Devoting Myself To Prayer: Praying For Unity

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.

John 17:20-23a (NIV)

Jesus knows that a DIVIDED church is a DOOMED church.

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

Matthew 12:25 (NIV)

God knows that a UNIFIED church is an UNSTOPPABLE church.

“Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!

Genesis 11:6 (NLT)

WE WILL BE UNITED IN PRAYER & UNSTOPPABLE WHEN WE…

1. SUBMIT TO KING JESUS WITH FULL DEVOTION.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42 (NIV)

Together We BOW…United We STAND.

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

1 Timothy 2:8 (NIV)

2. REALIZE WE ARE POWERLESS & NEED GOD’S SPIRIT.

All these with one mind and one purpose were continually devoting themselves to prayer, [waiting together] along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 1:14 (AMP)

In one of these meetings he told them not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them in fulfillment of the Father’s promise, a matter he had previously discussed with them.

Acts 1:4 (TLB)

…you will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you. Then you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 (NTFE)

3. FIGHT FOR EACH OTHER NOT WITH EACH OTHER.

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)

4. ALIGN OUR HEARTS WITH GOD & ASK HIM TO ACT.

You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives…

James 3:2c-3a (NIV)

What I’m about to tell you is true. My Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive what you ask for. Then your joy will be complete.

John 16:23b-24 (NIRV)

5. WE ALLOW GOD’S WORD TO INFORM OUR PRAYERS.

It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became king of the Babylonians. During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the Lord, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years.

Daniel 9:1-2 (NLT)

This is what the Lord says: "Babylon will be powerful for 70 years. After that time, I will come to you people who are living in Babylon. I will keep my good promise to bring you back to Jerusalem. I say this because I know the plans that I have for you." This message is from the Lord. "I have good plans for you. I don't plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Jeremiah 29:10-12 (ERV)

6. EMBRACE THE HARD WORK OF UNITY.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)

Even more than all this, clothe yourself in love. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:14 (NCV)

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)