000 Putting up with one another. 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:13.000 You know there's some people you just have to put up with. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:21.000 Or some people that you just put up with maybe not I know not in the church I'm not talking about in church I'm talking about out in the workforce you know. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:26.000 Out there in the world is that there's some of those people that you have to put up with. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:32.000 But what was the. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:34.000 What was the addition. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:37.000 In love. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.000 In love. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:41.000 That's the way we do it in here. 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:44.000 Forbearing one another in love. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:46.000 Yeah. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:50.000 Maybe maybe maybe they're the same paper in my life. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:53.000 But maybe there's some rough spots that they need to. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:56.000 Get off of me right. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:58.000 You ever thought about it that way. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.000 OK. 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:01.000 Maybe. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:07.000 What I'm seeing in that person is actually something that's in me that I need to deal with. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:10.000 Right. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.000 That ever been true for you. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:24.000 Therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation with your call with all lowliness and meanness with long suffering forbearing one another into. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:26.000 Endeavoring to keep the unity. 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:31.000 Of the spirit. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:32.000 In the bond of. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:34.000 What does that sound like. 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:37.000 Sounds like work don't it. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:39.000 Sounds like work something. 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:45.000 Something we must be active in something we must must toil in something we must engage in. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.000 We must do our part in. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:49.000 And keeping. 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:54.000 The unity intact keeping it advanced and keeping it growing. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:57.000 Let's dwell in unity together. 00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:00.000 Now I love this next. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:04.000 This next point turn with me to John 17. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:08.000 John 17. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:13.000 So what advanced the spirit raw unity. 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:18.000 That we are working that we're engaged in doing these things. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:23.000 Walking worthy of our calling. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:29.000 Loving one another forbearing one another being humble. 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.000 Meek. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:35.000 Forbearing one another in love. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:37.000 Now John 17. 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:43.000 What advances spirit raw unity. 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:54.000 This knowing that Jesus himself. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:58.000 Prayed for us to have it. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:03.000 That Jesus prayed. 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:06.000 For us. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:09.000 That we would have unity. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.000 That's powerful. 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:21.000 Look at John 17 20. 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:27.000 Neither pray I for these alone. 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:33.000 But for them also which shall believe on me through their word. 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:38.000 That they all may be one. 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:42.000 That's unity. 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:46.000 That we all that they all may be one. 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:50.000 As you father or in me. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:52.000 And I in you. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:58.000 That they also may be one in us. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:03.000 That the world. 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:06.000 May believe. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:08.000 That you have sent me. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.000 That's big. 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:14.000 And the glory which you gave me. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:16.000 I have given them. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:19.000 That they may be one. 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:22.000 Even as we. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:24.000 Are one. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:33.000 That they may be made perfect. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:39.000 Complete. 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:40.000 In one. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:44.000 And that the world may know. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:47.000 That you have sent me. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:51.000 And you have loved them. 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:54.000 As you have loved. 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:56.000 Me. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.000 Me. 00:29:57.000 --> 00:30:07.000 So we see. 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:11.000 What advances unity. 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.000 Is this work. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:14.000 That we put into it. 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:16.000 But then knowing. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:19.000 Resting. 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:21.000 In the fact. 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:23.000 That Jesus prayed. 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:25.000 It for us. 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:26.000 Do you see what happens. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:37.000 When we are unified. 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:41.000 When we are unified in here. 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:46.000 Something happens out there. 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:50.000 Did you catch that in his prayer. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:51.000 Therefore. 00:30:51.000 --> 00:31:02.000 If this is not in here. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:06.000 They're not going to know that. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:12.000 The world is not going to know. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:14.000 That there is a savior. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:18.000 The world is not going to know the gospel. 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:21.000 If we do not dwell together in unity. 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:24.000 It hinders it. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:29.000 All the damage. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:32.000 All the chaos. 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:36.000 That has been caused by churches. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:42.000 Who did not dwell together in unity. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:45.000 Devastating. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:48.000 Are the effects. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:51.000 Of bad churches. 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:57.000 With bad pastors and bad people. 00:31:57.000 --> 00:32:00.000 Raw unto them. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:12.000 That. 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:15.000 Is spoken from experience. 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:18.000 Because I was the bad pastor. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:25.000 Listen to this. 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:32.000 French is shafer on this particular text writes this. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:34.000 In John 13. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:37.000 The point was that. 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:41.000 If an individual Christian does not show love toward other Christians. 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:46.000 The world has a right to judge that they are not a Christian. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:49.000 Here in John 17 21. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:54.000 Jesus is stating something else which is much more cutting. 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:56.000 Much more profound. