Unity ~ 1. Jesus's ONE Prayer For YOU!
This is the one and only prayer recorded in the NT that Jesus specifically prayed for YOU and me (John 17:20-23):
"I am praying… for all who will ever believe in Me… I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one… so that the world will believe You sent Me!
"I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as We are one… May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me!"
Jesus prayed for you and me the last night before He went to the cross, right before He died for you and me! This was His dying request!
That makes this prayer more important than anything else in the world that Jesus wants for you and me! God had it recorded here in His eternal Word so that there will never be any question about what Jesus wants for you and me!
Think of all of the important biblical doctrines in the New Testament that Jesus could have prayed for you. But Jesus did not pray for even one of these for you. Jesus prayed for only one thing - OUR UNITY!
Jesus prayed that "all" of His followers today would have "perfect unity"! None of us are perfect people, but we can have perfect unity, or Jesus would not have prayed for it. What are you trying to accomplish in your Christian life? Is it what Jesus prayed for you? Is developing "perfect unity" with every believer your connected with YOUR #1 priority? It is clearly Jesus's #1 priority for you!
Is there anything you can do to have “perfect unity”:
With believers in your immediate family?
With believers in your extended family?
With believers in your church?
With believers you have a regular relationship within your city?
With believers you have a regular relationship outside your city?
Who are those one, two, or more believers with whom you know you don't have a "perfect unity"? Jesus does NOT want you to do anything for Him until after you go and get reconciled with that believer (Mat. 5:23-24):
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
If someone comes to your mind when you read this, you can be sure the Holy Spirit brought them to your mind. He lives in you! Your flesh will bring up reasons right now to not go. And no matter what logical reason you think, if the Holy Spirit brought them to your mind - Jesus just said, go and be reconciled! You’ll never be sorry if you do. And Jesus will not accept anything from you until after you go.
If you go humbly and try to be reconciled, almost always you’ll be surprised what love and unity the Lord will give you. No matter what, if you try to obey the Lord, He will be blessed and He will bless you and then “receive your gift at the alter.” The apostle Paul said (1Cor. 4:13):
"When we are slandered, we try to appease."
God blessed Paul for trying and He will you also. The Apostle Paul also said (Rom. 12:18):
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
David said (Ps. 133:1-3):
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing —life forever!"
Whatever you're trying to accomplish in this world for Jesus, if you don't first try to let God answer Jesus's one specific prayer for you, Jesus says whatever else you’re doing for Him will not be accepted (Mat. 5:23-24).
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! For there the Lord commanded the blessing!"