Unity Of Heart

by G. Jarvie, Glasgow | Category: General | May 1978

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psa. 133:1).

"The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul" (Acts 4:32).

David had remarkable insight into the ways of God. Psalm 133 shows the spiritual wisdom that God gave him. It was tragic that his later years were clouded by dissension and strife both in the nation and in his own family. In his early days he was a wonderful leader of men, binding the nation into one, and setting up the service of praise in the house of God. We learn much from David's mistakes too; they warn us to cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart. We remember the word, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).

Psalm 133 shows us the importance of unity of heart among the people of God. It is good and pleasant, and it is necessary for the blessing of God. It is like the holy anointing oil that was poured upon Aaron in the day of his consecration to the priesthood. It is also like the dew of Hermon coming down on the mountains of Zion, the place where God commanded the blessing. These two comparisons show how very precious unity of heart must be. We ought to give careful thought to this wonderful unity and its effects.

We are thankful to be united in doctrine, for it has cost much. But unity of heart will also cost much, for none of us is free from the hindrances of self-love and self-confidence.

It was in Zion, the Place of the Name, where the house of God was, where God had commanded the blessing, a blessing realized only when there was unity of heart among the people of God in doing the will of God. God certainly commanded and poured out His blessing in those early days of David's reign. From being a poor defeated nation, Israel was raised to prominence and power, and to the praise of God.

We turn over the pages to read of those early days of the church of God in Jerusalem, and to see something of the blessing of God upon His people in New Testament times. We read of the church in Jerusalem that the disciples were of one heart and soul, even though they were a multitude. At that memorable prayer meeting, the building shook as the Holy Spirit filled them all (Acts 4:31). Like the holy anointing oil, and like the dew of Hermon, the blessing of God came down upon them. The secret of it was two-fold. Firstly they were of one heart and soul; and secondly, they prayed in the Holy Spirit for boldness to speak the Word of God. Can we expect the blessing of God in this late hour before the Master comes? Surely we can if we fulfil the conditions!

Unity of heart, and Spirit-led prayer are essential for the blessing of God in the service of God. If there is one place where we can expect the blessing of God, surely it is in the house of God, for there the Lord commands the blessing. We can attain to unity of heart only if we look away from ourselves to Christ. As we contemplate Him, we shall be delivered from the self-centred life which by nature is in us all. As we yield our lives to Him, we shall know more of the power of the Holy Spirit in our service for Him.

"We all, with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the

Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory,

even as from the Lord the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18).

That is the secret of unity of heart. We shall pray as one, and all will say the Amen. We shall be like-minded, having the mind of Christ, Christ being sanctified as Lord in our hearts.

Our prayer meetings surely impress upon us how much we need this unity of heart, and prayer in the Holy Spirit. Let us fall before God, and confess the little things that so often cause division of heart. If we do so, God will meet with us by the Holy Spirit, as He met with Jacob at Peniel. And even if, as did Jacob, we come from the experience "limping", and lose much of our self-confidence as he did, we will have gained a greater measure of the love of Christ and of the power of the Holy Spirit. Then indeed our prayer meetings will be seasons of blessings to our own souls, and we may yet see the Lord turning many to righteousness. Nothing is impossible with God, and His blessing is assured to those who are one in heart, when they pray in the Holy Spirit.

G. Jarvie, Glasgow | May 1978
General