Pastor Sameh Maurice
Kasr el Dobara Evangelical Church
The word “together” is a key word in the Kingdom of God. It is mentioned several times in the Book of Acts. (1:14; 2:1; 2:44; 4:24)
There are three ways to fulfil God’s command for us to be together. We learn from the early church that they fulfilled this assignment, first by praying together. The disciples raised their voices together in prayer to God (Acts 4:24). It is very important to pray together because we are praying to one Father and one kingdom. Second, they were together in fellowship and had everything in common (Acts 2:44). The church should be together sharing what we have with each other so that no one is in need. Third, they were together in proclaiming the Gospel. If we want to be like the early church, then we have to be together.
What are the things that bring us together? The most important is the vertical theology. We have one faith and believe in one church. However, we are different in our doctrine but that is second in importance. What makes you a Christian is not your doctrine, but your faith in Christ. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:3-6 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
The second thing that brings us together is love. We have been ordered to love one another (John 13:34). The third element that unites believers and the church is vision. There is a difference between vision and calling. Calling without vision might divide the church. Jesus gave his disciples one vision - to take the gospel to the ends of the earth - but He gave them different callings. Paul went to the gentiles and Peter went to the Jews.
If we don’t see the big picture and vision, we will be divided. The big vision is about God, His desire, and His heart. We might not need each other for our callings but we do need each other for the vision. Follow the vision and you will find yourself closer to your brother.
Why do we need to be together? First of all this is the desire of our God. The Father wants one bride for His son Jesus Christ. This is the heart of our Father and desire of our Lord Jesus. If we love Him we will do everything we can to be together.
Second, Jesus prayed in John 17: 21 that we may all be one, as He and the Father are in one another and that we also may be in the Father and the Son, so that the world may believe that the Father sent Him. Indeed, the world will believe when we are together.
Third, Jesus continued His prayer in John 17: 22-23 and said “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.” The goal of the glory is to be one. If we want the glory and authority given to the Son, glory to change history, to bind and loose, and bring down strongholds, then we will have it only if we are one with each other. We will only change the history of our nations and Africa if we are one - in prayer, fellowship and in preaching the gospel. It is up to us.
It is very hard and costly to be together. The church belongs to Jesus Christ. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and the world rulers of this present darkness (Ephesians 6:12). Since the resurrection many antichrist spirits came into the world. And the problem of these spirits is that they not only want to deny the incarnation or the divinity of Christ, but also want to swallow the world and control the nations. We can’t fight them alone. Only the church of Christ united together can stand against these strongholds and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. Therefore, we need one another.
In closing, we need to repent for our divisions in the church and undo what we have done. Nehemiah prayed “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.” (Nehemiah 1:6) That’s why it is very important to do everything possible to keep the spirit of unity and declare the church as His church and not our church. The hope of the world is Jesus Christ and His church. May the Lord help us to gather His family and His church together.