“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

John 17:20-24

Prayer Points

Pray for divisions and cliques in and between churches to be removed and for grace and truth to be expressed.

Pray about any initiative you can take to be in harmony with those you know.

Pray that the watching world will have its visible demonstration of God’s love shown through, and in, the churches here. Pray that many will see this and believe.

     DAY 9 : UNITING

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit! Sadly news got around in first century Corinth that some people thought their particular group in the church was more important than others. The purity of Jesus was being invaded by human nature. So in 1 Corinthians 1:10 Paul gets really steamed up, saying in effect: “I appeal to you by the authority of Jesus Christ stop arguing!” He appeals for harmony and an end to silly cliques in the church – or between churches.

What would Jesus say if he heard of Christians taking pot-shots at each other like this? What would he say to people refusing to talk to others – or even crossing the road to prevent a conversation?This is sin!

Jesus prayed for his followers to be one, just as he and the Father are one. And that is the most wonderful example of unity. He prays to the Father in John 17:22: “I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one” and again in verse 24: “I want them to be with me, where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me.”

Jesus says that Christian unity will make a definite impact on the world. Just as Jesus revealed an unseen God to the world, so the Church can reveal the unseen Father and his love. The unity Jesus prayed for is not organisationally produced, nor is it historically invisible. It is something God produces – full of grace and truth. The world needs to see our unity.

Pray

*    Pray for your ‘big issue’

*    Pray for your ‘three friends’

*    Pray for a new wave of revival.