The Word and the Oneness

Today morning as we fellowshipped on a practical reality that can preserve us from degradation reminded me of my need to pay heed to the two crucial concerns; the power of the word and the oneness of the Body. The church in Philadelphia can degrade to the situation in Laodicea if it misses these two crucial items; the word and the cross that keeps the oneness. This is a check point in my Christian life if I have the power of the word and the oneness of the Body. If not, degradation has already happened. 

The Word with the power of God

Matthew 22:29 RecVer

And Jesus answered and said to them, You err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Erring is not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. If the truth that was recovered do not manifest the power of God, it is merely a doctrine. In the past, many truths have been recovered, however when the word did not manifest its power, they all were mere doctrines; lifeless, debatable, and thereby caused only division.

The truth in its entirely and reality is the Spirit. It must have power to save sinners and transform believers. If the words spoken is not saving sinners nor ministering life to the listeners, the harbinger of the word has already fallen. Because the words is spirit and life.

John 6:63 RecVer

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

The Spirit is the reality. This reality is embodied in the word who became the flesh, the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ as the way, the reality, and the life.

1 John 5:6 RecVer

This is He who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ; not in the water only, but in the water and in the blood; and the Spirit is He who testifies, because the Spirit is the reality.

Having the Lord Jesus as the reality and the life, one must be practicing the truth. Not merely professing in the mouth with no power. But living out the reality with its manifested power that saves sinners and ministers life to people issues in the growth in life that perfects the saints and builds up the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12, 13) until the perfected saints arrives at the oneness of the faith.

1 John 1:6 RecVer

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and are not practicing the truth;

John 14:6 RecVer

Jesus said to him, I am the way and the reality and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

Ephesians 4:12-13 RecVer

12. For the perfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ,

13. Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 6:17 RecVer

And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God.

The word one believes into and practices must manifest the power of God too. This is the need of the time to maintain the testimony of Jesus, keeping the word, as in the church in Philadelphia. 

Revelation of John 3:8 RecVer

I know your works; behold, I have put before you an opened door which no one can shut, because you have a little power and have kept My word and have not denied My name.

The Oneness through the cross of Christ 

Ephesians 4:2-3 RecVer

2. With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, bearing one another in love,

3. Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.

Oneness is what the Lord had prayed for in John 17. Oneness is what is being recovered among the saints today. Oneness is what builds up the Body and bears the Lord’s testimony. Sans this oneness, division and denomination is the result of Christian works. Therefore, it is imperative to see and keep the oneness. 

However, to keep the oneness there is a prerequisite of the need to be lowly, meek, long-suffering, and bearing one anither in love, which comes only through the cross of Christ. The cross breaks every barrier to keep the oneness in the Body of Christ. No cross, no oneness in reality. 

Therefore, in all our Christian life and services, we must keep the oneness through the cross by the Spirit. Any divisive opinion that may hamper the oneness must be categorically denied.

These two crucial items must be preserved to maintain the testimony of Jesus in the midst of degradation; the word of God with it's power and reality in the Spirit and the oneness of the Body of Christ through the cross of Christ.

Lord, preserve us to experience Your word with its power and keep us in the oneness of Your Body for Your testimony.