is a fascinating study in human belonging.
Maybe you've witnessed one of these scenarios on a playground near you.
A child picks up a handful of sand and throws it into the face of another child.
Have you witnessed that?
Then you hear the mom say, Danny, play nice with others.
Or there's a group of children, perhaps you've seen this,
a group of children purposefully excluding a little boy.
Not for any particular reason.
You hear a mom cry out, children, play nice.
Let that little boy play with you.
Or perhaps you've seen this scenario,
a little child avoiding all contact with all other children at all costs on this playground.
Because there's a fear there.
And you hear a mom say, honey, go play with others.
It's good for you.
The playground is a fascinating study of human belonging.
But let's just be honest.
I mean, we're all living on a playground of sorts.
We're all wanting to belong, right?
We all want to be part of a people bigger than us.
We all want to experience unity with others.
What God has intended for us.
And to that end, we need a lot of help.
Because our sinful tendency is to not play nice with others.
And it undermines the unity that God has purchased for us
through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I hope you just heard that.
Our unity is a blood-bought unity.
This morning, Psalm 133 is going to help us
by prioritizing for us God's good and pleasant will for us,
our unity,
to live together for God's glory.
God's will is for us to be united.
But Psalm 133 helps us see something else.
If I were to sum up Psalm 133 in a sentence, it would be this.
Our unity is a magnet for God's blessing.
And I'm guessing everyone in the room wants to experience
the fullness of God's blessing in our relationships as a church.
And so maybe you're the type who doesn't play nice with others.
I think we're all that type.
Psalm 133 is just for us.
So here's how we're going to move forward.
I'm going to walk you through Psalm 133.
And then I'm going to spend the bulk of our time
applying Psalm 133, this idea of unity,
specifically 10 ways we live together for the glory of God.
And so we're going to, we'll get there,
but let's first walk, let me walk you through this passage
and let me start by giving you a little background on Psalm 133.
You'll notice right away that in the title,
it's a psalm, a song of ascents.
Now, there are 15 songs of ascents.
Psalms 120 through 134.
And what an ascent is, is a gradual climb up, an incline.
And so what's good for you to know is that
there are these three major feasts every year on the Jewish calendar.
And every year, men were required to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem
to worship God together at these feasts.
And if you were to go to Jerusalem from anywhere in Israel,
you're eventually going to have to go up to Jerusalem.
It was on a mountain, Mount Zion.
And so it was on an ascent.
And so the purpose of these psalms of ascent
is for the pilgrimage.
As Jews from every tribe around Jerusalem,
all throughout Israel, made their way
and were ascending to Jerusalem,
they would be reciting, singing, thinking about these psalms.
They're intended to prepare God's people
to meet with God in His place.
It's a unity primer, is what it is.
And so that's a little background.
Now let's get into the text itself.
If you look at verse 1, you see the word,
Behold.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity.
This is a psalm of David.
And David is saying,
Hey, look at this.
I want you to see it.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity.
Now David was a musician.
And what's interesting,
he's not saying here,
He's not saying here,
How good and pleasant it is
when I write a great psalm.
He's not,
He was a builder.
He's not saying,
How good and pleasant it is
when I build a great building.
He was a warrior.
He's not saying,
How good and pleasant,
Look, how good and pleasant it is
when I rout the enemy.
He's saying,
How good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity.
The brothers is a reference to Jews
from all the tribes of Israel
coming together.
And these tribes had a sordid past,
a lot of infighting,
a lot of hardship.
And David is saying,
Oh, how good it is,
how pleasant it is
when brothers come together
in unity.
David understands the value of unity.
He experienced discord himself.
So the question we need to ask right now is,
Well, what is unity?
Biblically speaking.
Well, the Hebrew word for unity,
if your Bible has a little number next to it,
when you look down at the bottom of the page,
it says to dwell together.
That word unity literally means together.
It's togetherness.
But we all know
that being together
doesn't necessarily mean
it's good and pleasant.
So this is a particular kind of togetherness.
