In Jesus Christ we are unified.
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| Unity in Jesus is not a delicate flower - more of a resounding power |
I understand unity founded in Jesus as an eternal reality. Through the Cross,
Resurrection and Ascension Jesus forever established a family in his NAME.
In him all things will find their unity ....eventually.
"...making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:9-10
The church is ONE universal family of members who confess Jesus Christ and follow him.
Diverse in every way, the Family of God covers the globe. We are One in the One Spirit, One Lord, One Faith, One baptism. This may not be the people we see in church but in large part they are.We are in unity because of the reality of Jesus' work on the Cross, in the Resurrection and as the Ascended High Priest of the heavenly Temple.
The unity of Christ is kept by us, not created by us.
"...with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3
I have always understood that to mean the unity is established in Jesus and we work with the Holy Spirit to keep it and uphold it to the standard of Jesus' NAME.
So, unity is a baseline that is ours in Jesus Christ. As the Kingdom of God expands and grows in the world it takes on living expression in the lives of the Saints. We keep the unity.
But are we agreed?
Agreement is different. Agreement is a more localized aspect of the reality of our Unity in Jesus. Agreement relates to more specific approaches to ministry and expressions of the Kingdom of God.
a·gree·ment
əˈɡrēmənt/
noun
1. harmony or accordance in opinion or feeling; a position or result of agreeing.
"the governments failed to reach agreement"
synonyms: accord, concurrence, consensus; More
2. a negotiated and typically legally binding arrangement between parties as to a course of action.
plural noun: agreements
"a trade agreement"
3. the absence of incompatibility between two things; consistency.
"agreement between experimental observations and theory"
synonyms: correspondence, consistency, compatibility, accord; More
Agreement is critical for power in a local fellowship.
In a local family of God agreement is essential. At the heart of things agreement is affirmation of the work of Jesus in unity and the grace imparted to us by Jesus in our divine assignment. (I Cor 12:7; Ephesians 4:11-13)
Two or three joining together in agreement can bring dramatic change and power to the expression of the Kingdom of God in a given area and among a given people.Division or the lack of a solid center of agreement makes for an environment the Spirit is apt to exit. Real love in Jesus exudes in and from an agreed upon family core. Honor and grace are freely given and freedom flows when people come together in agreement. 1) with Jesus and his presence revealed in love 2) with each other in unity and the grace assignments of the family 3) with the particular family in their ministry values and divine directives.
Matthew 18:19
ESV /
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything
they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
The church, at her core, is a family of agreement and unity. Solid and deeply dependable is a people who by faith trust Jesus for breakthrough wisdom and by faith exercise prayer and "going" action together. That is action in the commands of Christ and the metron of the church and it's leaders. Agreement is at the core of unified prevailing prayer. Definitely at the center of our agreement is the work of Jesus in the Cross, Resurrection and Ascension and his King of Kings authority. A local church family cannot function outside of unity and agreement. It is unified with all the other local families in the Lord Jesus and called to deep agreement and love within their own family. Unity, agreement and love are the prophetic testimony of Jesus (Rev 19:10) the church presents to principalities and powers of their coming demise.
"...so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places." Ephesians 3:10
Agreement is fundamental for answered prayer, breakthrough and continuous spiritual blessings.
It seems today that the church at large has no real understanding of the power of prayer. Yes, today there is more prayer happening around the globe than is remembered, yet I still see large churches with very limited participation in prayer.
We recognize devotional prayer, but do not have a compelling corporate prayer vision. Yes. there are some exceptional ministries of prayer, but the average church, prayer house, is not well attended. But take heart. It only takes a few to get the fire going. Two or three to be exact. When we mix agreement into that unified prevailing prayer, agreement in the expressions of ministry in word and Spirit, an explosion is sure to be on the way.
For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 13But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.…2 Cor 10:12-13
Agreement is essential for leadership teams of local fellowship and ministries.
