The Unity-Centered Life
John 17:20-23
Rev. Brian Bill
3/28/10
I get a kick out of amusing road signs. Here are some that I came across recently.
* One yellow caution sign shows a curve ahead with a bunch of other squiggly lines going in all sorts of directions. The words underneath read, “Good luck.”
* Another one filled with dents and holes contains these words: “Notice: Do Not Throw Stones at This Sign.”
* A construction sign placed in a closed lane of a highway announces: “You’ll Never Get to Work on Time. HaHa!”
* Another sign has an arrow pointing to the left with this confusing caption, “Keep Right.”
And here are some “church signs” that made me chuckle.
* There Are Some Questions That Can’t Be Answered by Google
* Don’t Let Worries Kill You – Let the Church Help
* You Have One New Friend Request From Jesus – Confirm or Ignore?
* What is Missing From CH_ _ CH? U-R.
As I pondered the pluses (and minuses) of publicity like this for the church, I wrote this down: The best advertisement is a witness of oneness to the world because when we’re unified we display the personality, purposes and power of God.
In the final moments before His arrest, Jesus could have prayed for His own strength. He could have requested that the eleven would support Him. His intercession to the Father could have been filled with a desire to make the disciples better teachers or servants or givers or leaders or administrators. Instead, His prayer was dominated by a single thought – that His followers would have a witness of oneness to the world.
Please turn to John 17 as we finish up our short sermon series called, “What Jesus Wants For You.”
* In verses 1-5, Jesus prays for Himself to be glorified. We discovered two weeks ago that if we can’t do something for God’s glory, then we shouldn’t do it.
* In verses 6-19, Jesus prays for the disciples to be protected. We learned that because we are secure, we can be satisfied with Christ, which should lead us to live a separated life, sanctified for His purposes so that we can saturate this world with His Word.
* In verses 20-26, He prays for the church to be unified. On the eve of His excruciating death, He utters an appeal for unity. That tells me that we need supernatural strength to be united with fellow followers. If the early Christians struggled to maintain unity, and we do as well, it’s obvious that we need God’s help in this area. The very fact that Jesus prayed for unity indicates that we can’t accomplish this on our own.
Let’s go back and look at verse 11 again: “…Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that they may be one as we are one.” This protection that Jesus prays has a purpose in mind: “so that they may be one as we are one.” In the original this is even more forceful. The meaning is this: “so that they may constantly be one…” Notice that He ties this request for oneness to the type of relationship that He has with the Father. Just as Jesus and His father are one in essence and purpose, so too, his disciples share the same fundamental nature as brothers and sisters of the same Father. And we share a similar purpose with Jesus – to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
Jesus knows He is about to leave His believers behind in a very tough world. He can foresee the upcoming persecution and every temptation they are going to face. He knows how the Deceiver will work to divide His disciples and so He prays for their protection by appealing to the power of God’s name. Satan’s strategy throughout church history has been to destroy unity within the body of Christ. If he can attack our oneness, then our power will be diffused and our message will be obliterated or blurred.
Many of us are quick to divide over just about anything. As someone has said, “to live above with those we love, oh, how that will be glory. To live below with those we know, now that’s another story!” The Bible is filled with a focus on family togetherness. God’s people are designed to fit as pieces of a puzzle in order to form a united picture of divine love. In a world defined by conflict, broken relationships, political division, dysfunctional families and fractured communities, such unity would indeed be a sign that God is at work because human effort alone can’t make it happen.
Here’s a brief survey of some Scripture passages that lift up the spiritual standard of a cohesive community of faith.
Judges 20:11: “So all the men of Israel got together and united as one man against the city.”
2 Chronicles 30:12: “…The hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the LORD.”
Psalm 133:1: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”
Jeremiah 32:38-39: “They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them.”
Zephaniah 3:9: “Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”
Mark 9:50: “…Be at peace with one another.”