It's a particular kind of unity.
And so here's my working definition of unity.
Unity is when God's people
live together for God's glory.
That's unity.
When God's people are living together
for God's glory,
that's unity.
God unites His people.
I mean, that's the point
of these three annual feasts.
All the men of Israel
would come up to Jerusalem
in order to gather together
around God's presence
in His place,
celebrating something
that God had done for them.
I mean, that's why we get together
on a weekly basis.
We gather together
in order to rejoice
and celebrate
what God has done for us.
We're seeking to live
for God's glory.
So,
this observation,
behold,
it is good and pleasant
when brothers
are living together
together for the glory of God.
How good and pleasant
it is when a church
lives together
for the glory of God.
Our greatest aim
is God's glory.
And when
we are united,
it is a magnet
for God's blessing.
If we continue on,
you're going to notice
in verses 2 and 3,
there are these
two comparisons.
David wants to compare.
He is comparing
this good and pleasant
unity to two things.
Oil,
you see that in verse 2,
and dew,
you see that in verse 3.
In verse 2,
we read,
it is,
the it is,
this unity,
this good and pleasant unity
is like the precious
oil on the head
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down
on the collar
of his robes.
Do you sense
abundance there?
Overflowing abundance.
This oil
is an anointing oil.
And what an anointing oil
was used for
was to consecrate,
to set apart
a king
or a priest.
That's why Aaron's name
is there.
He was a priest.
And so what this
is a picture of
is God's
overflowing
kindness
in setting
Aaron apart
for God's purposes.
And so this is
what the comparison
is.
When God's people
are united,
they are set apart
like Aaron,
all that oil
flowing down,
they are set apart
for God's purposes.
Set apart
for God's
glory.
It's a good
and pleasant thing.
When we're united,
we're aimed
at God.
The second comparison
is to do.
This good
and pleasant
unity,
we see it in
the beginning
of verse 3,
it's like the dew
of Hermon,
which falls on
the mountains
of Zion.
Hermon was this
really high mountain
in northern Israel,
and it produced
this really thick
layer of dew.
You know what dew is?
I mow my lawn
Monday morning.
My kids kind of
make fun of me
because I'm usually
up at 7 o'clock
mowing my lawn.
They're like,
beware of the neighbors.
But I have a hard
time mowing
because there's so
much dew in my grass.
That dew is a
life-giving water.
And if you're
thinking about
where this is
taking place,
it's life-giving
water in an
arid,
dry place.
There's some
debate of what
this dew
actually is.
Some think that
it's the actual
dew from Mount
Hermon coming
all the way
down to the
mountains of Zion.
It's a little bit
of a reach.
Or it could be
that the dew
of Hermon
is more like
an expression
for a certain
thickness,
for a certain
vibrancy
of dew.
It's like when
you say
Kleenex to
refer to tissues.
dew.
You're saying
Mount Hermon
dew to refer
to a fullness
of dew on the
ground.
Whatever the
case,
the good and
pleasant unity
of God's
people is being
likened to a
source of life-giving
water in a dry
and arid place.
When God's
people are united,
it is refreshing
and life-giving.
It is a blessing
to those
around us.
So here we have
two comparisons,
oil and dew.
Oil, it's good
and pleasant
in that we're set
apart for God's
glory.
Dew, it's good
and pleasant
in that we're a
blessing to those
around us.
Our unity
is a magnet
to God's
blessing.
At the end
of verse 3,
we have the
conclusion.
you see it
being formed
with the word
for.
For there
the Lord has
commanded the
blessing,
life forevermore.
It's an
interesting way
to talk about
things.
Where's the
there?
For there,
where is that
there?
For there the
Lord has
commanded the
blessing,
life forevermore.
Well, you could
say Mount Zion
because that's
what David was
just talking
about.
But what's
important to
recognize,
it's where
the brothers
are dwelling
together in
unity.
That's the
there.
And if it's
in Jerusalem,
God will
command his
blessing there.
