Unity in the Body

Psalm

133:1

A song of ascents. By David: Oh, how good, how pleasant it is for brothers to livetogether in harmony.

Ephesians

4:1-6;11-13

Therefore I, the prisoner united with the L-rd, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling towhich you have been called.

Always be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love,

and making every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit gives through the binding power of shalom.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as when you were called you were called to onehope.

And there is one L-rd, one trust, one immersion,

and one G-d, the Father of all, who rules over all, works through all and is in all.

Furthermore, he gave some people as emissaries, some as prophets, some asproclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers.

Their task is to equip G-d's people for the work of service that builds the body of theMessiah,

until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of G-d, at fullmanhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah's perfection.

For approximately 2000 years the Messianic community has been inturmoil. As believers in Messiah Yeshua, both Jewish and Non-Jewishbelievers have been persecuted and judged by our families, communities,governments, occupying forces, denominations even Yisra'el.But there is a vast misconception among believers and non-believers,history records several revivals of the Messianic Movement over the past2000 years. But that is all it accurately records, these so called revivals of the “movement”.What is a movement? We need to look at the definitions;The Websters 1973 New World Dictionary says;

1] a movement is described as: working together to bring about the same

The Messianic Community/Common Unity - MRav McDonald2006 MBI-Canada Conference Halifax NS

result.

And Websters describes a community:

2] community:a] all of the people who live in a particular district, city, region etc;b] a group of people living together and having similar interests.C] the sharing of a common goal, belief or goal.

There are some major differences between a movement and acommunity. Movements tend to start strong and move very fast, but tendto burn out as rapidly as they begin, leaving very little behind other thandestruction, and hurting people to fend for themselves.Where as a community is like minded individuals and families allworking towards a common goal, even though there are minor differencesof opinion, in a Community the core values and beliefs are the same.Even in this assembly we are a community, as we are working togetherfor a common goal.

COMMON – UNITY

Each one of us is here for a common goal or goals. Some personal,some family, and some “community”.1.Fellowship – As many of us are scattered around the globe. And inthis day and age there are few physical communities for us to be ableto look out and see our fellow brothers and sisters of like mind, fromour front or back porches.2.Assembling together of Believers – Many of us are in areas with out aShul or fellowship, or even cell group. So attendance here and onlineis our basic contact with fellow believers for assembly.3.Education – Some are here for educational purposes. To be fed, tofeed. For Information.4.Some are here seeking information on what it is to be Messianic.5.Some are here because the Ruach HaKodesh has placed the burden orconviction on their hearts.6.Some are here for membership purposes. Seeking information orhere to join7.many many reasons, as why we are here...Just what do we have in common? What is it that binds us together as

The Messianic Community/Common Unity - MRav McDonald2006 MBI-Canada Conference Halifax NS

a community.I want each of you to think about this for a minute. What is the bindingagent that holds us all together?(pause)

Salvation in and through Messiah Yeshua!!

There are many commonalities and many differences, but the COREbelief and agreement is Yeshua and Torah Obedience. Of this I have nodoubt.I truly believe that without Yeshua, there can be no community. Jewishand non-Jewish Believers in Messiah Yeshua. We are bound together byour acceptance and faith in Messiah Yeshua.We have more in comon as a community than we would as amovement. In this community of Believers our community is strengthenedby many things.To me Salvation in Messiah Yeshua and Torah Obedience are the mostimportant. Not because they make me more holy, or better than anyoneelse, and not because it is the “right” thing to do, but it is what G-d tells usHe wants us to do.NO!! Because we are told in:

John 14:

"If you love me, you will keep my commands;

John 14:

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me,and the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and revealmyself to him."

There is a specific promise that goes with keeping the Most High'scommandments.But equally as important, if we claim to be of Messiah Yeshua we MUSTwalk as He walked. And He walked in Torah.1 John 2:

3- 6

2:3

The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands.

The Messianic Community/Common Unity - MRav McDonald2006 MBI-Canada Conference Halifax NS