Oneness

If you ask any believer, what are you striving for in Godly life.
some may say - we want to be righteous .
others may say - we striving for holiness.



But what is the peak point of the Church.


One of the greatest nature of God is oneness (unity).
 God calls us as Church. Not as individual believers.
Universal Church and local Church.
Some people say I just come to Church and go but I wont care about my local Church. I belong to universal Church.
If you cannot be part of local Church how can you live in Universal Church.
This is proven, first of all, simply from the word “church” itself. This term comes from the Greek ekklesia, which means “assembly” or “congregation.” So, a church is an assembly or gathering together of people.

Church is not like a Club where some people come and do their activities and go away.
nor a social gathering where people come and enjoy and go away.
Church is gathering where the Love of God flows through everyone that belongs to the Church.

Oneness is nature of God.

Genesis 2:24
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

When God created man and woman, Gods intention is that they shall become one.
This oneness is the heart of God.

John 17 is High priestly prayer of Lord Jesus for the believers.

This is what Lord Jesus prays for the believers.
V 15 - Keep them from evil one.
 V 17 - Lord Jesus Prayed that Sanctify them by Your Truth.

But in the end in V 22 - that they may be one just as we are one.

God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ are One. And that oneness is what the Lord Jesus is praying for the Church. Can we imagine Lord Jesus praying for the Church to be one. How important it is.

Lords Prayer for believers.

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[e] believe in 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, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

That is why Jude says in 1:3 , that it is common Salvation. It is not an individual salvation, it is common salvation that is given to the Church.

Apostle John says in 1 John 1:2,3 that he is saying an writing these things, so that we will have fellowship with us. That means whatever time he spent giving sermons, or writing the letters is for one purpose that to have a fellowship together.
If pastor is preaching or some guest preachers or coming or if anyone is teaching it is not for their personal gain, but so that together we can have fellowship.

This is true in Universal Church.  
All the believers who through faith had good testimony are not complete without us.
They are only perfect along with us. They might be great, they might have done mighty things, they might have performed miracles. but they are not complete with the smallest of believer.
Perfection comes only when all believers are united. See how great the plan of God is.

Even during communion, we all share one cup and one bread. which represents unity.
Why do we share to say that we are of one body.

Perfection in unity. Hebrews 11:39
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Common Salvation - Jude 1:3
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation,

Fellow Ship Together.

1 John 1:2,3
 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us;


1 Corinthians 10:16,17 says
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread andone body; for we all partake of that one bread.



How is this Oneness revealed in Church: 
1 Corinthians 12:12 on wards

Apostle Paul is comparing every believer here to one part in the body.
Some may be like eyes, some like ears. some like foot.
That means everyone has a part in Church.
If you are a believer and attending a local Church then you have a role in it.
It is not just the designated few who has a role in church. It is not just the Pastor, or just the board or just the worship team. Everyone has a role just like every member of the body has a role.
Many years back i had a bike accident and leg got injured. And I was not in a position to walk for few weeks.
Because I was not able to walk because my foot was not working, then i started becoming fat because literally there was no exercise. because i was becoming fat, my breathing had trouble.
You see if one part doesn't work properly then everybody else gets affected.
But how many of you realize that we are not complete without others in the Church.
You may think you are coming to Church and doing your part, but if others are not cared, then you might think how it would affect us, it may not affect in physical realm but in spiritual realm it affects a lot.
because God sees you as Church.
Proverbs 24:11-12
If some one is going through situation in Church or not functioning , then if you say i dont care.
then God who weighs the hearts , wont he Know it?
11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

Church, realize that we are truly one body.
otherwise it might like a movie, you go an see entertainment and pay for the ticket.
like you go and hear all the worship songs, nice message and you pay for that and come out.
That is why in Ephesians 4:15 it says Every part does its share.

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Valuing the Church 

Value the Church. Sometimes it is easy to take it granted and start grumbling.
But if we really value the Church and you realize that these are the people with whom am going to spend eternity, you will really value it.
Annias and Sapphira were struck down because they sinned against HolySpirit and they didnot value the Church they went to. They took it easy and thought they can simply lie and get away  with it.
That is why after they were struck down, none of the others dared to join but esteemed them greatly.

Acts 5:13 says after Annias and Sapphira were struck down, none of the others dared to join but esteemed them greatly.


And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly

Love - the rot cause of unity.

Love is the driving force for the unity of the Church. When you have love for other person then you will forgive. Even if younger brother gets some important role in the Church, because you love that brother you will accept an encourage him. gifts and talents are good to edify the Church but if they are not backed up with love then they are in vain.

Many people say we know God. How can we truly say we know God.
If you hate your brother then you are in darkness.
if you have any hatred against anybody in the Church then you are actually blind.
You may have disagreement on different issues. But with Love.
if you have hatred, you are actually a murderer.
He does not know God. and the character of God  and he doesn't respect the character of God that is unity.


Till I joined the Church i didnot know what Love is. The Church where i got saved and got baptized really taught me what Love is. They used to go to homes, and their homes were always open for other believers , you can go and eat anytime.  I have never witnessed such love even in relatives.

1 John 2: 9,10
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:15 says
 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.


