Unity First!

"Unity is necessary for the outpouring of the Spirit of God."

A.W. Tozer, quoted from the sermon "Unity that Brings Revival"

While listening to a sermon delivered by Tozer online today, I was struck by the aforementioned quote.  Unity of the church is a topic that seems to keep popping up in my mind lately.  This morning in our church prayer meeting I was prompted to pray for unity.  In talking with a fellow follower of Christ this afternoon, unity was a topic emphasised over and over.  Unity is very important in the church, perhaps more important than we think!

In his message, Tozer says that people make the mistake of praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit so we might be united.  His claim is that prayer is in the wrong order:  God does not send His Spirit to unite us, but sends His Spirit when we are already united in Christ.  Tozer quotes Acts 4:31-33: "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. ³² Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all."  He claims, and I am in agreement, that these Christians were of one accord and one mind:  therefore they were filled and empowered by the Spirit to glorify God.

Think in relation to the natural operation of a human body.  The heart may have the power and force to pump blood swiftly though a leg or arm, but if limbs are severed from the body they are no longer connected to the source.  A gas heater might be plugged into a power point to operate the fan, but unless the heater is connected to the gas line there will be no heat.  For us to be filled with the Spirit as a body of believers, we need to be united together in Christ.  The body of Christ is one body made of many members with Christ as the head.  To paraphrase Tozer's thoughts, he says something to this effect (and I paraphrase):  "How will God revive this church?  The only way He'll do it is when there is among us a oneness, a determination to glorify the LORD alone.  We have as much of God as we want."

Jesus says in Matthew 18:19:  "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven."  There is power in unity.  What is the immediate context of this statement?  Right before this Jesus is explaining our duty to seek out those who have offended us for reconciliation.  Right after this statement Jesus explains our duty to forgive.  If we harbor offense, unforgiveness, bitterness, or judgments in our hearts, we cannot be united.  It is simply not possible.  We might both share a real love and desire to follow Christ in faith, we might agree on certain doctrines, but until we are willing to humble ourselves and obey God's command to forgive we are not abiding in Christ.  We are like a branch cut off from the Vine.  But if we seek Christ's glory in our unity, we will again have sweet fellowship with Him and one another!

Let us be united, brothers and sisters!  Family can be a messy business, but thank God we have a loving, gentle Father who seeks to restore!  You want the power of the Holy Spirit?  You know what you must do!

A Christian's Labour

How true it is:  unless the LORD builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.  The great fallacy is that if God is doing the building, men need not labour.  The deception is that somehow, someway, the house will be built without us.  God works in and through His people.  Each man is responsible to built his own house:  we are either building for God or someone else.  In His wisdom beyond our comprehension, God has chosen to use men to labour for His glory.  Certainly the angels appear from a human perspective more suited for such heavenly work than mere men!

I read yesterday about when David desired to bring the Ark of God into the city of David.  Since King Saul had killed the priests at Nob, no one had inquired of the LORD with the Ark (1 Chron. 13:3).  The Ark was placed on a new cart pulled by oxen amid celebrating people who sang and played instruments unto God.  As the procession moved along, the oxen stumbled and Uzza steadied the Ark with his hand.  Suddenly he was struck dead and the procession halted.  God's anger was kindled against Uzza because he had touched the Ark in disobedience to the Law, and David was displeased that such a joyous occasion ended in tragedy.  The Ark remained in the house of Obed-edom for three months and his house was richly blessed by God (1 Chron. 13:14).

How could this tragedy have been prevented?  The Ark was designed to be carried on poles by Levites, men chosen and sanctified for this role.  It was never intended to bump along a path pulled by oxen just as they would haul dung in a cart!  Carrying the Ark of God was a man's job, not just another thing for oxen to drag along.  This breach upon Uzza caused David to do research, prepare a place for the Ark to rest, and properly organize the priests and Levites.  In 1 Chronicles 15:12-13 David said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. ¹³ For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order."  How important it is to consult God in everything!  Only after consulting with God can a man know the proper order.  God works in us both to will and do His good pleasure.  This communication only comes through communion.  Reverence is the good fruit of divine revelation.

This story has a joyous ending!  1 Chronicles 15:25-26 reads, "So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. ²⁶ And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams."  It was men who bore the Ark, but it was God who helped them.  Unless men stood up and were sanctified to do the work of God, the Ark would have remained in the house of Obed-edom.  God did not want to bless a single house, but the whole nation.  Notice how God "helped the Levites."  The word "helped" in Hebrew means, "surround, protect, or aid."  God protected them as they walked according to God's design.  He aided them in providing them physical strength and courage to perform His will.  Labour comes at a cost, and seven bulls and rams did not come cheap.  A principle of sacrifice for God is it must cost us something.  Any work we do for God will involve commitment and sacrifice.  Our greatest sacrifice is nothing when compared to the reward for obedience.