John 10:16: “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Romans 15:5-6: “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-11: “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Philippians 2:2: “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
How are we doing in our quest for unity within the community of faith? Are we serving shoulder to shoulder? Are we living together with singleness of heart this morning? Are we one in mind so that we’re in agreement with fellow Christ followers? These are tough questions to answer, aren’t they? Left to ourselves, we don’t automatically drift toward unity. In fact, our default setting is disunity. History is littered with a lack of harmony among humans.
The good news is that we’re not the first group of believers to display dissonance. Even the disciples, who spent three years with Jesus, demonstrated more discord than accord. James and John caused envy and jealousy when they wanted to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in His coming kingdom. Matthew was a tax collector who had sold out to Rome and Simon the Zealot hated IRS agents. On the night before Jesus selflessly gave His life, an argument arose among those who should have known better.
I have seen how Satan causes conflict among Christians. The Deceiver’s number one mission is to divide us because he knows that a “house divided cannot stand” (see Luke 11:17). I’ve watched as the Evil One has destroyed disciples and attacked assemblies. I’ve prayed for protection and I’ve attempted to get Christians to reconcile with each other. Having said that, I’ve contributed to my share of conflict in churches and messed up ministry teams over the years as well. I’ve come to the conclusion that I must do whatever it takes to maintain unity within the church, and must make sure that I’m not the cause of unnecessary clashes between fellow Christ followers because Jesus prayed that His followers would have a witness of oneness to the world.
The Puritan preacher Thomas Brooks was spot on when he wrote: “Discord and division become no Christian. For wolves to worry the lambs is no wonder, but for one lamb to worry another, this is unnatural and monstrous.”
Jesus Prays for You and Me
Robert McCheyne once said: “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” I’d like you to close your eyes and picture yourself sitting with Jesus as He prays for you. Listen to Him as He prays in John 17:20-23: “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.”
It’s amazing to me that Jesus is praying for people who have not even been born yet. This reminds me of Psalm 22:31: “They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn--for he has done it.” A truth has been rocking me recently. Beth and I are not just raising our daughters to follow Christ wholeheartedly; we are impacting the generation that follows them as well. Parents and grandparents – we must have a long-range vision for living our faith out at home as stated in Psalm 78:5-6: “He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.”
Let’s go back to John 17 where we see a gradual growth toward absolute unity in three consecutive verses:
* In verse 21, He prays, “That all of them may be one…”
* In verse 22, “…that they may be one as we are one.”
* And in verse 23, “May they be brought to complete unity…” The word “complete” derives from a root that conveys the idea of “end” or “aim.” Jesus is praying that our aim should be oneness. We know we’ve arrived when we’re experiencing unity with other believers.
I see four assumptions about unity in this passage.
1. The parameters of oneness include all believers (21a). Jesus doesn’t want us to just get along with a few people we happen to like, or with everyone just in this church, but “that all of them may be one.” His prayer is much deeper than “us four and no more.” True believers in Christ are one, no matter what slogan is on the church sign. We’re redeemed by the same blood and going to the same heaven. That means that we share a common unity or community, with believers in the past, in the present, and in the future.
Let me add three cautions at this point:
* Abandon extreme separatism. Some believers refuse to acknowledge that there are true Christians in other churches. Some groups criticize and label people just because they don’t hold to the same outward standards as they do.
* Avoid ecumenical sloppiness. The push for ecumenical uniformity among churches should also be avoided. There are doctrinal differences and biblical distinctions that must be maintained. Earlier in this same prayer, Jesus established that sanctification can only come about when it is based on the Word of God when He prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your Word is truth” (John 17:17). Truth alone must determine our alignments. Frankly, we are not all headed in the same direction and we do not serve the same God. Only those who are born again are really our brothers and sisters in the faith. You can tie two cats together by their tails and throw them over a clothesline and have union, but there certainly won’t be much unity. It was Malcolm Muggeridge who said about the World Council of Churches: “They agreed on almost everything because they believed almost nothing.”
* Adhere to unity but not uniformity. It’s possible to be diverse and yet not divided. We’re all distinct pieces of the puzzle, and variety is valuable because we have different gifts, abilities, personalities, thoughts, and opinions. We’re not called to be the “same,” we’re called to be one. That means we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can have harmony even though we’re not homogeneous. Don’t expect everyone to be exactly like you and to think the way you think. It’s impossible within a diverse church. By the way, here’s some free marriage counseling. When you see your spouse or someone in the church acting differently than you do, and it’s not a moral issue, say this statement either silently or out loud: “Not wrong, just different.” It will save you from a lot of unnecessary conflict.
