Unity: Growth, Gain and Glory

Kathy Branzell

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing - life forever.” Psalm 133:1-3 (NAS)

What images pop into your head when you hear the word, “unity?” I picture peace, joy, love, patience and even discipleship or mentoring, kindness, … oh, wait! I picture the fruit of the Spirit when I think of unity! Psalm 133 describes how “good and pleasant” unity is in the eyes of God; it is a fresh anointing of God that flows and not only covers us from head to toe, but covers the body of Christ from head to toe. It is also a generous blessing that brings life giving, life-extending power to our days.

Jesus did not call His church to compete with one another; He brought us together to complete His body, to complete the tasks for His Kingdom to come and will to be done. Colossians 3:12-15 says,

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience ; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone ; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."

When we “put on” these attributes and bind them with love, we are dressed for success. This lifestyle models Christ’s rule of our hearts as we lay down any thought of selfish preferences and join hands with one another to fulfill our Kingdom purpose while on earth. Satan hates it; and has to flee when we join together on our knees to seek God for our cities, church and country. Unity in prayer and purpose will also transform nations, but it has to begin with an individual decision to humble yourself and commit to being a forgiving, patient, compassionate, contributing member of the bond of unity. You can bet, as soon as you make this commitment, it will be tested over and over again. Stand firm. As the National Day of Prayer approaches, we are praying that there will be many events that gather people from various churches all over their cities. That Pastors will lock arms and congregations from various denominations will lift up holy hands together to praise and worship our Lord.

Division destroys; it destroys our witness, destroys our influence, and destroys destiny; our Kingdom usefulness. The cure for division is thankfulness. A thankful heart adds strength to the bond and multiplies its impact. Unity multiples personal growth, gains spiritual ground, and brings glory to God. My prayer for all of us, as brothers and sisters in the family of God, is that we will dwell in unity.

- Kathy Branzell, Director of Partnerships