Whether unity is used for good or evil there is power in people united. In Genesis 11 the whole earth had one language. United as “one,” they decided to build a city and a tower so high it would touch heaven. They wanted to make a name for themselves, so they wouldn’t be scattered all over the face of th
e earth. God sees what they’re doing and says, “There is nothing they plan to do that will be withheld from them.” God knew the power of unity, so he broke up their “oneness” by confusing their language and scattering them everywhere.
Unity is powerful. This is why Jesus prayed in John 17 for even as the Father and the Son are one. If the disciples were going to be successful in preaching the Gospel and making disciples of all the nations, they would need to operate as one. Throughout the book of Acts the first century church is described as those of “one accord”. This Greek word has the imagery of a musical composition; the notes are all different, but each note in harmony with the other makes a beautiful song. It means one purpose, one passion and one mind in harmonious agreement towards that passion and purpose. It is the way battles are won. I read recently that a tiger will defeat a lion in battle. However, five lions will defeat five tigers, because lions fight together and tigers do not. So, together those five lions will kill the tigers one at a time.
Unity isn’t blending together in such a way that we all look the same; it isn’t a melting pot. It is each functioning together to make up the greater whole. Sound familiar? It’s the description of the Body of Christ. Eph. 4: 15-16 says that with Christ as the Head, the body is joined and knit together. How? By each one contributing their part! If there’s any of us withholding our part then something’s missing from the greater whole.
Time is growing closer than ever to Christ’s return. If we are to be His fullness in the earth (Eph. 1:23), the only way it will happen is in one accord. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and what He activated could only be sustained through the unity of Believers. It’s no different today. Those things God wants to release in these last days cannot be sustained by any single church, ministry or individual. We’d better learn how to be knit together for His sake, because we still have yet to see the “greater things than Jesus did” and the fullness of Joel 2:28-32 come to pass.
As a ministry, more than ever, we look for strategic ways to network with others. We don’t have the resources, strength or energy to accomplish the fullness of God’s intentions. (Trust me, in our passion, we have tried and burned out.) Together, however, we have everything it takes to make the greatest impact and to carry out God’s marching orders.
