MAINTAINING THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE: Truth and Transformation Build Unity
Our GBFC Devotions Ministry continues to focus on a prayer list that Pastor Wayne Cockrell created a few months ago for the Genesis Bible Fellowship Church Family. In this ministry of encouragement our writers will devote a week to one topic, and we pray that you will be blessed by their words of exhortation.
SCRIPTURE: “I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3
Lies and hypocrisy cause disunity, but truth and transformation build unity. Disunity and conflict are Satan’s agenda for our journey. Although he cannot take a believers’ salvation, he wants to make the journey miserable and confusing. Satan loves confusion and will use any device and anyone whose heart is unguarded to bring disunity, but God’s desire for the Body of Christ is unity evidenced by peace and harmony.
Jesus Christ was unified with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the redemption of mankind, thereby equipping us with everything we need to stand firm in one spirit in the bond of peace. Iron occurs in the red blood cells where it serves to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In the Body of Christ, we should be as iron to motivate others to breathe a little easier by encouraging and edifying one another. As iron, we also are to sharpen one another and stimulate a positive friction that brings unity.
Pleasing God is truly a work of the Spirit and conflict will reveal whether you handle differences from a biblical perspective or a fleshly perspective. God desires to work in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Someone has said: “In essentials, unity, in nonessentials, liberty, in all things, charity.”
Prayer: Thank You Lord that as a “work in progress,” I am never too old to grow in that which is necessary to be conformed to Your image. Yes, Lord pain is inevitable, misery is optional, and conflict is inevitable, but it will only reveal my true spirituality. Break my heart for what breaks Yours.
By Sis. Cheryl Torain
Jesus Christ was unified with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the redemption of mankind, thereby equipping us with everything we need to stand firm in one spirit in the bond of peace. Iron occurs in the red blood cells where it serves to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In the Body of Christ, we should be as iron to motivate others to breathe a little easier by encouraging and edifying one another. As iron, we also are to sharpen one another and stimulate a positive friction that brings unity.
Pleasing God is truly a work of the Spirit and conflict will reveal whether you handle differences from a biblical perspective or a fleshly perspective. God desires to work in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Someone has said: “In essentials, unity, in nonessentials, liberty, in all things, charity.”
Prayer: Thank You Lord that as a “work in progress,” I am never too old to grow in that which is necessary to be conformed to Your image. Yes, Lord pain is inevitable, misery is optional, and conflict is inevitable, but it will only reveal my true spirituality. Break my heart for what breaks Yours.
By Sis. Cheryl Torain
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
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7 Comments
Amen, Sis. Cheryl.
Amen, Sis. Cheryl. Thank You LORD for Your patience to getting us to be what You want us to be day by day. Help us to see more clearly, love You more dearly, and follow You more nearly.AmenðŸ™ðŸ½
Amen!
Amen!!🙌ðŸ½ðŸ™ŒðŸ½
Yes Lord. If only we would recognize the true enemy of our souls.
Amen 🙠Amen!
Yes, It takes growth and "intentional" submission to Jesus' purpose and pleasure to be about His bond of Peace...thank you, Sis Cheryl!