1. Family Life Ministry
2017 Focus: UNITY
Q February 7th: Introduction (What & Why of Unity) February 21st: Family Unity #1 = Marriage Unity March: Family Unity #2 = Siblings Unity (THE PAIN OF CAIN)

2. Announcement – Marriage Class Registration Site
Online Registration Set-up: org/index.php/echurch/marriage -class-enrollment-form
Enrollment form is on the church’s website
Under “E-CHURCH”
Enter required information and click
Session #2:
Starts March 18, 2017

3. February 7th – Introduction
WHAT & WHY OF UNITY?

4. Questions for Tonight’s Study
What is unity? 
Why is unity so important? 
What is the spiritual impact of coming to a place of true unity?

5. What is unity? Dictionary Definitions:
the state of being in full agreement
the quality or state of not being multiple :  oneness
a condition of harmony :  accord
the quality or state of being made one :  unification

6. Text #2 – Psalm 133:1-3 (KJV) Unity Produces Anointing & The Blessing of Life (ZOE)
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

7. Unity Produces Anointing & The Blessing of Life (ZOE) What is the Precious Ointment?
Anointing empowers = Provides enablement (grace) for an office or assignment
Appointment does not equate “anointment”!
HIS APOINTNMENT:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly
HIS ANOINTMENT:
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Jesus was appointed to “do good” (negate all the works of the devil); but He had to be anointed before He could successfully go about His appointment!

8. Unity Produces Anointing & The Blessing of Life (ZOE) What is The Blessing of “Life”?
Psalm 133:3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
In the Greek language, three different words—bios, psuche, and zoe are translated as “life” in English
Here the Greek word for life (Zoe) refers to the uncreated, eternal life of God
Zoe = the divine life uniquely possessed by God = uncreated, incorruptible, indestructible, eternally potent power of God
If your spirit is filled with Zoe life darkness will bow to you of its own accord! (John 1:4)
God commands this Blessing of LIFE (ZOE) when He see UNITY

9. Summary
Oneness was the most important thing to Jesus at the time of His preparation for death; that’s why it was what He prayed for the disciples whom He was leaving behind! (John 17)
Unity (oneness) provokes supernatural anointing; God hates disunity and He will not anoint (empower, enable, give grace for successful outcomes) when He sees disunity! (Proverbs 6:16-19)
God commands the “blessing of Life” (ZOE) when He sees UNITY in a home, family, church, group, etc. (Psalm 133:1-3)

10. Summary
If you’re going to have a divinely enabled success in your family, church, nation, business, relationship, marriage, etc. (i.e. anointed & blessed with zoe life) you must guard unity in/of the group jealously!
The question we must ask ourselves is:
How can we come to the place of TRUE UNITY that will provoke God to ANOINT US FOR OUR ASSIGNMENTS & COMMAND THE BLESSING LIFE (ZOE) on us?
We will be exploring this question as 2017 unfolds…

11. February 21: Family Unity #1 = Marriage Unity
THE POWER OF UNITY IN THE MARRIAGE SETTING

12. Questions for Tonight’s Study
What is disunity? 
Outcomes of disunity 
What’s the original design of God regarding marriage/couples unity?
More blessings of unity
One place vs. one accord…
7 additional blessing of unity

13. Let’s Remind Ourselves - What is unity?
Dictionary Definitions:
the state of being in full agreement
the quality or state of not being multiple :  oneness
a condition of harmony :  accord
the quality or state of being made one :  unification

14. Text #1 – In The Beginning (Divine/Original Design for Marriage)
Genesis 2:21-25
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

15. Texts #2 – Jesus Reiterates the Divine Design of Unity in Marriage
Matthew 19:5-8
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

16. Supporting Texts… Luke 11:17
But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

17. What is disunity? Dictionary Definitions:
The state of not being able to agree about important things…
Synonyms conflict, disaccord, discordance, disharmony, dissension; dissent, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, discord, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, war, warfare
Related Words clash, collision, competition, contention; altercation, argument, bicker, brawl, debate, disagreement, dispute, divide, fissure; falling-out, fight, hassle, jar, miff, mix-up, quarrel, row, run-in, scrap, squabble, wrangle; incompatibility, incongruence, inconsistency, inconsonance, inharmoniousness; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, cold war, enmity, hostility, ill will, rancor
Amos 3:3…Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

18. Outcomes of Disunity Clash/Collision
Disagreement (variance, divergence, disparity)
Hostility (unfriendliness, lack of sympathy)
Strife (trouble, rivalry, dissension, friction)
Contention (argument, controversy, conflict)
Fissure (gap, crevice, fracture, crack)
Antipathy (antagonism, opposition, animosity, resentment)
Clash/Collision
Inharmony (orchestra warm-up example)
Disunion (broken unity)

19. God’s Original Design = Oneness = 1+1 = 1
God’s Original Design = Oneness = 1+1 = 1! Unity = Oneness of Mind & Purpose
God’s original design (in the beginning) is that each married couple become one flesh (Gen 2:24, Matthew 19:5-6)
ONE FLESH = Fused Together (mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.)
Yosemite National Park
“Faithful Couple” = Fused Giant Sequoia @ Yosemite Mariposa Grove
A rare case in which two trees grew so close together that their trunks fused together at the base.
This is an example of 2 becoming 1!

