Young People's Group

“THAT THEY MAY BE ONE”

by Pastor Mitch
June 14, 2009

The Lord Jesus Praying For Oneness

Did you know that the Lord Jesus prayed for us when He was on this earth? In His high priestly prayer written down in the text of John 17, He did not just pray for His immediate disciples. He also prayed for all future believers (John 17:20). One of the things that He prayed for was oneness. He prayed with tremendous depth that we as believers may be one. What kind of oneness was the Lord Jesus praying for?

1. Having The Oneness Between God And The Lord Jesus As Our Example

“That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You” 
John 17:21

The Lord Jesus Christ prayed that our oneness would follow after the perfect example of oneness between His Father and Himself. God and the Lord Jesus were absolutely in unity with each other. Let’s take time to read the book of John to discover this.

2. Having A Closeness Of Relationship In God And The Lord Jesus

“That they also may be one in Us” 
John 17:21

The Lord also prayed that our oneness would have the depth of relationship and closeness that existed between God and Himself.

3. Having Maturity In Oneness

“That they may be made perfect in one” 
John 17:23

Ultimately, the Lord prayed for us to have a maturity of faith as we cultivate this oneness with each other.

That The World May Believe

“That the world may believe that You sent Me.” 
John 17:21

When the Lord Jesus came to this world, He came to show forth the Father’s glory. This glory can also be seen in us when we seek that oneness. It brings glory to God when believers dwell in unity, reflecting the oneness of Him and the Lord Jesus. When we are one in the Lord, it is truly outstanding. When non-believers see this, they will be drawn to it. We will be able to bear witness to them that our oneness is in the Lord Jesus.

The Challenge To Pray For Greater Oneness

The challenge is to also pray for the kind of oneness that Jesus prayed for. Having maturity in oneness is not something that we can cultivate easily. Let’s not take for granted the unity that we have at Bethany. Let’s follow the Lord’s example in praying for this unity. Let’s seek to develop a greater sense of oneness with each other.

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