Love Blueprint | Pastor Raph | Feb. 09, 2025

Love Blueprint

Many Christians think of personal requests and individual concerns when asked about prayer and devotion. While personal communion with God is essential, focusing solely on oneself limits the fullness of God’s plan. True spiritual growth happens when we walk together in unity.

I would like to challenge you to pray for the unity of the body of Christ. This will be a powerful experience but also a time of intense spiritual warfare. The enemy fears a united church. As Jesus warned:

“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.” (Luke 11:17)

Hell is a realm of division, strife, and disorder. The devil’s schemes thrive on distrust, gossip, pride, self-righteousness, and isolation. But we, the Church, are called to overcome. Reject selfishness. The mindset of Christ is humility, service, and love.

“If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”

(Luke 11:18)

God designed His people to live in fellowship. Alone, we are vulnerable; together, we are victorious. The Church is not just a gathering—it is a family, an army, and a harvest field. Our spiritual growth depends on commitment to one another.

The believers in Acts experienced the power of the Holy Spirit because they stood as one:

“They were all with one accord.”

(Acts 2:1)

Their unity empowered them to transform their communities. Let us return to the heart of the apostles—to serve, to carry each other’s burdens, to repent together, and to crucify self-interest for the sake of God’s perfect will.

The gates of hell will not prevail against a church that stands in unity. Let us walk in love, fight for our brethren, and experience the power of being one in Christ.

Diversity in Unity: The Strength of the Body

When we look at a body, we see the beauty of diversity in oneness. Each member is unique, yet all work together to sustain life. Unity should never be mistaken for uniformity. In Christ, we are called to be one while maintaining our differences.

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” (1 Corinthians 12:14)

No part of the body is unimportant, and none can survive disconnected from the whole. Ranking members in importance is foolish when the true priority is the health and life of the entire body. God made us different by design, reflecting His infinite creativity. Our differences are not meant for division but as assets for the Kingdom.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

We must learn to disagree without being disrespectful. Respect allows people to be who they indeed are. This is why Jesus chose twelve disciples with distinct personalities—He did not seek uniformity but unity.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

Our role is not to change one another’s designs but to refine and strengthen each other. Although pocket knives and kitchen knives serve different purposes, both are useful.

Think of someone in your LifeGroup who is very different from you. If you don’t know all the members by name, try to connect with them (perhaps by using name tags in the next meeting). Identify someone with a different background or personality.

Ephesians 4:13-16 “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

The Power of Fellowship

The New Testament emphasizes fellowship even more than evangelism. Why? Because most people come to know Jesus through relationships rather than any other method. Christianity is built on relationships from beginning to end.

Research from Haggai International confirms this: while TV, movies, radio, literature, and evangelistic crusades contribute to about 20% of conversions, 80% of people accept Jesus through friends and relatives.

When we intentionally strengthen our fellowship, we draw more people into the Kingdom of God. This is why we must never let our LifeGroups become routine religious obligations. The church is not a country club where people make spiritual “payments” while keeping their personal lives detached. We are not a warehouse of saved people seeking self-interest. We exist for God, which is only fulfilled when we are together.

Many attend church expecting a weekly entertainment show, believing that the music, the sermon, and the atmosphere must cater to their emotions.

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

The church is not a service provider for spiritual consumers but a family living in unity for God’s glory.

As a family, you don’t choose your siblings. You learn to love them, and we do so with respect because if we don’t do it, our father will lovely discipline us.

Hebrews 12:7-10 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

We may share his holiness, his dignity, his distinctiveness. 

God commands blessing

True church life, with genuine fellowship and sincere love, is powerful because God commands blessing, life, and power wherever unity exists:

Psalms 133 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

The true church life, characterized by genuine fellowship and sincere love for one another, is incredibly powerful because the Lord consistently commands blessings, life, and power in that environment . The Bible uses anointing oil as a symbol of fellowship. This element, prevalent in the Old Testament, had various uses, including in food, soap making, fueling lamps, creating medicine, and performing religious dedications. All these uses illustrate the power of fellowship. In a loving community of brethren, you can find nourishment for your soul. In a fellowship marked by openness, we can confess our sins and experience freedom.

Additionally, it is through fellowship that we cleanse the worldly dirt from our feet. In the company of others, our passion for Jesus is reignited. We can heal emotionally and physically through genuine love for one another. When the church gathers together, our consecration becomes deeper. The anointing starts from the Head, Christ, and extends to His Body, the Church. The anointing is not for individualistic purposes but is bestowed upon the collective Body of Christ. When Christ was anointed, the whole Body was anointed with Him.

When did that happen?

Matthew 3:16-17 6 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

This should be our experience every week in our lifegroups. The Holy Spirit comes. The Father speaks of His love. The body of Christ is soaked in anointing. 

Each year on the Day of Atonement, Aaron would enter the Holy of Holies within the Tabernacle to present sacrifices for the people’s sins, thus restoring their fellowship with God. In the fellowship of the brothers, we will come with boldness before the throne of grace to be restored from the condemning voices of sin and failure.

A dew speaks of the manna.

Exodus 16:13-14 “…the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground.”

Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

The dew of Hermon represents God’s abundant provision, refreshment, and life-giving presence. The comparison to Mount Zion (much drier) points to God’s blessings that can reach even the driest places through our unity, and that confirms His presence.

Also, the Hermon Mount is widely accepted now as the place where the transfiguration happened.

Matthew 17:4-8 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

You must understand that it is under the dew of Hermon, within the life of the church, where you can truly see Jesus as He is. If you just have a glimpse of his majesty every week, there will be no more fear. 

