TIMES OF REFRESHING THROUGH LOVE & UNITY

Worship Service July 14, 2013

Romans 12:9-10; Psalm 133: 1-3

ACTS 3. 19-20
So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of[a]reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;
19 20 And

that He may send [to you] the Christ (the Messiah), Who before was designated and appointed for youeven Jesus,

THROUGH LOVE

Romans 12:9
Amplified [Let

your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.
NLT Dont

just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Romans 12:10
Amplified Love

one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honour to one another.
NLT Love

each other with genuine affection,[a] and take delight in honouring each other.

LOVE EXPRESSED Friend Boyfriend

Girlfriend
BestFriend Everything has an end except Family it has i love you.

 Quick to condemn on superficial attributes and these decisions are prejudices. The superficial judgments made affect the way we treat/deal with people. E.g Pastor Olusola.

People are who they are because of how they are raised, their environment etc. In some families prostitution is like working at GTBank. We dont know what they go through; because you dont do what they do doesnt mean you are betterGrace is the difference between you and them.
Stay open,

THROUGH UNITY

Unity Defined
Unity here is not an amalgamation. Not like a political party (PDP) Nor office unity. Unity here is of the Spirit. As exemplified by the Holy Trinity.

Unity: knowledge, believe, spirit, personality purpose, language.

There is diversity in unity, not a uniformity. The parts do not look alike, they do not function alike, yet, they are all important, needed, interdependent, and all work toward the same end, the purposes for which each member was designed in the function of the body as directed by the head and in accord with the creative purpose of God. Some of the parts are covered, others are within the body and are unseen, but nevertheless, very important.

See Unity in Judges 20:11

Without the I = UN-TY Without the U = -NITY

Psalms 133: 1-3

1BEHOLD,

HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2It

is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down the beard, even Aarons beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3As

the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessings, even life for evermore.

Precious Ointment
There is a release of anointing. This is not same as the regular anointing we buy at the market.
When the anointing came on Saul he became a changed person. The anointing stirs up the gifts and brightens the lives of people at different stages of maturity. When we dwell in His presence His image reflects on us and we see our self righteousness being as filthy rags.

The Head

Beard

Skirts

Leaders and elders have huge roles to play in establishing UNITY. For times of refreshing to be experienced in the body of Christ, Leaders and elders have to allow it flow. Jesus is the head of the church. We must remain in Him and as a body to experience the flow. In some translations: edge of his robes: Even people who touched the helm of the garment would feel the potency of the oil. Unity is contagious. Unity is powerful.

Hermon Dew Descending Dew

Hermon as the Mount of Transfiguration

Advantages of Dwelling in Unity

Good and pleasant Heavens are opened We become instruments of blessings Eternal life Matt 18:19 : Answers to prayers Attainment of Maturity: Philippians 4:13-14. In essence a unified church is a mature church.

Conclusion
Love and Unity are two attributes expected of todays churches. However, divisions have made Churches vulnerable and sometimes not totally effective. Even the first family which was a result of a God ordained marriage performed in a paradise could not stand because there was division. We are the Church and if we are truly members of the same body, we need to express love and be united.

The only person given the right to think of himself more highly than others is the person who is a son not by adoption.

Action Points
1. Unity should be a continuous/daily achievement. See: Heb 10:25, Acts 2:46. It says dwell together. 2. One of the main pillars of love unity is humility. Having respect for others irrespective of their distinctive characteristics. (Blessings of humilityPhilippians 2:1-11. the result is in verses 9,10,11.. Position, unparalleled identity, Solution to problems, Power, Global recognition (celebrity).
See King David

Action Points Contd

3. Enlarge your circle of love: We are quick to associate with people of our class, social status, ethnic group, dress like us. So easy to write them off.they are too young and Im old. People are put in our lives for a reason. Gods love is INCLUSIVE and not EXCLUSIVE. Too many people have their walls up. Get outside your box. Show acceptance. Most times we make judgments about people within 2mins and put them in a category. Most times it is because of the way we were raised. E.g. seeing someone smoking cocaine, etc.

4. Speak the truth in Love!