(#1576) Day 21. Unity Leads To Power In Mission (21/10/26)
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (currently posted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) as we continue our 9-week series: Fresh Vision From Jesus' High Priestly Prayer from John 17.
This week, we begin our three-week focus on John 17:20-26, the third section of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, where Jesus prays for us to effectively reach those outside of faith.
To watch this devotional, go to:
Please read John 17:20–26.
1. Unity leads to power in mission
People often come together to make their voices heard. Whether protesting against war, injustice, poverty, the environment… they understand that there is strength in unity. A united people have a greater impact than isolated individuals. Jesus wants His church to understand something similar. When it comes to reaching the world with the gospel, unity has tremendous power.
Jesus prays:
‘“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.”’ (John 17:20)
Do you see the connection? Jesus prays that His people would be one so that the world would believe that He was sent from the Father. A little later He repeats the same truth:
‘“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—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”’ (John 17:22-23)
Jesus had already taught this on the night before His crucifixion:
‘“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”’ (John 13:34-35)
2. How Does Unity Help People Believe?
Unity reflects the reality of the gospel - Firstly, our unity reflects the truth that all true Christians are already united in Christ ( See 1 Corinthians 12:13). this is the foundation of any visible unity.
Unity is blessed by God - Unity leads to fruitfulness because loving unity is blessed by God (See Psalm 133).
Unity reflects the character of God - Jesus prays that His people would be one just as the Father and the Son are one. Our loving relationships display something of God's own nature to the world.
Unity is attractive to others - A loving community is attractive to a world looking for true community.
Unity gives us the resources to be effective - As the Body of Christ, with a range of spiritual gifts, our working together releases these gifts.
Unity frees us from the distractions of infighting - Relational breakdown uses a lot of time and emotional energy that takes us away from other ministry, including evangelism.
Unity pleases the Holy Spirit whose empowering we need - The holy Spirit is grieved and quenched by disunity. However, He is pleased with and empowers those who love one another (See Ephesians 4:29-32)
Unity leads to the mutual encouragement required for mission - Evangelism is difficult. Meeting, sharing and praying together encourages us and builds the faith required to persevere.
Unity in the truth is vital for mission - Jesus is praying for the unity of believers in the truth - the truth of the gospel and the Word of God. Only those who believe the gospel will seek to make it known!
Unity authenticates our message - Finally, perhaps most importantly, loving unity gives credibility to the gospel we proclaim. People expect Christians to speak about love; they are deeply impacted when they see that love lived out. William Barclay, writes of the power of both disunity and unity:
‘More people have been brought into the Church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world; and more people have been driven from the Church by the hardness and ugliness of so-called Christianity than by all the doubts in the world.’
The book of Acts gives us a beautiful picture of this. Luke describes a church devoted to fellowship, generosity, worship, and prayer. The result was not only a healthy church, but a growing one:
‘…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’ (Acts 2:47)
Moment To Reflect
Jesus' prayer reveals both His desire for the unity of His church and the power of that unity in His mission.
Are you intentionally strengthening the unity of your church family?
Is there anyone you need to forgive, encourage, or reconcile with?
Unity authenticates the message - Is your love for your church family revealing the gospel?
Download the booklet
Below is the link to download the devotional booklet: Fresh Vision From Jesus Prayer. This is a series of 27 devotionals based upon Jesus' High Priestly Prayer in John 17.
This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of CCP; to watch our anniversary video, please select the link below:
Community Group Study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
You might want to use the icebreaker: How has God been speaking to you from His Word recently, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
On Sunday, we continued our series, Fresh Vision From Jesus’ Prayer, and began our three-week focus on John 17:20-26, the second section of Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, where we will see that Jesus wants to lead us in reaching our community with the gospel.
Read John 17:20–26 together and discuss:
What particularly spoke to you, challenged you or inspired you from Sunday’s message?
Jesus sets us the example of praying for those who do not yet know Him - an example we are called to follow. Do you truly believe that prayer is essential to fruitful evangelism?
Why is prayer so vital to the success of our mission to share the gospel and make disciples?
Read Colossians 4:2–6. What does this passage teach us about the relationship between prayer and mission? How should it shape the way we pray and share our faith?
How is Jesus calling you to follow His example of praying for those who do not yet know Him? Who are the ‘people of peace’ in your life - How do you, or could you pray for them?
Let’s pray together:
SIV (Serve, Invest and Invite)
Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.
Pray for the ‘people of peace’ in our lives (see note below), asking God to open their hearts and give us the Love and boldness to share His love as He opens opportunities.
In our prayers together, let’s pray for a few themes together:
For our church to grow as ‘a house of prayer’ - a people devoted to praying together.
For our upcoming Alpha Course in January, and for Phil as he seeks to bring this together.
Our upcoming New Ground Sunday on the 8th November - that it would be a great morning that inspires vision for our family of churches.
General Prayer: Let’s also pray for one another based on our study, and bringing before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
Comments