And if it's
in Kenosha,
God will
command his
blessing there.
But God
commands his
blessing.
There's this
verse in
Isaiah 66.
This is the
one to whom
the Lord will
look.
who is
humble,
contrite in
spirit,
and trembles
at my
Lord.
God just
delights in
humility.
And he
will just
look to it,
pour out his
favor on it.
Unity is
this expression
of humility.
And God
is compelled
to pour out
his blessing
on it.
Life
forevermore.
if we're
unified,
God will
surely bless
us.
Christ the
King Church,
don't you
want that?
Don't you
want to be
set apart for
God's purposes?
Don't you
want to be a
blessing to
this city?
We must be
united.
I've got a
theory,
and here's
my theory.
Christians
settle for
surfacy
relationships.
And the
reason why
are twofold.
Christians
settle for
surfacy
relationships
because they
don't know
what true
unity is.
They don't
know what
it takes.
It takes a lot
of humility,
a lot of
hard work.
So there's
kind of an
ignorance.
But there's
another reason
why Christians
settle for
surfacy
relationships.
It's those
Christians who
know what
true humility
requires,
but they are
unwilling to
pursue it.
And they're
unwilling to
pursue it
because they've
been burned.
They've been
in a context
where they have
opened up their
lives and
they've gotten
trampled.
And so
there's an
unwillingness,
a guardedness
to stay on
the surface,
to stay on
the side of
the playground.
So the
question becomes
if unity
is God's
people living
together for
the glory of
God,
how do we
as a church
pursue that?
Well,
that's the
second half
of this
sermon.
And before
I go there,
I want to
share you a
story that
Mary Jo
Filippelli
has taught
me.
It's a
lesson.
Have you
seen this
garden in
the front of
our building?
If you come
in through the
front glass
doors,
there's this
garden there
and it's
beautiful.
An array
of plants,
different
fragrances,
different colors.
It's just
beautiful.
Here's what
Mary Jo
Filippelli
has taught
me.
She's the
gardener of
that garden.
The
lesson is
this.
Beautiful
gardens
require a
lot of
hard work.
Mary Jo
Filippelli
is in
this
building
tending
that
garden
on a
frequent
basis.
And if
unity
of our
church
is like
a garden,
it's going
to take a
lot of
hard work.
God
and so
what I
want to
share with
you now
are ten
ways that
we can
live together
for the
glory of
God.
Ten ways
that we
maintain the
unity of the
spirit and
the bond of
peace.
Ten ways
we pursue
oneness
in Christ.
Now,
if you're
right now
wilting in
your chair
like ten
ways,
man,
it's hot
in here.
I'm out!
Stay checked
in.
The challenge
is going
to be
keeping up
with me.
I'm going
to move
through it
pretty quick.
So ten
ways we
seek this
good and
pleasant
unity that
God is
just drawn
to to
bless.
You ready?
The first
way.
The first
way we
live for
God's glory
together is
by realizing
that our
unity is
dependent on
Christ's
death.
Christ's
death
unites
us.
Our
unity is
a gospel
unity.
It's born
of what
Jesus has
done in
our behalf.
Remember
how these
Jewish men
would make
pilgrimage to
Jerusalem three
times a year
and at these
feasts,
these feasts
would commemorate
something that
God has done
for Israel
and it would
unite them
together around
the work God
has done for
them.
Well,
Christ's work
on the cross
for each
of us
unites
us
together.
We share
a common
forgiveness
in Christ.
We share
a common
peace with
God in
Christ.
We share
in the very
righteousness
of Christ.
We share
in the living
hope of
Christ.
We share
in a common
aim,
God's glory.
We share
a common
eternity,
a common
destination.
We share
a common
enemy.
Christ's
death has
united us.
I find it
really interesting
that in the
book of
1 Corinthians,
this church
that was
dysfunctional
and divisive,
that the
apostle Paul
waits until
the last
chapter
to raise
the gospel.
And he
says to them
in 153,
I will now
pass on to
you of first
importance
what was
passed on
to me.
