January 19, 2022
Pray for Unity
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Provision
The Father knows that His sons and daughters have needs. Some needs are physical, some emotional, and some spiritual. We are needy people, and that’s okay! The Father loves to respond to the hearts of His children when they come to Him humbly and desperately. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread…” (Matt 6:11). At the Father’s table, He has prepared for all of us more than enough to provide. You are invited to pull up a chair and to seek His provision.
Matthew 17:20-23 (ESV) “20 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
Philippians 2:1-4 (ESV) “1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
At the last supper, as Jesus shared his final meal with the disciples, he took the time to pray for the disciples. It is sometimes called the farewell prayer and it is the longest prayer in the Bible. In this prayer, Jesus prays for the disciples and then he prays for all believers. In this prayer, just before he went to the cross, he thought it absolutely vital to ask God the Father that the believers would be unified. Paul had the same request for the believers in Phillipi. It brought him joy when the believers were of one mind, love, and focus. This unity was evident when they, as Jesus did for us, cared for others with humility.
It is fair to say that we live in a divided time. In fact, that may be one of the few things everyone can agree on. One of the ways that we show that we are saved is by our unity with our brothers and sisters. A unified church, in a time of political turmoil and relational chaos, is a world-defying witness. The Bible reminds us that we are unified by the Spirit, but tasks us to “maintain the unity of the Spirit.” (Eph. 4:3) If we are telling unbelievers that we have the truth that they are missing, our community should reflect our claims.
Consider:
Prayer Points
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Provision
The Father knows that His sons and daughters have needs. Some needs are physical, some emotional, and some spiritual. We are needy people, and that’s okay! The Father loves to respond to the hearts of His children when they come to Him humbly and desperately. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread…” (Matt 6:11). At the Father’s table, He has prepared for all of us more than enough to provide. You are invited to pull up a chair and to seek His provision.
Matthew 17:20-23 (ESV) “20 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
Philippians 2:1-4 (ESV) “1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
At the last supper, as Jesus shared his final meal with the disciples, he took the time to pray for the disciples. It is sometimes called the farewell prayer and it is the longest prayer in the Bible. In this prayer, Jesus prays for the disciples and then he prays for all believers. In this prayer, just before he went to the cross, he thought it absolutely vital to ask God the Father that the believers would be unified. Paul had the same request for the believers in Phillipi. It brought him joy when the believers were of one mind, love, and focus. This unity was evident when they, as Jesus did for us, cared for others with humility.
It is fair to say that we live in a divided time. In fact, that may be one of the few things everyone can agree on. One of the ways that we show that we are saved is by our unity with our brothers and sisters. A unified church, in a time of political turmoil and relational chaos, is a world-defying witness. The Bible reminds us that we are unified by the Spirit, but tasks us to “maintain the unity of the Spirit.” (Eph. 4:3) If we are telling unbelievers that we have the truth that they are missing, our community should reflect our claims.
Consider:
- What are the essentials of our faith that should unify us?
- What are some ways that Satan brings division into the church?
Prayer Points
- Ask that God would help us maintain the unity of the Spirit.
- Ask that we would be united over the essentials of the faith.
- Ask that our unity would be attractive to the lost in our community.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting