“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that as You parted, You brought about a change in the disciples that they were able to worship You with joy. They were also together in one accord. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 1:12-14 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. (13) And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. (14) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers
We have seen that after the Lord had parted from them, a change was already taking place in the disciples. We now see them continuing in one accord in prayer and supplication. This is a fundamental and core doctrine of the church – Continuing in one accord. Discord amongst us is the effect of sin. The devil has worked effectively amongst us and has told us that continuing in one accord, as the church, is not possible. We too have accepted his lie. Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. We see this matter of continuing in one accord as the church is repeatedly being mentioned. Acts 2:42, 46, 4:32, 5:12. We must remember that when we were created, the quality of oneness was built into us.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth”. God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, came together in unity and they created humanity in Their image. Oneness is not a quality that we need to draw from external resources because this is a built-in capacity. When we come to Christ, we are a new creation and we are being restored to the original image in which we were created. `II Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
The church has to therefore exercise this matter of continuing in one accord, as a priority. Philippians 2:1-2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, (2) fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. In coming to Christ, we are all so absorbed by His blessings for us individually, but we cannot stop there. We must move forward. What must be seen in us, as a non-negotiable criterion, is in being like-minded, having the same love and being of one accord.
An ‘I centred’ type of Christianity has been laid on us and we too consider fellowship in the body of Christ, more as a nice warm experience but not as a mandate. We have decided that oneness in the body of Christ, is wonderful but not possible. Philippians 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”. What Paul wanted to hear about the church in Philippi was that they were standing fast in one spirit, in one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel. Striving together for the faith of the Gospel. This is what will bring oneness to the church.
We have a common mission. The Gospel is of His kingdom, where we are in the habitat of God and we experience the Shalom of God. This is where man and creation must come. To come to the Gospel, man must come by faith. This is our prayer and supplication to God. We desire for people to come to the faith of the Gospel. The church is the bridge to bring people to the faith of the Gospel. This is our unifying factor. John 17:21-23 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (22) And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: (23) I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. The world must come to faith in Jesus, who is the Gospel. In Him, we live and move and have our being.
“Lord Jesus, we are to strive together for people to come to the Gospel of Your kingdom, by faith.”