How Now Shall I Live - Live Unified

SERIES: HOW NOW SHALL I LIVE?

LIVE UNIFIED – SERMON

JOHN 17:21-23

2 CHRONICLES 30

JUNE 26, 2022

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#1. UNITY IS A RESULT

John 17:21 "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – and you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us – so that – the world will believe you sent me."

John 17:22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one."

Philippians 2:6 "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. ⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges and was born as a human being."  

2 Chronicles 30:12 "At the same time, God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah giving them all one heart to obey the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord."

NOW WHAT HAPPENED as a RESULT?

#1. OTHER BELIEVERS WERE BROUGHT INTO UNITY

2 Chronicles 30:15 "On the fourteenth day of the second month, one month later than usual, the people slaughtered the Passover lamb. This shamed the priests and Levites, so they purified themselves and brough burnt offerings to the Temple of the Lord. ¹⁶ Then they took their places at the Temple as prescribed by the Law of Moses, the man of God."

#2. NON-BELIEVERS WILL BE ATTRACTED TO UNITY

2 Chronicles 30:17-20 "Since many of the people had not purified themselves, the Levites had to slaughter their Passover lamb for them, to set them apart for the Lord. ¹⁸ Most of those who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not purified themselves."

2 Chronicles 30:18b "But King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were allowed to eat the Passover meal anyway, even though this was contrary to the requirements of the law. For Hezekiah said, “May the Lord who is good, pardon those ¹⁹ who decide to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors, even though they are not properly cleansed for the ceremony. And the Lord listened to Hezekiah’s prayer and healed the people."

#3. UNITY ELEVATES OUR WORSHIP

2 Chronicles 30:21 "So the people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem joyously celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. Each day the Levites and priests sang to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments. ²² Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the Lord. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. ²³ The entire assembly then decided to continue the festival another seven days, so that celebrated joyfully for another week. ²⁴ King Hezekiah gave the people 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for offerings, and the officials donated 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats. Meanwhile, many more priests purified themselves. ²⁵ The entire assembly of Judah rejoiced, including the priests, the Levite, all who came from the land of Israel, the foreigners who came to the festival, and all of those who lived in Judah. ²⁶ There was great joy in the city, for Jerusalem had not seen a celebration like this one since the days of Solomon, King David’s son. ²⁷ Then the priests and Levites stood and blessed the people, and God heard their prayer from his holy dwelling in heaven."