Today we begin a new message series Spirit Empowered Living. This series will be looking at lessons from the book of 1 Corinthians. The church at Corinth was planted by Paul the apostle along with Priscilla and Aquila. This church had some wonderful aspects, but also had some things that needed adjustment. Just like churches and people today.
God desires to encourage you regarding the good work He is doing in your life. And He wants you and our church family to grow more mature in Him.
Today’s message is entitled “Unity in Christ.” True unity or fellowship can only exist in Christ. That is, there can only be true unity between believers in Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV) Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
This verse gives us an idea about what fellowship is all about. Fellowship is about being yoked or in partnership with another person. The imagery is of a team of two oxen being yoked together to plow a field. As a believer and unbeliever are not in spiritual agreement, they cannot have fellowship with one another.
1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV) God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We see from this verse that every believer is in fellowship with Jesus. To be in fellowship with another person, you must be in agreement with them. We know from Scripture that sin can hinder our fellowship with Jesus.
1 John 1:6 (ESV) If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
To maintain fellowship with Jesus, we must repent of our sin and walk, not in darkness, but in the light. Sin can also inhibit our fellowship with other believers. Sin of any kind, including wrong beliefs, can cause divisions between believers.
Today, we’re going to be talking how we can have unity in Christ with other believers and how that unity can grow. Depth of fellowship that you can have with other believers is dependent on your agreement together on the truth of God’s Word. The more fellowship we have with Christ and other believers, the greater the power of the Holy Spirit that will be released. The power of the Spirit is released as our fellowship with Jesus increases. And the Spirit’s power is released in our church as our fellowship with one another increases. So, let’s begin by talking about how we are …