Dimanche 30 juin 2024 -Apostle BILLEY
Summary of the preaching
Ephesians 4:1-4 & 11-16 – John 17:8 & 16-23 – Philippians 2:2-4 – 1 Peter 3:8-9 – 1 Corinthians 1:10 – Romans 15:5-6 – Colossians 3:14-17 .
Ephesians 4.
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
Paul was called by the Lord when he was full of passion for Judaism – because he thought the message of the Lord Jesus was not appropriate.
And in the middle of the road, the Lord appeared to him like a great light.
Acts 9. 3 As he was on his way to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.
This is how Paul was convinced to walk with Jesus – he understood that Judaism had ended and justification had taken its place.
From that moment on, he never looked back.
Beloved, we must also do so.
Paul began preaching the gospel with zeal.
Brethren, when the word of God is within us, we must not be silent.
What you have received is enough for God to be glorified.
Beloved, the same Jesus who appeared to Paul is the same Jesus who is in you.
Jesus cleaned up your past – don’t accept the voice of the enemy.
Paul understood the need to make disciples of all nations. It’s about each and every one of us.
We can do it with Christ.
There are some people who are desperate, who need Jesus. Some people think of suicide, without hope…
All we have to do is talk.
This is what the Lord Jesus tells us in Ephesians 4 through the mouth of Paul:
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
We must love each other with true love from the heart, without human logic.
Even if a person doesn’t greet me – I have to greet – that’s how I show my love.
We must love everyone with gentleness and humility. This is what the Lord Jesus wants.
Patience, humility, kindness, love… all come from God.
These are the characteristics of God’s character. That’s its nature.
We have received God’s seed – that’s why we are God’s children.
Ephesians1. 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling
The Lord tells us to keep the unity of the spirit.
Why do we need to be united?
Because we are the body of Christ.
And within the body, there must be no divisions, no rumors, no hatred, no bitterness…
But what’s there to be?
Unity, gentleness, patience, love…
Thus, what does not exist in heaven must be removed from the body of Christ.
And the way to get there is through the Word of God.
In order to find only the perception, the will of God, the emotion of God.
Consider this: if I have faith and my brother has faith in Jesus, what connects us?
It’s the Word. That’s unity.
We don’t look at the physical body, it’s not the head, the skin color… that we look at, but rather it’s the spirit, the Word.
Brothers, a family that walks in unity of spirit is one that the Lord blesses.
Those who walk in unity have God as their partner.
John 17.8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
16 They are not of the world, as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by your Truth: your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
What makes the disciples no longer of the world?
It’s the Word received.
Never let the enemy snatch the Word from you.
He who has the Word in him is no longer of the world.
When we pray, the Word must come from the heart.
Jesus’ final prayer is for you and me.
We must seek Jesus’ best interests in all circumstances.
20 It is not for them alone that I pray, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, so that they too may be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.
22 I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one,
23 me in them, and you in me, that they may be perfectly one, and that the world may know that you sent me and loved them as you loved me.
Unity bears witness to the work Jesus came to do on earth. He wants us to develop a spirit of love, to be patient with one another, to be humble wherever we find ourselves.
Unity is essential in our midst, so that all the enemy’s attacks fail.
All we have to do is understand that my brother and I are one through the unity of the spirit, through the Word.
The Word is in me and The Word is in my brother too. What unites us is the Word.
* 1/ When I see my brother, it’s like seeing myself.
*2/ We must seek the interests of the Lord Jesus for our brother/sister.
For example, by asking what Jesus thinks of my brother/sister, what he wants for him: that he be prosperous, fulfilled, protected, forgiven by God… And when you pray for your brother, it’s so that God will be glorified.
In seeking Jesus’ interest by praying for my brother, it is also for myself that I pray – it is also for my interest, for we are united with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
When a brother or sister is attacked in our midst, each of us is affected, because we are one. We must help, pray, encourage…
Let’s not criticize the brothers any more, we must reject divisions and keep unity. It blocks our blessings.
We must no longer destroy, but build for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
LET US PRAY →
Father in Jesus’ name,
Lord Jesus, you cleaned up my past
I belong to you.
I’m out of the world.
Lord, let your word dwell in me.
Holy Spirit, help me to manifest unity of spirit
In my family, my home, my church, my work…
Lord, fill me more with your Word.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.