Young Adults' Group

The Prayer For Oneness

by Pastor Mark
October 31, 2014

A great start for our 40 +2 year of ministry…“Hen Soma”

What a great start to this year’s ministry…to our preparations for our next Anniversary in  2015! At our combined YPG-YAG-AM meeting last Saturday, we had a wonderful time of worshipping and listening to the Lord’s Word. The fellowship was most encouraging as we sought to cultivate a greater sense of oneness with both the young and the old. While the combined meeting brought our fellowship ministries to a climatic end for this year, it was also the commencement of our focus on “Hen Soma” which means “One Body”…our theme for the 40 + 2 year. Pastor Charlie spoke from the High Priestly prayer of Jesus concerning the oneness of the church (John 17:20-23). There were a number of significant insights that we want to appreciate for the year ahead.

The prayer for oneness

It was fascinating to learn that Jesus specially prayed for all believers who were to come, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one,” (John 17:20,21) What was the focus of the Lord’s prayer? It was on “oneness.” He interceded on behalf of all believers and prayed that they may be one. These believers are true and genuine believers. In the gospel of John, there were many who spoke of believing but did not have true belief. Jesus was referring to all who were true believers. Even so, Jesus recognised how difficult it was to have oneness. There was the need for Him to pray for this oneness. Let’s appreciate the Lord Jesus for praying that we would become one.

The purpose to be one

When Jesus prayed, He prayed with a great sense of purpose. The word translated “that” is used a number of times in His prayer. In the Greek, this word signifies purpose. It is interesting to see how the Lord Jesus had multiple purposes in mind as He prayed. For instance, the Lord prayed…

1. “That they all may be one,” (John 17:21)

The purpose of Jesus’ prayer was for all true believers to be one. It was a most important purpose to pray for the church. Jesus emphasized this purpose rather any other purposes. It shows how there is no greater purpose to pray for. Let’s make this the purpose of our prayers too.

2. “That they also may be one in Us,” (John 17:21)

Another purpose that Jesus highlighted was that all true believers will be one in the Father and Son. A true believer is one who seeks to be in a deeper relationship with God and Christ. Only when we have a close relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son that we are able to develop a greater sense of oneness. Let’s make it our purpose to be one with them.

3. “That they may be one just as We are one:” (John 17:22)

God and Christ have set for us a wonderful example of what it means to be one. They are perfectly one with each other. Jesus said, “As You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;” (John 17:21) The Father abides in His Son and the Son abides in His Father. There is a symbiotic relationship that exists between the two perfectly. This is the kind of oneness that we should seek to cultivate as a church…as a group. This is what Jesus prayed for… with a great sense of purpose. Let’s be challenged to follow the example of the Father and Son in being one. Let’s be challenged to cultivate “oneness” as we anticipate the year ahead.

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