Today’s New Covenant nugget is from Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Acts 2:2-4 says, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all WITH ONE ACCORD in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The Greek word translated as ‘with one accord’ is ‘homothymadón’… it literally means ‘to be in perfect harmony’… each one with his, or her own uniqueness of expression, but making the effort to BLEND with others of like faith. When you harmonize, you listen intently to those around you, and you adapt your voice to their voices, so that there is only one sound… perfect harmony.
After Jesus’ ascension, when the disciples got into perfect harmony with each other, the POWER of God fell! A house DIVIDED will never stand, but a house in perfect harmony will never fall! Because of this LAW of ‘the POWER of unity,’ one of the enemy’s greatest goals is to sow discord among the brethren, and ‘sistren’… There are laws in the kingdom of God, the law of faith, the law of love, the law of sowing and reaping, the law of the power of unity, and several other laws… just like the law of gravity, these laws always operate, and when we use these laws as intended, they are very powerful. The laws of the power of unity and the law of destruction and death in division are very important to have revelation on if we desire to continue in the Lord’s blessings!
As a church, we have to continually focus on doing what it takes to harmonize with one another, in order to maintain maximum power!
To harmonize a person can maintain their own perspectives, their own uniqueness, and their own priorities, but not at the expense of our harmony… in other words, as with harmony, you can sing with your own unique voice, but in order to harmonize, you must sing in the same key as those around you, and you have to make an effort to blend your voice with their voices… this takes a willful effort on your part to not be out of sync in any way… if the group slows down, you slow down, if the group emphasizes an expression, you emphasize it, like they are doing it, and if they change keys, you change with them. To create and maintain harmony, you lean in towards one another, listen, and then make one sound.
Paul had to encourage and admonish the church in Corinth regarding this trap of the enemy, in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (TPT) with these words… “I urge you, my brothers and sisters, for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree to live in unity with one another (The Amplified Bible says, ”that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement”) and put to rest any division that attempts to tear you apart. Be restored as one united body living in perfect harmony. Form a consistent choreography among yourselves, having a common perspective with shared values.
My dear brothers and sisters, I have a serious concern I need to bring up with you, for I have been informed by those of Chloe’s house church that you have been destructively arguing among yourselves.
And I need to bring this up because each of you is claiming loyalty to different preachers. Some are saying, “I am a disciple of Paul,” or, “I follow Apollos,” or, “I am a disciple of Peter the Rock,” and some, “I belong only to Christ.” But let me ask you, is Christ divided up into groups? Did I die on the cross for you? At your baptism did you pledge yourselves to follow Paul?”
Some people in the church in Corinth had fallen into the trap of the enemy, causing division… maybe not on purpose, but regardless of intent, they fell into the enemy’s trap. It is so easy to get into conversations that disrupt harmony… “he is more anointed than she is, can I just ‘share’ with you something that is bothering me…” seemingly innocent conversations can draw us out of harmony, and the affect the POWER of God in our house.
Now, if you are in a group of singers, if someone is out of harmony, everyone stops and helps that person to blend… in the same way, if you are having a conversation with someone… listen intently to them, and if they are saying something that may disrupt the group harmony, something critical, something negative, something that creates suspicion, or something that may create loyalty to one person, while pulling away from another… if that happens, deal with it immediately… in love, and with grace, but correct and re-steer the conversation in a positive direction, and do not get pulled into the trap!
As a pastor, I am constantly ‘leaning in’ and intently listening to make sure that HARMONY is maintained! Harmony between my wife and I, between myself and those that I am called to, and between others, and their relationships, and conversations with one another. When I hear something, (personally, in the spirit realm, or if word gets to me) that our HARMONY is under fire… I take it VERY seriously. I pray fervently against the spirits of division, I plead the blood, receive communion, and I stand ready to confront, and to correct if needed.
I call upon all of you to lean in, and to do whatever it takes to keep the perfect harmony going… as long as we all do this, we will be operating in maximum power, and our team will be known for signs, wonders, miracles and supernatural exploits in Christ!
In His amazing Love, Nick
