Seeking the Greater Glory

I have a strong desire to see the Church model unity for the world. When I say unity, I am referring to the unity spoken of by Christ and his first disciples. Here are a few scriptures that speak to the vision of unity. This was the prayer Christ lifted up shortly before His crucifixion and ascension. After He finished praying for His disciples, He prayed for us in this current time.

²⁰ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

²¹ 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.

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

²³ 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. (John17:20-23 KJV)

I have had conversations with two close brothers recently and they each confessed that they didn’t believe the unity cited in this passage would be achieved prior to Christ’s second coming or until we have arrived in Heaven. Both of these men would be considered seasoned Christians based on their tenure in church leadership but they either haven’t gained the understanding of this block of scripture or either they don’t have the faith to believe it. Christ prayed the Father that this unity would be manifest so that the world might know that the Father sent Him and that the Father loves us just as He loved Christ. It is obvious that Christ’s prayer is that this unity be manifest before He returns and before the body of Christ is taken to Heaven. At Christ second coming He will come in full glory and there will be no questioning His authority or divinity. At least not for a thousand years. If this unity isn’t manifest until Heaven, then how will the world see it?

Come on Church, let’s stop making excuses and do the hard work of purging ourselves of the divisive rudiments of this world. Christ said if anyone would follow Him, let him take up his cross and deny himself. It is time for all of us that confess Christ to deny ourselves the expressions of vain glory, and foolish pride. I have met so many unteachable men who will not tap out even when they are shown truth evidenced by scripture. It is time to root out contention and strife. It is time to humble yourselves and accept the engrafted word upon hearts yielded on the cross.

I charge every Christian to renounce the idea that the seed of division that was sown by Satan is greater than the power of the Holy Spirit given to dwell in us. It is time to stop reading the bible but rather start studying it, line upon line and precept upon precept. It is time for the Church to properly watch for Christ. That means getting your house in order as if He could come any moment. Time to put the things of GOD first. Time to put to practice what you have been preaching to others. If you are truly abiding in Him as I have described, then His life would be manifest in you. In defense pride says, “well I haven’t seen anyone raising the dead, or walking on water, or healing all manner of diseases.” Why would you expect to do those things if you don’t even have the faith to accept that we can agree on the truth of GOD that is written in a book right before our eyes?

The problem is not the Word. The problem is not GOD’s plan. The problem is not the Holy Spirit. Christ didn’t set us up for failure, He came that we might have life in abundance. The problem is that there is still too much love for this world and the things that are in it. Where a man’s treasure is, there his heart will be also. People need to be honest about the things that are keeping them from spending quality time in prayer and study of holy scriptures. It is spending time with GOD and His word which transforms us and enables us fulfill our calling as children of GOD. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of GOD. Abide in the word through study, through prayer, through song and praise, through Church fellowship, through observing nature, through application in your life.

⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5 NKJV)

Study Ephesians 4 as a reference for what I have written here. This is the potential of every Christian which believes in Christ, for this present time and this present world.