One Accord. This is such a simple concept, but very difficult to put into practice in our own human ability. However, we know that with Spirit of the Lord, being in one accord is achievable. We will “…all speak the same thing [and]…be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10) one day.
We’ve all probably heard some good quotes about unity throughout the years. I would like for us to focus on this one from AW Tozer:
“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
We must attain the standard that the Apostle Paul outlined for us in Philippians—“…let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (3:16). He even gives us some tools to know how to do this. In Verse 17 he instructs us to follow him and the other examples we have been given throughout the years. In Verses 18 and 19 he tells us to walk away from those who are enemies of the cross; these are those who glory in their shame and pay attention to the earthly instead of the heavenly. Finally, in Verse 20, Paul says that our eyes must remain fixed on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So, what are you minding? What frequency are you attuned to?
Paul, in chapter 2 of Philippians says that if we want to please him, and ultimately please God, we should “…be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Verse 2). There are two words for “one accord” in the Greek—sumpsuchos. Syn—which means together with and psychos which means the soul, self, inner life, the seat of the feelings, desires, and affections. So, “one accord,” in this instance, refers to being united in spirit. This is the only occurrence of this word in the New Testament. Of course, we have read the words “one accord” in the book of Acts many times. It is homothumadon in the Greek. It means to be of one mind, one passion, to rush along in unison.
To reach the state of “one accord,” we must all be given wholly over to the Spirit of the Lord and His Word. We must allow Him to check our strings. We must be attuned to His fork.
A piano that is never played, can get out of tune quickly. When it “sits idle, its wooden soundboard expands and contracts with the changes in humidity, stretching the strings and causing the pitch to rise or fall” (Music Stack Exchange). Inactivity will make the keys stiff, too, and rust could develop. So, how do you keep a piano tuned? You get regular tunings, and you play it.
I can avouch for this. My grandparents had a piano that sat in a cold room on an exterior wall. I was bequeathed this piano upon their passing. To my sadness, when the piano tuner came to repair it, it was in disrepair. It had been exposed too long to the Tennessee humidity. It had sat unused for years (except for one quick song played at Christmas). The piano man told us to gut it and repurpose the wooden shell. How sad; a once-prized family heirloom, now reduced to kindling.
Could the same be said of us? Are we double-minded, wishy-washy, tossed to and fro, unsettled, or unfocused—out of tune, unable to be played? The Spirit cannot reside on a shelf when we have a bad day or some type of emotional, mental, relationship, or physical conflict. He must be living in us and breathing through us, tuning us to His standard. What are you doing with your mouth? Your mind? Your body? We tell on ourselves. Others know when we are out of tune.
Isaiah was so honest about where he was spiritual. He said, “Woe is me!...I am undone…I am a man of unclean lips…” (Isaiah 6:5). The angel of the Lord kâphar-ed him, purged him, tuned him, by placing a live coal to his lips. This purging meant that his sins or flaws were covered, canceled, cleansed, disannulled, forgiven, or reconciled. He was now covered within and without with holy pitch.
Have you allowed the Spirit to kâphar you? Our Advice to Members is wonderful. From it we see that so much of our pitching must happen within rather than without. Some would say that the Advice focuses on the outward (where we go, who we hang out with, what we look like) and that’s the part most people get hung up on, but it’s God who sees what needs to be pitched or purged within. Please do not misinterpret what I’m saying. I think it is useful and needful that we all believe and practice the same things, but God sees the most hidden parts of our hearts, the parts we may not even be aware of ourselves that may not be in one accord with Him.
For instance, we are often concerned with how we sound, how we look, or how we feel, when we should be concerned with what the Spirit thinks, says, and knows. We second guess His voice. We question His still, small voice. We, my friends, are a little out of tune if we’re doing this. We should be honest like Isaiah and say, “Woe is me.”
Church, I’m afraid that our way has stifled the Spirit; quenched Him. We have settled for less than His very best. We will never receive the full blessings of God with this attitude. We will never reach perfection. We will never see the House full. We will never experience the state of the 120 on that blessed Day of Pentecost of being fully in one accord. Why? Our focus is on us and our one little piano string and not on Him and the entire piano.
Yes, we may receive trickles of blessings because I believe our Father knows we are trying, but can’t you just hear the Spirit saying, “Get ready! You don’t have time to waste! Get tuned.”
Immediately after Isaiah is pitched, a question is posed to him. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8). It is as if he is being asked “Can I play you now, Isaiah?” He quickly responds by saying, “Here am I; send me!” Isaiah doesn’t wait for more confirmation or another pricking of his heart. He doesn’t wait for another chorus to be sung or the pastor to open the altar. He doesn’t wait for someone to march with a flag. He doesn’t wait for God to physically pick him up and transport him. He doesn’t wait for Brother So-and-So or Sister Oh-So-Holy to confirm that it is him that must go. He doesn’t wait to be put on a committee. He doesn’t wait for someone to apologize to him. He doesn’t wait for handwriting to be on the wall. No. Isaiah just says, “I’m here. I’m here. You can use me, Lord. I’m ready to work for your cause and make some beautiful music.” Some of us need the Holy Ghost to get a hold of our strings.
The idea of being in one accord starts with one person, just as it started singularly with Isaiah. Again, Paul says, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). It starts with you. Are you ready to play some music? Who did it start with at Pentecost? Acts 2:1 tells us “AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” They were all rushing along in unison waiting on the Promise.
Are you ready? I believe that we are getting ready to be in one accord. My ideas don’t really matter. My opinions can hinder. My way isn’t the only way if it doesn’t line up with His way! Acts 2:2 says, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” This was the early Church being asked, just as Isaiah, “Are you going to respond?” The 120 were ready. “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Verse 3). Why? Because they were rushing along in unison, they were in one accord. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Verse 4). They were all filled. Not one singular person was left out. They all were willing to respond and be played and because of this what a sound! What a time! “46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Verses 46, 47).
What would happen in our Sunday Schools, our local churches, our states, and nations if we all, willingly responded to the moving of the Spirit every day? We are all different and unique and fearfully and wonderfully made, but when we are all standing at attention for the Concert Pianist to play us in unison, that’s when everything will change; that’s when we will be in one accord. I’m ready to make some beautiful music, church. I’m ready to be in one accord with each string tuned to the same pitch.
