I. THE BLESSINGS OF UNITY.II. THE BASIS FOR UNITY.III. THE BENEFACTORS OF UNITY. (THINGS THAT PROMOTE UNITY)IV. THE BREAKERS OF UNITY.V. THE BECOMING OF UNITY.VI. THE BINDING OF UNITY. (LIKE THE BINDING OF A BOOK)
Today we are looking at THE BINDING OF UNITY.
What holds the Bible in the picture together? The part that holds a book together is called the binding. Just like the binding that holds the pages of a book together, the Holy Spirit holds believers together in fellowship and love.There are many passages in Scripture that speak of fellowship and unity, but today I want to focus on PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11
1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any FELLOWSHIP of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be LIKEMINDED, having the SAME LOVE, being of ONE ACCORD, of ONE MIND. 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This is the kenosis passage. It speaks of the emptying of oneself. Christ emptied himself, not of his Deity, but of his glory. That is the most significant aspect of this Scripture. However, did you notice all of the words in verses 1 and 2 that denote unity. Then we are told in the remaining verses how to accomplish that unity. We can be bound together like a book and have unity in Christ when we behave like him, when we empty ourselves, putting away selfish desires, putting others needs before our own. The Holy Spirit is constantly at work in our lives maintaining that unity and fellowship in His Churches.The following link is a fitting song. I hope you will listen and be blessed."Broken and Spilled Out by Steve Green"
Origin: theartofastralprojection.blogspot.com