That Christ
died for
our sins
according to
the scriptures.
Do you know
what he's doing?
He's uniting
that church
in the gospel.
This is what
you have in
common.
Christ's
death is the
very basis
of our unity.
It's the very
cause of
our unity.
His death
unites us
to live for
him.
My favorite
verse is
2 Corinthians
5.15,
and he died
for all that
those who
live might
no longer
live for
themselves but
for him
who for
their sake
died and
was raised.
I know
it's a
mouthful.
Here's a
summary.
Christ died
for all of
us so
that all
of us
would live
in union
for him.
Our goal
now is
Jesus.
So the
first way
we live
for God's
glory is
by realizing
Christ's
death
unites
us.
Here's a
helpful way
to think
about it.
If you're
in conflict
with another
Christian,
you know
it's a
helpful way,
helpful starting
point,
to see that
other Christian
as blood
bought by
Jesus.
That person
belongs to
Jesus.
It matters
how you
pursue peace
with them.
The second
way we live
for God's
glory together
is in a
shared,
personal,
dying
daily.
In order
for us to
live for
Christ together,
we must
die to
ourselves
alone,
daily.
In Matthew
16,
24,
Jesus said,
if anyone
would come
after me,
he must
deny
himself,
take up
his cross,
and follow
me.
It's a
picture of
humbling
yourself,
following
after Jesus.
Our unity
as a
church
will never
result from
any one
of us
insisting
on our
own way.
That's not
the way
of humility.
The path
of unity
begins
with dying
to ourselves
so that
each of
us is
living for
Jesus.
I'm
constantly
amazed
at how
easy it
is.
I put
no thought
into living
for myself.
I default
into
insisting
on my
own
way.
I put
no thought
into it.
I wake
up in the
morning,
you know,
this is
about me
today.
But what
it takes
to live
for Christ
is conscious
intentional
effort
to die
to myself
in order
to live
for Christ
and others.
So the
question I
have for
you is,
have you
died to
yourself
today
in order
to live
for Christ?
So to
preserve
the unity
of our
church.
The third
way we
live together
for God's
glory
is by
walking by
the Spirit,
sharing in
a Spirit
dynamic.
What Christ's
death
accomplished,
the Spirit
seeks to
apply.
In 1 Corinthians
12,
13,
we are taught
that the
Holy Spirit
baptizes
each Christian
at the
moment of
salvation
into the
one body
of Jesus
Christ.
He unites
us.
And not
only does
He unite
us,
He is
actually
seeking
for us
to experience
this unity
in greater
and greater
measure.
We're going
to be
preaching
through
Galatians
in September.
And you
remember what
the fruit
of the Spirit
is in
Galatians 5?
Love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
gentleness,
faithfulness,
self-control.
We tend
to think
about those
as individual
characteristics,
but do you
know what?
That is
couched
in loving
one another.
That whole
section
in Galatians
5,
it's about
unity.
It's about
living together
as a church.
It's about
walking by
the Spirit
and not
yielding to
the desires
of the flesh
so that
we can
love
one another.
In
Ephesians 4,
3,
we're told
to be
eager to
maintain
the unity
of the
Spirit
and the
bond
of peace.
So do you
know what
our sinning
against each
other is?
In the words
of one
theologian,
it's culpable
shalom
breaking.
It's working
against what
the Holy Spirit
is seeking
to do
to unite
us.
Living
for the
glory of
God
together.
And this
is a
dynamic.
What I
mean by
that is
our unity
is not
static,
it's dynamic.
It ebbs
and flows.
And it
often,
more often
than not,
depends on
our willingness
to humble
ourselves.
it is
good and
right for
us to
be regularly
praying,
fill us
today by
your Spirit
of God.
Unite us.
Help me.
Help us
to walk
by your
Spirit
and so
fulfill
the law
of Christ
to love
your neighbor
as yourself.
The fourth
way we live
together for
God's glory
is by
sharing
in doctrinal
truth.
Doctrine
simply means
teaching.
