KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:22 KJV” And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”

The issue of unity is so dear to the heart of the Lord, for the unity of the church, reveals His glory. A united body can always achieve whatever goals they plan to achieve. In Genesis 11, the people who decided to build the tower of Babel., could not be stopped until their language was changed to a multiple The Lord said these people are one, and whatever they decide to do, would not be impossible to them. God’s intention, was for them to disperse all over the earth and have dominion over it., but not to dwell at a small location of the earth Gen 1:26-28. If God had destroyed the building they started,  they would surely have reconstructed it again. The best way to get them to stop building was to, change their languages, which disunited them. That was exactly what Satan sought to do against the church.

The Lord says the glory which the Father gave Him, He has given to the church, so they would be united. Our unity is a demonstration of the glory of God. Every child of God must understand these things and strive to walk in unity. Human nature because of selfishness, easily finds faults with others. All these are the works of the adversary, who is a chief accuser of the brethren. Refuse to be an accuser of the brethren and the people of God.

The Lord said, a new commandment have I given to you, that you love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34). Love for one another is the key to a united body. The main cause of disunity is self-centeredness producing strive and all kinds selfish tendences. I said in one of our earlier studies that, if a group or denomination has a doctrinal difference which is not about the basic tenets of faith , especially about the  deity of Jesus and salvation by grace through faith, then we should not have much problems  relating with each other , except the Holy Spirit instructs you not to have nothing to do with such group( because of a foundation which may have a different spirit) ( One way to check if a group is not operating by the Spirit of Christ is ,they find fault with every other denomination except themselves. They mainly do so for monetary gain.) Let us avoid speaking against other denominations because they have a different name. One’s different approach should not divide us

THOUGHT: LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER IS THE KEY TO A UNITED BODY.

FURTHER STUDIES

Phi 2:3,4 KJV” Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”.

Eph 4:2 KJV ” With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:21 KJV” That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

The Lord Jesus once again expresses His longing for the unity or oneness of the church. Our key scripture, put it this way, ” that they all may be one….” His desire is for ALL to be one. He goes further to explain the type of oneness He anticipates. He says they should be like His relationship with the Father. He said as the Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son, so should they all be one. In the relationship between the Father and the Son, they are virtually one person. They have one mind, one emotion, and one word. We see them as two distinct personalities, yet they are one. This is the kind of oneness He anticipates for the church

The Lord prayed that the church would be so united that their language or views about various matters would be one. There would also be such a great love expressed towards one another. He added that such love and oneness would easily make the world know that He, Jesus came from the Father.

Now as much as this is a desire of the Lord, it is also an instruction or a command for the church to strive towards being one. Has this desire or prayer been achieved? I believe the early Church had that oneness Now, it seems things are different. A look at the church’s history will reveal conditions have changed from what they used to be at the early church. It is now the duty of enlightened Christians to stand in the gap and intercede for the church of God. Such intercessory prayers would bring in the hand of God, working through His angels to create conditions that would cause the church to align with the purposes of God.

THOUGHT: THE CHURCH NEEDS INTERCESSION FOR UNITY NOW THAN EVER

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 59:16 KJV” And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.”

John 17:22 KJV” And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:20 KJV Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Every one of us who now believes in the Lord Jesus, came to faith in Him through what has been passed on from generations past to our era. We are among all those the Lord prayed for in our key scripture. This implied everything He prayed for refers to us as well. We must take note of them and apply our lives to all His concerns. In this series of studies, we have made mention of some of the areas that His disciples have come to know. We must also know them and live our lives by them. Whatever He  desired for them, is applicable to us now.

A recap of some of the areas He mentioned. One of the things He talked about was that He had given all the words the Father gave to Him to them. The import of this statement is that we must also come to terms with the truth of the scriptures, such that no one through any cunning means would be able to take any of us captive. Our world is controlled by Satan and so He has inspired many to teach heresies, against the truth Col 2:8 KJV “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

The next major concern of the Lord in His prayer was the unity of His church. The Church cannot afford not to be united. The church’s unity is its glory. The church cannot be powerful without a united front.

