"I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." - John 17:21 (NLT) There's rarely any middle ground on unity. There are those who wish to fly solo and those who want to accomplish great things together. To recap on agreement, we can see great things when we join forces in the name of Christ. The majority of the church can agree on Jesus. The dividing line comes with the Holy Spirit and the power He pours out. Christ is not Jesus' last name. Christ means "anointed one." Jesus the anointed one. Anything opposing the anointing that comes from the Holy Spirit is the spirit of the anti-Christ. Anti-Christ equals anti-anointing, anti-power, anti-Holy Spirit. How often are we persuaded in many churches that the power of God that the apostles experienced is not for the body of Christ today? Never subject yourself to teaching that tries to move you towards a position of unbelief. We can now do all things in Christ who strengthens us (Phillipians 4:13)!
"And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." - Acts 10:38 (NLT)
We too have been made eligible through Jesus to receive empowerment from the Holy Spirit. Jesus' prayer in John 17 reveals a key to unity. "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one." How were the Father and Son one? We find our answer in Luke 3:21-22:
"One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy." (NLT)
This was the moment Jesus' ministry began. When He was baptized in the Holy Spirit, He was empowered to openly display the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. The sick were healed, the dead were raised, demons were cast out and lepers were cleansed. The supernatural became the dividing line that set Jesus apart from others. Even Jesus told His disciples to at least believe Him for the miracles He did (John 14:11) and that those who have faith will do the works He did and greater (John 14:12).
God is love (I John 4:8) and love rejoices in the truth (I Corinthians 13:6). Compromising does not lean in favor to unity. It taints it. As a good friend once told us, "Never forsake Truth for the sake of unity."
We will never have unity because of big meetings, programs, events or meetings that are driven by our striving. We experience true unity by being one as the Father and Son were one: through the Holy Spirit as we advance the kingdom of God in power and love - not abandonment of truth and tolerance.
I believe the church eagerly desiring the gifts of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 14:1) are the ones walking in true unity as He intended the church to be.