2. The pattern for oneness is linked to the unity within the Trinity (11, 21c, 22). In verse 11, Jesus prays that his disciples would experience the oneness that exists in His relationship with the Father. In verse 21, He prays, “May they also be in us…” And, in verse 22: “…that they may be one as we are one.” The unity that Christ wants us to have is so intimate, so personal, and so vital that it is patterned after, and based on, the relations that exist in the Godhead. It is a oneness not only of faith, hope and love but of life itself.
3. The purpose of oneness is to accelerate evangelism (21b). Look at the last part of verse 21: “…so that the world may believe…” Notice that we’re not just to enjoy unity for our own sakes. Sure, its fun to be on the same page with those around you, but oneness should always accelerate evangelism. The most winsome witnessing is unity within the church. God’s redemptive plan is that the world may believe and the way this is accomplished today is through the unified oneness of the body of Christ. When unity is fractured within a church the bridge between believers and the world is effectively blown up. A disunited Christian community denies by its behavior the message that it proclaims. That’s why Jesus prayed that His followers would have a witness of oneness to the world.
One who is seeking truth is attracted to the oneness and harmony that should be evident in churches. When that unity is absent, they can smell it and will be turned off. I’m convinced that dissension and disunity have hindered more revivals than we can even imagine. Lost people are not looking to be part of another organization that is battling over irrelevant issues. When a non-Christian looks at believers who are throwing verbal bombs at each other, she may say, “If they can’t even agree on the truth among themselves, how could they possibly teach me the truth?” I came across this quote from Blaise Pascal this week: “Make people wish the gospel were true…and then show them that it is.”
4. The practice of oneness puts God’s reputation on display to the world (22-23). Verse 22 says that we have been given the glory that was given to Christ. The word “glory” represents the visible manifestation of all of God’s attributes. Friends, when we are united, the world will stand up and take notice of God because they will see Him glorified in us. Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Oneness gives credence to our claims. Specifically, according to John 17:23, the world will know two things:
* God’s Mission: He sent His Son to be Savior of the World. The world will not believe the Father sent the Son until we demonstrate spiritual oneness: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me.”
* God’s Message: He loves people. People will be attracted to the love of God when they see it manifested in our lives and in our church: “…and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
His mission and message are summed up in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world [His message] that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life [His mission]. That means that when I violate true Christian unity, I am hindering the gospel and ruining God’s reputation. His mission and His message get lost in a cacophony of discordant sounds.
Did you know that Jesus’ intercession was fulfilled in Acts 4:32? Listen to the extravagant oneness they experienced: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” And this unity had an eternal impact on the lives of the lost because according to Acts 2:47, people were becoming Christians every day: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Becoming the Answer
Pastor Jeff passed along a website this week called One Prayer (http://2010.oneprayer.com). I was very encouraged to read about their purpose: “We pray to Jesus asking Him to answer our prayers - what if we became the answer to His? In John 17:20-24, He prayed that we would be one, and One Prayer is an opportunity to see what can be accomplished when the Church works together.” During the month of June, millions of Christians will unite in prayer and I’ve signed us up to join them.
In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demands that Linus change the channel on the TV, threatening him with her fist if he won’t do it but Linus is reluctant to do so: “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?” Lucy holds up her fist and opens her hand: “These five fingers. Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.” Linus, now visibly shaken asks, “Which channel do you want?” Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”
Before I list some action steps that you and I can take to accelerate and organize some unity, let me remind you that unity is received, not achieved. We don’t have to earn it because it’s been earned for us on the Cross. You and I don’t have to create it because Jesus already did that. He attained unity; you and I must maintain it. Since it’s His heart that His followers have a witness of oneness to the world, let’s be open to how He wants us to put this prayer into practice.
