ONE SPIRIT (One Holy Spirit): The same Spirit that lives in me also lives in every other believer. It is this experience that gives us a sense of belonging to one another and provides us with the central energy of this unity. Therefore, there is no need for any of us to make unity happen; rather, we only need to permit the Holy Spirit to make visible through us that harmony which already exists.

ONE LORD: As Christ is not divided --we are already ONE. Like we’ve said, everything else Jesus has done for us is already complete - we have already been reconciled in one Body to God through the cross (Ephesians 2:16; John 19:30).

ONE FAITH: Ephesians 4:13 says that we will come together in the unity of the faith – not the unity of our doctrine. Paul urged, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a SPIRIT OF UNITY among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 15:5-6). The spirit of unity causes our lives to properly align; it causes our mouths to glorify our Lord.

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought" (1 Cor. 1:10). That means that if we really want to practice the art of oneness, then we must be willing to re-examine our reactions, our man-made schemes, and our traditions.

ONE BAPTISM: “We were (past tense) all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - " (1 Corinthians 12:13). For we WERE (already) all baptized by one spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one spirit to drink (vs. 13). Let us ask ourselves if we are really baptized into His body? Are we ONE? (The answer is yes!)

 WHAT HAPPENS?
Let’s conclude this study with Paul’s exhortation to the Philippian church concerning the unity that produces JOY (2:1-4). The CONSEQUENSE of unity -- is joy. Paul exhorted them to outdo one another in this regard - "in honor giving preference to one another" - Ro 12:10b. “ Make my JOY complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose," (Phil. 2:2-3).

WHAT’S NEXT?

As mature “sons,” we become "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." This is the place where we stop trying to “act” like a church or “have” church, but where we BECOME the church. One thing is certain: there must be a human commitment to reverence a God Who cannot be divided. Knowledge of our unity becoming LIKE THAT-- is a step toward our complete realization of wholeness.

1) Many hierarchical and STRUCTURALLY focused churches will weaken as believers become unified around greater RELATIONAL truths.

2). Dead religion will be abandoned for LIFE giving truths.

3). A more extensive scope (full counsel) of the intentions and implications of the timeless truths of the Word will be presented.

4). Believers will be released to do the work of ministry. Miracles will profoundly increase.

5). The church will be world-conscious rather than nationally biased.

6). Music lyrics and style will focus around the Lordship of Jesus and not totally polarized around ethnic style and meaningless person-centered lyrics.

7). Pulpit messages will change from the needs of the believer to the CAPITAL concerns of God.

8). The government of the church will return to the plurality of elders and 5 fold teams (Acts 11:1, 13:1, 15:22, 20:17, Titus 1:5).

9). Compassion will rise up for the underprivileged and responding solutions will spring forth.

10). Secularization will not be known; equality will be the norm.

11). The influences and consequences of redemption, restoration, and reconciliation upon the believer will be visible.

12). Spiritual strategies will invade and influence the world.

This arising group recaptures that spirit of spontaneous accord, awe, and teamwork that characterized the first century church. Whole cultures will be impacted by their unification. Nations will be born in a day.

You and I are alive for this day and this hour. Be Ready! Enter in. Unity enables me to join with you NOW. We are all literally part of God’s holy family, brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s time to highly value this relationship -- and not treat it lightly. “Above all things,” we must love each other with a white hot love (1 Pet. 4:8).

Through us, unity allows the world to KNOW that Jesus is the truth. He’s the CAPITOL ONE.

---