Unity comes by Love

•  John 15:12-17.  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.   Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.   Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.   Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.   Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.   These things I command you, that ye love one another.

John 15:12 http://bible.com/1/jhn.15.12-17.KJV
 

• Unity. Mind of Christ

prayer to God  - We are grateful for all saints.  Help me remember and pray for them by name..  Give your leaders wisdom and revelation.  Draw them nearer to you and reveal yourself to them.    Let people see the power of your resurrection   Let all believer and unbelievers as well acknowledge that you are head of the church
 
 James 4:8-12. Don't speak evil of one another
 
•One Accord, One Mind
Philippians 2:1 http://bible.com/1/php.2.1-9.KJV
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
 
Jewish bible comparison:
Phil 2:1-10.   http://bible.com/1275/php.2.1-8.CJB
 Therefore, if you have any encouragement for me from your being in union with the Messiah, any comfort flowing from love, any fellowship with me in the Spirit, or any compassion and sympathy, then complete my joy by having a common purpose and a common love, by being one in heart and mind. Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves — look out for each other’s interests and not just for your own. Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Yeshua: Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something to be possessed by force. On the contrary, he emptied himself, in that he took the form of a slave by becoming like human beings are. And when he appeared as a human being, he humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death — death on a stake as a criminal! 
 
 
Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation of His power toward us
Ephes 1:15-23. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,  Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
 
ESTEEM ONE ANOTHER
Philippians 2:1-10. see Verse 3.  "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
 
 
SERVE ONE ANOTHER
Galatians 5:13-15.      For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
 
COMPASSION FOR ONE ANOTHER
1John 3:14.  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Lessons from " the jewish code" and  "Steps to Revival"

from" The Jewish Code"

God’s life principles –
civil law relationship with others,
moral laws personal conduct  ,
sacrificial laws how to put God first in our spiritual life
feasts of Israel are symbolic, shadows of the heavenly timeframe
on day of atonement, the nation receives the verdict “forgiven”

Teshuva ends on the Day of Atonement (after the 10 days of Awe) 
the season of Teshuvah – 10 days of awe -  root wordmeaning tuv turn, repent
special prayers to ask God’s forgiveness -  recited early in the morning in some communities
letters are  written  to correct wrongs and ask forgiveness from others
these words are often heard during this season:  “May your name be inscribed in the Book of Life”
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Help with clearing our conscience for the work ahead
 
Steps to Revival, (Pat Robertson)  :. If we want revival we must pray in desperation like our lives depend on it.    Given the terrorist threat to America, our lives may indeed depend on it.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek for me with all your heart”. Jeremiah 29:13
If my people who are called by my name repent…I will heal their land.  
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
It was based on this instruction and the leading of the Holy Spirit that Brother Pat Robertson adeptly composed a list of steps we must take to see revival in our hearts and in our land.  
Step 1  Humility:    lay down our misconceptions of God and  cast down pride of every form: “I will” do,  My way, my will, my plan, my concept of God, my concept of righteousness.
we exalt our throne like Satan did in Genesis.  Situational ethics 
pride of family, finance and accomplishment, material possessions pride of nationality, employment position, religious affiliation, knowledge, education must realize that we are sinners without God.
 
Cry out – “God be merciful to me  a sinner
“They justified God being baptized with the baptism of John.”  We can either justify ourselves or justify God.   justifying ourselves leads to deadness
 “our pride before God is like pus-filled sores on a leper”.  Ask God to forgive pride in whatever form it takes in our lives.
  
Step 2. Prayer
Acts  the people prayed for Apostle Peter to be spared.  “stretched outedly”
not aimless prayers, distracted by business, etc.  They prayed with every fiber of their being for Peter’s release.”
pray without ceasing – the neighbor with a visiting friend in the middle of the night, the importunate widow and the judge,
“It was not the neighbor’s need nor was it neighborly friendship that prevailed.  It was desperation – importunity – that won the day.”
Keep on asking…keep on seeking…keep on knocking ….
“You will seek me and find me when you seek for me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13
  
Step 3.  seek God’s face
(prayer is different from seeking God’s face)
prayer is asking for something – wisdom, health, finances, salvation of loved ones,  revival
God instructed Aaron the high priest to bless the people with the following words,..  the lord bless you and keep you… The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
 
We are not asking God to do anything, we are seeking God for His presence.
“When you said seek my face, Thy face, o lord, will I seek.” Psalm 27:8
 “To strive to restore the mystical bond of fellowship between God and man goes back to creation.”pg. 5
 
In the beginning the word, Jesus was face to face with the Father .(Chinese translation)
 
 
Step 4 Turn from your wicked ways - 
                                         (Repentance)
Hosea says “break up your fallow ground that the Lord may come and rain righteousness upon you.  Sow in righteousness, reap in steadfast love.”
pg 6
 
Search me o God and know my heart, and see if there is any wicked way in me. Psalm 129:33
Create in me a clean heart.  Psalm 51:10
 
(8 areas of repentance) The object Is to confess – forsake find mercy and forgiveness – then enter the presence of the Lord.  Don’t Hurry!  Be honest with yourself about yourself.  don’t try to justify your actions  
*First – Love the lord thy god with all thy heart, all thy mind and all thy strength. Mark 12:30
*Second - Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love"   Revelation 2:4    
*third -  if you have aught against any, forgive  Mark 11:25
 *fourth – the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth  John:13  Repent of any outstanding lies you have told
 *fifth – things lurking in your spirit dealing with sexual sin   lay before him your sins and failures
Once you have confessed your sins know that you are forgiven of them.  
He made a show of them openly, triumphing in His cross   Col 2:15
Write down temptations, transgressions problems privately between you and God
tell Satan this is all covered by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and that Satan has wasted his effort to destroy you.”
 *sixth – slander - write down names of those you have slandered.  It is a terrible sin.
 *seventh -  times when your words have grieved him, disobeyed him,  wounded others, been insensitive to the physical or spiritual  needs of others you could have helped.
“ This will bring God’s power in your life and serve as a catharsis to your mind and spirit”

relatives
*eighth – make peace with your mates (husbands, wives).   write down problems, offenses against your mate.  Don’t harbor anger, resentment, bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness against them.
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Write things done wrong to your mate, your children, have you loved them, brought them up in the nurture and admonition of the lord or have you been so rigid and authoritarian that they rebelled against you and the lord?  Have you been available to talk, to listen carefully to them, and understand their problems, hopes and dreams?
 
Have you loved your elderly parents, cared for them, showed them the attention they need?
 
A broken and a contrite heart, O Lord, Thou wilt not despise.  God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Psalm 51:17
 
You should have a long list of sins to be repented of. 
 
Take the list and say, “Lord, all of these sins and transgressions I place under the blood of Jesus Christ.  I accept our gracious forgiveness and raise you for setting me free.  I humbly ask that I may walk in your presence, that you may hear my prayer and send revival to heal my land.  In Jesus name.  Amen.
  
Step 5 - Unity   (Look for my article on  Unity scriptures on the  next post )
if  2 or more agree as touching  anything they desire.... Matt 18:19
where 2 or more gather together in my name there am I in the midst of them Matt 18:20
 
on the day of Pentecost, the disciples were together in one accord in one place
 
forsake not the assembling of ourselves together
believers need to spend large amounts of time alone in earnest prayer and study
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once you have recived forgiveness and clearing of sin, be sure to stay close to God.
Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.
Watch, for you know not the hour your lord will come.






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