Embracing Unity: A Call to Generational Faithfulness

Devotional

Day 1: The Cost of Unity

Unity within the body of Christ is a divine calling that requires believers to bear with one another and inherit the struggles of those they choose to stand with. This commitment is not about seeking popularity but about fearing God and valuing the unity of the Spirit. The decision to unite with others in faith means inheriting their struggles and adversaries, as illustrated by the example of standing with fellow believers like Mike Bickle. This commitment to unity is contrasted with the cultural obsession with popularity and the temptation to betray friends for personal gain, as seen in the biblical account of Peter's denial of Jesus. [10:41]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life where unity is challenging. How can you actively choose to bear with this person in love today, despite the cost?

Day 2: Recognizing Gifts in the Body

Each believer is a unique gift to the body of Christ, and their contributions are vital for the church's growth. It is essential to appreciate and learn from the experiences and wisdom of others, rather than distancing ourselves due to differences. Recognizing and valuing the gifts within the body of Christ is crucial for the growth and maturity of the church. This involves appreciating the unique contributions of each believer and learning from their experiences and wisdom. [17:05]

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (ESV): "But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."

Reflection: Identify someone in your church community whose gifts you have not fully appreciated. How can you encourage and support them in their unique contribution to the body of Christ today?

Day 3: Generational Responsibility

The older generation has a responsibility to invest in and protect the younger generation, preparing them for the challenges ahead. This involves a shift from self-centered pursuits to nurturing and empowering the next generation to live out their faith with integrity. The call to unity extends beyond personal relationships to a generational responsibility, urging the older generation to invest in and protect the younger generation, preparing them for the challenges ahead. [47:03]

Psalm 78:4-6 (ESV): "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children."

Reflection: Consider a young person in your life. What is one way you can invest in their spiritual growth and prepare them for future challenges this week?

Day 4: Embracing Differences

Unity does not mean uniformity. It involves embracing differences and recognizing the Spirit of God in others, even when their expressions of faith differ from our own. This requires humility and a willingness to bear with one another. The message highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing the gifts within the body of Christ, appreciating and learning from the experiences and wisdom of others, rather than distancing oneself due to differences or misunderstandings. [24:22]

Romans 14:19 (ESV): "So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you struggled to embrace someone’s differences in your faith community. How can you approach them with humility and a willingness to learn from their perspective today?

Day 5: Living for the Next Generation

The focus should be on building a community that reflects the love and power of God, rather than seeking individual glory. This involves setting an example of unity, humility, and sacrificial love for the next generation to follow. Ultimately, the message is a call to action for believers to embrace unity, recognize the gifts within the body, and commit to the mission of raising up a new generation of faithful followers of Christ. [53:23]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take to model unity and sacrificial love for the next generation in your community this week?

Sermon Summary

In this message, the focus is on the profound significance of unity within the body of Christ and the cost associated with it. Reflecting on personal experiences and biblical teachings, the emphasis is placed on the necessity of unity among believers, even when it comes with challenges and sacrifices. The narrative begins with a powerful recollection of a moment at a conference where the presence of God was tangibly felt, symbolized by rain, which serves as a metaphor for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the theme of unity.

Unity is not merely a feel-good concept but a divine mandate that requires bearing with one another and enduring the cost that comes with it. The decision to unite with others in the faith means inheriting their struggles and adversaries, as illustrated by the example of standing with fellow believers like Mike Bickle. This commitment to unity is contrasted with the cultural obsession with popularity and the temptation to betray friends for personal gain, as seen in the biblical account of Peter's denial of Jesus.

The message also highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing the gifts within the body of Christ. Each believer is a gift, and their unique contributions are essential for the growth and maturity of the church. The narrative underscores the need to appreciate and learn from the experiences and wisdom of others, rather than distancing oneself due to differences or misunderstandings.

Furthermore, the call to unity extends beyond personal relationships to a generational responsibility. The older generation is urged to invest in and protect the younger generation, preparing them for the challenges ahead. This involves a shift in focus from self-centered pursuits to nurturing and empowering the next generation to live out their faith with integrity and courage.

Ultimately, the message is a call to action for believers to embrace unity, recognize the gifts within the body, and commit to the mission of raising up a new generation of faithful followers of Christ. It is a reminder that the journey of faith is not about individual glory but about building a community that reflects the love and power of God.

Key Takeaways

1. centered pursuits to nurturing and empowering the next generation to live out their faith with integrity. [47:03]
4. Embracing Differences: Unity does not mean uniformity. It involves embracing differences and recognizing the Spirit of God in others, even when their expressions of faith differ from our own. This requires humility and a willingness to bear with one another.

5. Living for the Next Generation: The focus should be on building a community that reflects the love and power of God, rather than seeking individual glory. This involves setting an example of unity, humility, and sacrificial love for the next generation to follow.