This prayer for unity has been answered throughout church history but let’s bring it closer to home by seeking to answer this question: “What can I personally do to become the answer to Jesus’ prayer and foster unity within Pontiac Bible Church?”
1. Be a grower. Some say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. While that might be true in human relationships, in our relationship with God, absence makes the heart wander. And when we wander we often go to war with others. Are you growing in your walk with Christ? If you find yourself out of sync with someone, ask yourself some honest questions: “Am I walking with Christ? Am I fully surrendered to Him right now?” Unity will only come when I allow Christ to live through me.
2. Be a peacemaker. Instead of judging, gossiping, or slandering others, search for specific ways that you can be a peacemaker. Proverbs 6:19 says that the Lord finds detestable “a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Stop being abrasive and cut others some slack. It’s like the Chinese proverb that says, “Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet.” Watch your words. And when you hear someone skewering another believer, speak the truth in love and send him or her to that person instead.
Over the years we’ve spent some time learning how to be peacemakers instead of peace-fakers or peace-breakers. It might be helpful to go over the sermons again: (see http://www.pontiacbible.org/index.php?/Sermons/C106/). The basic principle is that whether you’ve been wronged by another believer, or you’ve been the one who has done wrong, as difficult as it is, to go and meet face-to-face and seek reconciliation (see Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15-17). Here’s the deal: Initiate reconciliation whether it’s your fault or not. It could be a legitimate gripe, or maybe it’s unfounded. It doesn’t really matter. If someone has a grudge against you, follow God’s nudge and do what you can to make it right. And if you have something against someone, go and meet with him or her. Here are the summary statements from two of the sermons:
* Every Conflict is an Opportunity. When we’re faced with friction, look for ways to glorify God, seek the good of the other, and then get ready to grow.
* Get the Log out of Your Eye. We can’t judge someone’s heart or motives because we all have sin sticking out of our eye balls.
Often the only way to make things right is to admit that you’ve been wrong. This information called “The Seven A’s” from the Peacemaker website is very helpful (www.peacemaker.net):
* Address everyone involved (All those whom you affected)
* Avoid if, but, and maybe (Do not try to excuse your wrongs)
* Admit specifically (Both attitudes and actions)
* Acknowledge the hurt (Express sorrow for hurting someone)
* Accept the consequences (Such as making restitution)
* Alter your behavior (Change your attitudes and actions)
* Ask for forgiveness (Request release from the debt)
Are you willing to live out the truth of Ephesians 4:3? This verse doesn’t allow us to be nonchalant about unity: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” What one thing can you do this week to keep the unity of the Spirit? In that relationship you’re thinking about right now, have you made every effort, or have you just sort of tried?
3. Be a forgiver. Some of you are filled with bitterness because you’ve refused to forgive someone for something they’ve done or said to you. It’s time to repair your relational ruptures, whether they’re in your home or in the house of God. Keep short accounts with people. Be like the young child who was overheard reciting the prayer given to the disciples: “And forgive us our trash passes, as we forgive those who have passed trash against us.” Are you passing trash around this morning? Get rid of it before it starts to stink. If we don’t forgive, Hebrews 12:15 gives us a warning: “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
4. Be a lover. We are called by Christ to love one another in John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Love is not an option; it’s a command. And when we do love, people will take notice and know that we’re followers of the One who loves unconditionally. Is there anyone you do not love right now? Anyone you’re avoiding? Giving the cold shoulder to? One pastor has spelled out three essential qualities for Christian love – mutual contact, mutual concern and mutual contribution: “Every great awakening, large or small, throughout the whole course of Christian history, has invariably begun by a breaking down of barriers between Christians first of all.”
5. Be a server. One of the best ways to have a unity-centered life is to be involved in serving. In Ephesians 4:12 we read that pastors and teachers are to equip or “prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” That’s the second half of our mission statement – to equip people to become growing and faithful followers. But it doesn’t end there. As equipping and serving take place, notice what happens next in verse 13: “…until we all reach unity in the faith…” One of the best ways to build unity is to serve side-by-side with other servants. In an effort to help in this whole process, Nathan Hilt will be teaching a discipleship class beginning April 18th during the 9:00 hour on the topic of discovering and deploying your spiritual gifts.
