EDENVALE 14TH FEB 2008 BARRIERS TO REVIVAL |
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INTRODUCTION
In order to break up our unploughed ground (Jer 4:3), we need to identify the things that quench and block the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of our Church, and systematically begin to remove them. Before we can sow seeds of righteousness we need to remove the rocks and weeds of unrighteousness resulting from disobedience to God’s Word. The first one we will deal with is disunity among the members.
HOW ARE WE UNITED?
Spiritual unity
It is a unity of the Spirit. We belong to a family who have God’s Spirit living in us. We cannot create it, we possess it. We need to keep it. We are a brotherhood, not of man, but of Christ, of the Spirit. We share in one another in a mystical way. We are parts of one another, the Body of Christ, a living organism. When one rejoices we all rejoice, when one suffers we all suffer. We are connected to one another. Where the Spirit reigns there is unity…One Body; One Spirit; One Lord; One Faith; One Baptism; One God and Father of all.
WHAT CAUSES DISUNITY?
Starts within not without
James 4:1-3 Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you… Preoccupation with getting our “own way”. Selfishness.
Prov 6:16…sowing dissension among brothers
HOW DOES IT MANIFEST ITSELF?
Division in the Church (1Cor 1: 10-13)
Factions and party spirits…I follow Paul, I follow Apollos etc.
Jealousy and quarrelling.(1Cor 3: 1ff). Expressed in squabbling, fighting, quarrelling with one another. Paul calls them carnal, worldly, still dominated by worldly desires and ambitions.
Envy & Selfish ambition (Jam 3:16) there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Murmuring and complaining (Heb 3: 7-11)…called rebellion in the wilderness.
WHAT MUST WE DO?
If you have a grievance, go to the person. (Matt 18:15-17)
Accept people who are different. Unity different from Uniformity
Obey the Word (Jams 1:22)…Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says! (Matt 7:24-27)…wise and foolish builders…wise are those who put Christ’s words into practice.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- How common is disunity is in the Church?
- How seriously do you think it acts as a barrier to revival?
- What other things contribute to disunity?
- What other things are helpful in encouraging unity?
- Read Eph 4: 1-16 and comment on how we can keep the unity of the Spirit?