What the
Bible teaches,
what the
Bible teaches
about God
is the
doctrine of
God.
What the
Bible teaches
about sin
is the
doctrine of
sin.
What the
Bible teaches
about salvation
is the
doctrine of
salvation.
So on
and so
forth.
And so
our posture
as a
church,
all doctrine
comes from
this book,
the Bible.
And our
posture as
a church
is to come
under God's
word together.
We don't
stand over
God's
word,
we come
under
God's
word.
Doctrine
unites
us.
God's
truth
knits
us
together.
Unity
is not
the result
of
minimizing
doctrinal
truth.
Unity
comes from
emphasizing
the right
doctrinal
truth.
That's why
we have a
statement of
faith.
That's why
in our
membership
class,
we
purpose
to bring
everyone
through
every
paragraph
of our
statement
of
faith.
Because
we as
a church
are saying
these are
the doctrines
from God's
word that
we are
committed to
and are
vital to
our faith
and practice.
Our
unity
depends
upon
doctrine,
not the
other way
around.
God's
love.
God's
glory is
sharing
in a
common
dependence.
God's
love.
In
John 15,
Jesus
describes
our
dependence
in
relationship
to him
as a
vine and
a
branch.
Jesus
says in
15.5,
I am
the vine,
you are
the branches,
anyone abides
in me and
I in him.
He it is that
will bear much
fruit, but
apart from
me you
can do
nothing.
It's another
picture of
humility,
our humble
dependence upon
our Lord
Jesus
Christ.
We are
all dependent
on Jesus.
Not one
of us can
be fruitful
for Jesus
apart from
Jesus.
And so to
bring this
little point
to a head,
are you
depending on
Jesus today?
Our
unity
depends
on your
dependence
on Jesus.
The
sixth
way we
live
together
for the
glory
of God
is in
a shared
interdependence.
In 1 Corinthians
12,
Paul describes
the church
as a
body.
Remember,
the Spirit
baptizes
each Christian
at the
moment of
salvation
into the
one body
of Christ,
but that
same Spirit
also gives
individual
gifts to
each Christian
for the
building up
of the
church.
God
and Paul,
when he's
talking about
this,
describes the
church and
individual
Christians as
individual members
of the body.
I mean,
our church,
we need hands
and thumbs.
We need elbows
in knees.
We need
shoulders,
knees,
and toes.
Knees and toes.
It's a
picture of
interdependence.
And so,
in love,
individual
Christians
use their
Spirit-given
gifts to
build up
the one
body of
Christ.
So,
another way
to say it
is,
the Holy
Spirit has
gifted you,
brother and
sister in
Christ,
not for
you.
The Holy
Spirit has
gifted you
in order
to build
up this
church.
You've been
gifted for
the unity
of our
body.
And this
is much
more than
just kind
of utilitarian
view of
gifts.
This body
image pictures
us in close
proximity to
one another,
living life
together,
knowing what's
going on.
We build
each other
up formally
and in
formally.
Now,
on a
related note,
under the
same point,
I just want
to clarify
something.
Unity
does not
mean
uniformity.
Unity
does not
mean
sameness.
We have
men and
women in
this church.
We have
people of
all ages
in this
church,
all seasons
of life,
different
ethnicities,
different
income levels
and education
levels.
We have
people adhering
to different
political
parties.
They take
different
stances on
gun control,
different native
languages,
different music
preferences.
This is the
stuff that
makes us
diverse.
But when
we are united
with Jesus
as our head
and his death
uniting us,
we're united
under his
word and
walking by
the spirit
dynamic,
democratic,
we embrace
the diversity.
We're saying
yes to
this.
There is
nothing that
can divide
us when
our unity
is in
Jesus
Christ.
In fact,
I believe
that diversity
when held
rightly
actually
enriches
our unity.
community.
It helps
us understand
people.
