UNITY: THE BOND OF REVIVAL

Lesson 7 for August 17, 2013

UNITY

JESUS’ PRAYER

EXAMPLES OF UNITY

THE BODY

THE BUILDING

COMPONENTS OF UNITY

THE MISSION

THE MESSAGE

ORGANIZATIONREACHING UNITY

JESUS’ PRAYER“20Hindi lamang sila ang idinadalangin ko, kundi sila rin naman na mga nagsisisampalataya sa akin sa pamamagitan ng kanilang salita; 21Upang silang lahat ay maging isa; na gaya mo, Ama, sa akin, at ako'y sa iyo, na sila nama'y suma atin: upang ang sanglibutan ay sumampalataya na ako'y sinugo mo. 22At ang kaluwalhatiang sa aki'y ibinigay mo ay ibinigay ko sa kanila; upang sila'y maging isa, na gaya naman natin na iisa; 23Ako'y sa kanila, at ikaw ay sa akin, upang sila'y malubos sa pagkakaisa; upang makilala ng sanglibutan na ikaw ang sa akin ay nagsugo, at sila'y iyong inibig, na gaya ko na inibig mo. (John 17:20-23)

Why was so important for Jesus that we may be one, with hearts as one? Could

you relate that with revival?

EXAMPLES OF UNITY: THE BODY

“12 Sapagka't kung paanong ang katawan ay iisa, at mayroong maraming mga sangkap, at ang lahat ng mga sangkap ng katawan, bagama't marami, ay iisang katawan; gayon din naman si Cristo.2727 Kayo nga ang katawan ni Cristo, at bawa't isa'y samasamang mga sangkap niya. ” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27)

“The bonds of unity which unite member with member of the church are to be as firm and harmonious in their operation as are the different parts of the natural body. The hands, head, and feet are so closely united, and so mutually dependent, that one member cannot live and act independently of the other members”

E.G.W. (Manuscript Releases, t. 19, MR No. 1414, p. 370)

EXAMPLES OF UNITY: THE BUILDING“20Na mga itinatayo sa ibabaw ng kinasasaligan ng mga apostol at ng mga propeta, na si Cristo Jesus din ang pangulong bato sa panulok; 21Na sa kaniya'y ang buong gusali, na nakalapat na mabuti, ay lumalago upang maging isang templong banal sa Panginoon; ” (Ephesians 2:20-21)

How can I be a “living stone”

(2P. 2:5) that helps in making my

church grow in unity?

COMPONENTS OF UNITY: THE MISSION

Our Mission — The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel in the context of the Three Angels' messages of Revelation 14:6-12, leading them to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and to unite with His church, and nurturing them in preparation for His soon return.

(Official declaration of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church)

How can sharing one mission and one goal help in building our unity?

COMPONENTS OF UNITY: THE MESSAGEAlthough the mission of the Church has been the same since Jesus commissioned it, the specific message It should highlight has been changing over time, depending on the circumstances.Peter talked about a “present truth” (2P. 1:12). For the Waldensians, that “present truth” was the study of the Bible and identifying the Catholic Church as Babylon. For Luther and the first Reformers, the highlighted truth was the justification by faith.

Which is the “present truth” for the Adventist Church in the End Time? How can that message lead us to

internal unity?

As a united Church, we must preach the message of:

The Heavenly SanctuaryThe Investigative JudgmentThe message of the three angels

COMPONENTS OF UNITY: ORGANIZATION“5 Dahil dito'y iniwan kita sa Creta, upang husayin mo ang mga bagay na nagkukulang, at maghalal ng mga matanda sa bawa't bayan, na gaya ng ipinagbilin ko sa iyo; ” (Titus 1:5)

The unity of the Church depended on Its organization from Its very beginning.

1. The authority of the apostles was accepted (Acts 1:12-26)

2. The authority of the deacons was accepted (Acts 6:1-7)

3. When Jesus contacted Saul, He directed him to the organization of the Church (Acts 9:1-19, 26-31)

4. The Church accepted the decisions of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-31)

5. The elders were accepted as leaders in the local churches (Acts 20: 27-32)

Could we achieve unity if every believer acted independently?

“To provide for the support of the ministry, for carrying the work in new fields, for protecting both the churches and the ministry from unworthy members, for holding church property, for the publication of the truth through the press, and for many other objects, organization was indispensable…

We sought the Lord with earnest prayer that we might understand His will, and light was given by His Spirit that there must be order and thorough discipline in the church—that organization was essential. System and order are manifest in all the works of God throughout the universe. Order is the law of heaven, and it should be the law of God’s people on the earth…

Let none entertain the thought that we can dispense with organization. It has cost us much study and many prayers for wisdom, that we know God has answered, to erect this structure. It has been built up by His direction, through much sacrifice and conflict. Let none of our brethren be so deceived as to attempt to tear it down, for you will thus bring in a condition of things that you do not dream of. In the name of the Lord I declare to you that it is to stand, strengthened, established, and settled”

E.G.W. (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, cp. 1, pg. 26-27)

REACHING UNITYThe mission, the

message and organization are

indispensable for the unity of the Church. Nevertheless, unity

could not be achieved without the

three elements we already studied.

1. Prayer2. Bible study3. Witnessing

Those are powerful elements that create, foster, and sustain the unity of the church.

AND HAPPAY SABBATH TO ALL