How the Unity of The Spirit can be Broken

Driving home: And the relevance of the tragedy of Samson is that what happened to him as an individual when he grieved away the Spirit, he went from a posture of great youthfulness to one of weakness, impotence, and shame can happen t…

Used as an initial example of sadness and forfeited integrity, setting a somber tone for the sermon's theme of spiritual loss.

Ephesians 4 and verse 30, and I shall read verses 30 through 32. It's a cause of sadness to read the account of Adam and Eve banished from Eden, clothing themselves with shame and crippled with forfeited integrity. It's a cause of sadness to read the account of God looking down on the ancient world and pained at his own heart that he ever made man and saying, I'll start all over again, and he blots out the entire race. With the exception of one man in his family called Noah. That's sad.

1:09 - 2:21 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And the relevance of the tragedy of Samson is that what happened to him as an individual when he grieved away the Spirit, he went from a posture of great youthfulness to one of weakness, impotence, and shame can happen t…

Used as an example of God's sadness and judgment, highlighting the severity of human sin and its consequences.

Ephesians 4 and verse 30, and I shall read verses 30 through 32. It's a cause of sadness to read the account of Adam and Eve banished from Eden, clothing themselves with shame and crippled with forfeited integrity. It's a cause of sadness to read the account of God looking down on the ancient world and pained at his own heart that he ever made man and saying, I'll start all over again, and he blots out the entire race. With the exception of one man in his family called Noah. That's sad.

1:09 - 2:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Maintain the presence of an ungrieved Holy Spirit in the totality of our life and ministry.

Illustrates the sadness of a man after God's own heart being cut off in midlife due to sin, and living with the lasting consequences, even after repentance.

It's sad to read the account of a man after God's own heart named David, given such privilege and raised to such heights of usefulness, cut off at the knees in midlife because he lusted with his eyes, committed adultery and plotted murder, and lived in hypocrisy and duplicity. And even after he was brought...

2:22 - 2:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Maintain the presence of an ungrieved Holy Spirit in the totality of our life and ministry.

The primary illustration for the sermon's introduction, showing how a life once marked by usefulness became one of impotence and shame after grieving the Spirit, serving as a warning for churches.

Samson... Samson, that puzzling figure who served as one of the judges of ancient Israel.

3:19 - 3:25 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Because that unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace which He has made with us in the world is not a mere part of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not a part of the work of the Holy Spirit. But it is also a part of th…

Compares remaining sin to bacteria that constantly seeks to multiply and rupture the unity of the Spirit, emphasizing the need for diligent maintenance.

made with us in the world is not a mere part of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not a part of the work of the Holy Spirit. But it is also a part of the work of the Holy Spirit. That's what Jesus said in the book of Revelation I read in the book of Genesis. And itself the bacteria of remaining sin is always seeking to multiply itself and unless we give unity of the spirit in the bond of peace the bacteria of envy and jealousy and suspicion and ill will and a host of other things will so multiply that a church can become nothing

21:00 - 22:27 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Because that unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace which He has made with us in the world is not a mere part of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not a part of the work of the Holy Spirit. But it is also a part of th…

A vivid metaphor for a church that has allowed the 'bacteria' of sin to multiply, becoming a 'putrid gathering' due to disunity.

but a putrid gathering that has a horrible likeness to that stinking piece of meat so the pivotal text here in ephesians 4 i believe warrants the language the holy spirit is grieved when the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace is not consciously and diligently maintained now having looked at the pivotal text which addresses the subject now secondly what are the primary ways in which the unity of the spirit is not consciously and diligently maintained what are the primary ways in which the unity of the spirit is not consciously and diligently maintained and as i have labored to try to redu...

22:27 - 23:54 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God says he abominates those who sow discord. Why? Because the one who sows discord is undermining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Used to illustrate how a 'whisperer' can sow discord and suspicion, leading to tragic consequences, even murder, based on a small seed of doubt.

before his brethren, has not raised suspicions about his integrity, but by dropping a seed here and a seed there, you can sow discord. That's why the Scripture says in Proverbs 16, 28, it is the whisperer who separates chief friends. The whisperer. It's Iago saying to Othello, what about your wife Desdemona's handkerchief?