You know,
the Amazon
River,
it gathers
tons of
silt and
nutrients on
its way out
into the
Atlantic.
and where
the Amazon
and the
Atlantic meet,
this nutrient
rich fresh
water and
this cold
salt water,
where it
comes together,
these two
diverse bodies
of water,
where they
come together,
it is
incredibly
fertile.
They've
discovered a
whole new
ecosystem
underneath
this.
I believe
that God
through Christ
is bringing
about a
whole new
gospel
ecosystem
in a
whole new
people.
The
diversity
is our
strength
when united
in Christ.
We
live
together
for God's
glory
by sharing
in this
interdependence.
The
seventh way
we live
for God's
glory
glory is
by sharing
a
determination
to work
towards
peace.
In
Romans
chapter 12
verse 18,
Paul says,
if possible,
as far as it
depends on you,
live peaceably
with all.
Experience
shalom
with all.
not just
an absence
of hostility,
but a
fullness of
affection,
a fullness
of trust,
a fullness
of goodness.
You want to
be with
them.
What Paul is
saying in
Romans 12
is that
our peace
as a
church
in our
relationships
will be
challenged
and we're
going to
have to
work on
it.
When it's
challenged,
we will
already
have needed
to have
determined
that
we're
going to
do
everything
we can
to pursue
peace
with all,
especially
those in
this church.
So,
in light of
that,
I want to
ask you a
question.
Is there
a situation
right now
in your
life
that you
need to
take action
on?
There's a
lack of
peace and
there's still
something that
you can do
in order to
move towards
peace with
this other
person.
Matt Sear
pointed out
this past
week,
Ephesians 4
3 starts
with eager.
Eagerly
maintain the
unity of
the spirit
and the
bond of
peace.
Be eager
to do it.
Jesus
talked about
it as
drop your
offerings
before you
go to the
altar and
get right
with your
brother.
Be eager
to pursue
peace.
If there's
anything
unresolved,
any conflict
in the room
between any
of us,
be eager to
pursue peace
with one
another.
Do
everything
you can.
But I
also know
of situations
in this
room where
Christians in
this room have
done all
that they
can and
there's still
no peace.
What do you
do then?
You've played
out all your
cards.
What do you
do?
Well, you run
to Psalm 62.
You wait for
the Lord in
silence.
You recognize
that you
are being
shaken.
You surrender
control to
Him.
You rest in
your God
knowing that
He is
unlimited
power,
unrelenting
love,
and He is
unrivaled in
His sovereignty,
and you rest
in His
peace even
though there
is an
unresolved
peace with
someone else.
You've obeyed
Him as far as
He can go.
And now you
just wait.
peace.
But as a
subset to
this point,
I just want
to point out
that this
determined to
be at peace
with one
another,
it's still
going to
require some
dialogue.
This peace
gets worked
out
conversationally
in order for
us to dwell
in unity
and experience
this good
and pleasant
thing that
David is
describing.
We've got to
talk it out
from time
to time.
when people,
God's people,
are living in
close proximity
with one
another,
it's just a
matter of time
before someone
says something
that annoys
you or
offends you
or confuses
you or
alarms you,
disappoints
you,
or angers
you.
Amen?
When any
of us realizes
that we have
given offense
to someone
or we've
been offended
by someone
and it's
not something
we can
overlook,
you will
need to
talk it
out with
that person.
You'll need
to pursue
peace with
that person.
Now there's
a couple
resources here
I want to
point you
to.
Ken Sandy
has a
classic,
it's called
The Peacemaker.
It is a
very helpful
book.
I use a
lot of that
material in
our premarital
counseling.
The other
book that I
want to
highly recommend
is Paul
Tripp's
War of
Words.
I'm working
through that
book right
now with a
brother in
the church
and we
are both
really benefiting
from this
book.
It tells you
how to use
your words
well.
We're either
going to use
our words
for peacemaking
and unity
or peace
breaking
and discord
and it all
depends on
what's ruling
your heart
at a given
moment.
The point
though is
we all
need to be
determined
to pursue
peace with
one another.
It might be
uncomfortable
but good
and pleasant
is waiting.
