Cultivating a Deeper Prayer Life - A Theology of Prayer

Study 26

Text: John 17

"THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU SENT ME…" John 17:21

What was the context of Jesus praying for "oneness" among believers? There are some believers who do not believe that they should even pray for oneness. Some think that praying for oneness is to promote ecumenicity!

Sometimes believers are guilty of obstructing people from believing in God. Disharmony among believers has hurt the presentation of the Gospel very deeply! We must give thought to what Jesus said! There are severe and adverse repercussions when we do not take the matter of oneness seriously! The world will be even less responsive to our presentation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us not be naïve about how the world will respond to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us remind ourselves of what the real world is like out there.

1. The world is skeptical about the existence of God!

2. The world is cynical when we speak of having faith in the Lord.

3. The world sneers at Christians, because they cannot even agree among themselves what the Christian faith is.

4. The world does not believe the Gospel we present because the lack of oneness can be so jarring!

5. The world is already steeped in sin and will thus not believe in the Gospel easily.

6. The evil one will do his best to harden the heart to prevent anyone coming to faith easily in Christ

Are we concerned that the world should come to faith in Jesus? Then let us work hard at developing a greater sense of oneness with each other! When the world sees believers polarized, or worse attacking each other, it does not feel compelled to believe in the Gospel that is being presented!
Let us take the prayer of Jesus for "oneness" very seriously. Let us think about applying this concern of oneness in the local church context.

THE STRESS ON ONENESS IN PAULINE THEOLOGY
The Apostle Paul certainly emphasized oneness in his epistles. In his pastoral letter written to the Ephesian church, Paul wrote a moving word, emphasizing unity.

"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit,
Just as you were called in one hope
Of your calling,
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all,
Who is above all, and through all,
And in you all."
Ephesians 4:3-6

Who is responsible to keep the unity ("oneness") of believers? God has already provided all the means for believers to be one with each other!

We are fully responsible for oneness or disunity in the Church! If the world is not impressed with our faith, the problem may well lie with us. We have failed to have the kind of oneness that Jesus prayed for!

How many of us actually pray for this spirit of oneness to prevail in the Church? How many of us actually promote harmony and oneness in the Church community?

We are so guilty of selfishness. We are just not thinking of others enough. Since we do not have a close and vital relationship with God, neither can we pray for closeness with each other!

In the letter to the Philippians, Paul pleaded with the Philippian Church to promote and uphold oneness.

"Fulfil my joy by being likeminded,
having the same love,
being of one accord,
of one mind…"
Philippians 2:2

Many things can and will hinder the Church from achieving the kind of oneness that Jesus desired and prayed for! Paul identified some of these sin-problems.

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition
or conceit,
But in lowliness of mind let each esteem others
Better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests
But also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4

Let us confess our sins to the Lord. Let us ask the Lord to help us pray for and work towards a deeper understanding of what it means to be one with each other.

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~