Genesis 11:6b (NASB) “And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.”
Unity is a very powerful thing. Here are some things that we need to know about unity as leaders.
Definition of Unity
The state of being one; oneness; a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one; the state or fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; unification; unvaried or uniform character; a relation of all the parts or elements of a work constituting a harmonious whole and producing a single general effect.
[Tweet “For unity to take place it must be in vision, values, and purpose. #forwardleader #leadership”]
Principles of Unity
Unity is a requirement, it’s mandatory and it’s essential to move where God wants to move. Regardless what type of organization you lead, forward movement is necessitated by unity.
1. Unity must be walked out. It is not something attained, but is a process of movement toward something.
2. Unity must be in Vision, Purpose and Values.
3. Unity of vision is not enough, but is the beginning.
3a. Ownership of the vision must take place in the heart of the leader.
3b. The vision of (Place the name of your organization here) must be my vision.
4. Unity must take place in purpose.
4a. The purpose individually.
4b. The purpose corporately or organizationally.
5. Unity must take place in values.
5a. Every institution, movement, society and culture has been built upon a value system—a set of values, standards and convictions—whether good or bad. Values, standards and convictions shape and mold character, action and thought. The life and effect of an institution, movement, society or culture are in direct relation to its values, standards and convictions.
5b. Our decision making processes is governed by our values or you can say our values govern our decision making process.
5c. Values defined – ideals, customs, etc within a society and culture that are held in favorable or high regard; liking or affection.
5d. Unity of values means that I must change. Values are at the core of who we are.
Colossians 3:2 “Set you affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Philippians 3:4-14 “though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thingI do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
6. Unity must be exampled – “walked out”.
Philippians 4:9 “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
7. Unity within a time of movement or transition is critical and essential.
7a. Unity is change in me; it doesn’t create change in the whole.
