I want to start of with a question today. How can the word One be used when no one else is around to experience it? Much like the Church today, when we come together and fellowship and worship God, we do so as One body of Christ don’t we! Yet we are individuals, but with a unity, a oneness that holds firmly together! There will always be a good reason to stand up for the right thing. Resist the resistance, fight the good fight as Paul tells us in Scripture. I once read a quote that stated, “Always do the right thing, even if that means to stand alone!”
But today, I’m not talking about separation or division, I am wanting to relay to you the words of Jesus on the matter of becoming One! That one of His last prayers while on this earth, called for everyone to be united, that we may be one!
You are undoubtedly aware, the recent tragedy in Texas that resulted in a horrific loss of innocent lives which literally shocked the nation. All as a result of one individual and his ultimate decision. And as we are called upon to unite on a regular basis, it seems tragedy has to occur before some of us take it seriously, on just how important to come together as One is. Even during 9-11, the nation came together, but unfortunately was short lived. I hope and pray that our future to come together should not be on the premise of a tragedy. I know many thoughts race through our minds about the tragedies and senseless behaviors and actions of others; which we may never get real answers too. While we gather together friends to worship, fellowship and even mourn and reflect on a loss such as this, we also need to look at what Jesus is clearly portraying for those of us willing to listen and obey in todays Gospel reading, to be united, to be one!
The Gospel of John tells us, “I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, 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 sent Me."
What question does this answer satisfy? What pain can we as Gods people really try to avoid in doing the right thing? Jesus tells us to help the lost, sick and afflicted, yet we come back and say, Well, only if its in my time schedule, or when its convenient! But that is NOT what Christ is telling us to do! The word one has a very significant meaning to God, as it should mean to each of us. There is only One God, and One way to God.
In the Gospel of John, the word one, (hice) in Greek, means simply put, universal oneness, to be one with God, to be one with people. An example of this oneness comes to us in the Gospel of Mark that shows us the union of marriage between a man and women, “and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
One my friends is NOT a lonely number! It consists of many that unite, to stand strong, and always, always, always defeating the foe of evil.
In a world where nation rises up against nation, races against other races of people, factions against reasons, and so on, we shall NEVER become one, in the true essence of the word, if we simply stand alone without becoming one in Christ. Just look at the Methodist church! If you have not heard, our own denomination is on the threshold of being divided, again, after several years. Yes, there may be good reasons that may be justified, but division is always a result of separation from God, in some form and fashion. Yet, from the last separation of the Methodist Church, did result in us today; allowing me and my wife to come help serve at this wonderful church. To broaden my horizons, meet the wonderful people in the ministry, and so on. There is Good that come out of a division! Yet, staying divided is what Jesus is telling us to stand clear of! Avoid at all costs!
And it is this request, Jesus is making to his disciples then and today, that we come together, in one, to Love, Serve and Surrender! We hear the word unity, or oneness, as its to be a witness of God’s unconditional and unfailing Love. There is no oneness and unity without Love. Do we fit the billet of that example? Do we genuinely surrender all to God in order to do his will? You have heard me say time and time again, there is no such a thing as a costless Christian!
Make no mistake friends, if you ever been part of a family, marriage, member of an organization, even a church body, that within the bonds of Love there can be much disagreement and contention. And if you really think about it, some of our most serious arguments can be signs that we do indeed care for one another! If we didn’t care, why stay for the fight and try to win the argument? Remember friends, as Christians, we are to win souls, not win the argument! We are to help save people to come to God, the ultimate healer, redeemer, helper, not satisfy our own agendas. And we can only do this by becoming One in Christ.
Let us move forward in reading the Gospel of John, “The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me.”
In listening here, lets look at a few points Jesus is saying to us. First, He says “Just as We are one.” So one of the aspects that Jesus is telling us is to convince the world Jesus was indeed commissioned by God so to speak, is to experience and live in the spirit of unity. Verse 2 tells us just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. Eternal life is a reward for being one with Christ! When Jesus says We are One, it’s the unity in Gods Love that is demanded from God for the entire Christian communion. It’s a requirement!
