Psalm 121:1-2 (ESV) - 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 122:1 (ESV) - 1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

Psalm 127:1 (ESV) - 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Psalm 130:5-6 (ESV) - 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Psalm 134:1-2 (ESV) - 1 Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! 2 Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!

Psalm 133:1-3 (ESV) - 1 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.

Four things that will stifle the beauty of unity:

1. A hard heart.

1. You will never have unity as long as your heart is hard.
2. Here is the phrase for a hard heart: "I don't care."
   1. I don't care about finding unity and harmony.
   2. I don't care to forgive
   3. I don't care to reconcile
   4. I don't care to empathize, sympathize, or carry your burden.
3. Colossians 3:12–14 (ESV) — 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
4. If you want unity, you must soften your heart.

2. A prideful mind.

1. It's almost impossible to have unity when there is pride. 
   1. Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT) - 3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
2. Unhealthy Ego - A warped view of your importance.
   1. Arrogant: An inflated sense of self-worth or superiority over others, often expressing itself in dismissive or condescending attitudes.
   2. Defensive: A reluctance to accept criticism or feedback and a tendency to react defensively or aggressively when challenged.
   3. Self-centered: A focus on one's own needs and desires to the exclusion of others. 
   4. Inflexible: A resistance to change or adapt, often due to a desire to maintain control or assert one's way.
   5. Entitled: A belief that one deserves certain privileges or recognition without having earned them.
3. If you want unity, you must HUMBLE YOURSELF.

3. An unwise tongue.

1. One of the greatest destroyers of unity is THE TONGUE. The tongue can set a forest ablaze.
2. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) - 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
3. Bad Words 
   1. Murmuring
   2. Gossip - Proverbs 16:28 (ESV) — 28 A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
   3. Slander
   4. Mean comments
4. No Words
   1. A great source of disunity is the lack of communication and the assumptions that follow. 
   2. Pursue clear communication.
5. If you want unity, you must use your tongue wisely.

4. An independent spirit.

1. 3 John 9-10 (NLT) - 9 I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us. 10 When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, he also tells others not to help them. And when they do help, he puts them out of the church.
2. Western philosophy is highly focused on the individual.
   1. My life
   2. My future
   3. My career
   4. My truth
3. Christian philosophy is often focused on the people.
   1. We are a Kingdom.
   2. We are a family.
   3. We are a holy nation.
   4. Jesus "laid down his life for the sheep."
   5. The early church was known for their togetherness.
4. If you want unity, you must harmonize with other believers.