Also, how do you know you are a child of God.
1 John 3:10
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother


Unity is revealed by Love in action. by considering others.
Love cannot expressed in words. It should be in action.
if we know that others are in need in Church, then if we say, 
ohh I pity.  The same dialogue can be said by even an unbeliever.
what use it is.
But if you act and help then the love of God abides in him.
We are all good givers in Church. But You may not be knowing that we have people in Church who are in need.
That is why Pastor announce charity, but with an exception of few not many give.


1 John 3:16
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

We all know that God so loved this world, He gave His only begotten Son.
We can tell this verse even in our sleep. but Apostle John says. 1 John 4:11
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

If we cannot love the brother who I see how can we love God who is not seen.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can[c] he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Prince who always wants to be first.

Unity comes through Sacrifice: 
To achieve that unity/oneness in Church, sometimes there might require a sacrifice.
If we see Moses. choose to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin.
If you are man or woman blessed with surplus, like Moses you can say even if i have to give up some luxury thats okay but i will share with believers.

24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in[e] Egypt; for he looked to the reward

Standing up for other believers.
Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh wanted to live on the east side of Jordan.
But Moses opposed to this idea.
Numbers 32:1-5, v6, v16.

Joshua 22: 1-4. 
You stood up for your brothers , now go and rest.
You cannot be in rest until you stand up for brothers.


Associate with humble.
There might humble and lowly  people in Church.
Some might not have money. Some might not be healthy. Some might be going through some issues in their life. So have same mind and be approachable to others.

Romans 12:16 - 
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Divisions

Mouth:
Most of the time divisions come in Church because of our mouth.
Numbers 16: v 3 says
 They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”

God assigns responsibilities to everyone. But becoming jealous of what others do is big danger step.
Sons of Korah became jealous of Moses and Aaron and started confronting Moses with their mouth.
Then V 23, and 31.  Sons of Korah were swallowed by earth.
How dangerous it is to be jealous of other brothers, even if they are younger.

Let us leave this carnal mind. But let us have unity in the Church.

Considering given work important.
Numbers 16:8 - Divisions come when we are not satisfied with the work God has given you. For sons of korah they have to do the tabernacle work, but they wanted priesthood. they thought tabernacle work is too small for them. they wanted more prominence. and so they cause division in Church. For one person's selfish motives see how many people got destroyed in V35.

1 Corinthians 3:3
for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?


Good and Pleasant it is.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!

Psalm 45

the excellency of the song (v. 1). The psalm speaks, I. Of the royal bridegroom, who is Christ. 1. 
The transcendent excellency of his person (v. 2). 

2. The glory of his victories (v. 3-5). 
3. The righteousness of his government (v. 6, 7). 
4. The splendour of his court (v. 8, 9). II. Of the royal bride, which is the church. 1. Her consent gained (v. 10, 11). 2. The nuptials solemnized (v. 12-15). 3. The issue of this marriage (v. 16, 17).

V1 - My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Ready Writer is a skilled writer, 
The Poets always have a pen to put down everything that flows from their heart and records it.
A ready writer is someone who  records everything that flows from their heart.
And for such ready writer's pen is always busy. It never stops.
Because ready writers hand is always ready to put it down.
Psalmist says his tongue is like the pen of ready writer for the King.
that means his tongue is ready enough to sing praises for the King of Kings.
his tongue is not ready for speaking bad about others, not about all negativity of the world.
But for the King, the tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.

. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb 13:15) 

V2.

These verses talk about the excellencies of Christ. 

In verse 1 psalmist said he will speak about the King and here he is speaking about the beauty of the Royal Bridegroom.

You are fairer than children of men.-  we many times look at great people in this world and just amazed at their beauty or skill or at their power. 

but if we truly understand the love if God these songs will come out of our mouth.

Lord you are beautiful than all that I see in this world.

His beauty exceed than any other beauty of this world, and we can realize that only when we are in love with him. our beloved is more than any other beloved.

You, He is creator of all the beauty in this world. How beautiful He will be.

Grace is poured upon Your lips.

Lord Jesus lips - Grace is one thing thats on the lips of Lord Jesus.

While He walked on this earth - His lips spoke of grace during ministry, be it to the woman caught in adultery or be it on Cross. Only Grace.

Ephesians 4:29 says

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers

Let Only Grace come out of the mouth just as Grace came out of the mouth of the King.

Prayer

A praying man is more worth in sight of God than man with knowledge.

Some people pray like this.
a) When they get a problem - They will go and search scriptures, where such kind of problem happened and see how they pray and then do such kind of prayer .

suppose sickness, then they quickly go to Hezekiah's prayer 2 kings 20:3
Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.

b) some people pray without any basis of knowledge of Word of God. They keep praying hard and hard an hard. With out knowing what the scripture says how can we pray.


Then how should we pray.
Matthew 6:5-13.

First Lord Jesus teaches u how Not to pray and then teaches How we should pray.

First we will look at Don'ts

Hypocrites:  (V 5)
Pagans: (V 7)

Hypocrites
Characteristic of hypocrites while praying.
They love being seen by others , they love to be recognized for what they do. They want to become famous to people, so that people can say hey here is so and so a prayer warrior.