There are some groups who do not believe in the basic tenets of faith of the church like the deity of our Lord Jesus, salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus, and others. Such groups cannot be considered as part of the church, but we do our best to win them to the Lord. No Christian group or church should attack another church, because it bears another name, no! We have one Lord over us all, and must always acknowledge that. Certain doctrinal differences that have nothing to do with the basic tenets of faith should not make us enemies. We are still under the same Lord, the same Holy Spirit, and the same Father over us all.

THOUGHT: OUR UNITY IS PARAMOUNT, MAINTAIN IT

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 4:3 ,4 KJV” Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;”

1Co 12:25 KJV ” That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:19 KJV” And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

In our previous study we looked at how the Lord Jesus sought to see His disciples sanctified as a result of Him   being a role model to them in sanctification. In today’s study we would consider the practical lessons of how the Lord stayed sanctified. Firstly, I wish to state that, the Lord was not focused on overcoming sin, but His desire and longings was to please the father. To be occupied with overcoming sin can really get you living a very frustrated life, but to be occupied with pleasing the Father, makes sinning an issue not to consider in the first place, and so there comes no contention with sin, but doing the positive things that exhort the name of the Father.

With the desire to please the Father, it took away the consciousness of sin, making the mind dwell on more glorious things that honour the Father. John 8:29 KJV” And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” When the mind of a man is freed from mundane matters unto doing things that are of pleasure to the Father, the flesh is also freed of the hang overs of sinful ways. (This does not mean the desire to sin may not come, but its compulsive strength over you will not be there).

Let’s consider the temptation of the Lord Jesus. Satan came to Him, at a time when He had fasted and was really hungry. Satan knew that food was not readily available. He asked Him to turn stones into bread and eat. His mind was on the wavelength of pleasing the Father and so He quickly answered the devil saying, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Matt 4:4. He was not torn between pleasing the Father or satisfying His hunger. He had settled it once and for all that, God is the one who must always be pleased and not man, or the flesh. A decided mind cannot be tempted.

The next thing He did to keep Him sanctified was that He was very spiritual. To be spiritual is to be dominated by the scriptures. In another sense to be spiritual is to be controlled by the scriptures. During His temptations, Satan asked Him to bow to Him, so he the devil would give Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. The Lord quickly answered, “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Throughout the temptations He kept saying, ‘ it is written’ He was not just filled with the scriptures, He was yielded to the scriptures. Spirituality is when the mind and the heart are all controlled by the scriptures. Having the scriptures in your memory does not make you spiritual, but when your heart is surrendered to the scriptures then are you spiritual.

THOUGHT: REAL VICTORY IN LIFE IS WHEN A MAN TRULY LOVES GOD.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 4:34 KJV” Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

Rom 12:2 KJV” And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:19 KJV” And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

This verse shows the real concern of the master for His followers. The Lord Jesus is by nature a holy and upright man. In this verse He focuses His attention on His disciples, seeking a life of holiness and uprightness from them. To see it in them He chooses to make His life an example to them. This is the best way for any leader to teach his followers various acts. It is by being the right example to them. This principle is replicated in the right parenting as well. Leadership is all about influencing your followers to do the right thing.

Every disciple is a learner. He follows by observing what his leader does and practices the same. This is the reason every great leader should first be a disciplined person. This is a product of humility. This is also the reason it is said that leaders are servants. The leader shows the way by doing.  Our master Jesus was the greatest leader of all time. He taught most of the lessons through practicing the act to his followers. His disciples came to Him asking to be taught to pray as they saw Him pray always. He built the desire to pray in them by demonstrating the act to them.

From our key scripture, the Lord walks according to the teachings of the truth. He walks in love, and perfected it by laying His life on the cross. He kept Himself by living a holy and upright life such that, Peter saw it and wrote in 1Peter 1:16 that ” …… Be ye holy; for I am holy”. The Lord demonstrated a life of holiness, and so demands holiness from us. The word of truth is the only standard for our lives. Live your life totally according to what it teaches. It is life and light. This statement means, it has the ability to make you do what it instructs you to do. Your part is to learn what the scripture teaches, believe it and practice it. When one believes the word, he would surely receive the ability to do what it says.