So, I am lamenting. After four years of church planting, seeing awesome things and growing and developing the church as a house of prayer, our feet may be slipping from the heights and our agreement wavering. Our fellowship is in a refining and distilling process. We are at the point of knowing what we have done and who we've been and deciding with the Lord's leading what the deep and grace filled callings of the fellowship are in the city. As a church planter I've seen this process and frankly it is necessary. It is a natural process in growing up into the Lord and into a more powerful and power filled family. Clear agreement in core identity and assignment are critical for a family to thrive and prosper in following Jesus. Agreement in ministry values, approaches and with the leader direction is critical and key to walking in righteousness, peace and joy. Obedience is at the core of our offering. The process comes along in the life of a church plant when those members come to the deepest agreement about what the Lord desired their particular family to witness to and live out in their city.
Paul calls that his metron (I Cor 10:12-14). It is the measure of grace given to us by Jesus, the capacity and calling of that grace and the obedience and faith we are called to exercise in fulfilling it. Calling and election, make them sure. Our metron is the package of calling, election and the grace deposit from the Lord Jesus that requires our zeal, devotion and obedient application of faith to fulfill. It has boundaries and empowerment. It sustains us and is activated in faith. Agreement in the family metron is powerful. Mixed with prayer, faith and two or three, city atmosphere's can be changed. Waves of salvation and revival can be
It is a challenging thing to take a group of people through the fires of pruning and reflection and back out into the power of the Spirit and united prevailing prayer. Gaining deep agreement founded on unity and demonstrated in word and Spirit, is a clear challenge. Yet, it is a task in which we are empowered in Jesus to carry out in power, love and the fuel of grace. Most people don't have the perseverance to walk through all the steps. There are many moments of total trust required. But when the family of God captures the vision for perfect love with the Father and unity and agreement with the family in deep abiding love, the enemies camp shakes. The ground moves underneath them.
I have witnessed on to many occasions the power of prayer, agreement, unity and love mixed in with the Spirit's leading.
Acts 13 paints a picture of the Saints abiding in the presence of God in deep agreement. Fasting and praying with worship they waited for the Lord (Ps 27:14). The nature of the reference sounds like this was their normal practice. Waiting, worshiping, fasting and praying together. From that deep agreement and abiding Paul and Barnabas were called out by the Spirit and set apart for the "work for which I have called them." This work was now ready and they were ready to walk into it through the Spirit's directive. Their agreement and love didn't end with the prophetic word. They continue in fasting and prayer and then lay hands and send them off. Beautiful. Out of the presence of God and deep agreement the gentile mission goes forth in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Abiding in the presence in agreement allows for the Spirit to reveal turning points.
In our region prayer is catching fire. So many are joining into the stream of unified prevailing prayer. There is day and night prayer each week and prayer crosses all denominational lines. The Lord is meeting all of us with his amazing love and grace, speaking and doing wonders. Agreement is the icing on the cake of unity. So much can happen as we agree together in prayer. Abiding in division produces the opposite. It sucks the life out of zeal, faith and obedience. We are called to zeal and to serve the Lord with passion and devotion. The local family is called to express and live in the unity of Jesus and to agree together so that the power of unified prevailing prayer can inform a whole people in the ways and breakthroughs of God.
2016
Transfiguration!
Look forward, eyes filled with Abundance, Boundless, Victorious vision in Jesus.
Get a copy of my Prophetic Review 2016 - Salvation's Mountain Erupting with Open Doors, Shifts and Invitation.Encouragement, focus, wisdom and insight into the prophetic seasons of the new year.
www.jeffreynoldsministries.com
Thanks for Reading!
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Here are some other blogs posts that may interest you.
1.http://jeffreynoldsonedesire.blogspot.com/2015/01/7-things-enemy-devil-doesnt-want-you-to.html
With much love in Jesus
You can do this thing! He's got you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
Brother Jeff
www.jeffreynoldsministies.com
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