The common thread running through the hearts of many in the body of Christ—myself included—has to do with recognizing the greatest force we possess: LOVE.
When you were born again, you were born into love, and the love nature of Jesus is living in you. This love nature grows and develops as you give it control and proper attention.
It is so easy to lose sight of the importance of love. The enemy has all kinds of ways to deceive people, thus causing them to operate outside of their love nature. His strategy is to break unity in the body of Christ.
Recognize too that unity is not just for the local church and body of Christ at large. Unity affects every aspect of life—your family, marriage, church, business, etc.
When I was pastoring, our church saw some remarkable miracles—healings, financial miracles, and families being restored. God was moving in behalf of so many people, but there was a strong, corporate anointing backing those miracles. Unity was present, and the results were evident. There is strength in unity!
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in Second Chronicles 20, the account of Jehoshaphat’s leading the people of God to a great victory. Three armies had joined forces against Jehoshaphat, and still, Jehoshaphat and his army prevailed. Amazing!
I believe the key to it all was UNITY. All the people, children and wives included, came TOGETHER and prayed. The Lord heard their prayers, and He gave them specific instructions. TOGETHER they obeyed, and TOGETHER they won.
Not only did they win the battle, but they were abundantly blessed with spoil as a result of their unity and obedience.
It would have been a different story had division entered in. But praise God for this example. It’s a blueprint for the way we are supposed to approach the battlefield—in unity.
So how does division enter in? Words. Plain and simple…it begins with words. One of the greatest challenges that believers face has to do with our mouths. It would benefit us to check up on our words frequently.
James 3:9-11 says, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”
You cannot use your words to bless God, curse men, and still expect good things to happen in your life. Use your words to bless God, bless others, and your fountain will produce “sweet water.”
I started this year strong—confident it is going to be a 14-er—but I am fooling myself to think I will experience all that God has for me if I allow wrong words to come out of my mouth, and therefore, open the door to division.
Your heavenly Father is interested in you! He wants more for you than you want for yourself, so take advantage of the tools He has given you. Use your words to produce the sweetness that He has made available to you.
Remember the words of Jesus in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
There are so many people in the world that have yet to be reached with the Gospel. By the love that we demonstrate toward one another, people will know Who we belong to. Don’t limit yourself by limiting the love life on the inside of you. Let love govern every word you speak; love is the key to your victory!
P.S. I recently ministered along these lines in Topeka, Kansas and would like to make that teaching available to you. http://www.webbmin.org/MP3/Strengthinunity.mp3