Before You Choose a Side, Change What You Think About Unity

Pastor Darryn Scheske: The Character of Jesus | Part 2 | Sunday, March 9, 2025

View these Message Notes in Spanish

A song to bring you higher. A psalm of David. “How wonderful and delightful it is to see brothers and sisters living together in unity! It is the precious anointing oil that was poured over the head of the high priest Aaron’s head, running down upon his beard, running all the way down to the hem of his robes. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew dripping down from the skies upon Mount Hermon, refreshing the mountain slopes of Israel. For where there is unity the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalm 133:1–3

“I pray they will all be joined together as one even as you and I, Father, are one. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” –Jesus, John 17:21–23

Unity. We know it when we see it.

We have a great capacity for Unity.

But today unity is so rare.

How did we get this way?

God is a God of Unity: Father, Son & Holy Spirit

Not 1+1+1=3 ...But 1x1x1=1

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Genesis 2:18

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth...and cause it to prosper.” Genesis 1:28

Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth...and cause it to prosper. Genesis 9:1

Their descendants became the peoples who spread out to various lands... “each identified by its own language, clan, and national identity.” Genesis 10:5,20,31

“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” –Nimrod, Genesis 11:4

Babel/Babylon: The symbol for an anti-God, counterfeit unity—a forced uniformity through:

·      Control of language

·      Nationalistic dominance

·      Use of religion

Built on the foundations of fear, pride and rebellion

The Lord had said to Abraham “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:1–2

 Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Luke 5:27–28

 The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. “Go! I am sending you out...to give a blessing when you enter a house. Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now,” Luke 10:1–5, 9

Those who believe in me will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father. The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things When the Spirit comes, he will guide you into all the truth... John 14:13; 14:26; 16:13

“I pray Father, that they will all be one...so that (1) world will know that You sent me, and that (2) You love them as much as You love me.” –Jesus, John 17:21–23

[On the day of Pentecost] everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability...Each one heard them speaking in his own language.” Acts 2:4,6

 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28, NLT

“I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. Revelation 7:9

We are not united because we look the same
We are not united because we think the same
We are not united even united because we believe the same

We are united when we answer the same call:

1)    To leave something behind

2)    To follow Jesus—even before we believe

3)    To be sent out into the world to be a blessing

I am giving you a new commandment: Love one another other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. We love, because he loved us first.  John 13:34; 1 John 4:19

“I pray Father, that they will all be one...so that (1) world will know that You sent me, and that (2) You love them as much as You love me.” –Jesus, John 17:21–23

 The journey begins when I recognize my need for God.