Acts 2:1-4; 44-45 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a mighty rushing wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common."
The phrase "with one accord" is the Greek word Homothumadon/Homothymadon which is derived from "homo", i.e., the same, unison and "thumos", i.e., temperament, mind, feeling and thought.
Homothumadon describes the harmony of views and feelings and singleness of purpose, without schisms, or divisions. It denotes the unity of a group with the same passion, persuasion, and desire, working together with one mind, purpose, and impulse, moving simultaneously.
There are several benefits to this kind of unity:
1. Singleness of pursuit
Being in "one accord" flows from oneness with Christ and our love for Him. Our pursuit is Christ. A group with an incredible sense of unity knows that Christ has called them together. They clearly perceive their assignment and seek God's power and direction to carry out His work. Any group that passionately seeks to fulfil His assignment will have that sense of oneness, purpose, and pursuit.
2. Unified response to a crisis
Acts 4: 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them."
Isn't that the best way to start prayer? The believers in the early church were experiencing persecution for the first time. They gathered together as one to talk (about what the chief priests and the elders said to them, and the threats against them), and to pray. Being in "one accord" is critical in responding to crises and challenging times. Our world is in crisis, and the church is being severely challenged in its biblical beliefs. We need to stand as one. There is power in our unified prayers and efforts during these times. This is seen in our next point.
3. Powerful, impactful prayers
Acts 1:14 "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."
Matthew 18:19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
Homothumadon is also used in the context of prayer. Disunity weakens our voice and our impact. Unity of hearts is vital for our prayers to be heard and to be effective. According to Matthew 18:19, if prayers uttered in "agreement" are heard and answered, the opposite can also be said; the prayers of "disagreeing" Christians will not be heard or fulfilled.
4. The world will believe in Jesus through our unity.
John 17:11, 20-23, "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
In the New Testament, the early church laid aside their differences and had everything in common. Their focus was Jesus, and nothing else mattered. That was precisely what Jesus had prayed before his ascension into Heaven for them and the present-day church in John 17. Based on this passage, Jesus indicates that our oneness bears witness to His incarnation. The world will believe that the Father has indeed sent Him based on the church's visible unity.
In closing, consider that unity is important within your church or small group and in the global church. We must have that sense of oneness and purpose in general. In addition, we must be united in heart and mind concerning our biblical stance, and response to crises, and come together faithfully to pray through various circumstances. Unclear instruction or a halfhearted response to this call to unity and prayer will make us ineffective in our mission as the church of Jesus Christ. Let us be one as the Father, Son and Spirit are one!
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