Behold the Unity, Join the Unity

Behold, how good and pleasant it is
    when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
    running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
    running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
    which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
    life forevermore.
Psalm 133

In this Sunday’s message, we're invited to behold and enter into the divine unity that exists within the Trinity. Pastor Josh Kelsey explores Psalm 133, painting a picture of unity as precious oil and life-giving dew. We're challenged to examine our lives: Are we under this flow of unity, or are we resisting it? When we truly live in unity, the world takes notice, and we become a powerful witness to Christ's love.

We Don’t Create Unity, We Join It

  • Unity is not something we create, but something we join that already exists in the Trinity.
  • The Psalmist calls us to behold, which means we’re witnessing or experiencing the unity that we’re invited into. We fix our eyes on things above (see Colossians 3:2-4).
  • This divine unity isn't just a theological concept; it's the very foundation of reality, the wellspring from which all creation flows.
  • Unity is not our project to create, but a divine gift to join. 
  • “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.” John 17:22
  • “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace.” Ephesians 2:14-15

The Oil Flows Down, Unity Starts at the Head

  • True unity flows from Christ as the head, like oil flowing down from the high priest.
  • The key lies in understanding that unity flows downward, not upward.
  • We must position ourselves humbly under this flow to experience its full effect in our lives and relationships.
  • “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16
  • Christ is our true High Priest, the Anointed One. The unity we seek doesn't originate with us; it flows from Him.
  • “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
  • The enemy, often referred to as the "splitter," seeks to fracture this unity at every level - in our identities, our relationships, our churches, and our world. 
  • By aligning ourselves with Christ, we can resist this divisive influence and experience the transformative power of true unity.
  • In order to be under the flow, we must be willing to go low in humility and become teachable.

The Dew Brings Life, Unity Quietly Renews

  • Unity quietly renews us, like dew bringing life to dry places.
  • Mount Hermon naturally experienced snow and dew, which brought life to the lands surrounding it, but Mount Zion was in a naturally arid climate. 
  • It would have been miraculous for Mount Hermon’s dew to water Mount Zion. Unity is deliberately miraculous.
  • Unlike the dramatic pouring of oil, dew forms silently and unseen, yet it brings life-giving moisture to dry places.
  • The unity we're invited into works quietly, renewing our hearts and bringing life where there once was barrenness. It's a gentle, often imperceptible process, but its effects are profound.
  • “I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon.” Hosea 14:5
  • This quiet renewal is in stark contrast to loud, forceful attempts at unity that often characterize human efforts. True unity doesn't announce itself with fanfare; it manifests in the small, everyday moments of kindness, patience, and love.
  • “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” John 7:37

There the Lord Commands the Blessing

  • Where there is unity, God commands His blessing of eternal life.
  • This blessing isn't just about temporal benefits; it's about participating in eternal life itself. 
  • When we align ourselves with God's unity, we tap into a flow of life that transcends our earthly existence.
  • This eternal perspective can radically change how we approach challenges and setbacks. 
  • When we understand that we've been given the ultimate gift of eternal life, the stresses and worries of daily life begin to lose their power over us. 
  • We're freed to live with a different mindset, one that's focused on things above rather than earthly concerns.

Applications

1. We approach unity with humility, not strategy.

2. We see disunity as a failure of participation, not simply a relational problem.

3. We become conduits of hidden refreshment.

4. We see unity as missional, not just internal.

Dinner Party Questions

  • In what ways might we be unconsciously aligning ourselves under 'headships' other than Christ, and how does this affect our spiritual unity?
  • In what ways might our pursuit of various 'blessings' distract us from the ultimate blessing of 'life forevermore' that God has already given us in Christ?
  • How can we approach disunity in our relationships or communities with humility rather than strategy, as suggested in the sermon?
  • What are some practical ways we can become 'conduits of hidden refreshment' in our daily interactions with others?

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