John 17:20-21 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which should believe on Me through their Word; that they all may be One; as you, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be One in Us; that the world may believe that You have sent me.
In the New Testament we find four examples where the Apostle Paul wrote of the necessity of the Body of Christ being of one mind and in unity. Here we read where Jesus prayed for it as well. Prior to this, Jesus was praying for His Disciples. He prayed that they too would be unified. John 17:11 Holy Father, keep through Your Own Name those whom You have given me, that they may be one, as We are.
The very first thing Jesus prayed to the Father for was for His Disciples to be as one; in unity. He knew if they were not unified the Message of the Cross would not go out into the world and the Scripture fulfilled. This was the prayer of Jesus for His Disciples.
As He went on praying His thoughts moved on to those who His Disciples would reach; the Body of Christ. Again, the first thing He asked the Father to grant them was…..unity. He prayed that they may be one as He and the Father are One.
God laid this on my heart forty-five years ago and it has been the subject of my prayers ever since; for the Church to be together in unity. We are all called to be soldiers of the Cross; the Army of God. Together we can stand, but divided, we will fall.
Today there are more than 14,000 Christian denominations all proclaiming to be the best. Each one was started because someone did not get their way in the church they were attending. When we don’t get our way, we do one of two things. First, we try to get the others to change and do things our way. If that doesn’t work, we leave and start our own church where we can do things the way we want to.
This is NOT unity! This is not what Jesus prayed to the Father for the Body of Christ to be. This is division and there is no strength in division. Divided armies fall to the enemy.
My friends, Jesus is coming back for His Church; all of us. He is not coming for a certain denomination or group. He is coming for every born-again believer in Him and we will all go at once; together. One group will not go first because they are better than the rest. Jesus prayed for us to be together as one. When He comes back He will take us all together as one. When we get to Heaven we will all be together as one. Why can’t we be together as one in the meantime?
This is my prayer. It is the same as Jesus prayed for His Disciples and for the Church. It is the same as Paul wrote to the churches at Rome, Corinth, Philippi, and Ephesus. Their prayers and letters were consistent because God is consistent and does not change. They prayed for unity in the Body of Christ.
I have done the same for a long time and I will continue to do so until the Lord calls me home. Here at Betts Ministries in Caney, Oklahoma the Body of Christ stands together as one, just as Jesus prayed we would.
When the Body of Christ stands together in unity, God will……..turn the tide
Together with you; ALL of you, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
