Brethren and sisters, we continue with our main theme, More Than Conquerors, by again looking at those incredible words of Paul: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength". The secret of this passage lies in the concept of union -- our UNION WITH CHRIST.
I wonder what the word "union" means to you? The United States is sometimes called the "Union" because it is a union of different states. Until recently there was a "Soviet Union" -- a supposed union between self-governing countries. And now we hear much about the "European Union", a collection of European states joined by economic ties which will probably become a single political "Union" like the United States one day.
Paul said to the Philippians: "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose" (Phil.2:1-2, NIV).
Here, then, is the key to union with Christ. In the Christian Union if I can call it that, we are united spiritually with Christ. And that union gives the following fruits: like-mindedness, having the same love, and being one in spirit and purpose.
There is only one Christ, only one Spirit of Christ, and only one set of fruits of Christian living. If we are to "do everything through Him who gives us strength" -- everything that God has called this New Covenant Church to do -- then we must -- must -- have the same mind, same love, and the same spirit and purpose.
Of the first disciples, Jesus said: "I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one" (John 17:22, NIV). He wants us -- New Covenant Christians -- to become the New Covenant Union. Let us, as we prepare for the gathering to Kadesh, seek for this union with all our hearts.
Let us pray: Dear Father, we know that you have called to into union with You through Your Son Jesus, and we know that we cannot fully accomplish this until we, Your saints, have union with each other. Grant us this desire of our hearts, so that through union with each other and with you, we may become whole and complete within ourselves, is our fervent prayer, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

This page was created on 16 May 1998 Updated on 16 May 1998

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