Unity & Glory

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Unity & Glory

John 17:13-26

July 17, 2022 • Jeff Lyle • John 17:13–26, James 4:1–2

Jesus’ longest recorded prayer is found in John 17, and He had two main things about which He was praying to the Father. Jesus talked about the glory in the Godhead and the unity in the Body of Christ. From His words, we learn that He made those two things permanently intertwined. His glory will be more greatly manifested through our own growing unity in the Church. If unity is contaminated, His manifest glory is dimmed on earth. Over and over, the Scriptures magnify the need for Christians to pursue deeper oneness with each other. Because we are all very different, this is impossible to succeed at without the help of Holy Spirit. To grow in unity, we must deny ourselves, prefer others and move together in committed love and purpose. It all begins with a sobering awareness of what Jesus expects from all of His followers. That awareness leads to humility which leads to unity…which leads to His glory on earth.

In This Thing Together

July 24, 2022 • Jeff Lyle • Ephesians 4:1–6

The Holy Spirit is the grand unifier of the individuals who comprise the Body of Christ. He is the lone common denominator which all Christians share. We were created as distinct individuals, and are not called to lose that unique identity when we come to Christ. We have many things which could potentially separate us: geography, gender, age, race, spiritual gifting, philosophy, personalities, social class, economic status, particular preferences on certain elements of Christianity… and dozens more. We are all called, however, to submit our individuality to the supreme calling of oneness in Christ. The Holy Spirit is our bond who makes one Church out of many. It is He who teaches and empowers us to love as God loves. He does not destroy our individuality but, rather, perfects it as we discover our greatest use of who we are is in glorifying God by serving others. The Holy Spirit abolishes all things which we might allow to divide His people, and He binds us together in the supreme identifying mark that we all share: sons and daughters of God who are unified followers of Jesus Christ.