A few weeks ago we looked into the unity of the church. We saw that the
definition of unity is: oneness; unanimity; complete accord or agreement.
With this in mind let's search the Scriptures a little further. We see that
the Apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthians, the Ephesians and the Philippians
to strive for, to keep and to stand fast in this unity:
"Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in
the same mind and in the same judgment." 1 Corinthians 1:10

"Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded,
live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
2 Corinthians 13:11

"Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Ephesians 4:3

"Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that
whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are
standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith
of the gospel." Philippians 1:27

Then the Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 3:8,
"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love
as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous."

Remember it is Jesus who prophesied one flock and one shepherd in John 10:16
(He is speaking of the gentiles here),
"And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also,
and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one
shepherd."
And His prayer to His Father includes the church down through the centuries:
"I do not ask in behalf of those alone, but for those also who believe in Me
through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in
Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us..." John 17:20-21

Therefore, all causes of separation are removed in Christ:
"For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke
down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the
enmity...that in himself He might make the two into one new man...and might
reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross..."
Ephesians 2:14-16

Strife is at enmity with unity for it is fed by pride, hatred, contention,
anger to name a few and is therefore forbidden to those in oneness with
Christ.
Proverbs tells us:
"The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out." Proverbs 17:14

"Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
But any fool will quarrel." Proverbs 20:3

In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul tells us,
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let
each of you regard one another as more important then himself; do not merely
look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of
others."

And to Timothy,
"And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all,
able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who
are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the
knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 2:24-25

I repeat Ephesians 4:3 as stated in the Amplified Bible:
"Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness
of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace."

I close with the words of Paul,
"Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every
circumstance. The Lord be with you all." 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Amen