** [47:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:34] - Prayer for Unity
[09:06] - Divine Moments and Miracles
[10:12] - Expecting More from God
[10:41] - The Cost of Unity
[12:23] - Popularity vs. Commitment
[14:06] - The Indwelling Spirit
[16:04] - Gifts to the Church
[18:07] - Valuing Experience and Wisdom
[22:09] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
[24:22] - Embracing Differences
[32:29] - The Reality of Unity
[39:05] - A Common Goal
[47:03] - Generational Responsibility
[53:23] - Living for the Next Generation

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Ephesians 4:1-16 say about the gifts given to the church and their purpose? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on recognizing gifts within the body of Christ? [16:04]
In John 14:15-17, what promise does Jesus make about the Holy Spirit, and how does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on the indwelling Spirit? [14:06]
How does the passage in Numbers 8:23-26 relate to the sermon’s call for the older generation to invest in the younger generation? [43:03]
What example from the sermon illustrates the cost of unity among believers? [12:04]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of unity in Ephesians 4 challenge the cultural obsession with popularity and individualism mentioned in the sermon? [12:39]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that recognizing and valuing the gifts within the body of Christ can lead to church growth and maturity? [17:05]
How does the sermon interpret the generational responsibility outlined in Numbers 8, and what implications does this have for the church today? [47:03]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between humility and unity, especially when embracing differences among believers? [24:22]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you experienced the cost of unity in your own life. How did you handle it, and what did you learn from that experience? [12:04]
Identify a gift or talent in someone within your church community that you have not fully appreciated. How can you encourage and support them in using their gift for the growth of the church? [17:05]
Consider the younger generation in your church or community. What specific actions can you take to invest in and protect them, as suggested by the sermon? [47:03]
Think about a relationship where differences have caused tension. How can you practice humility and embrace those differences to foster unity? [24:22]
How can you shift your focus from self-centered pursuits to nurturing the next generation, as the sermon encourages? What practical steps can you take this week? [51:45]
Reflect on the sermon’s call to live for the next generation. What changes can you make in your life to set an example of unity, humility, and sacrificial love? [53:23]
How can you actively participate in building a community that reflects the love and power of God, rather than seeking individual glory? What is one action you can take this week to contribute to this goal? [53:37]

Sermon Clips

"i've been thrilled about the unity of these streams coming together like we talked about and god blesses unity okay but i also want you to understand because i mean we can get all excited oh yeah we're one we're one we're one we're unified but there r there's a reason why it says bear with one another because you're eager to maintain the unity there's a reason why it says bear with one another because there is a cost to unity there is a cost to unity and i am not oblivious to the cost of unity" [00:10:21]

"the moment i decide i love mike bickle he is my brother in christ you know what happens at that moment everyone who hates mike bickle sees me affirming him and they turn their rage towards me so i understand the cost of friendship in this generation but i'm going to do it anyways that that's what this is about" [00:11:50]

"i don't want to miss out on 50 years of committed bible study and teaching that he's shown i don't want to miss out from all of his stories the lifetime of experiences and stories i've never seen anything like that i don't want to miss out on the fellowship with a guy whom the word of god was not just studied but he was implanted in his heart to the point where he sacrifices" [00:18:07]

"i get it there's differences but aren't you eager to maintain the unity i just met chris reed your gift in the prophetic and uh i feel like there's a there's a movie that when i think of you i think of this movie um that's uh it's it's it's not prophetic but it almost feels like it and it's about this wrestler" [00:20:06]

"i'm not saying i agree with everything with these guys okay but i'm going i'm not gonna let go of all of that then humble power of god i want him on my team i go i need you right why would you go well but but he yells oh yeah so i don't need you anymore let me distance because you yell really and i heard something about mike's okay" [00:24:40]

"i want to exhort you please please don't let me down don't let pride change you don't get cocky if god starts using you in greater ways because it it it it affects me too and everyone says oh see look you were partner with ken fish oh you were your advice with my taxes and look you guys don't do that okay because now you're hurting us" [00:35:10]

"i'm getting into it i'm getting my kids into it i'm preparing them for this i mean it's it's a shift in mindset which is what i wanted out of this we're headed into a serious war and i want to be together with you because you guys have loved me so well and loved my family so well and that's why i exhort you because i'm saying the same things to myself i don't want to let you down" [00:38:09]

"we have a common goal that ken is not out to lift up the name of ken eric is not here to lift up the name of eric mike is not here to lift up the name of mike and he's we're all together going gosh we're not even thinking about ourselves we're thinking about the next generation how can we come alongside of them how can we lift them up" [00:39:02]

"i realize whoa he says guard that was a word from the lord these are your children protect your children and god has been revealing to me this last month remember the word i spoke to you out of numbers eight in fact when i went home to the elders you know in san francisco of my church i go echo man when i read numbers eight god was clear to me i need to step down" [00:45:20]

"i'm seeing a generation that is seriously saying i'll go anywhere that was not my thinking as a teenager as a christian teenager and youth group i was not considering being sent but there's a generation right now and they're serious and so what are we going to do with our lives with what's left make more about ourselves buy stuff for ourselves or pour into the next generation" [00:53:01]

"i want my kids to grow up in a different kind of church than what i grew up in want to grow up in a church where people don't betray each other and slander each other and divide over every little thing i wanted them to grow up in a church and form churches where they could stand and they speak out against injustices in the world they don't just hide" [00:54:37]

"i've got these two candles these candles represent me and my son i love my son they represent me and my son and i know your initial thought is okay there's you and there's your son nope i'm the candle that's been burnt down to almost nothing i've lived my life what is the point of lighting me and putting this up on it you know some candlestick holder" [00:59:32]

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