What does it look like when the body of Christ is completely united in heart and soul? Let’s take a look and see …

1.  There is a great deal of attention given to the Word of God as well as to prayer by the leaders of the church (Acts 6:1-4).

2.  There is also a clear sense of the Lord’s leading in the particular context where that body of believers is located (Acts 6: 1-7).

3.  There is a bold proclamation of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ by the leaders of the body. “With great power the apostles continued to

testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33).

4.  There is also bold proclamation on the part of all believers to all who will listen (Acts 11:19-21).

5.  There is compassion for the poor and needy (Acts 11:27-30).

6.  There is also a passion, sparked by the Holy Spirit, for those who do not know Christ Jesus, both nearby and far away (Acts 11: 19-21; 13:1-3).

7.  There is koinonia fellowship that is desired and is clearly evident, from house to house, family to family, person to person. “Every day they

continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46).

8.  There is also a “coming together” fellowship that does not consider one’s own needs as more important than the needs of the body. “All the

believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need” (Acts 2:44-45).

9.  There is passionate prayer taking place in an un-programmed and purposeful way when the body of Christ calls the church to pray. “When they

heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God … ” (Acts 4:24a).

10. There are also answered prayers as multiple needs are being lifted before the Throne of Grace on multiple levels (Acts 4:31).

11. There are multiple healthy shepherds who are leading the flock and following the Great Shepherd (Acts 11 :30; 13: 1; 15 :6; 21: 17 -18).

12. There are also many healthy sheep who are following the shepherds and the Great Shepherd (Acts 2:47; 5:14; 6:7; 21:20).

13. There is much joy and laughter in reality of what God is doing (Acts l3:52).

14. There are also many tears shed because of the realities of the warfare that is raging all around us (Acts 20:19, 37; 21:l3).

15. There is outrageous generosity when people do crazy things like selling land that has been in the family for generations (Acts 4:36).

16. There is a distinct lack of “one-up-manship” so characteristic of the kingdom of the world (Acts 5: 1-11).

17. There is a clear disinterest in gaining personal credit for what God is doing through His body. “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or

godliness we had made this man walk?” (Acts 3:12b).

18. There is a great interest in the lifting up of our Lord and Savior as the only one worthy of any recognition at all. ” … then know this, you and all

the  people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands

before you healed!” (Acts 4:10).

19. There is a united voice, speaking on behalf of the united triune God, to a lost and fragmented world. “I pray also for those who will believe in me

through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” (John 17:20b-21a).

20. There is also a commensurate and powerful vision of Jesus, sent by the Father, seen in the unity of the body of Christ itself. “May they also be in

us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21b).

Unite us, dear Lord, for your glory!

 

Chris De Welt serves as Director of Missions at Ozark Christian College and is Publisher of College Press Publishing Co., Joplin, MO.

NOTE: Article gleaned from One Body magazine Winter 2013 – Volume 30 – Number 1

            One Body is a publication of Peace On Earth Ministries (POEM), P O Box 275, Joplin, MO 64802, USA