32:04 - 32:30 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He addresses the sin of nursing grudges, citing Proverbs 20:22 and 24:29 against seeking recompense. He illustrates this with a child's misunderstanding of 'do unto others' and…

Compares the spirit of nursing grudges to a 'grudge match' or 'grudge war' among street gangs, highlighting the desire for retaliation.

Proverbs chapter 20 and verse 22. Here is the language of a grudge-filled, grudge-permeated spirit. You've heard of it. You've heard about a grudge match.

34:03 - 34:16 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not allow the spirit of a grudge to enter into the orbit of those striving diligently to keep the unity of the Spirit.

A humorous anecdote about a child who misquotes a Psalm to justify vengeance, illustrating the natural human inclination to 'get even' and the tragedy when adults live by such a rule.

It's humorous. And in this young lad, it may have been excusable, but I tell you it's not humorous in adults. One of the families was telling me a few weeks ago of an incident in which the youngest member of the household felt he was wronged by an older member of the household. And all day long he complained about the horrible injustice of what this older member of the household had done to him.

35:19 - 35:45 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not nurse grudges and resentments, which is a disposition that says, 'When I can, I will get even.'

A pastoral example of how grudges and resentments can arise from failed romantic relationships, even when one party was less than gracious, and how this can grieve the Spirit.

It's a disposition of the heart. And may I exhort you, in a congregation, even like this, it would be so easy for grudges and resentments to grow out of shattered romantic interests. As a young man who cast his eyes upon a young woman, something seems to be going and then it comes to naught. And a few weeks later, the young man shows an interest in another young woman.

37:48 - 38:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not look to your own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Compares a championship basketball team to a unified church, illustrating how individual stars focused on their own reputation can prevent team success, while a focus on the 'things of others' (like Michael Jordan feeding Scotty Pippen) leads to victory.

And if it is to be attained, notice what he says, verse 4 not looking each of you to his own things. There will never be this true expression of one accord, of one mind, of the sameness of perspective as long as our gaze is upon ourselves. Each of you not looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. There are certain basketball teams that according to the computers when they feed in and it is amazing what they can do with modern day technology and analyzing athletics, analyzing athletic abilities and all the rest and fed into computers. There are certain basketball ...

41:29 - 42:54 Read in full sermon

The point: If you want to cherish the presence and power and ministry of the Spirit, do not grieve Him by entertaining those sins which would rupture that unity.

Quotes Vine's definition of envy as 'displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantages and charity of others,' clarifying the nature of this sin.

The sins of jealousy and envy. Vine in his well known oft used work used by preachers anyway on the synonyms in the New Testament suggests that envy is that feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantages and charity of others. That's what envy is. That feeling of displeasure when I hear that someone else has succeeded.

50:05 - 50:35 Read in full sermon

The point: If you want to cherish the presence and power and ministry of the Spirit, do not grieve Him by entertaining those sins which would rupture that unity.

Illustrates envy by citing how the chief priests and scribes envied Jesus' success and grip over the masses, leading to His delivery to Pilate.

Someone else is being blessed. It says that for envy Pilate knew that for envy they had delivered up Jesus. The chief priests and the scribes saw the multitudes following our Lord. They saw the success of His grip over the masses.

50:35 - 50:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Rejoice with those who are blessed with children, even if your own heart weeps for barrenness.

Quotes Vine's definition of jealousy as 'the passion of coveting for myself what another has,' clarifying the nature of this sin.

They were losing their grip over the masses. They envied Him. They were feeling of displeasure produced by and witnessing His prosperity. Vine suggests that jealousy is the passion of coveting for myself what another has.

50:51 - 51:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Rejoice with those who are blessed with children, even if your own heart weeps for barrenness.

A classic biblical example of jealousy, illustrating how Saul's coveting of David's favor led to repeated attempts to murder him, showing the destructive power of this sin.

Of course one of the classic examples is Saul and David. God's hand come upon young David but at the same time his hand has been removed from Saul and Saul cannot stand it. He burns with jealousy until that jealousy causes him to pick up his javelin and seek to nail David to the wall on more than one occasion. And that spirit quiets down and David acts nobly and Saul goes through some crocodile tears and says oh you're more righteous and I'll never trouble you again and a few days later he's trying to nail him to the wall or track him down over the Judean hills.