The Ark of the Covenant at one time housed the 10 Commandments on two tables of stone, a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod which budded.  People still wonder what may have happened to the Ark.  Because the 1st Covenant of the Law has been superseded by the 2nd Covenant of Christ's blood, the Ark is only a relic.  It used to be that the Spirit of God dwelt between the cherubim over the mercy seat which was sprinkled with the blood of sacrifice.  Every born-again Christian is now the Temple of the Holy Spirit, having been sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ through faith.  Though we do not need to carry the Ark around on gilded poles, all Christians are tasked to carry the Gospel and the presence of God everywhere.  God doesn't simply want to bless our families or church groups:  we are to spread the words of life to all who are lost, to those outside our comfortable circles.  God has sanctified every follower of Christ to carry this message of salvation and peace.  It's not a job only for men or Levites:  it is a calling for every Christian both young and old.

How wonderful it is to know that God will help us when we carry the Good News to the world!  He will surround us with angels, protect us with His mighty right arm, and aid us in wisdom, understanding, and utterance.  We need not fear when we are on God's side.  Instead of bringing the threat of death, Christ brought the hope of life.  Let us be faithful imitators of Him!

Wages of Sin

"So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. ¹⁴ But he did not inquire of the LORD; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse."

1 Chronicles 10:13-14

Reading the Bible lately has been a testimony to the depth and wisdom of God's Word.  God has been faithful to teach me new things from familiar passages.  What joy comes from the knowledge and wisdom of God, that He brings newness from scriptures which have been in existence for thousands of years.  The Bible is distinct from all books written by men because it is the inspired Word of God which will endure forever.

I grew up in a church where the Bible was taught faithfully and raised by parents who read the scriptures daily.  For thirty years the Bible has been a close companion, but never closer to me than now.  And I am convinced I have more to learn from the scriptures than ever before!  The crazy, miraculous thing is that God still teaches me new things all the time.  This isn't because I'm special, have a level of spiritual maturity, a discerning mind, or have been trained:  it is because God is good and faithful to His promises.  He says, "Open your mouth wide and I will fill it."  Like a bird bringing food to her helpless young, God delivers the goods daily to hearts which hunger for it and will receive.

So as I read the 1 Chronicles passage today, I was struck again by fresh insight from the LORD.  As previously stated, I have always found King Saul fascinating.  How the humble become mighty and the mighty fall tragically amazes me.  The first part of Romans 6:23 explains the principle at work in the life of Saul:  "For the wages of sin is death..." Saul was unfaithful to God, did not keep God's Word, and consulted with a medium contrary to the Law.  He was the kind of man who wanted God to bail him out of a tough spot when it suited him, but had no desire to humble himself in submission.  Saul earned his own untimely death - even at his own hands - through his rebellion and unrepentant heart before God.  The wages of sin is death.

As I considered this indictment against Saul, I saw that verse 14 says Saul did not inquire of the LORD.  In fact, on the surface it might seem to contradict 1 Samuel 28:5-6:  "When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. ⁶ And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets."  When Saul was overwhelmed and afraid (because he trusted in himself!), then he sought the LORD.  Instead of repenting for his sin, Saul longed for some passive means of hearing from God.  He hoped for guidance while he slept through a dream or desired a prophet would come to him with a word from the LORD.  That word never came.  Some might even blame God for not responding when Saul attempted to inquire of the LORD.  Notice that Saul attempted to inquire of the LORD by Urim.  This leads us to consider a tragic event which made inquiring of the LORD by King Saul impossible.

Saul felt threatened by David who slew Goliath, the giant from Gath.  He considered David an enemy and sought to kill him on numerous occasions.  When David fled for his life he stopped at Nob to speak with Ahimelech, the chief priest.  Under the guise of a secret mission, David was able to procure a sword and bread.  Saul heard later from Doeg the Edomite, a man loyal to him and chief over his herds, that Ahimelech had helped David escape - albeit unknowingly.  Saul was enraged and condemned Ahimelech to death for this treason of helping David.  No one would move a muscle to carry out that wicked command.  So Saul commanded Doeg to slay the priests.  That day Doeg slew 85 priests.  He was far from done!  1 Samuel 22:19 explains further the destruction Saul allowed:  "Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys and sheep--with the edge of the sword."  Saul ordered the slaughter of all of the priests.  Only Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, was able to escape and sought refuge with David.  David had the capacity to inquire of the LORD through Ahimelech, but Saul had cut off his mediator to God!

Ironic, isn't it?  God had commanded Saul to exterminate the Amalekites and all their possessions because of their wickedness towards God and Israel.  Yet Saul disobeyed and chose to save the choicest of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and even King Agag (1 Sam. 15:9).  Everything that seemed good to him he saved alive, under the pretense of offering it to God as a sacrifice.  Saul rebelled from the command of God, and the consequence was that the kingdom was taken away and given to David and his seed.  Saul's zeal for God was overshadowed by his zeal for himself!  Feeling betrayed by the priests, Saul had them slaughtered.  He annihilated all the priests in Israel save Abiathar, and utterly destroyed Nob with the edge of the sword!  What Saul should have done he left undone, and Saul did wickedly as he never should have done!

