My teaching is about four words that bring spiritual unity. Please turn to Romans 12.
One of my favorite movies is The Hobbit. And third movie of The Hobbit series is The Battle of the Five Armies. In the movie, three commanders agree that the Orcs, Wargs, and Bats were enemies of everyone, and at the end of the movie (spoil alert), previous grievances between them were put on hold in face of the greater threat. They arranged their forces at the entrance into the Misty Mountain. These separated, individual groups (Dwarves, Lake-men, and Elves) finally came together to defeat their adversaries. But it took them forever. And they kinda forgot why they even separated, to begin with.
Now we do not want to be like those three groups that finally came together. As believers, we are many different people, but we are already, currently, and presently, in one body, united in Christ. And that’s right now. We don’t have to wait until the end of the movie to experience unity.
Romans 12:4-5. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office. 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one, members one of another.
Every one of us, members, one of another. Just like one physical body, we have many parts. These parts don’t all have the same function, so we, who are many, are nevertheless one body in Christ, and individually, we believers are parts, one of another, mutually dependent on each other.
This is true in my life, with my family. My family is made up of separate individuals, we’re different, but we are part of one another. We depend on each other.
And to keep this family together, united, and to keep any group of people together, there are four characteristics of a believer’s actions that can be applied in certain situations when unity is needed. They are written about in the beginning of Ephesians 4. Turn to Ephesians 4.
I love how the beginning of Ephesians 4 describes these characteristics. These four words can change every relationship that you have with another person. They can help you enjoy the way you meet and interact with other people. These four characteristics can help cultivate unity within a group of people, your friends, coworkers, teammates, school buddies, and your household. These four words help us keep the peace, and let the peace of God rule in situations. These four characteristics are humility, patience, gentleness, and love. Humility, patience, gentleness, and love.
Let’s take a few minutes and learn about each one a little bit. Humility, patience, gentleness, and love.
It’s important to unite in a household. Paul says in Ephesians 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers, but you are members with the family of saints, and members of God’s household.”
We’re in God’s household. Oh, yeah. I love being is God’s House. Who’s house? God’s House. Run DMC’s “Run’s House.”
Let’s Read Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul writes, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness (humility), with longsuffering (patience), forbearing (gentleness) one another in (unconditional) love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Humility, patience, gentleness, and unconditional love are the keys to unity and will help us in all areas of our lives. These four words can change our hearts and minds too. Turn to Philippians 2.
Humility
Humility is the perspective of putting others first. It assures us that serving others can be far more enjoyable than worrying about one’s own life. For example, if I ever feel like I’m worrying about something in my life, I try to think about others. What are they going through? Can I help them so that they’re in a better position than myself? In Philippians, we read about humility and other people.
We’re in Philippians 2:3-4. It says, “3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Do nothing from selfishness. But with an attitude of humility, regard others as more important than yourselves. Don’t just look out for only your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. And, honestly, that’s a tough thing to do. Putting another person before yourself is hard and requires some effort. It means stepping back a little, and allowing someone else to enjoy something before you do.
My wife and I go out every Friday night. 21 years married! Often it’s a dinner date, and we like to share bites. And I tell ya, when my dinner entree is served to me, I find it challenging to offer my wife the first bite. But with an attitude of humility (esteeming the other person better), I am a blessed man.
Practicing humility, looking out for others, and putting others first, helps cultivate unity. When we put others first and serve the people around us, we develop a good community. And it’s good to practice humility in a relationship. Going the extra mile to serve a friend, a schoolmate, a spouse, another believer, a neighbor, or a coworker is one way to show how God works in us.
That’s humility.
Patience
One fruit of the spirit is patience (long-suffering). Oh, boy, patience. That’s a characteristic that I need to keep working on. My entire family practiced a lot of patience last weekend when, on the way to our state party, when we got stuck in traffic for 3 hours. They say that patience is a virtue (or thinking and doing what is right). My patience can be tested. Many times in one day. But how do we practice patience? And how does it help unity?
Patience means being slow to anger, and having the wisdom not to be hasty (acting hurriedly without enough consideration). In certain situations, it’s good to take a moment, step back, get cool and calm, and take a chill pill. Gain some perspective and act in an understanding way.
When we choose to be patient with one another, we choose peace. We choose gentleness. We choose to handle the moment with grace. Proverbs says that with patience, a ruler can be persuaded. Wow.
Proverbs 14:29 says, “She who is slow to anger has great understanding and profits from her self-control. But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness for all to see.”
Let’s focus on those moments in our day when our patience can be a blessing to someone else.
I was going to be a doctor, but I just didn’t have any patience.
That is humility and patience. Turn to Colossians 4.
Gentleness
Gentleness can go a long way in any conversation, relationship, or situation. It’s a fruit of the spirit. Proverbs 15:1 says that it has the ability to turn away wrath, and its power is great. A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away extreme anger, and harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger. Gentle words spoken are very powerful indeed.
Colossians says when we interact with someone, do it with grace. And when we speak to them, we do so in order to bring out the best in them. To bring about the best in others with our words. Particularly in a tense moment. Being kind to someone, when a knee-jerk reaction could be to lash out with harsh words, is gentleness in action. When the feeling of anger starts to brew inside, choose to respond with gentleness. No one enjoys hurricane winds blowing in their face, but gentle breezes of warm, kind, easily-entreated words can make all the difference in a relationship. Let’s make it a point to pray for gentleness. Gentleness is not always easy, but it’s always necessary and always welcome.
Colossians 4:5-6: “5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Let’s conduct ourselves with wisdom in our interactions, and make the most of each opportunity, treating it as something precious. Our speech at all times should be gracious and pleasant.
Humility, patience, gentleness, and love. Turn to Matthew 22.
Love
Love is our number one commandment. We love God first. And we love ourselves, and we love others as ourselves. We read in Matthew 22:36-40, “36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
So, we are to seek the best or higher good for others unselfishly. When we love others, we are doing one of the most important things we can be doing. Unconditional love is the greatest thing anyone can give to another person. Turn to Romans 12.
Romans says that we should outdo one another in showing kindness. Romans 12:9-12, it says, “9 Let love be without dissimulation (it’s to be sincere). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (hold on) to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love (as members of one family); in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer (contributing to the needs of other believers).
Hold on to that which is good, and contribute to the needs of other believers. Imagine if everyone went above and beyond in loving each other up. Imagine how transformed we would all be. Let’s make it a point today to show someone some love, a friend, a spouse, a family member, or another believer. By passing on the love, you help cultivate unity.
We have learned about humility, patience, gentleness, and love. God has set us up to give and receive them. These four words are essential to experiencing unity. And they’ll help us in all areas of our lives. Let’s keep taking steps to grow in these areas. Seek unity in our relationships, bless others, and enjoy as we see other people grow and live a more than abundant life.
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