Consider sharing a meal and fellowship with someone in your group each day. This type of meeting offers an excellent opportunity for brothers to get to know each other better, share their concerns and dreams, and strengthen their connections.

James 5:15-16 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

If it is real it will have some fight.

In counseling, I often hear people say they feel like they’ve failed in their relationships due to struggles in communication, leadership, and partnership.

Struggles do not mean failure; they mean the relationship is real and alive. Instead of seeing differences as obstacles, we must see them as opportunities for growth.

Conflict is not always bad—it is a tool for growth.

Those who avoid confrontation because of their “thin skin” or emotional sensitivity fail to mature.

If a relationship has no challenges, it may indicate that You don’t care enough to engage in real conversations. You are unwilling to grow.

Ephesians 4:15 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”

If I compare a marriage, a lifegroup, church with an ice hockey game, it means that everybody expects some "fight" to happen. A game lacks excitement without the courage to win. However, in the church, we are united as one team, all striving for the "crown of righteousness." So once the "penalty" is settled, the game needs to go on. Don't give up on the game because of some bumps.

Let's just chill out a bit and handle our conflicts without getting all emotional about them, especially regarding our differences. No more hurt feelings just because a brother or sister disagrees with you. Let's stop misunderstanding our leader's calls, which are like an "invasion of privacy." Stop to think your disciplers have a "hidden agenda" while coaching and mentoring you. There is no need to interpret the challenges the pastor is preaching as manipulation or orders.

Make an effort to call the members of your group by their names, not only “brother," bro," or "sis." Shake hands and distribute free hugs after every meeting. A Scientific American Magazine article titled "A hug a day keeps the doctor away" showed that "feeling connected to others, especially through physical touch, protects us from stress-induced sickness." In other words, you live better and healthier if you hug more. You have to try!

Raise Up Your White Flags

My wife and I can enjoy a wonderful evening together, but sometimes she says or does something that makes me defensive. I feel as if my emotions surge like soldiers preparing for battle, barking orders to protect vulnerable areas of my life. I might respond with verbal attacks to halt further discussion or retreat to another room, hoping she won’t follow. Just like that, we shift from allies to enemies without intending to. What should we do now? Give up? No, we will use this moment to grow together. We both should raise the white flag and share our weaknesses for mutual support help.

Emotional triggers are often related to our self-worth. God may reveal these wounds so you can pray and be mindful of defensive emotions hindering vulnerability. If you feel offended by your leader or pastor's guidance, release your excuses and allow the Holy Spirit's light to shine through them. 

2 Corinthians 4:5-6 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Our God is a community of love

1 John 4:16 “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

The concept of love inherently requires a relationship—it is not something that can exist in isolation. True love is expressed toward another.

Love existed eternally within the Trinity before creation, proving that love is relational by nature.

One of the most complex concepts for new Christians to grasp is the doctrine that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one God. How is it possible that the three persons can be dwelling in one God figure? What does "the trinity" really mean? It means God is love.

1 John 4:11-12 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”

I dare not claim to have the final answer to a complex subject. However, part of the difficulty in comprehending the perfection of the Divine community (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is that we do not understand what unity really means.

In the perfect loving divine community, there is no dispute, competition, grudges, or pride. God is so perfect and loving that He decided to expand such an experience with us. In the past eternity, the Holy Spirit whispered into the Father's ears, "How about we expand and share all this love and harmony with a new creation?". The Father replied, "That's exactly what I was thinking." Here, the Son shows up and says, "I will do it!” The Father allows the Holy Spirit to hover over creation, and the Word brings it into existence. Everything is out of love, perfect harmony and intense passion.

He designed us to embrace the strength of unity. 

Ephesians 4:4-7 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

We can only fully appreciate our unique traits and identities by achieving true spiritual unity. Though these ideas may seem opposing, they are not. When we focus on the bigger picture, our distinct qualities become vital to advancing the Kingdom of God.

Called in "one faith.” Faith makes us trust in God to change circumstances. Faith allows us to experience the power of God to change people, restore our relationships and bring back those who are hurt. The problem is not our brother's flaws or our sister's mistakes. The problem is our unbelief in the fact that God is mighty and able to transform them. Let faith arise in your groups.

Problems should not define your church. Conflicts and temptations do not say who we really are. If there is someone who struggles with anger, this does not make him a rude person. The fact that you are struggling with bad habits does not define you as a lost and addicted person. Temptations, struggles, and even past mistakes are not the problems themselves. The problem is unbelief. The doubt is whether God is powerful enough to take your group, your family and our church from this place of defeat to a position of victory.

We are called in one Spirit. It’s the spirit of God that promotes the beauty of diversity. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers that sister with talents that you will never have. It's the Holy Spirit that made that brother so different from you. Each one of us has received a gift; let's use it. Our challenge is to be servants of God’s varied grace.

We worship one God. We have one father. We were redeemed by one Christ and savior, Jesus. God is over all and through all and in all. There are no pastor, leader, and member’s "duties" when we remember that we have one Father and Lord. We are one, and the desire to please God is above all. We were all saved by the same love. There is no one who is "more saved" than the other. So instead of fighting to "be right," it is much better to have the problem solved. Through Christ, we all share in the same salvation, and with Him, we can triumph over conflicts. 

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

If your husband or wife, your church or your family does not respond, continue loving them, regarding them as saved, loved and chosen. Have a believing heart that change will come. Do not give up on them. God is moving in ways we cannot always see.

This week, try to initiate a relationship by helping in practical ways, like babysitting for a single mom so that she can have a night out. Go to the grocery store for a mother with toddlers. Share your skills changing the oil in the car for a brother. You can even spend time with a single person who seems lonely. Invite a younger person to watch a ball game or go to a movie.