Unanimous

Unanimous

It seems amazing that there is so little unanimity within the body of Christ. In our churches, even of the same denomination, there can be a startling array of points of view. On some subjects this may be acceptable, however, on others, it leads to confusion and despair among those who are looking for the help. If this was your physical body, the one reading this, and you had different uncoordinated signals going out to arms and legs, etc., you would be classed as handicapped. I’m afraid that the Body of Christ might be put in that category!
Diversity—a neutral term—difference of culture, language, skin color, and even opinion. In some instances positive, in others negative. In the first century church of Ephesus there was a negative example of diversity.

In Ephesians chapter 4, the apostle Paul is counseling against a diversity of gospels—different “good news”; there is only one body—not a body for Jews, and one for followers of Zeus and one for Christ and etc. Neither is there a Spirit for the follower of Brahma and a Spirit for ones belonging to Moloch and another for those of Christ. There is only one way we may expect to find salvation, and one God who calls to this salvation (verse 4). There is only one Lord, not many. There is only one faith, not several. There is only one baptism, not one for each level you move up in the faith (verse 5). Finally, there is only one God the Father of all believers, over everything material or spiritual, moving through all those who are His, and lastly dwelling in all who are His (verse 6).

But, there is diversity of the gifts that He gives (verse 7). In the giving, Paul illustrates with the King who stands to go to war (verse 9) descending from his dais. This King is the one who came down to earth (not to hell). He was, and he went back to heaven to finish the plan of redemption (verse 10). While on earth he took many captives (verse 8). These captives He then gave as gifts to men. These captives are the sent ones (apostles, verse 11). Of the sent ones, there are those who speak for Him (prophets, verse 11), those who speak the good news (evangelists, verse 11), those who shepherd others (pastors, verse 11), and those who instruct (teachers, verse 11).

This diversity is for the complete furnishing of the holy ones (saints). What is the equipping? “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto (ἀποστέλλω—apostello) them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:14-17). Paul knew of the importance of this baptism from Jesus, “And Ananias … entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me (ἀποστέλλω—apostello), that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 9:17).

The result of this is “that we attain a unity of the truth of God’s Son” (Eph 4:13). And once being unanimous about who Christ is, we will no long be tossed about and deceived by those with other “revelations” of who and what Christ is (verse 14).

So, speak the truth, with love, and because of love, to those who are in the darkness of their own specious revelations. This will cause us to grow greater, into Him, our head or source of authority (verse 15).

The conclusion is that if we all have the same Spirit, He will tell us the same thing. That is why the first work of the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers is to lead the church to the baptism of Jesus and commanded by Jesus himself-- "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" Luke 24:49.