2019 Dec Elim Devotions Unity

English Standard Version Chapter 17

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 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 have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them

John 17:20–26 ESV

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will 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 have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

This Christmas, not only are we thinking about Jesus’ birth, we think also about why he came.

even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

English Standard Version Chapter 17

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 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 have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them

This Christmas, not only are we thinking about Jesus’ birth, we think also about why he came.

Way back in the beginning, Adam and Eve sinned by glorifying themselves, by thinking they were more wise than God is. This resulted in separation from God. It destroyed the unity we had with God and with each other.

God wasn’t content to leave things as they were, so he implemented a plan by which he would restore the unity we once had with him and with each other.

That plan, the promises of which are sprinkled throughout the Old Testament, is culminated in the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus the Messiah.

In the gospel of John, in the 17th chapter is recorded for us Jesus’ prayer for his disciples, the 11 and all the disciples after, including us:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 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 have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them” ().

Where does unity come from? It doesn’t come from us, it comes from God.

Unity isn’t conformity to our understanding of things, but rather God’s understanding of things.

It comes from God being in us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

As you look around this room, as I have had the privilege over the last couple of years to lead in devotions, to share meals with you, I have witnessed the unity we all have in Christ. It comes from God, it is of God.

But this kind of unity requires something of us. It requires us to die to ourselves and our own personal desires. If restoration with God required God himself to die for us, then unity with each other requires us to die to ourselves. And that is costly, it is not easy.

But this is God’s brilliant way. That He would bring you together to be a place where His unity would be on display, for his glory and as a witness to all who come here! You are God’s witnesses! Amen.