20. Unity = Oneness of Mind & Purpose
Oneness of mind & purpose = one place + once accord
UNITY = God’s foundational requirement for marriages…
In God’s plan…marriage math 1+1 =1 (not 2!)
Complete unity is God’s original design and intent for marriage…
It is a key element of God's foundation for a blessed home!
Many families are missing out of the blessings of God (spiritual & material) because of disunity/di-vision

21. Spiritual Blessings Accompanying Unity
Unity = oneness of mind & purpose = one place + once accord
Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

22. Spiritual Blessings Accompanying Unity Unity = oneness of mind & purpose = one place + once accord
Acts 2:1-4…
Its one thing to be in one place, but another thing to be in one accord!
You can be under the same roof but in discord (dis-unity/di-vision/dis-agreement)
Dis = Di = Dual = Double = Un-unified

23. Spiritual Blessings Accompanying Unity Unity = oneness of mind & purpose = one place + once accord
1. God’s Presence & Power
“they were filled with the Holy Spirit”
God’s Presence & Power manifested in their midst
I believe that God had already appointed that day for their visitation, but they had to be in unity (one place + once accord = oneness of mind and purpose) to actualize it!
They may have missed their blessing otherwise!

24. Spiritual Blessings Accompanying Unity Unity = oneness of mind & purpose = one place + once accord
2. Divine Enablement
“and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance
They “Began” meant that was their start, their first time…
They were not able to do/accomplish that feat before that moment…
That means, they received the enablement to do what they hitherto could not have done…they were divinely enabled because “the Spirit gave them utterance” (the ability to do…)

25. Spiritual Blessings Accompanying Unity Unity = oneness of mind & purpose = one place + once accord
3. Sweatless Triumph
Psalm 114: 1-7 (The Power of God’s Presence)
When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; 2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. 3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. 5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? 6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob
Difficulties begin to disappear of their own accord as a result of the presence of God…

26. Spiritual Blessings Accompanying Unity Unity = oneness of mind & purpose = one place + once accord
Acts 2:44-47
Now all who believed were together (one place), and had all things in common (one acord), 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

27. Spiritual Blessings Accompanying Unity Unity = oneness of mind & purpose = one place + once accord
Acts 2: Blessing the followed unity:
Gladness (JOY)
Simplicity of Heart (PEACE & TRANQUILITY)
Favor (1 DAY OF FAVOR > 1000 DAYS OF LABOR!)
Daily Addition (CONTINUOUS INCREASE)

28. Keeping to The Original Divine Intent
They shall be implies that it is/takes a process to be/become
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
It is not instantaneous!
We need to understand the process of becoming and work on it continuously so that we can become on flesh (united)

29. Keeping to The Original Divine Intent
 A key to fulfilling the divine design of oneness is the word CLEAVE in Gen 2:24…
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
 Cleave is an action verb (dictionary.com definition below)
to adhere closely
stick
cling (usually followed by to)
CLEAVE = WORK AT KEEPING TOGETHER!

30. Questions (1)
How can we achieve the level unity (oneness of mind and purpose = one place + one accord) that God designed for our home/relationship in the beginning?

31. Questions (1)
How can we achieve the level unity (oneness of mind and purpose = one place + one accord) that God designed for our home/relationship in the beginning?
A key answer is in Gen2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Naked = Transparency (nothing is concealed)
Not Ashamed = The environment was a “no shame” one
A “no shame” environment promotes open/unhindered communication…

32. Questions (2)
What are examples of things we must do as part of the cleaving process in marriage?

33. Questions (2)
What are examples of things we must do as part of the cleaving process in marriage?
The #1 answer is: COMMUNICATION!
Create an atmosphere on “no shame” – it enables:
Both parties to talk beyond superficial level
Both parties to delve into details when discussing/talking
Willingness to be vulnerable…
Welcome feedback
Welcome each other’s contribution to benefit the home/relationship
Share your values
Agree on goals

34. Summary
God’s original design for marriage is unity = oneness of mind & purpose = one place + once accord
You can be in one place but not be in one accord = disunity
7 additional blessings accompanying unity:
God’s Presence (Acts 2:1-4)
Divine Enablement (Acts 2:1-4)
Sweatless Triumph because of God’s Presence (Psalm 114:1-7)
Gladness (JOY)
Simplicity of Heart (PEACE & TRANQUILITY)
Favor (1 DAY OF FAVOR > 1000 DAYS OF LABOR!)
Daily Addition (CONTINUOUS INCREASE)

35. Prayer for Family Unity
Father, please help us to understand your mind on the subject of unity
Father, please remove every barrier to unity & oneness in my family
Father, if there be any consequence we are experiencing as a result of disunity, please help us overcome it