The eighth
way we
live together
for God's
glory is
by being
dedicated to
show up.
Membership
is this
formal
commitment
to one
another.
And in
Psalm 133
those making
the pilgrimage
to Jerusalem
at some
point they
decided to
go.
At some
point they
decided you
know what
it's time
to leave
I gotta go
show up.
Unity
often boils
down to a
faith filled
decision to
just show
up.
Psalm 133
says
remember
for there
the Lord
commands
the blessing.
Do you
need help?
Are there
moments where
you're like I
just don't
want to go
to the
service.
I want to
lie in bed
and binge
on Netflix.
I don't
want to go to
life group.
It's been a
hard week.
I want an
open night.
I don't want
to go and
serve on this
ministry team.
It's just
crazy.
Let me
encourage you
at those
moments to
pull out
Psalm 133
3 and
say for
there for
there the
Lord commands
the blessing.
There's life
forever more
on the Sunday
service.
Life forever
more in life
group.
Good and
pleasant things
are waiting
for me.
Unity our
unity depends
upon each
of us
showing up
and
unity has
a reality
of being
present.
The
ninth
way we
live together
for God's
glory is
by sharing
a distinction.
Do you
remember in
Psalm 133
the anointing
oil of
Aaron's
head how
that was a
picture of
being set
apart for
God's
purpose of
then there
was that
other
comparison of
the dew
of Hermon
and how
God's
people are
a blessing
to those
around them?
In John
17
20 and
21
Jesus is
praying
for us
and as
he's praying
to his
father for
unity he
says so
that the
world may
believe that
you have
sent me.
God unite
them so
that the
world may
know that
you have
sent me.
our unity
sets us
apart from
everybody else
and it
speaks a
word to
the world.
It
validates our
message about
Jesus.
That he's
united us.
That he's
making a
difference in
us.
In fact it
seems as though
what Jesus is
saying one of
the implications
is the
effectiveness of
our evangelism
depends in
some measure
on our
unity as a
church.
Our unity
distinguishes us
from everybody
else and it's
a good and
pleasant thing.
It points
to the fact
that Jesus
has come.
The tenth
and final
way we
live together
for God's
glory is by
sharing in
God's delight.
133.3
For there
the Lord
commands his
blessing.
Where is
that?
Wherever
God's people
are dwelling
together in
unity.
You know
what?
It would be
possible for
us to
unite in
grumbling
and complaining.
We see that
in the Old
Testament.
Israel
grumbling
and complaining.
God wasn't
thrilled by that.
He didn't
pour out his
blessing on
that.
Far better
for us to
unite in
our gratitude
to God for
what he's
done.
We have so
much in
common for
what Christ
has done.
A shared
forgiveness.
A shared
peace.
A shared
eternity.
Destination.
Hope.
Rejoice.
Let every
tongue rejoice.
One heart.
One voice.
Oh,
church of
Christ.
Rejoice.
Our gratitude
unites us.
When we
are expressing
our gladness
to God
in gratitude,
it unites
us
and it
distinguishes
us.
God's
glory.
Well,
these are
the ten
ways to
live together
for God's
glory.
And as
Mary Jo
has taught
us,
like a
garden is
hard work,
so is
unity.
Unity is
hard work.
It requires
humility.
Like cultivating
a garden.
But over
time,
with all
the weeding,
with all
the pruning,
with all
the intentionality,
comes beauty,
comes health,
comes fragrance,
comes fruitfulness,
comes life
forevermore.
God
commands
his blessing.
Our
unity
is a
magnet
to God's
blessing.
So let's
unite.
Will you
pray with
me?
God,
thank you so
much for
your word.
Thank you for
Psalm 133.
God,
would you
take these
words and
now press
them into
our hearts.
And God,
would you
bring about
the effect
that you
unite us,
that we
are eager
to maintain
the unity
of the
spirit and
the bond
of peace.
And God,
you would
use us
in this
city to
be a
blessing to
others.
for the
glory of
your name.
Amen.