Preserving the Divine Unity of the Spirit

Devotional

Day 1: Unity as a Divine Gift

The unity of the Spirit is a profound divine gift, not a human creation. It is established by the Holy Spirit, who dwells within all believers, binding them together in a unity that transcends human divisions. This unity is a reality that we are called to preserve with eagerness, reflecting the worthiness of our calling. The Spirit is the common denominator among all believers, creating a bond that is not based on human effort but on the Spirit's work within us. This unity is a testament to the Spirit's presence and power, and it is our responsibility to maintain it with diligence and love. [02:42]

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in preserving the unity of the Spirit in your community today?

Day 2: The Virtues of Unity

The virtues of lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, and love are foundational to maintaining unity among believers. These traits align with the nature of our calling in Christ and are essential for walking worthily of that calling. They reflect the character of Christ and are empowered by the Spirit within us. By embodying these virtues, we contribute to the preservation of the unity of the Spirit, demonstrating the transformative power of the Spirit in our lives. [01:30]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Which of these virtues do you find most challenging to embody, and how can you seek the Spirit's help to grow in this area today?

Day 3: The Spirit's Empowering Work

The Spirit empowers us to live out the unity of the Spirit through the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. These are not merely moral virtues but the Spirit's work within us, enabling us to maintain the unity that Christ has purchased for us. By allowing the Spirit to cultivate these traits in our lives, we foster unity among believers and reflect the Spirit's transformative power. [09:18]

Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

Reflection: In what ways can you allow the Spirit to cultivate these fruits in your life today, particularly in your interactions with others?

Day 4: The Infinite Cost of Unity

The cost of our unity is infinite, paid for by the blood of Christ. It is through His sacrifice that we are brought into unity with God and with each other. This unity is a precious gift, and our eagerness to maintain it reflects the immeasurable value of our calling. Recognizing the immense price that was paid to establish this unity should inspire us to be zealous in preserving it, as a reflection of our gratitude and love for what Christ has done. [12:32]

1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV): "Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

Reflection: How does understanding the cost of your unity with God and others change the way you approach relationships within your community?

Day 5: Walking Worthily of Our Calling

Walking worthily of our calling means being zealous to preserve the unity of the Spirit. This eagerness is a mark of our understanding of the infinite cost of our unity and the immeasurable value of our calling in Christ. It is a reflection of our gratitude and love for what Christ has done. By being intentional in our efforts to maintain unity, we honor the sacrifice of Christ and demonstrate the transformative power of the Spirit in our lives. [13:18]

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV): "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 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: What specific steps can you take today to walk worthily of your calling and actively contribute to the unity of your community?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of Ephesians 4:1-6, we delve into the profound call to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This unity is not something we create; it is a divine gift, established by the Holy Spirit. Our task is to preserve it with eagerness, reflecting the worthiness of our calling. The passage begins with an exhortation to walk worthily of our calling, characterized by lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, and love. These virtues are foundational to maintaining unity, as they align with the nature of our calling in Christ.

The unity of the Spirit is multifaceted. It is created by the Spirit, consisting in the Spirit, and preserved by the Spirit. This unity is not a human construct but a divine reality, brought into existence by the Spirit's work. The Spirit is the common denominator among all believers, dwelling within us and constituting the church as a dwelling place for God. This indwelling presence of the Spirit is what binds us together, transcending all human divisions.

Moreover, the Spirit empowers us to live out this unity. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control—are the very traits that foster unity among believers. These are not merely moral virtues but the Spirit's work within us, enabling us to maintain the unity that Christ has purchased for us.

The cost of this unity is infinite, paid for by the blood of Christ. It is through His sacrifice that we are brought into unity with God and with each other. This unity is a precious gift, and our eagerness to maintain it reflects the immeasurable value of our calling. Walking worthily of our calling means being zealous to preserve this unity, recognizing the immense price that was paid to establish it.

Key Takeaways

1. The unity of the Spirit is a divine gift, not a human creation. It is established by the Holy Spirit, who is the common denominator among all believers, dwelling within us and binding us together. This unity transcends human divisions and is a profound reality that we are called to preserve. [02:42]
2. The virtues of lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, and love are foundational to maintaining unity. These traits align with the nature of our calling in Christ and are essential for walking worthily of that calling. They reflect the character of Christ and are empowered by the Spirit within us. [01:30]
3. The Spirit empowers us to live out the unity of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control—are the traits that foster unity among believers. These are not merely moral virtues but the Spirit's work within us. [09:18]
4. The cost of our unity is infinite, paid for by the blood of Christ. It is through His sacrifice that we are brought into unity with God and with each other. This unity is a precious gift, and our eagerness to maintain it reflects the immeasurable value of our calling. [12:32]
5. Walking worthily of our calling means being zealous to preserve the unity of the Spirit. This eagerness is a mark of our understanding of the infinite cost of our unity and the immeasurable value of our calling in Christ. It is a reflection of our gratitude and love for what Christ has done. [13:18]
** [13:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Introduction to Ephesians 4:1-6
[00:49] - Walking Worthily of Our Calling
[01:30] - The Virtues of Unity
[02:10] - Understanding the Unity of the Spirit
[03:00] - Unity Created by the Spirit
[04:20] - The Spirit as the Common Denominator
[05:09] - The Spirit's Role in Our Union with Christ
[06:38] - The Life-Giving Work of the Spirit
[07:34] - Unity Consisting in the Spirit
[08:06] - The Spirit as God's Presence in Us
[09:18] - The Spirit's Empowering Work
[10:12] - Walking in Accordance with Our Calling
[11:03] - The Infinite Cost of Our Unity
[12:32] - Reconciliation Through the Cross
[13:18] - The Eagerness to Maintain Unity

