“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.”
Philippians 1:27-28 ESV
The power of unity. It is always fun to see how the Lord highlights different aspects of the Bible depending on where you are at the moment. You think you know, but when He chooses to reveal the deeper things of Himself, you realize that you had no idea. You realize that there is more than you could even think or imagine. As always, it is one thing to read the Bible, it is another to apply it to your life day after day, moment after moment because of revelation. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). One of the ways the world will be unable to deny the reality of Christ will be the unity of the Church. The unity of those who profess that Jesus Christ of Lord of all! In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, his first church plant in Europe, we are told that he wrote this during the first time that he was put in prison for preaching the Gospel. His heart desired to return to see the disciples face to face, but if that were not able to happen his desire was to be able to hear news of their unity.
There is a joy that comes from hearing that one of your flocks is standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel. What joy! That is what we are called to do. There will be a shift in Kingdom advancement when the Body of Christ is united in a way that the world does not understand. We see that this posture of unity in the Church will give confidence to the fellowship so that they are not frightened by anything that the adversary may do. This unity will be a sign of the destruction of the enemy and the salvation of the saints. Can you feel the power in that?
There have been so many successes, yet so many battles this year. Knowing just a glimpse of what the Lord has in store for this ministry in 2023 gives me even more appreciation of the importance of true unity within the Body of Christ. The hour is too urgent to continue with unity only for the sake of self-promotion or self-benefit. Unity must come in the form of one spirit with one mind. This is the key. The condition of the heart! “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). What is the condition of your heart toward your brothers and sisters in Christ?!
When I read this verse from Philippians 1, I see the spirit realm. When we stand together, we are stronger. I see the angels in line with us. I see the terror in the eyes of the enemy as they realize that they have no weapons that can defeat a unified Bride. Jesus is the one preparing us for His return. “She will be without spot of wrinkle, holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27). May we stand together in unity as we step into the battles that we will face. True unity – one spirit and one mind.