THOUGHT: GREAT LEADERS ARE DOERS THAN TALKERS.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matt 11:29 KJV” Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Heb 12:2 KJV Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:18 KJV “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”

We have been called into the same ministry as our Lord Jesus, except dying for the sins of men. He said the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10. The Lord faithfully committed His life to that mission. As young as twelve years, He was found engaged with the teachers of the law asking and answering questions. His parents asked Him, why have you treated us this way? The Lord answered her as follows  “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? Teaching, preaching, and healing the sick, is the Father’s business. The Lord said “my meat is to do the will of my Father who sent me. and to finish it”

As the Lord responded to the Father’s commission so must we respond to His commission. If we have been sent just like He was sent, then we must also know that we have the same provisions that were given to Him to be successful. These provisions include the Holy Spirit, His same authority through His name. We also have the myriads of angels at our disposal. What is left for us to do, is to learn the way our master went about doing the work and also do the same.

How did the Lord Jesus go about doing the work of the Father? The Lord showed absolute love and dependence on the Father. This He did through His prayer life. After waiting on God in prayer and fasting, He hit the road and started ministering to men right on the road, in the parks, at the marketplaces, and in their homes preaching and healing the sick. He did not wait for a musical group or a beautiful auditorium. He was out there where the sinners were. He fearlessly spoke to them. He spoke to individuals, and healed individuals who came to Him, and He also spoke to the multitude who came thronging on Him. He likewise healed the multitude as well.

We must consider His approach and do as He did. The Lord Jesus loved the Father perfectly and therefore, pleasing Him was His greatest desire. This attitude also attracted the approval of the Father in all He did. John 8:29 KJV” And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” His instruction was, follow me, or learn my example do as you see me do, and you shall be fishers of men.

THOUGHT: FOLLOW THE LORD AND YOU WILL BE A GREAT FISHER OF MEN.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matt 4:19 KJV” And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matt 28:19 KJV” Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:17 KJV “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

The Lord said emphatically that the word is truth. The basis of its truthfulness is that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and it is profitable for doctrine, correction, and instruction in righteousness.  2 Timothy 3:16,17. Many in these days have tried to scrutinise the scriptures and so try to discredit it. Well, this is a very big error. What they fail to realise is that the inspiration of the scriptures was not a mechanical dictation by the Holy Spirit. They were moved by the Spirit, yet they wrote from their various background of understanding and culture. When the bible said, Joshua asked the sun to stand still, in actual fact it was the earth that stood still. To Joshua, it was the sun that stood from his perspective. If one argues that how could the Holy Spirit instruct a wrong presentation of a fact? IF you do that, then you are missing the whole point. The fact is that, on that day, the night did not turn up. The truth is that the Spirit of God wrought a great work, and that is what God wants us to see. It is the work of the Spirit which is the main issue.

We see the operation of the Spirit actively involved in all the stories. It is the humble ones who accept the presentation. 1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV” For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”. The power and truthfulness of the scriptures are the life and dealings of the Spirit that run throughout the scriptures. Those who believe the scriptures have encountered diverse supernatural powers and works of the Spirit. Through believing the scriptures criminals have become saints, amazing miracles like body parts which were removed through surgery have been miraculously replaced, the blind have been restored to perfect health and even dead people have been brought back to life. This is the supernatural hand of God at work throughout the word of God. The scriptures are true because it is a recording of the activities of the Holy Spirit.

Dear one you can always rely on the truthfulness of the scripture. Every promise of the scriptures comes indirectly with an oath from God to honour His word (Heb 6:17). God cannot lie, nor does he lack the ability or power to do what He has promised. You can always trust God to honour every promise He gave about Himself. Every word concerning the future is also reliable. Trust in the Word with all your heart and mind. Follow it through and you will never be disappointed.

THOUGHT: RECEIVE GOD’S WORD AS A BABY AND YOU WOULD LIVE LIKE A GOD.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 20:32 KJV “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”.

Psalms 19:7 KJV “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 17:17 KJV” Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

We continue with our discussion on being sanctified by the word. The world and its system is controlled by its god, who is Satan. The Bible describes him vividly in John 8:44 as follows;” Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it.” The scripture says Satan is a murderer. He murders by deceiving his victims. Whatever he says is a lie, for he is the father of liars. The Bible says he has deceived the whole world. (Rev 12:9). To be free from this gross deceit, you need to be sanctified by the truth, and God’s word is the only truth.

