5.  Ephesians 4:1-7

1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.

                Because the Holy Spirit indwells us and Christ dwells in our hears, we have the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.  On the basis of this love that surpasses knowledge, Paul calls us to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  If we put love first, and if we do not have a knowledge that puffs up, then we will strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

                What characterized Stonegate Church more than almost anything else last year?  The unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  What helps us maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?  Our love for Christ and one another, our desire to put Christ first, our desire to learn more of the mystery of Christ by studying and obeying the Scriptures, our praying for one another every day, our desire to the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

                The one Holy Spirit within us unites us and encourages us to maintain unity based on our love of Christ and the mystery of Christ as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit in the Word of God, the Bible.  We rely on the Holy Spirit to help us maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Maintaining the unity of the Spirit is a choice for us to make in the church.  The one Holy Spirit will speak the truth to each of us, the same truths.  All we need to do to maintain the unity of the Holy Spirit in our church is always seek the Holy Spirit's will through Christ, with the will to do God's will only.