The chief priest would use the Urim and Thummin carried in the breastplate of the ephod to inquire of the LORD.  He was the only one sanctified and anointed to stand in the gap and inquire on behalf of the king or the people.  Saul slaughtered anyone who could have fulfilled this role.  The fact that 1 Samuel 28:6 says "And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets" leads me to believe he attempted to inquire of the LORD himself.  In doing so he only added to his sin!  On one instance in 1 Samuel 13:12, Saul even offered a sacrifice which should only have been done by Samuel or a priest!  He had seen the ritual performed:  perhaps Saul thought God would regard and honor his attempt to inquire of the LORD.  But like Cain's sacrifice, it was unacceptable.

Thank God that there are two parts to Romans 6:23:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Jesus is our High Priest:  He did not offer the flesh of bulls or the blood of rams to atone for our sins, but allowed His own blood to be shed for our redemption.  Without Jesus as our Mediator, there is no salvation for us.  There was salvation available for the men who scourged Jesus, and there remained hope in Christ for the ones who drove the nails through His hands and feet.  If we confess our sins and repent, God is faithful and just to forgive us from all our iniquity.  Communion and fellowship can be restored if we will humble ourselves at the foot of the cross.  But he who tramples the blood of Christ underfoot robs himself of eternal life with Jesus.

Allow me to close with the comforting words of Ephesians 2:13-18:  "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Jonathan or Ishbosheth?

I think every reader of the Bible has wondered what is the point of reading chapters of genealogies like ones contained in Numbers and 1st Chronicles.  Should we actually trudge through every name?  Even these more audibly-daunting passages serve valuable purposes:  they prove the historical authenticity of the scripture, verify that Jesus Christ was a descendant of the line of David, and actually contain much spiritual insight.  As I read through a couple chapters of genealogies today, the LORD shed light on a profound truth.

One of the characters which intrigues me in scripture is that of King Saul, who hailed from the tribe of Benjamin.  1 Chronicles 8:33 reveals the lineage:  "Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal."  The Bible introduces us to Saul as a young, humble man.  Though tall in stature, he remained small in his own eyes - that is, until he had been king of Israel for a few years.  God had given him a new heart, but Saul later rebelled against the commands of God.  Saul had four sons:  Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal - also known as Ishbosheth.  King Saul's reign ended with him seeking the advice of a medium and committing suicide during a battle with the Philistines.  All save his youngest son died with him on Gilboa.

Most are familiar with Jonathan, an honorable man whom was close friends with David.  After the death of Saul, Ishbosheth reigned for two years before he was slain by traitorous servants.  It has been said that children are often a reflection of their parents, if not the image!  As I read the 1 Chronicles passage quoted above this morning, the name Esh-Baal caught my eye:  I could not recall one of Saul's sons having this name!  But as I studied further, I found the downward spiral of Saul was revealed even in the names of his children!  Consider the meaning of the names of Saul's sons:

• Jonathan:  gift of Yahweh (God)
• Malchishua:  king of wealth
• Abinadab:  father of generosity
• Esh-Baal:  son of Baal (later known as Ishbosheth:  man of shame)

It is an amazing, tragic progression!  Saul was grateful to God for giving him the kingdom at first.  Later he became focused on amassing the best Israel had to offer:  the best food, chefs, menservants, maidservants, warriors, and even weapons.  There was a time when Saul and Jonathan owned the only swords in Israel!  Saul was lifted up with pride, considering himself benevolent and generous.  But then he turned his back on God, even naming one of his sons after the false deities of the heathen Canaanites!  The Philistine archers wounded Saul on the battlefield.  Fearing abuse at their hands, he fell on his own sword and died.

As a ruler in Israel, Esh-Baal was known as Ishbosheth:  man of shame.  How shameful it was that the son of the king of Israel was named after a false heathen god!  In the two years of Ishbosheth's reign, he lost the allegiance of the tribe of Judah, and after the death of his general 2 Samuel 4:1 says "...his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled."  It would not be long before his short, weak reign would end with him stabbed and beheaded while he slept in the heat of the day.

We are born into shame as slaves of sin.  We all have the choice whether we will be a son of righteousness that trusts in God or a son a shame.  God does more than change our name when we repent and trust in Christ:  He gives us a new heart and His own nature!  Will I be a Jonathan who charged up a mountain with his armour bearer, strengthened by faith in God - or be a feeble, troubled, sleepy kind of Christian?  Will I pick up the Sword of the Spirit and put it to proper use or drowse among soft pillows without armor?  We have all slept long enough, dear ones.  It is day at the present, but night is coming when no one can work.  Let us pray according to Matthew 9:38:  "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."  If you pray this prayer, you are praying for yourself first!