51:11 - 51:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Rejoice with those who are blessed with children, even if your own heart weeps for barrenness.

A pastoral example of how envy can arise when some yearn for children while others in the congregation are blessed with them, challenging believers to rejoice with others despite personal pain.

Horrible sin of jealousy. Oh dear people what horrible possibilities there are in a congregation like this. Some of you yearn to have children and you see some of your sisters here in this congregation every time you turn around they're dandling a new baby on their knee. Can you really rejoice with them while your own heart weeps for your own barrenness and it will and it's not wrong that it does.

51:54 - 52:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Rejoice at God's prosperity upon your brothers and sisters in marriage, even if you are still single.

A pastoral example of how envy can arise when single individuals see their friends getting married, challenging them to rejoice in God's prosperity upon others.

God did not chide the mother of Samuel for her tears wrung out of the pain of her barrenness but can you rejoice when God gives fruitful wounds to others or do you feel a burning spirit of envy God blesses her womb why not mine and the test is this if you draw back from that woman when her tummy begins to swell and you cannot rejoice with her while she speaks glowingly of the anticipation of the birth of her little one if God's blessing on her wound puts distance between you it's a good sign envy has taken root in your heart you've prayed that God would give you a godly wife a godly husband yo...

52:30 - 53:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Rejoice when God blesses your brother financially, instead of harboring envy or jealousy.

A pastoral example of how envy can arise when someone struggles financially while a younger person is quickly blessed with wealth, challenging believers to rejoice in others' blessings.

and blessing of God in that area upon others jealousy the passion of coveting for yourself what another has many of you struggling to get together that down payment and you've been working at it for ten years and along comes some young buck just barely dry behind the ears and in five years he's been so blessed he's got the money to put the thing down and he's in his house and every time you think of it instead of rejoicing and saying Lord as you've blessed my brother so in due course you'll bless me down underneath there's a spirit of envy and a spirit of jealousy dear people we're to endeavor...

53:58 - 55:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Be jealous to maintain doctrinal integrity in this place, for without it, unity will fracture.

Illustrates the importance of doctrinal unity for corporate worship by comparing a disunified church to a choir at Carnegie Hall where everyone sings different parts, preventing 'one mouth' from glorifying God.

I thought well suppose we went into Carnegie Hall next Christmas time when they have the Messiah every year and when everyone 200 voices are all singing worthy is the land that was slain to receive blessing and glory and honor and power you got a tenor over here and an alto over there and a bass there and a soprano there singing a section out of the hallelujah chorus and sit there and say what's happened to this crazy bunch and suddenly handles beautiful capturing of the spirit of that marvelous text from Revelation worthy is the land that was slain in my preparation I couldn't help but sing i...

59:49 - 61:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Receive one another even as Christ received you to the glory of God.

A personal anecdote about growing up in Connecticut with various ethnic neighborhoods and their derogatory terms for each other, illustrating how prejudice and carnal stereotyping are 'inbred' into people.

says is a true witness but here comes a man into your church there at Ephesus and you say where are you from well I'm on a business trip where do you oh I'm from the Isle of Crete and immediately everyone grabs their purses and sticks them under their seats and a word goes around don't believe anything that comes out of this guy's mouth he's a Cretan they're all a bunch of liars don't invite him to your home he'll pick your cupboard bare they're gluttons what a terrible thing it would be that would be a carnal stereotyping not giving this man a chance to show that yes my fellow countrymen have...

64:13 - 65:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Receive one another even as Christ received you to the glory of God.

Illustrates the pervasive nature of prejudice by pointing out divisions even within ethnic groups (e.g., light blacks vs. darker blacks, Cubans with different bloodlines), showing how sin builds walls between people.

says is a true witness but here comes a man into your church there at Ephesus and you say where are you from well I'm on a business trip where do you oh I'm from the Isle of Crete and immediately everyone grabs their purses and sticks them under their seats and a word goes around don't believe anything that comes out of this guy's mouth he's a Cretan they're all a bunch of liars don't invite him to your home he'll pick your cupboard bare they're gluttons what a terrible thing it would be that would be a carnal stereotyping not giving this man a chance to show that yes my fellow countrymen have...

64:13 - 65:40 Read in full sermon