Unity in Christ for married couples

 
Our church had a ‘date night’ yesterday with a delicious catered meal, some silly games, and speakers who told us how to strengthen our marriages. The couples were attentive yet those of us married a long time kept wanting to add something to the advice given. Friends at the next table had sixty-three years together. We talked and the end and the husband echoed our ‘secret’ of a happy marriage in three words: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Today’s reading is about the unity produced by the Holy Spirit in the early church. He came on the day of Pentecost and changed their lives.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…

That was the beginning of what God intended to do and still wants for those who believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him. Paul wrote to the church:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1–6)

Our unity is because of the Holy Spirit. As we talked with two other long-married couples last night, we agreed on the power of the Lord to bring unity to marriages. I remember someone saying that the closer two people move toward God, the closer they become to each other. This works in relationships with other believers and is really true for marriages. Christian marriages are not exempt from separation and divorce yet behind all rifts and splits are lies from the pit. Satan does not want “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” so if he can get us to sin, he will ruin unity and marriage.

One of the ‘tips’ stressed by the speakers was communication. They didn’t mention the power of God to deepen this between couples, but I noticed something reading about the early church. When the Holy Spirit filled them, they began to communicate with others as never before. In that event, they “began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1–4)

Reading through shows how this involved people with languages they did not previously understand. I chuckled because that is like getting married — two people eventually realize they do not understand one another! However, the Holy Spirit took care of that problem as: “both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:11) This list is longer with several nations involved. God can do that with us too, not so much speaking in other tongues but helping couples hear and understand what at first seems foreign to them.

It began with those who knew Jesus and “with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer”(Acts 1:14). While prayer was mentioned at the date night, the power of God to make marriage last and glorify God in the process is the work of the Holy Spirit.

PRAY: Jesus, while You gave me a few other worthwhile ‘tips’ to strengthen our marriage, seeing Your power to bridge gaps in communication is wonderful. I need to always listen and obey as You tell me to speak and act in ways that make our marriage stronger and that will help others who are curious and want the same unity.

At odds? Or united?

We just came through a provincial election with lots of mud-slinging and name-calling. At times it seemed childish, like the boasting and posturing on a playground or the divisions on social media, or drivers arguing whether domestic cars are better than imports.

One thing that is common in the world is disagreement. It starts in the nursery and continues through every part of life. However, there are exceptions. A most notable one is described in the Bible book of Acts with its outstanding narrative describing the unity that prevailed among the Christians. This unity is initially described at the first prayer meeting:

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (Acts 1:14)

The words ‘one accord’ come from a Greek word that means mutual consent or agreement, with one mind, by common consent, unanimously. In other words, they prayed for the same things with the same desires in their hearts and minds.

The next instance is their preparation for Pentecost, a harvest festival celebrated by the Jews fifty days after Passover. “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.” (Acts 2:1) These new Christians, relatively few in number at 120 or maybe more, were united in location and in desire. They had recently agreed on a replacement for Judas and were together when the Holy Spirit came with a sound like wind and the sign of “tongues of fire” appearing and resting over each one.

The Holy Spirit was their unifying power. God would tell them to live by Him, speak as He gave them words, do what He told them, walking in Him and not in the flesh. Humanly, they would not be able to agree on the things of God, but when guided and filled with the Spirit of God, they would be united. That unity was soon revealed in their sharing of goods and consistent togetherness as seen in these familiar passages . . .

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:43–47)

 Later, when challenged by religious authorities, they prayed for boldness and got it. They also were together in the main message as they taught and preached to others:

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. (Acts 5:42)

Christians today are aware of what happens if the unity of the Holy Spirit is abandoned and we begin to live in the flesh, allowing our individual thoughts and concerns to push our buttons. James describes the difference:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18)

The Holy Spirit gives meekness, wisdom, purity, peace, gentleness, and unity. The flesh can flare up with jealousy, selfish ambition, and all sorts of disorder and disunity. Paul wrote: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (Galatians 5:16–17)

He goes on to describe the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit so that I can know what is governing my life. If any one of these qualities is missing, I must go to the Lord with a contrite heart and seek His forgiveness and be filled again with the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22–24)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The Bible tells how this worked then and how it works now. Lord God, how I need Your Word and the power of the Holy Spirit to live in unity with others. Grant that today as I meet with others to pray and as I spend time with those who do not yet believe in You. Christian unity is vital, but it depends on being united with You.

Prayer >>> Power

When she heard of a pub planned for a lot across the street from her church, a woman prayed most fervently that this would not happen. When workers arrived to start the project, others in the congregation gave up praying, but she persisted, believing that God didn’t want this pub in that place.

One day the workers didn’t show up. For reasons unknown, they never came back. The lot remains vacant and the church rejoices in the power of prayer.

The early church discovered this power also. While Jesus was with them, He told the disciples they would have power in prayer. “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven . . . if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:18–20)

After Jesus ascended to heaven, they were united in one place, “devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14). When the day of Pentecost arrived . . .

Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1–4)

As a result of their prayer, God gave them Holy Spirit power to share the Gospel in various languages and the crowds gathered for this Jewish celebration heard the Good News about Jesus in their own speech.

Not long after that, Peter and John were going into the temple when they encountered a lame man begging for alms. They said to the man, “Look at us.” He fixed his attention, expecting to receive something . . .  

But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. (Acts 3:3–8)

On another occasion, Peter was put in jail for preaching the Gospel, but the doors opened and he walked out. Thinking it was a dream, he shook himself and declared, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” When he realized this, he went to the house where many were gathered together in prayer. Even as they asked for Peter’s release, they were astonished at the answer . . .  

And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” (Acts 12:11–15)

Paul also knew the power of prayer, but he also knew that it was not always exciting or glamorous. In reality, powerful praying can be accompanied by increased spiritual battles and a deep sense of weakness. God had told Paul this: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Power out there and weakness in here seem to go together. However, Paul responded in a determined way, but also in contentment with this reality. He said . . .

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

I know my weakness, and sometimes know His strength, but as for the contentment or the ability to boast about my weaknesses, I’m not there yet.