The Lessons of Lent: Our Oneness

The Lessons of Lent: Our Oneness

John 17

In the process of Jesus' valedictory speech, He began to pray to the Father. The content of that prayer is highly important to the present day church.

He had reported to the Father the conclusion of His work on the earth. He had given the people eternal life in knowing the Father and Himself whom the Father has sent.

He had delivered the word sent through Him and now it was time for Him to be glorified with the same glory He was glorified with before.

It is noteworthy that the stress of His report was more on His giving the people the word and how they had kept the word. The emphasis wasn't on the miracles and the wonders He performed but on the word the Father had sent through Him. That speaks volumes to us to whom the end of the world has come.

The thrust of His prayer is that the Father might keep the believers one. While He was on the earth He kept them as a unit and none was lost except the one who was written to be. He gave them His own glory that they may be one. Because of them He sanctified Himself to keep them. He displayed leadership responsibility as He lived for those who believed and followed Him...a great lesson to us who have been given the responsibility of leadership at whatever level.

And now as He departs, He hands them over to God for safe keeping as a unit in oneness. In retrospect, we can see today how important that prayer is. He knew that division was coming as we have it today and He prayed ahead!

It's important we see that this is His heartbeat for the church He loves and shed His blood for. It is important we understand what it means to Him when we walk and work contrary to that unity.

No wonder, Apostle Paul would want us to know how we all must come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man... Ephesians 4:13 and how we need to know that Christ isn't divided!

[My Offline Bible] 1 Corinthians 1
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Christ isn't divided! But when we began to think and behave as if we were the ones crucified for the rest of the people or the people were baptised in our names and we started laying claims on portions of the church: the power, the authority, the people and the doctrines we work against Christ's principles of our oneness. Instead we build our own little kingdoms excluded of Him while we tear down His!

Our differences are necessary and that tells us we need to have oneness in mind to make the diversity count and meaningful. No single person no matter the gifts or grace has been given to bring the church to perfection alone, and no single gathering or denomination has the monopoly of taking people to heaven, the work is for all and none is too insignificant to contribute his or her quota, for so each has been sent!

We need to think more horizontally than vertically, our oneness depends more on mutual recognition of our purposes and potentials than on whatever hierarchical advantages we think we might have over one another! The former builds the kingdom of Christ and establishes its oneness while the latter builds our own littles empires out of the resources of Christ, with each struggling for a piece of the one loaf for self till the loaf turns to smithereens of crumbs, divided!

Let this period of Christ's passion bring us back to revisit this heartbeat of Christ as we pray that God will keep us one as He is one with His Son, our Christ!

This is our sanctification, this is the truth that sets us apart unto God as a unit, powered by the word of God!

Let us daily endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace!

Good Morning!

If this has made any meaning to you it can make a meaning to someone else please feel free to share!

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Attend

Grace Missions International
Ministers & Leaders Conference

Theme: The Power of His Resurrection

This Good Friday 3rd April 2015
10 am

@
20 Oloruntimilehin street
By Kemo Hospital

Federal Low Cost Housing (Shagari) Estate

Mosan/Akinogun Area
Ipaja Lagos

Come with friends...let's celebrate and partake of the power left for us!