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:59.000 We cannot expect the world to believe. 00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:02.000 That the father sent the son. 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:05.000 That Jesus is claims are true. 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:07.000 And that Christianity is true. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:11.000 Unless the world sees some reality. 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:13.000 Of the oneness. 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:15.000 Of true Christians. 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:20.000 There is so much riding. 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:21.000 On this. 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:28.000 What advances spirit raw unity. 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:30.000 Ephesians 4 1 through 3. 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:33.000 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the faith. 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:35.000 Knowing believing. 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:36.000 Realizing. 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:41.000 Trusting in the fact that Jesus prayed it for us. 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:43.000 Edifying. 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.000 One another. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:47.000 Romans 14 19. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:50.000 Let us follow after the things which make for peace. 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:55.000 The things which with one may edify another. 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:57.000 Seeing the best in others. 00:33:57.000 --> 00:34:02.000 Bearing with and for bearing one another. 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:04.000 We pointed that out in Ephesians. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:06.000 It's also in Colossians 3. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:08.000 The similar thing. 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:10.000 Let's let's just look at that Colossians. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:13.000 Colossians 3 13. 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:19.000 Forbearing one another. 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:23.000 Forgiving one another. 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:25.000 If you have a quarrel against any. 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:28.000 Even as Christ forgave you. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:30.000 So also do you. 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:35.000 And above all these things put on charity. 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:38.000 Which is the bond of perfectness. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:41.000 And let the peace of God. 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:43.000 Rule in your heart. 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:47.000 To the which also you were called in one body. 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:49.000 And be. 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.000 Thankful. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:53.000 Be a peaceable person. 00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:54.000 James 3. 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:56.000 James 3. 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:58.000 Let's turn over there. 00:34:58.000 --> 00:35:04.000 What advances unity. 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:07.000 Endeavoring to keep the unity. 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:09.000 Knowing that Jesus prayed. 00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:12.000 The very thing for us. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:16.000 Edifying one another. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:19.000 Bearing with and forgiving one another. 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:20.000 Putting on love. 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:23.000 Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. 00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:25.000 Be a peaceable person. 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:27.000 Pray for wisdom. 00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:29.000 James 3 17. 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:33.000 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure. 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:34.000 Peaceable. 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:35.000 Gentle. 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:36.000 Easy. 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:37.000 To be in treated. 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:39.000 Full of mercy and good fruits. 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:41.000 Without partiality. 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:43.000 Without hypocrisy. 00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:44.000 But the fruit. 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:46.000 Of righteous. 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:48.000 Is sown in peace. 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:50.000 Of them that make peace. 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:53.000 Don't you like peacemakers. 00:35:53.000 --> 00:35:56.000 You got any peacemakers in your life. 00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:00.000 I mean you go to them with a problem and they just need. 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:01.000 Somehow seem to. 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:02.000 To speak peace. 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:04.000 Over the whole situation. 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:07.000 I mean you're all been out of shape. 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:09.000 You're about to come on glued and. 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:13.000 They start speaking and it's like. 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:15.000 Just speaking truth. 00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:17.000 Just speaking the word to you. 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:21.000 It ministers to your soul. 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:22.000 And it helps you. 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:24.000 And it grows you. 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:26.000 You know there are some people. 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:30.000 I'm looking at one right now. 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:35.000 Can be laying up in the hospital and you go to the hospital to cheer up and. 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:36.000 The opposite happens. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:40.000 You know you're supposed to be there to cheer up Miss Leona and. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:43.000 All of a sudden she's praising the Lord and she's. 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:44.000 Whoa. 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:45.000 We have a revival. 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:46.000 I mean my goodness. 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:49.000 Be a peaceable person. 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:54.000 When we set aside our. 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:57.000 Our petty and sometimes important differences. 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:58.000 To us. 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:01.000 But not worth breaking. 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:02.000 Unity over. 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:05.000 There are some things. 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:08.000 You know. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:11.000 There's something we can set that aside right. 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:17.000 I mean it may be a big deal to me but in the grand scheme of thing it's just a secondary issue. 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:19.000 It's just my preference. 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:25.000 And I can I can set that aside so that we can we can be in unity and we can fellowship. 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:29.000 There are some things where we cannot budge on right. 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:32.000 The gospel. 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:38.000 Of the Lord Jesus Christ the fundamentals of the faith we cannot waver on. 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:41.000 But it is these fundamentals. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:46.000 Of the glorious gospel that does what that brings us together. 00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:49.000 It's the truth that brings us together. 00:37:49.000 --> 00:37:56.000 And it's this truth in these fundamentals and the gospel that we are not going to set aside so that we can. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:59.000 Get along with other people or with one another. 00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:01.000 J.C. 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:02.000 Ryle Danny J.C. 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:06.000 Ryle said with unity without the gospel. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:09.000 Is worthless unity. 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:12.000 It is the very unity of hell. 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:15.000 Wow. 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:20.000 The spirit leads. 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:22.000 And all truth. 00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:25.000 The spirit leads us in the truth. 