CHRIST FOR PRISONERS WEEKLY BULLETIN
Sunday, September 30, 2007

The Unity of the Spirit
(En Español)

Acts 2:1 (NKJV)
¹ When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

There is no limit to the power of unity. The book of Acts demonstrates this fact. As the early church used this power, many people were helped and blessed through the miracles that took place. Satan seeks to divide, but the Holy Spirit always brings unity

1. Unity In Prayer

A. Prayer with Purpose

Acts 1:14 (NKJV)
¹⁴ These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

For ten days, 120 people prayed in unity for God’s power so that they could help accomplish His work.

B. Promise of Prayer

Matthew 18:19 (NKJV)
¹⁹ Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

There is no limit to the power of united prayer.

C. Power in Prayer

Acts 4:31 (NKJV)
³¹ And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

United prayer brings unusual power.

James 5:16 (NKJV)
¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

2. Unity In Pentecost

Acts 2:1 (NKJV)
¹ When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

A. United in the purpose of God. They sought God until they had power to do His work.

Luke 24:49 (NKJV)
⁴⁹ Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

B. United in the desire for the power of God. They knew they could not do God’s work in their own strength.

C. United in prayer unto God. They did not depend on any past experience or on any wisdom or ability of their own. They needed God’s power.

3. Unity In Perseverance

Acts 2:46-47 (NKJV)
⁴⁶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

A. Consistent – “And they, continuing daily.”

Once a week religion was not enough for the early believers, they needed God daily.

B. Concern – “With one accord.”

Denominational differences did not divide the early believers. They agreed, since they needed God’s power to do His work.

C. Conversion – “And the Lord added to the church daily.”

When Christians unite to do God’s work, God gives them power.

4. Unity In Persecution

A. Pleasure

Acts 5:40-41 (NKJV)
⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
⁴¹ So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

The apostles were willing to suffer for the sake of the Gospel.

B. Preaching

Acts 8:1 (NKJV)
¹ Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Persecution scattered the Christians, but as they scattered, they preached the Gospel. Persecution always strengthens the Christian as well as the church.

C. Power

Acts 4:1-4 (NKJV)
¹ Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
² being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
⁴ However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

The apostles were told not to preach, but they could not remain silent. As the result, many people were converted.

God’s Work suffers when various denominations cannot agree in working together to advance the kingdom of God. Some people seem to have no concern about the lost world, they only want to further their viewpoints. Time is short. God’s people need to unite in reaching and winning the lost to Christ.

Closing verse:

Psalms 133:1-3 (NKJV)
¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
² It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
³ It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing-- Life forevermore.