Overview:
Joshua 1; 6; 8; 10; John 17:20–23
The psalmist wrote a chorus of worship that emphasizes the benefits believers experience when they are united in their fellowship. The opening lines read:
How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head.
(Psalm 133:1–2 NIV)
We are discovering the truth of that in this series on congregational relationships. Being together in unity is indeed good, “like precious oil,” as David put it in his psalm. Not just being together, but being together in unity. As we shall learn from the ancient account in Joshua, when God is in the midst of His unified people, they are invincible.
Message Summary:
In “United and Invincible,” Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the profound power and spiritual beauty of unity within the body of Christ. Drawing from the “song of ascent” in Psalm 133 and the triumphant military accounts in the book of Joshua, Chuck demonstrates that unity is not merely a social ideal, but a spiritual necessity for victory. When God’s people pull together in one accord, they become a force that the enemy cannot defeat. This message challenges the “lone ranger” mentality of modern individualism and calls the church back to the “good and pleasant” reality of life lived together in unity.
Message Key Facts:
- The Beauty of Unity: Citing Psalm 133, Chuck describes unity as “precious oil”—something that soothes, heals, and consecrates. It is not just “good” (functional); it is “pleasant” (enjoyable).
- Unity as a Prerequisite for Victory: Looking at the conquest of Canaan, the Israelites were successful only when they moved as one. When unity was present, walls fell (Jericho); when it was missing, they were defeated (Ai).
- The Invincibility of the Unified: Biblical invincibility is not about being “superhuman.” It is the result of God’s presence being invited into a space where brothers and sisters dwell in harmony. Where there is unity, God “commands the blessing.”
- The High Priestly Prayer: Chuck connects the Old Testament accounts to Jesus’ prayer in John 17, where Christ prays for believers to be “perfectly one” so that the world may believe that the Father sent Him. Unity is the church’s greatest evangelistic tool.
- Invincibility vs. Individualism: The “ragged edge” of reality is too sharp to navigate alone. Individualism makes us vulnerable; unity makes us invincible.
Message References:
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- Psalm 133:1–2: The classic declaration of the goodness and pleasantness of brothers dwelling together in unity.
- John 17:21–23: Jesus’ heartfelt petition for the unity of all future believers as a witness to the world.
- Joshua 6:1–20: The account of Jericho, where the unified, silent march of the people led to a supernatural victory.
- Joshua 1:9: The command to be strong and courageous, anchored in the promise of God’s presence with His people.
