Sermon nuggets Tues Oct 28
Theme Praying for Believers
Verses- John 17:22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Praying for Unity.
It strikes me as I have been studying and preaching on Spiritual gifting how often the call to unity comes up. Now it is the theme of Jesus prayer for believers.
Our country is divided once again. I think the days of political parties setting aside their personal differences to work together for the common good hardly seems possible even with addressing the economic problems. On our coins are written E. Puribus Unum. Those words are Latin for “One among many.” Even the name of our country, The United States of America, is an expression of many states individually ruled, together under a common rule. States do not have the same laws, yet there are laws all hold in common. Within our nation the majority must speak for the minority. The strong must help the weak; the educated is to pave the way for the uneducated. When our nation no longer is committed to unity then it will fall.
But unity has its challenges. I think of the story of the porcupines that were freezing to death and decided to get closer together to stay warm. As they did their quills would poke and stick each other. In their hurts they would leave again. They realized the dilemma for unity- they couldn’t exist apart, and they didn’t like being together.
People have quills that we don’t like poking us, yet we too, have quills. Quills can be sin, personality differences, attitude, various opinions, pride, and personal habits.
What is on the heart of Jesus when it comes to all believers is how to get along and keep the main things that unifies us. The prayer of most parents is that their kids get along. They love their kids, but their kids do not always love one another, even in adulthood.
It is more important with the brothers and sisters in Christ. We have a task to do. We are related to one another by faith. The Spirit of God dwells in each one. Yet getting along among Christians of different cultures, among different denominations, among conferences, among churches and those within the church is a perpetual challenge. Prayer is suppose to unify us as the Holy Spirit is given the freedom to do his healing work.
Jesus is not praying for organizational unity. There is a lot of debate about having one church denomination. It used to be the Roman Catholic Church was the only true church on earth. But as peole read the Bible there was a parting of major doctrinal issues. We have come to realize all believers everywhere are part of the universal church, or body of Christ. But the Bible speaks of local congregations to carry out the work of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus teaches wheat and tares exit in the same field. It is a reality that not everyone who joins a church is born again. Not everyone will unify on the main doctrines of the faith, or the practice of their faith. Not everyone is committed to unity as to their own will and way and wants. There is a lack of love.
Recently I was offended by someone in church. We do not see the purposes and practices of what we should be doing in the same way. It was the Spirit of God that prompted me to do what Jesus did- to pray. I prayed for love and for unity. I gave the situation over to the Lord who is the head of the church. Every day as the Spirit brings this person to my mind I will pray for him. We believe the same things, but it is easy to let our differences define us more than our Savior. We do not have to agree on everything to be part of the team to which our Lord calls us to work.
Do you realize that while Jesus is praying for you today, He is also praying for the person with whom you do not get along? On his lips is the request to the Father that you have unity. Church unity and unity among all believers is one the heart of Christ. Can we agree with His prayer?
Pastor Dale