The next point is to be perfected in unity. The word perfect here in Greek (tel-i-o'-o) means to bring to an end, to complete, to make whole. The world has a false definition of being perfect. Having the perfect body! Having the perfect score! Having the perfect house, car or job. Perfect is not a destination, but the journey to become complete with God and God in us.
The last point Jesus is saying is that we each by living the example may shine brightly that the world may know that God sent Jesus to complete, what was promised. It is by us living the Christian life, to being the example, that will ultimate save each of us, if we believe. And its not enough to take a picket sign and protest a valid point, its not enough to pray for each other when we feel like it, its not enough just to say I believe and yet do not live the Christian life! God is calling each of us friends do something more than all those things. We are to be like One, with Christ and in Christ!
You may not realize it, but even the disciples had a difference of opinion on several occasions. When you read the book of Acts, you see some of that, and yet, there still shined unity and love amongst the ranks of the disciples. We tend to get ticked off, when someone seems to gain something, whether its favor or some sort of value when we don’t, yet God has always said, I will provide all your needs according to your riches and Glory. We tend to divide ourselves even for the most smallest of things, yet we want our point to be well known and heard regardless of the outcome. There is no doubt that Jesus prayer for unity amongst the disciples, including us today, is particular challenging especially in the present age.
I want you to think about this point for a moment. We live in a world, where man written law governs nearly everything! We spend millions of dollars not to mention time and energy on ensuring our ‘rights’ are kept and maintained. Just think, if we spent just a quarter of that same effort and energy in keeping Gods laws in both our lives and the world, how much better off would we be? Think about this, why do we have denominations in the world? Why did the protestant church separate from the church several hundred years ago? Because man wanted to do things their way!
I often think about King Saul found in the book of Samuel. As you may recall, Israel from the very beginning was ruled and governed by Gods divine law and Holy guidance. Even though Israel failed their faith test and circumstances at times, at one point they practically begged God they wanted a physical king to rule over them, and not God! So God obliged them. King Saul, whom God anointed to lead justly and righteously, ultimately failed and was killed while losing everything. The people of Israel, failed to unite with God, and chose to unite with another appointed official. Even this one of many examples demonstrates how when we think we know whats best, we turn our back to God by division and separation from the one thing that will save us in the end. Love in Unity in Christ alone!
What are we to do? What are we to accomplish?
Friends, from local disasters at our home front, to abroad, Christ continuously tells us to become One, we are to Live as One, work as One, Love as One! Have you ever worked with people that you all seem to click, you jive fluently, you just feel at harmony in doing the work or task at hand? Even like volunteering at a local food bank, helping with a concession stand, and even here at Church, by reaching out to people to aid them to learn of God. We are NOT to live a life of God with the motto, “Whats In It For Me”!
In facing the harsh reality of the present divergent age, we need to hear and learn that being One in Christ, means simply how God is no respecter of persons, we too are NOT to favor or dislike one or another, regardless of what the color of our skin is, what sexual immorality they have done, what sin is being lived and portraited. We are however to remember very fervently, While God is Love, there is always consequences to sin, which is called Gods righteousness. Love does not drive away consequences, Love guides us to confess it. Hebrews tells us Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus. Let us HOLD onto our confession. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
When this world starts to focus on being One by the way of Gods guidance, then and only then will we find harmony, true happiness and then, and then, will we hear the words described in the Gospel of Matthew, “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant!”. So what do we do? We prepare ourselves with an open heart and recognize the divine identity we each possess in Christ. In prayer, we hold each person and each request and ask God to bless with spiritual wholeness, love, strength, faith and peace. Last but not least, we center our lives in prayer with Gods divine wisdom and guidance to be ever present in our lives and daily living. Let God be first in our lives, and let him reign as our savior in every sense of the word. Let go and let God. Amen.