A Name Correction
Before we go into the meat and potatoes of our bible study this week, I would like to make note of something the observant reader may have noticed. The name correction in the series. We are constantly being tweaked in our walk with the Lord and it is important that as we consider what He says and what He doesn’t say that we pay close attention to the words that He uses and say likewise. The basis of this series is on Ephesians 5:17 which states “understanding what the will of YHVH is”. While to many there is a subtle distinction between the two I would like to point out the sharp contrast in their meaning.
Knowledge is the beginning of wisdom, but understanding is wisdom’s closest cousin.
Wisdom is the principle thing, but in all thy getting, we are instructed to get an understanding. (Prov. 4:7)
In that verse the word knowledge doesn’t appear, why? I believe it is because knowledge is like the base or foundation of wisdom, but understanding is what builds the walls which takes us to the roof which in this analogy would be wisdom. Wisdom covers a house while knowledge keeps it. Knowledge is the alphabets, understanding are the words, and wisdom is the action, that is produced when you get the other two.
Knowledge doesn’t motivate you to action, but understanding does.
There are people who know scripture backwards and forwards, but still have no power to live a holy life. How is this possible? The same way you can teach a child to call words but they still have no understanding of the words that they called. Understanding helps you understand the mess in your life, and in this context from a Godly perspective. It is what helps you hang on for dear life when the storms come to blow you away, understanding that God has you. Understanding gives you perspective and with perspective you can weather the storms that occur without jumping ship. Those with knowledge don’t ask “the what” question. Those with understanding don’t ask “the why” question, and those with wisdom don’t ask “how”. It is lack of understanding why that prevents many of us from acting on the plan of God for our lives. Stick with me in this series and that is exactly what you will get, the answer to that question.
Back to our series on Oneness
Just Follow The Script
In a play everyone knows all the lines but they are intimately familiar with their own. Messiah made it clear that he was following the script the Father had already written concerning Him. He didn’t ad lib or use creative license.
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. Luk 4:21
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Joh 20:9
These are only two out of many scriptures that reveal that he was following a script, and past the gospels you will find that those who followed him were following the same script, just a different role.
This brings me to why it is important that though we are one, we must understand our divine call in God’s plan. Rather than allowing our differences to divide us, we should allow the common script we follow to unite us. God created us different and has given us different roles for his purpose. If we appreciate that then we won’t have the Peter syndrome. Worrying about what will happen to John rather than following the script that was laid out for him. (John 21:20-22) John had a different role in the same script, as do we. Like in television today when a casting call goes out for a specific part a certain look is required for that role. If the part is looking for a slim, white woman with blond hair then that is what the role calls for, if it is looking for a tall, dark and handsome man then that is what it is looking for. The differences that divide us are differences that were created by Elohim, in which we have no right to judge those things. The only thing that should divide us are those differences that man has made that stands in opposition to God’s word and His Spirit.
Despite the belief that we all are God’s children scripture makes it clear that this is not true. (1 Jn 3:10) We are all God’s creation, but identification with Christ is based on being born into his family, through the unified experience that all believers have. The born again experience which brings us into a unified life in Messiah. We are all apart of the script rather we are for or against him, as much as Judas was. It’s just that we get a different role once we are born into the kingdom.
Our oneness in Christ can make room for our differences in life.
It takes many different spices to create a tasty dish, and the absence of any of them changes its flavor. Our unity is necessary, our uniformity is not. If we change our expectation we can change the outcome. I shouldn’t expect you to be me and I shouldn’t be expected to be you. Like Christ I should embrace the will of God, the inheritance He has given me and not covet that which belongs to another. In Christ we inherit a rich heritage, our coat of many colors are unified under the same blood that He shed for us, and if we do the will of His Father then we are his brother, his sister, and even his mother. (Matt. 12:50) Our distinctive roles are based on the same unified plan, let’s just walk that out.
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. Gen 11:6-7
Notice in this verse that the power came in them speaking the same language, not looking the same way. We don’t need to make uniformity the brass ring we grasp for, or the focus of our fellowship. Which is why confounding their language was the means of dispersion. We see this in reverse in the book of acts.
Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
What did that power look like?
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Act 2:4-6
We are called to oneness in every relationship we have within the body of Christ. We should speak the same and think the same as the one we are following, Christ. Just as we are instructed to have the mind of Christ, and since we know Christ’s mind wasn’t divided neither should a believer’s mind be divided.
Even in marriage we are called into unity, thus the proper picture of this oneness is reflected when a wife takes the last name of her husband. Hyphenated names reflect the distinction between the two and shows division, whereas the wife assuming the identity of the husband is a reflection of us as believers assuming the identity of our bridegroom, Christ.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Eph 5:22-31
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Rom 12:5
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1Co 8:6
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28
All these scriptures reflect the same one truth that we are one body in Christ, our distinctions don’t determine our position nor give us an extra edge. We are seen as His body as a collective whole and thus when one hurts the body hurts, when one rejoices the body rejoices because what happens to a member effects the membership altogether. The kingdom of God doesn’t operate like an episode of Survivor, we operate like an ant. Each one of us have a part to play which effects the well-being of the colony.
Food For Thought
- Are you walking in the oneness of Christ?
- Are the things that divide you based on his word or your preference?
- Are you judging according to the appearance or righteous judgment when analyzing your brothers and sisters in the Lord?
- Are you endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
- In your prayers make sure that you are daily praying for understanding of the will of Yah for your life. Commit to do nothing different without His instruction. Meaning submit your plans to YHVH, and don’t move forward until you have clarity of His will in the situation.
Next week we will look at the Plurality of God. He is a unified one, yet he has three dimensions to His presence. We will get a better understanding of the term “trinity” and how like Him we are created in His image and likeness.
Did you miss the last series, Be Ye Therefore Wise As Serpents? Well, don’t fret if you are enjoying this series you will want to get the other one. I am working on an e-book now that can be used for small bible groups and is designed to be application oriented. This simple and thought provoking series will challenge you in your study and in how you walk to harness the wisdom of the serpent who was able to through subtlety strip us of the inheritance we received from YHVH in the garden of Eden. If you would be interested in this series please fill out the form below. It is currently in pre-production and the projected cost will be $5.00.
Transformation Lifestyle 