When We are One

made with Proclaim

Doc Dewberry

Faith Vision Christian Ministries

Sermon • Submitted 12 days ago • Presented 12 days ago • 1:35:03

1 Corinthians 12:12–27

Psalm 133

Revelation 7:9

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Title of the message this Morning

When We are One

Main idea:

This is a "Psalm of Ascent" from David, where we focus on our God given diversity as people, and our call to find unity in the midst of diversity.

One of the most amazing things about Psalm 133 is that God, through David, seems to be saying that He "commands a blessing" when His people find unity together…

We should fight for this blessing as we seek to find unity in the midst of our diversity.

Prayer:

“Lord thank you for the diversity you have created in this world.

Help us to celebrate our differences, see our strengths, and live into the blessing you have commanded when we find unity and harmony with one another.”

Scripture: Psalm 133, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Revelation 7:9

(All scripture is taken from the NIV unless otherwise noted)

Introduction

I think we would all agree that unity is important.

In relationships, politics, sports, business, pretty much everywhere we can see the value that unity and harmony bring to the world around us.

We would also agree that unity is hard to achieve because we are all so different.

We have different goals, motivations, and expectations… Just to name a few.

But what if God intentionally made us different to highlight our need for one another.

To highlight our strengths and weaknesses and to show that we are truly better when we work together.

Pastor -

You might share a humorous story here about how you and your spouse, kids, or friends are different and how your differences play out day to day.

The truth is that there’s not one single person who possesses all the gifts, talents, abilities, and time to make everything work in their life…

The truth is, and the bible says it this way; That we are one body with many parts…

The truth is that we are diverse, and that’s not a flaw but an intentional design…

And maybe even most surprising, what Psalm 133 tells us, is that God commands a blessing where His people are united as one.

The truth is, when we are one, when we are working together in harmony, it’s then that we are accomplishing what God intended for us from the beginning.

Main Teaching

Let’s begin with a reading of Psalm 133 together, it’s not too long.

Read Psalm 133

The first thing to know about this Psalm is that it is in the category of “Songs of Ascent”

The Songs of Ascent, also known as the Psalms of Ascent or Pilgrim Songs, are a group of 15 psalms (Psalms 120-134) found in the Book of Psalms.

These psalms were traditionally sung by Jewish pilgrims as they journeyed to Jerusalem for the annual feasts, particularly Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

(Fun fact; Jesus would’ve been singing these Psalms the week before His death)

The significance of the Songs of Ascent lies in their themes and their connection to pilgrimage and worship.

Some common themes found throughout these psalms include:

Unity and Community: The psalms often emphasize the unity of God's people and the importance of communal worship. They express the idea of pilgrims coming together in solidarity as they make their way to Jerusalem.

Trust in God's Protection:Many of the psalms express trust in God's protection and guidance during the journey. They acknowledge the challenges and dangers of travel but affirm confidence in God's care.

Celebration of Zion: Jerusalem, particularly the Temple in Zion, holds a central place in these psalms. They celebrate the significance of Zion as the dwelling place of God and the destination of the pilgrims' journey.

Prayer for Peace and Prosperity:Several psalms in this collection include prayers for peace and prosperity, both for the pilgrims themselves and for the city of Jerusalem. They express longing for God's blessings upon the land and its people.

Reflection on God's Faithfulness:The Songs of Ascent often reflect on God's faithfulness throughout history, recalling past acts of deliverance and salvation. This serves to encourage the pilgrims as they journey and reminds them of God's enduring love and mercy.

Overall, the Songs of Ascent serve as a spiritual guide for pilgrims, offering encouragement, praise, and prayers for the journey to Jerusalem and for life's pilgrimage as a whole… Even as I share this with you today, I’m struck by the thought that we should be singing these psalms all the time - as all of life is a pilgrimage, a journey back to God.

Which brings me back to Psalm 133, where we sing of the harmony and beauty found in and amongst God’s people when we are united as one.

One Body; Many Parts

As mentioned already, unity is hard to achieve because we are all so different.

We have different goals, motivations, and expectations…

Just to name a few

And yet, in spite of this the bible tells us that we are “One Body.”

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 18-20, 27

“There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts…God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body… You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.”

This passage couldn’t be more clear about this one fact;

There are many different parts in the body, but God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be.

Think about that truth for a moment.

Think about the family you have, the home you live in, even the job you work…

God knows where you are and what you’re doing.

He knows where you live and what your family is like. He sees you in every part of your life…

In fact Psalm 121 (another Psalm of Ascent) says, “Indeed, he who watches over Israel (the people of God) will neither slumber nor sleep.”

God doesn’t take a day off in his care for you and I.

And what does this all mean in regards to our diversity and differences?

It means not only that God knows they exist, but that He INTENTIONALLY built them into humanity.

He specifically created (cf. Psalm 139) and designed all of us, then he placed us just as He wanted us to be.

I may not always like the places he’s placed me, but I can learn to celebrate them as I consider that they are the places that he put me in.

