United We Stand

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” —Psalm 133:1

Many of you probably remember the famous line from John “Hannibal” Smith of the A-Team, “I love it when a plan comes together.” I would agree but might add, “I love it when Christians come together around God’s will and vision for the Church.” At Oakland, I am having the awesome privilege of working with many believers coming together around a vision and common ministry. This past week, some of their unified, cooperative labors of several months have born fruit. It’s beautiful to behold.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). After Jesus left 120 followers behind and ascended to heaven, the early church waited for the outpouring of power in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1 tells us, When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” (NIV1984) The phrase “were all together” definitely tells us they were physically together in the same place, but they were also unified in will and spirit. From the New King James Version, Acts 2:1 reads, “They were all with one accord in one place.” Can you remember a time when your family, your church, or a group of people were all in one accord in one place?

When Christians come together around a common goal under the direction of the Holy Spirit, God’s blessing and power are bestowed upon them. Scripture tells us, “I can do everything through him [Jesus Christ] who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13). Add the power of the Holy Spirit and unity, and there should be no stopping Christians or the Church. Jesus did say, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).

 Why, then, do so many Christians feel weak and defeated? One simple explanation is that we are not united in doing God’s Will. We are often at odds with our family and fellow Christians. When accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons, Jesus replied with an eternal truth. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and a house divided can not stand (Mark 3:24-25). If we are divided as a family, as a Church, and, I might add, as a nation, we cannot stand.

As we draw closer to another election, our divisions and lack of unity become plainly clear. It is no wonder we face so many challenges as a country and culture. We are not united, “one nation,” and we are definitely not united “under God.” We seek our own personal agendas—the Bible calls willful disobedience and selfishness, “sin.” We seek re-election and our party’s agenda before the good of the nation and what is good and righteous in God’s eyes.

If all Christian’s in America would be together in one accord, we may be stopped or stymied politically, but we could never be stopped spiritually. Jesus told the disciples to “Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). They waited together in one accord and were baptized with power and God’s Spirit. They left the Upper Room and converted the world. Let us humble ourselves under God’s will, be reconciled to our brother or sister, strand united for Jesus Christ, and transform the world.