6. Be a prayer. During this series we have made some tools available to deepen our prayer lives individually, as families, and as a church. Can you take out your insert right now and follow along with this prayer based on Ephesians 6:10-18? “Dear Heavenly Father, You know that there are all kinds of battles all around me and Satan’s mission is to prevent me from following You. I am going to choose today to be on Your side of the battle. My desire today is to claim victory over Satan by putting on the whole armor of God so I can stand firm against his schemes.
Today I put on the “Helmet of Salvation” reminding me that I am in Your family and on Your side. Fill me with the reality that as a Christian, Your Holy Spirit has taken up residency in my life; that my sins have been forgiven by Your precious blood shed on the cross. Thank you that I have the assurance that I have become a citizen of Your eternal kingdom and that I have an unimaginable inheritance waiting for me in heaven.
Thank you that you have given me an offensive piece of armor to fight the enemy, the “Sword of the Spirit”, the Bible, which will help me discern right from wrong when I am attacked by Satan. Lord, I’m asking that Your Holy Spirit give me an insatiable desire for Your Word so it becomes my lifeline. Please give me insight as I study Your Word and the ability and wisdom to practice it and live it!
As I prepare for today, I don’t want to forget to arm myself with the “Belt of Truth” so I can distinguish between Your truth and Satan’s lies. Just as soldiers in biblical days needed a belt to keep their loose garments from tripping them, I need Your help to avoid getting tripped and falling on my face spiritually. Please help me to know Your truth, to be honest and free from deceit, a person of integrity throughout the course of my day. Please give me wisdom to make wise choices today.
A “got to have” piece of my armor today, Lord, is the “Breastplate of Righteousness”. Jesus, please protect my heart and character from Satan’s blows today. Help me to act in obedience to Your will in the face of opposition. Father, please make me more like Your Son, Jesus – MORE loving, holy, patient, faithful, grateful, kind, merciful, compassionate (you can go on….).
I can’t start this day either Lord, without the “Shield of Faith”. Just as the Roman soldiers of biblical days had a large shield that covered their entire body, I ask for Your protection from my head to my feet. Lord, I put my confidence totally in You. I ask for Your protection from evil thoughts entering into my head today; take away the desire for my feet to lead me where I shouldn’t be. Protect my heart with Your shield of faith as arrows of discouragement come my way in the forms of criticism, hardship, stress, and anxiety that are shot my way. Lord, as I face (you name it….is it illness, job loss, parenting problems, marital difficulties, etc.) may my reliance in Your faithfulness increase and help me to respond in obedience to Your will.
Lastly, as I get fully dressed for the day with Your armor, I need the “Shoes of the Gospel of Peace”. Thank you how You gave the visual of the importance of my “Gospel Shoes”. Just as a soldier’s shoes in Paul’s day had cleats on them bottom to allow him to move without slipping and sliding, I need Your “shoes” to help me to advance Your kingdom. Please give me the courage and the right words to share the Good News of Christ with others….to move forward into these situations with my confidence in You instead of retreating from them. May “I Love to Tell the Story of Jesus and His Love” become the cry of my heart. Get me ready today Lord to share the Good news of Jesus with my lost family members and friends.
Lord, I’m now ready to face this day with You by my side! In your precious Name I pray, Amen.
The huge redwood trees in California are incredible. They are the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world, with some of them reaching 350 feet high and living more than 2,000 years. You would think that trees this large would have incredible root systems, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. But they don’t. They actually have a very shallow root system. What keeps them standing through storms is that their roots are intertwined and interlocked with other redwoods. Tied together, they can withstand anything. Friends, you and I are tied together as well.
If you’re willing to be an answer to Jesus’ prayer, will you please stand right now and would you lock arms with the person next to you? We are His church and we are His signs, or advertisements, because as His followers we have a witness of oneness to the world.
We’re going to close by singing a simple chorus that is really a prayer that comes right out of John 17: “Make us one Lord, make us one Holy Spirit, make us one; Let your love flow so the world will know; We are one in you.”