This is why the bible talks so much about being content in every circumstance and joyful in every situation.

As people of God we must learn how to celebrate in the midst of our differences and diversity.

Celebrate and Cultivate Diversity

Our differences are no surprise to God.

They are not a flaw but rather an intentional feature of the kind of people God is bringing together to fill his kingdom.

It is this vision we see in the book of Revelation verse 7:9, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

This is the picture of people who will inhabit eternity together.

It’s a holistically diverse one - with representatives from every tribe, nation, and tongue.

With that vision in mind, we’ve got to learn to cultivate diversity in our communities.

If this is the ultimate goal and vision of God, then it also needs to be ours.

And remember, cultivating something typically involves a deliberate and systematic process of nurturing, fostering, and developing it over time.

Whether you're talking about cultivating crops, relationships, skills, or any other aspect of life, certain key elements tend to be involved:

● Intent and Purpose: Cultivation starts with a clear intention and purpose. You need to know what you want to cultivate and why it matters to you.

● Preparation: Adequate preparation is crucial. For crops, this might involve tilling the soil, removing weeds, and ensuring proper nutrients. In other areas, it might involve gathering resources, acquiring knowledge, or setting the right conditions.

● Sowing Seeds: This step involves planting the seeds of whatever you're cultivating. It could be literal seeds in the case of agriculture, or metaphorical seeds such as ideas, efforts, or investments.

● Nurturing: Once the seeds are planted, they need care and attention to grow. This might involve watering, feeding, protecting from pests and diseases, and providing suitable environmental conditions. Similarly, relationships and skills need nurturing through communication, practice, and support.

● Patience and Persistence: Cultivation is a process that takes time. It requires patience and persistence to see results. Crops don't grow overnight, and neither do strong relationships or mastery of skills.

● Adaptation: Cultivation often requires adaptation to changing circumstances. Weather patterns, market conditions, or personal dynamics can shift, requiring adjustments in approach.

● Monitoring and Evaluation: It's essential to monitor the progress of what you're cultivating and evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts. This allows you to make informed decisions and refine your approach as needed.

● Harvesting and Enjoying the Fruits: Ultimately,

Cultivation requires dedication, effort, and a willingness to invest in its growth and development over time. It's a process, remember that, and it happens over a long period of time.

(Pastor -

This could be a great place to share about the ways, programs, or events that your church participates in to help cultivate and nurture diversity.

How do you celebrate the different giftings present in your community?

How do you grow the younger generations and foster their gifts/talents?)

God Commands His Blessing

If there is any place in the bible that God “commands a blessing” I would assume that it’s a place we’d want to be in…

In this case, God commands that blessing in the spaces and places where His people are gathered together in unity.

And I think we could all agree that we’ve felt that blessing before in the times where we’ve been together, unified, and focused on a common purpose or goal. (time of war, fighting together)

In Psalm 133 we see in verse 3 that God, “commands (bestows) his blessing… even life forevermore.”

So, it’s worth fighting for.

It’s worth celebrating and cultivating.

Instead of highlighting our differences as a bad thing, let’s elevate them and consider the great strength we have when we bring our diversity to the table.

Remember, our differences are no surprise to God.

They are not a flaw but rather an intentional feature of the kind of people God is bringing together to fill his kingdom.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we must remember the power of unity amidst diversity as seen in Psalm 133 and reinforced by the imagery of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12.

It underscores the intentional design of God in creating us with varied strengths, weaknesses, and backgrounds, emphasizing the necessity of coming together in harmony.

Through the lens of the Songs of Ascent, we are reminded that life itself is a pilgrimage, a journey back to God, where unity, trust, celebration, and reflection on God's faithfulness play vital roles.

Not to mention, the call to cultivate diversity in our communities echoes the ultimate vision of Revelation 7:9, where people from every nation, tribe, and language stand before the throne of God, portraying a holistic diversity that reflects God's intended kingdom.

We challenge ourselves to embrace our differences as intentional features rather than flaws, recognizing the immense strength found in unity.

It will take intentional effort to celebrate and cultivate diversity, mirroring God's vision for His kingdom.

As we commit to this process of cultivation, with patience, persistence, and adaptability, we position ourselves to experience the blessing that God commands in spaces of unity.

Let us actively seek opportunities to come together, celebrate our diversity, and work towards a harmonious expression of the body of Christ, knowing that it is in our unity that we reflect the heart of God and experience His abundant blessings. Even life, forevermore.

Let’s pray together.

Salvation:

The Word of God says in:

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:13 NKJV

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you’d would like to receive Jesus today, please pray this prayer with all of us:

Lord I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died On the cross for my sins and His resurrection from the dead gives me eternal life. I ask forgiveness of my sins, and I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Pastor Doc@FaithVision.org

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Benediction

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

— Revelation 7:9 —

Remember!

We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” -We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” -Madeliene L’Engle (Lang ill)