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.
And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one:
I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” (John 17:20-23)
This prayer has often caused me to wonder, and also to fret, about the church. Jesus prayed that we, the church, would be one as the Father and the Son are One. When I look at the church, I don’t often see oneness; unity; being in one accord. I have many times over the years wondered why we do not see or sense this prayer of our LORD being fulfilled.
While I will not even pretend to know the perfect answer to my questions and frustrations, I will give a response based on my years of working within hundreds of churches worldwide through my prayer ministries. Before I surmise, allow me to share a few Scriptures to support my thinking.
“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13)
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“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
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“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13)
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“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)
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“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)
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“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)
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“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)
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“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)
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These are just a few illustrations toward my conclusion. Oneness. Unity. These are the things Jesus urges, prays for, His church, the Bride of Christ, to become. When we take all of these verses together, one has to come to a conclusion that they will not be fulfilled in our Christian lives without a deep, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ that comes through a soul attachment to the Word, as well as a life committed, dedicated, to personal, intimate prayer!
When all of the individual believers achieve this in their lives, then come together, in one accord, with one another in corporate prayer, praying, oneness then is very probable. Churches that pray together, stay together . . . in power!
Therein lays our problem. Prayer is the most neglected aspect of the Christian life; and in effect, Jesus becomes neglected. We have left our first Love. Therefore, how can oneness happen?