Togetherness

Eph.4:³ “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (emphasis added)

Note, we are not making an effort to create unity. Unity is created by the Spirit of God. But we are to make every effort to keep the unity that has been created by the Spirit of God. We are all members of one body; as we come to Jesus, the brotherly love binds us, and God creates unity. We are to make every effort to keep that unity. Nothing destroys unity faster than Telling Lies, Letting Your Anger Control You, Stealing, Using Foul or Abusive Language, and Bitterness, Rage, Anger, Harsh Words, And Slander.

But why did God say we should make every effort to keep unity? Eph.4:^4-6 “For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all” (emphasis added). The unity is created under God; we are to make an effort to keep the unity. Ps.133:^1-3 (NKJV) “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” (emphasis added). When a group of people is blessed [when God’s people are blessed] if you check you will find that they are united. When the enemy wants to take away or attack the blessings, he attacks the unity. So, when the Bible says to make every effort, it means to bring all the arsenal you have and get ready to fight anything that attacks the unity in your family, home, business, and in your church.

Eph.4:⁷ “However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.” (emphasis added). We all have individual gifts, everybody has a gift, nobody is empty. I can assure you that your gift is not gossiping. Please read 1 Cor.12, it enumerates individual gifts and you will not find the gift of gossiping on that list. Eph.4:¹¹ “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.” (emphasis added). These are gifts to the Church, to the local church and to the community of believers. So, we see two levels of gifts, individual, personal gifts enumerated in 1 Cor. 12, and gifts to the body.

Prayer: Father, I bring my church family and my sphere of influence before You, help us remain united and catch for us the little foxes that try to ruin our vineyard of love, in Jesus Name. Amen!