"Preserving the Unity of the Spirit"

  In Ephesians 4:3, we are called "being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." This is part of walking worthy of our calling, yet so many just overlook it or ignore it. We must be a people making every effort to hold to that which the Spirit already possesses. The unity of the Spirit is the doctrinal qualities that God has built into the church. The Holy Spirit Himself has laid it down and calls upon us to keep this unchanged. There can be no alteration of any kind and walk in a worthy manner of our calling. 

  In Ephesians 4:4-6, these patterns are established as the pattern by which the church must be identified. Wherever these qualities exist, there is the church. Wherever any one of these qualities is missing, that is not the church of the Lord Jesus. These qualities are the standards that have been imposed by the Holy Spirit. These seven elements that the Spirit has declared must be examined and held to as they are the very essence to the identity and existence as the church. Again, where these elements exist so does Christ's body. Where these elements are missing, they are not the church of the Lord and Scripture makes that very clear.

  This is the constitution of the church,if we might say. Man does not have the privilege of changing in any way the characteristics, the standards, or the platform upon which Jesus built His church. We cannot negotiate with the Holy Spirit. We did not establish these standards. We do not have any authority of establishing new ideas or ways. The Holy Spirit planted these in the constitution of the church and those who hold to these, preserve these, are identified as those "called out" to Jesus. 

  If we for any reason decide this is narrow mindedness, or some legalistic setting of rules and begin to stretch the seven elements laid down into other things, we have just begun a walk with Jesus in an unworthy manner. It violates the Lord and His Spirit in every way. This is so basic, yet it is being blasted by so many today. This isn't a new theory or some new idea and not even some old pattern of denominationalism. This is the calling of God, in Christ Jesus, through His Spirit to make certain we are diligent to preserve this unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Why is there so much disruption in harmony among those claiming the Lord? You don't have to look far.