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Ephesians 4:1-6

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:1-6
- 1 Corinthians 12:13
- Galatians 5:22-23

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Observation Questions:

What are the virtues mentioned in Ephesians 4:1-2 that are foundational to maintaining unity? How do these virtues align with the nature of our calling in Christ? [00:33]
According to the sermon, what does it mean to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"? How is this unity described as a divine gift rather than a human creation? [02:27]
How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in creating and preserving the unity among believers? [03:47]
What is the significance of the "infinite cost" mentioned in the sermon, and how does it relate to our unity with God and each other? [11:31]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the presence of the Holy Spirit within believers serve as a common denominator that transcends human divisions? What implications does this have for the church today? [08:20]
In what ways do the virtues of lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, and love reflect the character of Christ, and how are they empowered by the Spirit within us? [01:30]
The sermon mentions that the Spirit empowers us to live out the unity of the Spirit. How does the fruit of the Spirit contribute to fostering unity among believers? [09:18]
Why is it important to recognize the "immeasurable value" of our calling in Christ, and how does this understanding influence our eagerness to maintain unity? [13:18]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent situation where you struggled to maintain unity with others. How can the virtues of lowliness and meekness help you approach similar situations differently in the future? [01:30]
Identify a specific area in your life where you can actively work to preserve the unity of the Spirit. What practical steps can you take this week to foster peace and unity in that area? [02:27]
Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your daily life. How can you become more aware of the Spirit's presence and work within you to promote unity with others? [03:47]
The sermon emphasizes the infinite cost of our unity, paid for by the blood of Christ. How does this understanding impact your relationships with fellow believers, and how can it motivate you to pursue reconciliation where needed? [11:31]
Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this month. What specific action could you take to cultivate it as part of your interactions with your family or community? [09:18]
Reflect on a person in your life who challenges your patience. What is a short prayer you can say before the next time you interact with that person to help you respond with love and patience? [09:31]
How can you demonstrate eagerness to maintain unity in your church or small group? What specific actions can you take to encourage others to value and preserve this unity? [13:18]

Sermon Clips

"I therefore a prisoner in the Lord urge you to walk worthily of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness with long suffering enduring one another in love, being eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." [00:20:56]

"Maintain means we don't create this unity right we can all see that keep is another word for this, be eager to keep or maintain something that exists profoundly exists created by God not us, so be sure you don't read that to mean you got to muster this up and bring about the reality that doesn't exist." [00:140:84]

"The spirit is the one who creates the very possibility that there is a church, that there is any connection to Christ and the Father at all. Here it is confirmed in first Corinthians 12:13 in one spirit we have all been baptized into one body so we get into the body of Christ by the spirit." [00:269:60]

"If we belong to Christ if we are in Christ, it is owing to the spirit of Christ working that reality. Here it is perhaps even most clearly in first Corinthians 12:3, I want you to understand that no one speaking by the spirit of God ever says Jesus is accursed, and no one can say and mean it, can say authentically, in reality, Jesus is Lord except by the spirit or in the spirit." [00:333:28]

"God the spirit constitutes the church as a place for God, which means that God inhabits his people by the spirit, which means the spirit is the most important common denominator of all Christians in the universe. He is God, very God a very God, and when God dwells with his people in his people it is by the spirit." [00:480:80]

"The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace patience or longsuffering as you've seen kindness goodness faithfulness meekness as we've seen self-control in other words the very features the very traits that are required for unity are the work of the spirit." [00:566:95]

"Walking worthily of our calling means walking in the way that fits with accords with conforms to the worth and the beauty and the importance and the greatness of this calling and Paul is saying if you are walking that way what will mark you is this eagerness, you will not be indifferent to this unity." [00:610:72]

"The cost of the calling out of death into life into unity with other believers across all ethnicities and with God was infinite in Christ, you who once were far off have been brought near into unity with Jew and Gentile and the Father by the blood of Christ, that is priceless." [00:678:00]

"Christ is our peace just like the spirit is our peace only in a different way Christ purchased the peace became the peace as we're united with him by the spirit who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall his flesh had to be torn and the blood had to flow out of it as he suffered in order to create this the cost is priceless." [00:718:39]

"The reason eagerness to keep and maintain this unity is fitting is because this call out of death into life into forgiveness into a hope that cannot be measured because all that is so valuable the cost is infinite we will be eager to keep the unity because the cost of the unity was infinite." [00:783:04]

"The unity of the Spirit is a divine gift, not a human creation. It is established by the Holy Spirit, who is the common denominator among all believers, dwelling within us and binding us together. This unity transcends human divisions and is a profound reality that we are called to preserve." [00:144:00]

"The virtues of lowliness, meekness, long-suffering, and love are foundational to maintaining unity. These traits align with the nature of our calling in Christ and are essential for walking worthily of that calling. They reflect the character of Christ and are empowered by the Spirit within us." [00:31:19]

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Preserving the Divine Unity of the Spirit

Devotional

Day 1: Unity as a Divine Gift

Day 2: The Virtues of Unity

Day 3: The Spirit's Empowering Work

Day 4: The Infinite Cost of Unity

Day 5: Walking Worthily of Our Calling

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Preserving the Divine Unity of the Spirit

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