Pastor Nate Brosher
Dec 14, 2023
Spiritual Maturity Series: Unity
Ephesians 4:1-10 NLT
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all. 7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people." 9 Notice that it says "he ascended." This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
One Body & One Spirit
Body: Soma – The Living Body
Spirit: Pneuma - the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes his personality and character (the "Holy" Spirit)
sometimes referred to in a way which emphasizes his work and power (the Spirit of "Truth")
never referred to as a depersonalized force.
The Spirit of God will NOT make you do something that is contrary to the word of God, that is called “spiritual immaturity.”
2 Corinthians 12:20 NLT
For I am afraid that when I come, I won't like what I find, and you won't like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
The Holy Spirit will NOT tell you to talk about your brother or sister.
John 16:12-15 NLT
12 "There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.'
The Spirit of Truth will NOT cause you to be a talebearer of everything you know about other people and their issues.
Proverbs 26:20 NKJV
Where [there is] no wood, the fire goes out; And where [there is] no talebearer, strife ceases.
One God, One Father, One Baptism who is over all, and in all, and living through all.
John 3:17 – God sent NOT his son into the world to condemn the world, but that world through HIM might be saved.
God is NOT the author of Confusion.
He is the God of Peace, Love, Longsuffering, Patience, Endurance, Grace, Mercy, Gentleness, Joy, Goodness.
One Baptism – death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:7-10 NLT
7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people." 9 Notice that it says "he ascended." This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
We all have grace given to us according to the measure of Jesus’ gift.
John 16:7 NKJV - As Jesus said, "It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you."