Pride Can Destroy Or Hinder the Work of God and Even Kill What Jesus Christ Wants to Do!

When King David wrong about the crucial important of unity in Psalm 133, he knew what he was speaking about and it pays to pay attention to a man who knows what he is speaking about!

David knew all about divisions in the family and in the nation. He had been through it all.

“Behold” says the old King James Translation and so does the Hebrew, “Look. It is so unusual to see! Pause, stop, and gaze upon it, when you see unity and harmony.” It is a rare sight.

David also says how good and how pleasant it is. Pleasant is the same Hebrew word as for harmony in music. It is used of a cornfield, and the sweetness of honey, and dwell implies abiding with the sense of continuing and continuity.

Satan fears the unity of believers, because this is a means of his being defeated. He will do everything in his power to keep disciples of Jesus Christ apart.

We have a responsibility to bring about that unity, and to maintain that unity which we have. Remember, there is God, and God will do things for us which we could never do for ourselves. And there is Satan, who will resist our coming together. In fact, he will do anything to resist any real work of the Living God.

He has done so much to obscure the reality of what took place on the Cross, and he has done much to destroy the unity of the Body of Christ.

This is a high priority in the sight of Jesus Christ, and in the eyes of God.

What is unity like? It is like precious oil. Does that not speak of the Holy Spirit?

Anointing oil is poured on the head and is running down anointing the body.

Anointing oil is fragrant. Unity is fragrant in God’s nostrils. Disunity is a foul smell in the presence of God.

Unity is like sweet perfume. Put it in a jar and allow God to enjoy its fragrance.

It is holy and different and separate and set apart, like the anointing oil for the priest.

It flows and touches everything and everyone. Even the world will take notice according to Jesus’ prayer.

It is like dew from Hermon which is quite a few miles away; 100 miles away from Jerusalem, but falling upon Zion, upon Jerusalem, and it is refreshing and cool and clear. We see each other as priests who are anointed and equipped to serve.

Such unity is still a long long way away.

Oil and water are mixing and mingling and flowing together.

Nowhere in the whole world can that happen. Only in the Church of Jesus Christ can this happen. God bestows His blessing which is even life for evermore.

This man has had such a powerful and mighty vision.

No wonder Satan wants to keep disciples apart fighting, feuding, arguing and disagreeing.

Notice where it is placed in the order of these Psalms – second last.

This is what Jesus prayed about with such concern on His last night on earth, before facing the Cross. Last words are so important.

What is it that keeps believers apart? Is it not the carnal nature or the flesh?

What is the flesh? It is the nature we inherited by our born in sin!

We see this in I Corinthians Chapter 3 verses 1 – 4. This was a significant problem in Corinth. It was envy and strife and division, and Paul says, I had to treat you like babies.

In Corinthians we read of divisions and contentions and people are named and exposed. In Chapter 5 we read of immorality, and in Chapter 6 we read of lawsuits among believers. There was abuse at the table and the misuse of the spiritual gifts. Paul taught the correct and proper use. In Chapter 15 we read of misunderstanding or just wrong belief regarding certain important Christian fundamental doctrines.

Usually, these contentious matters arise as a consequence of pride!

Jose Cubero was a brilliant matador and at 21 he was on the brink of a sparkling career, irrespective of what you think of such a career. He injured a bull so seriously that it collapsed. He considered the struggle was over and thrust the sword in one final time. He turned to acknowledge the applause of the crowd. The bull was not dead. It arose and lunged at the unsuspecting matador. A horn pierced his back and punctured his heart and within a few hours he was dead.

Pride can stab us in the back.

George Whitfield disagreed with John Wesley on some theological questions. Whitfield was asked one day if he thought he would see John Wesley in heaven. He paused before replying. “I fear not. He will be so near the eternal throne, and I at such a distance, I shall hardly get sight of him.”

In Galatians Chapter 5 verse 20, God speaks of those things of our flesh which cause division. We would put some people out of the Church for some of these – but not all of them.

The only answer is crucifixion. The old man has to be crucified. Verse 24 refers to those who are Christ’s; to those who belong to Christ; not a denomination; not Pentecostals, and not charismatics! No label matters. Those who are Christ’s is what Paul is teaching here!

We cannot achieve unity except by the Cross of Jesus Christ.

The goal is right relationships, with Jesus, and with one another.

Unity begins vertically and then horizontally. Jesus prayer is that we be in the Father and in Him, first. The phrase, “to be in Him”, or “in Christ”, is used some 150 times in the New Testament.

We have a security which does not depend upon succeeding. To be secure is to be in Christ. Fear is eliminated and competition is ruled out. That is a wonderful place to live!

The result and the reward is that blessing that flows from unity.

Sandy Shaw