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:27.000 And it's the spirit that's unifying us. 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:38.000 And as we come together in unity and faith and are willing to forgive and love and and that our secondary issues take their place and remain secondary. 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:41.000 We can dwell below with those we know. 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:47.000 And it be sweet. 00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:56.000 This great unity is God gives his grace to unite us as he gives and leads us by his spirit. 00:38:56.000 --> 00:39:01.000 That is endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of priests. 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:02.000 Why. 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:04.000 All the way. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:05.000 Why. 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:10.000 Because Christ is worthy. 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:13.000 He's worthy. 00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:15.000 He's worthy. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:17.000 There may be some here. 00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:21.000 This morning they're on the outside of unity. 00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:24.000 You're not in this place. 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:26.000 You don't know of this place. 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:32.000 Because things are the way you want them to be or. 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:35.000 This. 00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:37.000 He didn't even share. 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:46.000 He didn't even shake my hand this morning. 00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:52.000 I can assure you that. 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:55.000 No one. 00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:58.000 Here is going to intentionally. 00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:01.000 Try to. 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:04.000 Be disrespectful or be crude or rude toward you. 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:10.000 Now someone may pass you without saying something but it may be because they're oblivious. 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:14.000 No one's intentionally doing anything to harm you. 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:21.000 So you could be outside of unity because you're just not right with a brother or sister. 00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:25.000 You can get that right right. 00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:27.000 You can work through that. 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:30.000 You could be outside of unity because you're not right with God. 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:34.000 You just got to see and you need to confess just something going on. 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:37.000 Or you could be outside of unity because. 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:39.000 You're not converted. 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:41.000 You're not born again. 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:43.000 You're not a child of God. 00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:51.000 If you're always at odds with others always at odds with everything you are at odds with God. 00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:53.000 Are you bearing fruit. 00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:57.000 That is conducive to repentance. 00:40:57.000 --> 00:40:59.000 Are you repenting. 00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:02.000 It is only Christ. 00:41:02.000 --> 00:41:05.000 Who unifies. 00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:08.000 That which he prayed in John 17. 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:11.000 He is the focus of our unit. 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:14.000 He is the cause or of our unity. 00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:20.000 And as we come together in him we can be unified one with another. 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:23.000 Let me give you some finishing thoughts. 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:30.000 Unity as we've seen here in the text unity is like the anointing oil. 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:36.000 It consecrates us sets us apart for holy service. 00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:39.000 It sets us apart from the world. 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:42.000 The world doesn't have. 00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:48.000 What we have when we're unified before the Lord. 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:53.000 He comes and commands the blessing in this place. 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:57.000 The world may have a form of unity. 00:41:57.000 --> 00:42:01.000 They may have a form of love but they don't have true love. 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:04.000 They don't have true unity. 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:07.000 It's like the do. 00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:14.000 It moistens the soil of our hearts makes them ready to receive the good seed. 00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:18.000 Here the Lord commands the blessing. 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:21.000 We grow in the grace and the knowledge of him. 00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:28.000 It is a place from which springs well up. 00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:33.000 And flows the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:39.000 In that place there will be blessings and life forever more. 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:41.000 Do you see what I'm saying? 00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:45.000 Do you see what the Lord is saying to us this morning? 00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:47.000 That is we are unified together. 00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:49.000 We come in. 00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:51.000 We see it every Sunday. 00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:54.000 We'll see it after the service even though the I don't know if it's snowing here or not. 00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:56.000 Even though the snow is coming. 00:42:56.000 --> 00:43:01.000 Somebody I have to run some of you out of here. 00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:06.000 Because you want to stay in fellowship and commune together. 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:08.000 That is healthy. 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:10.000 That is unity. 00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:14.000 And so we have that in so many ways. 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:20.000 So let's encourage it among us as brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:23.000 You see because. 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:29.000 When the world hears of that when your friends and your neighbors hear of that. 00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:32.000 When they come in here and they. 00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:34.000 They sense that they. 00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:37.000 They experience that they feel that. 00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:45.000 That's doing something to the soil of their heart. 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:51.000 So when the word is song the word is prayed the word is read the word is preached. 00:43:51.000 --> 00:43:54.000 The Lord can command a blessing. 00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:58.000 What is the blessing. 00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:01.000 Even life forevermore. 00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:05.000 Souls being saved. 00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:09.000 Life's being changed. 00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:15.000 Let's pray. 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:18.000 Father help us. 00:44:18.000 --> 00:44:22.000 To endeavor. 00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:24.000 To strive. 00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:25.000 Yea to fight. 00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:28.000 To keep the unity of the spirit. 00:44:29.000 --> 00:44:30.000 In the bond of peace. 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:39.000 Father your son is worthy. 00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:42.000 Christ is worthy. 00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:49.000 Of us not making it about ourselves our point our opinion. 00:44:49.000 --> 00:44:51.000 But that we. 00:44:51.000 --> 00:44:52.000 Say yes. 00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:55.000 To you Lord. 00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:56.000 To you Lord. 00:44:56.000 --> 00:45:03.000 Help us ever more press into and onward in. 00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:06.000 The unity of the spirit. 00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:09.000 All for your glory. 00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:12.000 All for the glory of Christ. 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:17.000 And in while doing. 00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:20.000 The lamb. 00:45:20.000 --> 00:45:24.000 Is receiving the reward of his suffering. 00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:27.000 In his name we pray. 00:45:27.000 --> 00:45:28.000 Amen. 00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:28.500 Amen. 00:45:28.500 --> 00:45:32.480 [ Silence ]