Holy Spirit Unity
There is a familiar motto, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’, which is attributed to the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop. This motto has appeared throughout history and has been used repeatedly in our American history. There are references even in scripture where Jesus says that, ‘And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand’. Mark 3:25 [Matthew 12:25, Luke 11:17]. So, the idea of a people group being sustained and strong through numbers is quiet old as it is also pictured in the triune nature of God Himself. He is one God in three persons, namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit [Matthew 28:19].
Throughout scripture God exhorts us to be united. Born again believers are to be united in number, in belief, in Spirit, in holiness, in God’s own image [Acts 1:14]. The whole of Psalm 133 is devoted to this idea of God’s people being united together.
Psalm 133
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.
In these three short verses God exhorts His children to unity by describing what unity is and looks like. Our purpose is an agreeable one of glorifying our Holy God [1 Corinthians 6:20]. This purpose is fostered by strife free love for God and one another [Matthew 22:37-39]. This unity is as pleasant and delightful as a sweet soft sound upon our ear. The mentioned unity is seen in the anointing oil which was poured on the priests to consecrate them for service to God. The anointing flowed over their whole being setting them apart from the world to sacredness to God. The desired unity is as fragrant and beautifully glistening as the morning dew upon the grass showing forth the favor and blessing of God.
In the New Testament the Body of Christ is exhorted to guard the unity of the Spirit [Ephesians 4:3]. We know from scripture that where the Spirit of God is there is order and peace [1 Corinthians 14:33], there is the character and image of God. His Spirit dwells in each born again believer [2 Corinthians 13:5] and provides order and peace, the character and image of God. The triune God we know, and worship is not divided, nor is His Spirit which we have. As born-again believers we have unity in and through the Holy Spirit. This unity we are to guard against the attacks of Satan [Ephesians 6:16], the attacks of the world [James 1:27], even the attacks of our own flesh [Romans 8:5-8].
We must exhort each other to holy living [Hebrews 3:13]. We must uphold the Spirit’s unity by humbling ourselves before God and each other [James 4:10]. In our obedience in this area, we will experience the favor and delightful blessings of our Heavenly Father [John 14:15].
Bro. Hugh Folds
Interim Pastor
Matthew 6:33
