Bible Verses from Message of September 17, 2023
Scripture reference – Ephesians 4:7-17
Scripture describes the experience of unity – Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.”
“Complete my joy of being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Philippians 2:2.
Satan will sir up unbelievers “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21.
Christian unity is a high call “for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance. Philippians 1:19.
Unity refines us – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24.
That’s why we should “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3.
Paul tells us to “22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24.
Jesus gave us this commandment “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34.
Jesus envisioned a community willing to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” and “but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:3 & 7.
The pursuit of unity is hard because love is costly.
Asbury Chapel 