Let’s take a look at the disciples of Jesus following His ascension (Acts 1:12 – 2:1).

These disciples were doing what they knew to do. They were postured in faith and waiting in expectation. They were “standing under the spout where the glory comes out,” as the old saying goes.

SUDDENLY the glory came! The enabling anointing of the Holy Spirit filled the room, filled the twelve, filled the one hundred and twenty, filled three thousand souls that day, and filled much of Jerusalem as those converted believers properly responded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit Who now filled their souls. See Acts 2:42-47:

How do we posture ourselves today? How do we pursue and release the glory of God that has been deposited within us to bring us to this unity?

OUR ATTITUDE

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:1-3

The unity of the Spirit is given to us through the Spirit and embraced by walking in the Spirit. We cannot do anything to add to the unity of the Spirit. We walk in that bond of peace by faith, with humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, love and diligence. We hang onto what we believe regardless of circumstances or the actions and reactions of others.

OUR BELIEF

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all who is over all and through all and in all. – Ephesians 4:4-6

We don’t bow to divisive denominational prejudices or differing doctrinal positions. We recognize that our understanding is in part and flawed (and so is everyone else’s). Therefore, we are not threatened or made insecure by such differences. We maintain our believe that we are one in Christ Jesus.

We hold to the truth that the whole is greater than any part thereof, and set our priorities accordingly. His kingdom is vital, ours is invalid. Therefore, we sacrificially give preference to all that builds toward the manifest glory and unity that will convince the world that God sent His Son and that He loves us.

OUR GIFT(S)

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (Now the expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) – Ephesians 4:7-10

It is beyond human conceptualization – beyond our intellectual capacity to grasp – that God has somehow made a way to fit all of Him into all of us! Even as one individual, I am filled with all the fullness of God!

The Ascended One defies time and space because God is Spirit. And, He chooses to give spirituals (spiritual gifts) to His kids. He measures out these gifts according to His perfect plan and our divine destiny. He graces us within that measure.

A key to unity is for us to operate within that grace, to be who we are by His grace, and to glorify Him in that way. As we do so, others see Him in us and upon us, and embrace Him. Unity, oneness, is experienced as this principle is practiced throughout the body of Christ.

We have been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come! – Hebrews 6:4-5

We know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. – I Corinthians 13:9

OUR EQUIPPERS

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. – Ephesians 4:11-13

Because we know in part, we must grow until we all attain:

God has gifted us with people to equip us for our ministries and guide us into that mature level of unity and oneness:

We need all five gifts in our lives for balanced and fully orbed growth. The partial will be done away with, and the perfect will come, as we submit ourselves under this mighty hand of God for the molding of our souls unto His character and our purpose in Him.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. – Hebrews 13:17

OUR OBJECTIVE

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. – Ephesians 4:14-16

Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is

Christ in you, the hope of glory.

We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

– Colossians 1:25-29

What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. – I John 1:3-4

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10

Let’s pursue our destiny with everything that is in us – Christ, the Anointed One!

As we do this, we will grow from

Glory to GLORY
Unity to UNITY
Oneness to ONENESS

He will glorify us as we glorify Him. Others will see Him in us, be drawn to Him in us, and submit to Him in us. We will see Him in others, be drawn to Him in others, and submit to Him in others.

This is our PATHWAY TO UNITY!