Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down the beard, the bread of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments (Psalm 133:1-2). The Psalmist is comparing unity with the anointing of the High Priest. “He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him” (Leviticus 8:12). Consecrate means to set apart. Aaron was anointed with oil to set him apart. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Our love for one another sets us apart for the glory of our Lord Jesus. Unity is an anointing. The anointing is from God. The Father ordained it, Jesus spoke it into reality and the Holy Spirit delivers unity.

“Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). Unity requires lowliness (humility) and gentleness with longsuffering. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind (humility) let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:1-3). Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Blessed are you if you are poor in your spirit (humble).

“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ (unity), both which are in heaven and which are on earth–in Him” (Ephesians 1:7-10). “He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble'” (James 4:6). “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever” (1 Peter 4:9-11 ).

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). What is grace? Our sins forgiven and no longer counted against us – our debt, the penalty for sin, paid. What is unity? Coming together in Jesus name as one body. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down the beard, the bread of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments (Psalm 133:1-2). Unity is an anointing from God. Unity through grace. Jesus came and died that our sins would be forgiven and our sins would no longer keep us from our Father in heaven. Our brothers’ and sisters’ sins are forgiven by the same blood that washed us clean. Are we to go to the grave and dig up the old self and present the old self to our brothers and sisters? Are we to dig up their old selves and present them? NO!

And He (Jesus) said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer'” (Matthew 21:13). Where do we go when we need forgiveness? To God in prayer. Where do we go for anointing? To God in prayer. “The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him” (1 John 2:27 ). The anointing will teach you. Love is required for unity. Grace was sent into the world because God so loved the world (John 3:16). Where does love come from? Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Love comes from God. Unity comes from God – unity is an anointing. Go to God in prayer and wait for Him to answer. Hear the voice of God.

“It (unity) is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing — life forevermore” (Psalm 133:3). “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you'” (Jeremiah 7:22-23). Jesus said to love the Lord your God, love your neighbor as yourself and love one another. Jesus said, from His own mouth, “love.” God said, “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people.”

Jesus spoke and said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). Remember God said, “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people.” Jesus also spoke these words, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). How do you want to be loved? Do you want to be loved with bitterness, envy and gossip? Or do you want to be loved with forgiveness, mercy and grace? Maintaining unity in the body requires forgiveness. Jesus asked us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Jesus, told us, “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

My daughter’s youngest son recently found out that his grandmother on his father’s side has leukemia. Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. When leukemia develops, the body produces large numbers of abnormal blood cells. In most types of leukemia, the abnormal cells are white blood cells. The abnormal white blood cells attack and destroy the normal functioning blood cells. My grandson tells his mother, “I don’t want grandma to go away.” The young boy knows that when part of the body isn’t functioning properly the body can die. We, the Church, are a body.

It is written, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). Before you bring your gift to the body of Christ, be reconciled to your brother. If a brother or sister in the Church has something against you, go to them and embrace them; ask them to forgive you and give forgiveness if another has offended you. Before you give your gift, pray to our Father in heaven and ask Him to forgive you of the hidden sins in your life, the underlying faults that keep us from being in unity. Before we bring our gifts to the body of Christ, let’s pray together for the anointing of unity ordained by our Father, spoken by the Son of God and placed into us by the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray as one body for forgiveness and the anointing of unity and let us have a time of stillness before our God and listen for His voice and then we will bring our gifts to the body of Christ. Please take a moment to embrace one another in Christian love and then let’s come together for prayer.

© 2005 Tim D. Coulter Sr.