To make our church work and all the activities in it successful we need unity in the church. A united church is a growing and living church. But this unity does not come automatically, we must work for it. God wants His church to be united, so that all the members are closely drawn together as one family. It is Satan who wants to divide the church into differing opinions and doctrines. Jesus had a burden for unity among His followers; He prayed for unity among them.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” John 17:20–23
The same unity which is between Jesus and His Father we need to have in our church. David writes, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
“It should be understood that perfect unity among the labourers is necessary to be successful accomplishment of the work of God.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 196
When we were building the church in Toronto, all the members were united in the building work, even visitors, and the children came to help on Sundays, and in five months the church building was finished. After this the unity in the church continued. We went canvassing on Sundays and every member came together to do missionary work, and soon the 20 members in the church were increased to 90 members. A divided church is a dying church, but a united church is a growing and a living church.
“Where is the spirituality of the church? Where are men and women full of faith and the Holy Spirit? My prayer is: purify the church, O God. . . God is sifting His people. He will have a clean and holy church. We cannot read the heart of man. But the Lord has provided means to keep the church pure. . . The sieve is moving. Let us not say: stay Thy hand, O God. The church must be purged, and it will be.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 99–100
“For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.” Amos 9:9
There are conditions for unity; there are things that we must do.
“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10
“He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.” Proverbs 28:25
Pride destroys unity. It is pride that makes a person feel that he is better than others. Some can even be proud of their humility. The first case of pride we find in an angel of God in heaven, and that was with Lucifer.
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:12–14
What changed this lovely angel into a devil? It was pride, self-exaltation. Who can teach us true humility? Let us go to the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, to Jesus, and He will teach us. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29
Jesus stooped down to wash the feet of His disciples. This was work that His disciples were not willing to do; it was work that was too humiliating for them. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
Paul writes, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3
This humility is the secret to unity among the brethren, and of true fellowship. But it is a lesson that is difficult to learn.
A humble person cannot be offended; no insult or abuse will hurt him. He actually feels that he deserves an even worse treatment, which is death. This is not a natural characteristic; we must learn it in the school of Christ. What was the greatness of Moses? Was it his training in the court of Pharaoh? No, that time God could not use him. He had to learn the lesson of humility, and it took 40 years to learn it, doing the humble work of caring for the sheep, until finally he became the meekest man on the earth.
Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles did not call himself good or faithful, but the chief of sinners. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Romans 7:18. He had a humble opinion of himself.
“It is a dangerous age for any man who has talents which can be of value in the work of God; for Satan is constantly playing his temptations upon such a person, ever trying to fill him with pride and ambition; and when God would use him, in nine cases out of ten he becomes independent, self-sufficient, and feels capable of standing alone.” –Counsels on Health, p. 367
How many excellent talents are wasted because of human pride, and an independent spirit? God cannot use them, therefore they must be removed from their positions by the shaking which the Lord said He will do among His people.
Then, what remains after the shaking? “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.” Zephaniah 3:12
The Lord’s work will be finished by humble men and women, who can say with a sincere heart, “I must decrease, I am but a little child, I am the chief of sinners,” and who has the mind of Jesus, so humble, meek and lowly. When the Early Rain was poured upon the early church, in what condition were they? “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” Acts 2:1
The Aramaic Bible says, “They were assembled as one.” That means they were united. This kind of unity will be in the church before the Latter Rain will be poured out. To have unity in the church we need love—love to God and to one another. Without love we can never be united. And how do we get this kind of love? Only at Calvary—watching Jesus suffering and dying for sinners.
The disciples of Jesus did not truly love Him above the love they had for themselves, until they saw and understood that He died for their sins. Until then they loved themselves, arguing who is the greatest among them.
God is testing our love. Every day is a new test. Our thoughts are tested, our words, and our actions also. Without love our unity is gone. Sister White compares our love to an exotic flower, very sensitive. Without care and attention it will wither and die.
We sing a hymn, “Work for the Night is Coming.” What kind of work does this mean? Certainly the work of saving souls. It is easy to tell others what to do; then they will receive the golden crown in heaven, which we may lose.
“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men.” Isaiah 29:13
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6
Our faith is worthless without love. If we have humility, patience, and love, then we become unity makers.
If every member is a unity maker, then our churches will be successful in all their work, and we will be ready to receive the Latter Rain. Amen.
Timo Martin