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Saturday 25 July: Session 2 • Ps Mark Varughese

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Summary of Session 2 (Saturday 25 July) – Ps Mark Varughese

Ps Mark Varughese teaches from Psalm 133 to argue that unity in the church is not merely conflict-management, but a pathway to God’s blessing and anointing—described as “fresh oil”—flowing throughout the whole community.

1) Unity is “good and pleasant” and unlocks God’s commanded blessing

  • Unity is framed as “good and pleasant” (Psalm 133), accompanied by “life forevermore.”
  • He emphasizes God’s commanded blessing that comes with unity.
  • Unity’s benefits apply especially to those who “dwell” in unity, not those who only “visit” unity during special seasons.

2) The central connection: unity → oil/anointing

  • The sermon’s core metaphor comes from Psalm 133’s image of precious oil flowing from:
    • the head,
    • down to the beard,
    • and to the edge of garments.
  • He interprets the oil as God’s presence and anointing.
  • God’s desire is not only for leaders (“head”) to be anointed, but for the whole body.
  • Therefore, when believers dwell in unity, the oil flows—and without unity, anointing and revival can be hindered.
  • He also claims the enemy’s primary strategy is friction, division, gossip, and drama, because these disrupt the flow of oil (not just temporarily disrupt people).

3) Unity is a “secret weapon” for spiritual impact and outreach

  • Unity increases ministry effectiveness: when the whole body is anointed, fruit continues beyond Sundays.
    • This includes miracles, marketplace influence, and public-space works.
  • Using the “edge of the garment” theme, he suggests many people will never reach the “head” (pastors/major leaders), but they will touch the fringe.
  • Hence, the church must have oil available at the edges.

Story from Perth (Ian: car dealership/hospitality)

  • Ian, a church volunteer involved in hospitality, is prompted by the Holy Spirit to share faith with a man while trying to sell him a car.
  • The man later receives Christ but does not come to church the next day.
  • Ian’s follow-up is delayed because the man dies.
  • The point: the man encountered “oil on the edge”—not because of a “head-level” appointment, but because the church body carried anointing through unity and spiritual responsiveness.

4) Unity is not uniformity; it is deeper than agreement

  • He distinguishes unity from uniformity:
    • believers do not need to look, sound, or even agree on everything.
  • Agreement matters, but the heart of unity is commitment, not consensus.
  • He illustrates this with his own marriage (Jemima and himself don’t agree on everything), and argues commitment works like a magnet that draws people together until agreement is found.

5) Unity must be aimed at the “right things”

Unity can build—or destroy—depending on what it unites around.

  • Tower of Babel: unity around self-glory leads to division.
  • Acts 2: unity of “one place, one accord” births the early church’s power.
  • Unity is not about geography or campus count, but shared commitment.

6) What believers should “unite around” (practical anchors)

  1. Unite around the future, not the past

    • Past-based loyalty can produce nostalgia instead of momentum.
    • Commitment should focus on where God is taking the church next.
    • He shares a humorous identity story:
      • his wife thought she was 1/8 French,
      • then later learned she was 1/8 Arab,
      • concluding that unity is grounded in where they’re going, not where they’ve been.

  2. Unite around principles, not preferences

    • Personal preferences must not be treated as if they were divine principles.
    • The anchor is the Word of God (apostles’ doctrine), not trends, personality, or methods.

  3. Unite around relationships, not roles

    • Titles and positions change, but unity should be rooted in genuine relationships.
    • He warns that becoming attached to roles for attention or identity destabilizes unity.

7) Forgiveness is presented as the key that makes unity possible

  • In the closing prayer/communion reflection:
    • Forgiveness is presented as central to unity—and therefore central to fresh oil.
  • Communion is framed as a space where forgiveness is expressed (“Father, forgive us… as we forgive others”), helping seal unity and healing.

8) Call to prayer: “fresh oil” through committed unity

He encourages attendees to pray for:

  • commitment to brother/sister,
  • unity around the Word/principles and the church’s future vision,
  • removal of discord and hostility,
  • a “Teflon” protective anointing over the house.

Final emphasis:

  • Oil inside is a responsibility, but oil on people (“on you”) comes through corporate unity—and it makes it harder for the enemy to “grab” individuals.

Presenters / Contributors

  • Ps Mark Varughese (primary presenter)

Original video