Faith In Jesus, Unites.
What is the only way to unite people?
Prophet Amos said that to walk together, two must agree.
Prophet Elijah asked Israel to pick a side, God or Baal.
Jesus said you have only one Master, either money or God.
The choices are before us every day.
Is the church divided? Then only faith can unite.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Keeping the doctrines taught enables unity by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The world is increasingly divided, with new labels going against the natural.
What about varying levels of faith in a church?
Encourage the weak to grow in faith. Instruct the strong to walk in humility. Speak the same language of faith, even if you have not grown to those standards. Warn the disobedient and correct those who are ignorant. Let all things be for the glory of God.
Faith is a fruit and not some inward reflective phenomenon.
Faith is the evidence of a life rooted and grounded in Christ. It reveals the state of the heart of a believer.
Every word and deed needs to come from God's word. The church remains divided because of the lack of knowledge and understanding concerning God's word. Faith comes by hearing the word of God and grows by applying it in practice.
How does it feel when faith unites us? King David says how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity. It is a pleasurable experience. Not the way we understand pleasure, a meagre fleshly one. But one where our hearts are full of joy and hope. The spirit is strengthened and looks forward to the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
There's enough supply of faith in God thanks to grace, time to apply and build one another in love.
Maranatha, Praise God, and Amen.