Some people when asked in Church to pray they can pray long long prayers. Sometimes people fall asleep during their prayers. But if they go to their secret closet they wont even get words to pray.

They got their reward in full from the people. So people have seen their eloquent words and how long they can pray, what beautiful language they can use.

V 6.

Go to secret place where others dont see and then pour your heart to God/

One thing to realize here is Hypocrites stand in street corners to be seen by men. 

But when you go to secret place you are praying to God who is Unseen.

There is a tendency in us that we want to be seen by somebody. 

V 6 . This is the character of God - that He sees what is done in secret and reward them.
He doesn't reward the people who do it publicly because they already got the reward from people when they appreciated them. But what is done in secret, people have not seen, and there is no reward from people, Now God steps in and sees what is done in secret and Rewards. How Great is God.
Gods ways are Higher than mans ways.

Hypocrisy is a character they Love to be seen to be recognized by people. and they Love it.
But God says - Do you Love to come to that secret place ?

Is Our faith walk built on a strong secret an intimate prayer life with God then its built on rock.
or is our faith walk is like hypocrites who just want to be seen.

When we have a strong secret prayer life, then people will see and recognize the fruit that comes out of it. they wont say hey here is praying man( because they don't whether you are praying or not), but they will say Hey, here is man in whom Gods power is revealed.

But a prayer warrior is not a person who is recognized and appreciated by people, but a prayer warrior is one who has a secret prayer life.

Pagans.
Characteristic of pagans while praying.
First who are pagans. - one who is a idol worshiper and is not a believer of True God.
We all know how people of different religions  pray in India.
They will have prayer books. They will have mantras which they can repeat in the whole day.
They keep repeating it and think that because they repeat so many times they can be hear by God.
They think that by Repetition of Dhyan for more number of days in  or repetition of prayers for long hours, they can get an answer from God.

Sadly, believers whose mind is not renewed also looks at the world and paganism and they do the same thing after becoming believers.

Pastor already touched on this yesterday, so I wont go into this.

But what is required here is Faith:
Declare who God is in your life.
if you are in need of finance - declare God is Jehovah Jireh who can provide. When you make a declaration of your faith what you are basically saying is that Yes I Know My God does not leave as a beggar but my God will provide for me.

It is the Knowledge of the Heavenly Father that helps us not be like pagans.
Do we have that knowledge of Heavenly Father that He is my Father who will not leave me to the streets and go and beg.

Then How should we pray.

you may say, so i cannot pray in public, and also i cannot repeat some words, then there is nothing left to pray.
This is how Lord Jesus tells us to pray.
v 9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven

Hallowed be Your Name.
Prayer should always be based on our knowledge of God.
when we pray we should know whom we are praying to, Who our God is.
and when you have knowledge of God the Father, then you will pray this prayer.

"Hallowed be Your Name" - that Lord Let your Name be Holy, Glorified, Seperated from other Names.
That we say He is the Almighty God.
When we pray to God , o we know that we are calling upon the Greatest Name in the universe.
that we should know that He is not on the top of the list of all other Gods. But He is distinct from all others. that He can not be compared. There is none like Him.
Malachi 1:1 says
Malachi 1:1 - "My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty"

When we understand that this very character of God.
And also the intense desire in our hearts that He is great and He must be glorified in my life.
let us check ourselves is God really glorified in and through my life.
or is Go just glorified on Sunday and rest of the week self glory.
If I am at my work place , is my God glorified in my work place.
In my family , is God glorified.

Even in my prayer request there is an intense desire that God Let Your Name be honored and glorified in this prayer request.

Moses seeing Name of God to be glorified.

Exodus 32:7

 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’

9 “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

God saying to Moses Your people whom you have bought.
When God Himself says Moses your people, whom you have bought.
then Moses could have thought my these whom i brought out of egypt they are disobedient. I am also descedant of Abraham,Issac,Jacob. So he could have agreed with what God has said.
But Moses know that they are not his people, they are Gods people.
He realised that it is God who brought the people, he realised he is just a tool in Gods hands.
and so He said see the reply in . 

1 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?

 Moses is replaying , Lord its not my people, but its Your People whom You brought out
Who can pray that Father Hallowed be Thy Name.

It is the people who dont boast or own up but always credits God and says it is God given, its Gods.
They are the people who relalize that it is Gods Name to be glorified.

Your Kingdom Come.
Your Will be done.


Romans 14:17 says
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
But God, Let Your Righteousness, Your Peace and Your Joy be revealed even in this prayer time or because of my prayer.

When we look at these words, we can understand what Lord Jesus and His Heart is.
His heart is full of Gods glory.

Church, do we understand what is it that is most important when we come to prayer.
Do we have the intense desire that God should be declared Holy in my life, that Gods kingdom of Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit should be revealed in my life.
Do we know that Gods will is the best to happen in my life.

How can we be not like hypocrites or pagans.
Renewal of your mind.
Not following the patterns of the world, but a renewal of mind. an understand mind that knows what the Heart of the Father God is and then pray accordingly.

Romans 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect

Let us begin  to think how God wants us how to think.