Satan uses deceit to take men captive. Scripture cautions us to be aware lest we are taken captive. Col 2:8. This LGBTQ + craze is a sign that he has grossly deceived mankind. The only way to outwit him is to walk in the truth. The child of God must develop a very strong confidence in the word, as well as a good knowledge of the word of God. A consideration of the armour of God for the Christian is all about applying the word of God, in various ways to defend yourself against Satan’s craftiness and deceit.

One important way of making use of the word is a meditation on the word of God.

Meditation brings you into the world of the word. It establishes the word within your conscious and subconscious mind, as well as filling your heart. This makes applying the word very normal and easy. In meditation, you turn from everything both within and without, to fill your mind and heart with the word. You may do it by saying the word of God, to yourself at a very low tone. Keep repeating that particular word for as long as you choose. Let the word bath you as staying under a waterfall. Repeat this practice at other times. Be very consistent with it. 0n doing this over a considerable length of time, it would simply make you unmovable, and ready to overcome every onslaught of Satan.

THOUGHT: FLOOD YOUR SPIRIT AND SOUL WITH THE WORD, AND YOU WILL MAKE SUCCESS YOUR EXPERIENCE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Jos 1:8 KJV” This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Rom 12:2 KJV” And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:17 KJV ” Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

After the Lord stated that, His disciples are not of this world, just as He is also not of this world, He asked the Father to sanctify them by the truth. The word of God is the truth. In our previous study, we said there are three things in this world that make Satan have free access to control men. These traits are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. They are the deceptive tools of the devil because they have a passionate effect on men. The word lust means a driving desire. It is a compelling longing for a wrong thing. According to 2nd Peter 1:4, the lust of the flesh overwhelms men with corruption.

From 2nd Peter 1:4, it is the truth of scripture that transforms us into divine beings, which catapults us out of the realm of corruption caused by lust. The agents of corruption are lusts of various kinds as well as pride. These are all deceptive tools of the devil. Truth is always the answer for lies or deception. Hebrews 3:13 KJV “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” The scriptures admonish us to exhort one another daily with the word of truth.

Lust of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life are all very deceptive and defiling as well. They are not just deceptive but very compelling and may drive one into states that make one helpless. You must go the Jesus way to live above its deceit. When He was hungry and Satan wanted to play the lust of the flesh game on Him, by asking Him to turn stones into bread, He quickly said, It is written. Talk back to the enemy anytime he plays the lust game by saying it is written, and then add what the word says. It is time to be aggressive with the word of God to set yourself free from being defiled.

THOUGHT: YOU CAN’T USE HUMAN WISDOM TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY, USE THE WORD

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 119:11 KJV “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Heb 3:13 KJV “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 17:16 KJV “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

During the Lord’s prayer He said, as He is not of this world, so are His disciples also not of the world.

Dear child of God, you do not hail from this world. The word ‘of’ in Greek is ek, which means out of, proceed from or to hail from. It does not just mean; we are not part of this world. We do not proceed from this world and so we do not function according to the principles of this world. The world was not created by the devil, yet because of sin, he has captured the unregenerated man and as a result he has become the god of this world. The bible calls him the Father of all those who have not given their lives to Jesus. John 8:44.

What is in the world? 1Jn 2:16 KJV” For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” The Spirit of God did not talk about the fashion in the world, the sins of the world, or mindset of the world, but made mention of the following as being the things in the world.

1. The lust of the flesh.

2. The lust of the eyes.

3. The pride of life.

These three tendencies are the foundations of every Satanic influence in men. If the Lord says you do not proceed from the world, then you must not allow any of these to show themselves in your life. The answer to this is to know that you proceed from the Spirit of God, and you are in the spirit. Refuse to live in the flesh. Rom 8:9 KJV “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Dear child of God, if you do not proceed from this world then you are a product of the word of God. The word is all that matters and means all the world to you. Give attention to the word, believe it and practice the word. Once again refuse to give the flesh any room. Stay in the Spirit and rejoice in the Lord.

THOUGHT: LIVE IN THE WORD AND FULFILL YOUR SPIRITUAL MANDATE

FURTHER STUDIES

1Pe 1:23 KJV  “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

John 3:8 KJV” The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit”.