Maintaining Unity In The Bond Of Peace

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Maintaining Unity In The Bond Of Peace
Ephesians 41-2
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Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a
canyon together when all of a sudden both sides
were filled with Native American warriors on
horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Rangers
asks,
What do you mean we, white man!
"What are we going to do Tonto?"
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A Little History
1. A spirit of offense disunity April, 2003
2. Sabbatical Resting and seeking
3. Affirmation Fountain of Grace
4. Re-affirmation Confirmation
1Co 18 He shall also confirm you to the end,
that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord
Jesus Christ. 1Co 19 God is faithful, by whom
you were called to the fellowship of His Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
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1Co 110 But I exhort you, brothers, by the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the
same thing and that there be no divisions among
you but that you be perfectly joined together in
the same mind and in the same judgment.
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Psa 1331 A Song of degrees of David. Behold,
how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to
dwell together in unity!
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5. What God is doing Opportunity for unity
To get us all to have the same heart and mind
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Gods Call To Unity
Eph 41 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord,
beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling
with which you are called, Eph 42 with all
lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering,
forbearing one another in love, Eph 43
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace.
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Sin Is Hostile To Unity
1Co 56 Do you not know that a little leaven
leavens the whole lump?
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SIN IS DISCORD
1.  Sin separates us from God.
2.  It also separates from our fellow man.
a. Sin also made man hostile to one
another (i.e. Cain and Abel All Human
History)
Rom 313 "Their throat is an open grave, with
their tongues they have used deceit, the poison
of asps is under their lips14 whose mouth is
full of cursing and bitterness"15 "their feet
are swift to shed blood 16 destruction and
misery are in their way, 17 and the way of peace
they did not know."
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Disunity Causes Collapse
Mat 1225 And Jesus knew their thoughts and said
to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is
brought to desolation. And every city or house
divided against itself shall not stand.
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Disunity Can Come Into
Christians
1Co 111 For it has been declared to me
concerning you, my brothers, by those of Chloe,
that there are contentions among you
Phi 42 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to
live in harmony in the Lord.
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Heb 1214 Follow peace with all, and holiness,
without which no one shall see the Lord15
looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of
God, or lest any root of bitterness springing up
disturb you, and by it many are defiled,
Peace ierene (Eye Ray Nay)
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The Fruit From The Root
Bitterness is what happens when feelings go
underground are hidden.
Bitterness can manifest itself through
un-forgiveness, a spirit of criticism, anger,
gossip and back biting.
Once this happens, the infection can contaminate
spouses, friends, children. (Bitterness is also
translated poison)
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God Has Called Us To Unity
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I. The Basis Of Unity
A. The Spirit of God 1Co 1213 For also by
one Spirit we are all baptized into one body
1. Not denominational unity
2. Not naming our church Unity
3. Not unity over worship styles
4. Not uniformity
5. Not by liberal concessions
God has not called us to create unity
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II. The Ingredients of True Unity
Eph 42 with all lowliness and meekness, with
long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,
A. Lowliness Humility in thought
B. Meekness Humility in action
C. Long-suffering Patience
D. Forbearing Love Marathon charity
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All Our Attitudes Are To Be Based In Christs
Humility
Eph 430 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, by whom you are sealed until the day of
redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and
tumult and evil speaking be put away from you,
with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake has forgiven you.
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III. The Maintenance Of Unity
Eph 43 endeavoring to keep the unity of the
Spirit
A. The Maintenance is personal
1. It cant be legislated or coerced
2. Each person must decide
B. The Maintenance calls for effort
1. It calls for diligence
2. It doesnt happen on its own
3. All relationships require work
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IV. The Glue of Unity
Eph 43 endeavoring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.
A. Peace is the result of all the above
(Lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, love,
endeavor)
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The Produce of Unity
Joh 1720 And I do not pray for these who shall
believe on Me through their word, 21 that they
all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I
in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that
the world may believe that You have sent Me.

Harmony Peace Communication Pleasantness
Security - Confirmation
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Making A Decision for Unity
Mat 1230 The one who is not with Me is against
Me, and the one who does not gather with Me
scatters.
Amo 33 Can two walk together unless they are
agreed?
1Pe 38 And finally, all be of one mind, having
compassion on one another, loving the brothers,
tenderhearted, friendly.
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The Member in the church that would seek to cause
disunity and split our church.
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The Tongue A Great enemy of unity
Jam 35 Even so the tongue is a little member
and boasts great things. Behold how little a fire
kindles how large a forest!
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Pro 1821 Death and life are in the power of the
tongue,
Jam 36 And the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity. So the tongue is set among our members,
spotting all the body and inflaming the course of
nature, and being inflamed by hell.
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Jam 39 By this we bless God, even the Father.
And by this we curse men, who have come into
being according to the image of God. Jam 310
Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and
cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to
be so.
Eph 429 Let no unwholesome word proceed from
your mouth, but only such a word as is good for
edification according to the need of the moment,
so that it will give grace to those who hear.
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Eph 41 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord,
beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling
with which you are called, Eph 42 with all
lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering,
forbearing one another in love, Eph 43
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace.